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tive impact on the city. Mr. Brad- ley said that in Louisiana, a com- pany must prove that it is finan- cially sound, it must own the berthing site of the riverboat, it is obligated to choose a competent op- erator for the venture, and it is encouraged to consider the area's shipyards when ready to choose a builder. Jazz complied with all of the state of Louisana's wishes, and contracted to build the 266-footCa£- fish Queen with Avondale Boat Di- vision for the Catfish Town site.

Boomtown Hotel & Casino'sRich

Irvine views Indiana as the most stringent state in terms of proving a company's capabilities. Indiana re- quires a company to submit a de- tailed analysis containing the spe- cifics on what the company is going to do at the proposed site.

According to Suzanne Seifert of Hollywood Casinos, often what the granting of a license boils down to is who can bring the most eco- nomical impact to the area. States want to be assured that the venture is going to be economically helpful to them. That translates to employ- ing their people, utilizing their busi-

States want to be assured that the venture is going to be economically helpful to them. That translates to employing their people, utilizing their businesses and building your vessel in their yards. nesses and building your vessel in their yards. In fact, some states may even take this a step further.

According to Marc Grossman of

Hilton, Texas riverboat gaming leg- islation is calling for 33 percent lo- cal ownership.

To Build Or Not To Build

Once a site is selected, some com- panies may elect to order a vessel and begin site construction, in es- sence committing millions to the project even before obtaining a li- cense. Other companies, however, may opt for a more conservative approach. Peter Aranow of Play- ers Riverboat Casinos claims that

Players does not take any steps be- fore gaining a license, mainly be- cause the company has only gotten involved in riverboat gaming in states that have limited jurisdic- tions. Players has identified three new sites for the future: Maryland

Heights, St. Louis; Evansville, Ind., where Players is a finalist for a license; and Michigan City, Ind., although Mr. Aranow says there will not be a hearing for this site until 1995.

Ms. Seifert said Hollywood Ca- sino does not start actually building anything on or for the site, but they do start plans for the site before getting licensed. Hollywood has secured sites in Bristol, Pa. and is pursuing a Michigan City site.

Under option for the company are two sites in Dallas; two sites in Hous- ton; and one site each in Hampton,

Va. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Jazz Enterprises claims to have spent $21 million in Louisiana be- fore getting licensed for Catfish

Town. Mr. Bradley admits this is risky, but he likens the risk to send- ing a child to college. "You invest a lot of money in the student with the hope that they'll get a diploma."

Mr. Irvine said Boomtown felt confident enough that they would get licensed when they were look- ing into Louisiana and Mississippi, so the company forged ahead with plans for sites there.

Casino America'sAllan Solomon said that there's almost no way around spending money on the project before licensing, with the hiring of architects, designers, re- searchers, etc. Casino America's most recent project, Isle of Capri

Casino in Bossier City, La., opened on May 20, after a delay due to low water levels in the Red River.

Mr. Grossman says that Hilton

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