CQ Holding Company, Inc. Announces Completion of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge Acquisition

East St. Louis, Illinois – Dec. 20, 2021 – CQ Holding Company, Inc., today announced that it has completed its acquisition of the operations of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge from Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.  The property joins CQ Holding Company, Inc.’s expanding gaming portfolio that includes DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis and  Casino Queen Marquette in Marquette, Iowa. CQ Holding Company, Inc. is also expected to finalize its acquisition of the operations of Belle of Baton Rouge from Caesars Entertainment, Inc. by the end of the year after the transfer of ownership was approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board on Thursday, Dec. 16. Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, DraftKings at Casino Queen and Belle of Baton Rouge will be included in a triple net master lease with a subsidiary of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

“We are thrilled to complete CQ Holding Company, Inc.’s acquisition of this historic Baton Rouge property and look forward to becoming part of this energetic and dynamic community,” says Terry Downey, President and CEO of CQ Holding Company, Inc. “With the launch of sports betting in Louisiana and the continued interest in traditional gaming, we look forward to bringing new opportunities and excitement to the residents and visitors of Baton Rouge.”

Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge is a riverboat casino docked on the Mississippi River at 1717 River Rd. near Capitol Lake. The property encompasses approximately 27,000 square feet of gaming space with 859 gaming machines and 12 table games. Adjacent to the riverboat is a two-story, 66,318-square-foot amenity-filled venue with a grill, deli, meeting space, public atrium and two meeting rooms. Hollywood Casino recently broke ground on a 38,000-square-foot expansion project, which includes moving the casino to land and increasing its footprint to 100,000 square feet of space including a state-of-the-art sports book and new dining outposts.

Belle of Baton Rouge is located at 103 France St. just south of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge near the city center and Louisiana State University. The historic property opened in 1994 as Louisiana’s first casino. Spanning 28,500 square feet, the riverboat casino features three decks of gaming action, meeting spaces, two parking garages and more.

Located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, DraftKings at Casino Queen, formerly known as Casino Queen, was CQ Holding Company, Inc.’s entry into gaming and has been welcoming visitors since 1993. DraftKings at Casino Queen is a 38,000-square-foot casino, hotel and RV Park with stunning views of The Gateway Arch and St. Louis Skyline, 980 gaming machines, 29 table games and amenities. A remodel of the DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook and promenade is now underway, which will soon reveal oversized screens, state-of-the-art wagering and a new food court.

CQ Holding Company, Inc. acquired Casino Queen Marquette in March 2017. Located in Marquette, Iowa, Casino Queen is a picturesque and historic riverboat casino on the banks of the Mississippi River. The 17,000-square-foot casino spans three decks and features more than 400 machines, two blackjack tables, and several tables offering electronic blackjack, roulette and craps games. With four dining options, Casino Queen’s restaurants span from casual to elevated buffet-style, and more.

For more information about CQ Holding Company, Inc.’s properties, visit the websites at www.esl.casinoqueen.wpengine.com and www.casinoqueenmarquette.com.

About CQ Holding Company, Inc.

Located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, DraftKings at Casino Queen, formerly known as Casino Queen, was CQ Holding Company, Inc.’s entry into gaming and has been welcoming visitors since 1993. The company expanded into Marquette, Iowa, in 2017 adding Casino Queen Marquette, Inc. In 2021, CQ Holding Company, Inc. entered into Louisiana with the completed acquisition of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge from Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. and received approval to acquire the historic Belle of Baton Rouge from Caesars Entertainment. In the same year, CQ Holding Company also announced a combination with Fairmount Park Racetrack to bring casino gaming to the historic Thoroughbred track in Collinsville, Illinois.

 

Media Contacts:
Taylor Goldberg/Torrey Bailey
619-255-9633
CQ@wickedcreative.com