The location of the casino was most recently previously the site of the Rivergate Convention Center, demolished in 1995. The casino shut down in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but reopened in the midst of Mardi Gras on February 17, 2006. It is referred to in state statute as 'the official gaming establishment'. It is the only land-based private casino with table games in the state by Louisiana law (there are other casinos in the state with their gambling facilities on floating boats and horse racing racinos with slot machines). In order to avoid leasing rooms, the casino opened its own 27-story hotel tower with 450 rooms across the street from the casino on September 21, 2006, just days ahead of the New Orleans Saints return to the Louisiana Superdome. Since its opening in 1999 Harrah's has been renting nearby hotel rooms to accommodate its guests currently, the newly renovated 202-room Wyndham Riverfront Hotel is providing such accommodations. There are several places to eat ranging from buffet style to fine dining. The casino is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Caesars Entertainment. It is a 115,000 sq ft (10,700 m 2) casino with approximately 2,100 slot machines, over 90 table games and a poker room. Harrah's New Orleans is a casino in New Orleans, Louisiana, near the foot of Canal Street a block away from the Mississippi River.
