Part of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., Harrah's New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City Hotel & Casino each made history by opening Caesars Sportsbook locations at their resorts. In addition, Harrah's debuted the large poker room in Louisiana with its grand opening of the new World Series of Poker Room. To commemorate these openings, Caesars held two ceremonial events inside Harrah's and Horseshoe this week, each featuring a ribbon-cutting and ceremonial first bet.

In New Orleans, Archie and Cooper Manning joined Pro Football Hall of Famer and former New Orleans Saint Rickey Jackson, local dignitaries, and Saints Superfan Leroy Mitchell Jr., better known as "Whistle Monsta," to open the new sportsbook and poker room. Jackson placed the ceremonial first bet with his $1,000 wager on the Saints to win the Super Bowl at 40/1 odds and any possible winnings benefitting the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). In Bossier City, Caesars Sportsbook opened in grand fashion with Mayor Tommy Chandler cutting the ribbon ahead of a massive ceremonial first bet of $200,000, placed by a VIP and well-known guest.

Harrah's New Orleans now boasts a 5,700-square-foot sportsbook with four betting windows, 12 self-service betting kiosks, a 147-foot video screen, and a high-powered audio system adjacent to the 5,000-square-foot World Series of Poker Room featuring 20 poker tables. The openings mark another phase in the ongoing $325 million transformation of Harrah's New Orleans into Caesars New Orleans, which is expected to be completed by 2024. Horseshoe Bossier City's new Caesars Sportsbook further cements its status as the foremost entertainment destination in northwest Louisiana.

The more than 6,900-square-foot space features three betting windows, 15 self-service betting kiosks, more than 94 TVs with a high-powered audio system, a VIP viewing section, and a massive bar.