Subject to approval from the Louisiana Gaming Board, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc’s $407 million dollar Sugarcane Bay Casino Resort construction may begin in August or September.  In April, the Gaming Board granted a 150 day extension to the project.  That extension is good through October.

The chairman of Pinnacle Entertainment believes they will now be able to get the funding for the project since credit markets are beginning to look much better.  They have already begun some of the site improvements.

The resort will be located adjacent to the most successful casino in the state of Louisiana.  Lake Charles Casino L’Auberge du Lac has achieved success by bringing in customers from areas of Texas where casino gambling is not yet legal.

In March, Pinnacle announced a $57 million dollar expansion to the project to include a 3,000 seat entertainment area and three boathouse suites. This is to be built at the same time as the hotel complex and riverboat casino.  The new resort will include 400 guestrooms, a variety of restaurants, a spa and other amenities.  All next to a dockside casino with 1500 slot machines and 50 table games.  The two properties will be sharing back of the house facilities to keep the costs down for everyone.