Regulator Who Ushered in Louisiana Gambling Expansion Resigns
Ronnie Johns Ends Tenure as Louisiana’s Top Gambling Regulator
Shreveport, LA – Ronnie Johns, the top gambling regulator in Louisiana, has announced his resignation from the position. Johns, credited for the most significant expansion of gambling in Louisiana in three decades, intends to resign next month to devote more time with his family. Notably, Johns had been instrumental in adding sports wagering to Louisiana’s gambling scene. His departure has not been prompted by the new Republican Governor Jeff Landry.
Johns’ Tenure and Influence on the Louisiana Gambling Scene
This 75-year-old regulator from Lafayette has had a 37-year-long illustrious career in public service, including a tenure as the Louisiana Lottery chairman, twelve years in the state House, and ten years in the state Senate. Johns was appointed by the former Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards in 2021 to head the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, right around the time sports wagering was about to be added to the state’s gambling options. Currently, sports betting contributes close to $100 million annually in revenue aiding the state’s budget.
Johns has also managed to attract over $1 billion in new investment from various casino companies the likes of Caesars Horseshoe Casino in Lake Charles (rebuilt post Hurricane Laura’s destruction), Queen and Belle in Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Live! Casino in Bossier. Especially after the recent option granted to Louisiana’s riverboat casinos to build landside properties, investments in this sector have soared.
Bullish Market Predictions for Shreveport-Bossier
According to Johns, the Shreveport-Bossier market has a promising future. He firmly believes The Cordish Companies investment of nearly $300 million into Louisiana Live! will effectively turn around the two-decades long decline seen because of competition from Oklahoma. He is of the opinion that this new development will eventually grow the entire Shreveport-Bossier market rather than cannibalizing existing businesses.
Jon Cordish, with The Cordish Companies, assures that the former Diamond Jacks Casino property in Bossier City will be transformed under his family’s complete renovation project. According to him, this development is set to rival the best gambling and entertainment resorts in the country.
John’s Exit and His Legacy
Ronnie Johns has stated his resignation would be effective from June 30. He concludes his decorated career comfortably, knowing he upheld his position with integrity, fairness and absolute compliance with the strict gaming laws and regulations. Johns firmly believes that prioritizing family is crucial at certain junctures in life and he feels that it’s time for him to put his family first.
