The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved last month an agreement between Boyd Gaming Corp. and Harrah’s Entertainment which transfers ownership of the Barbary Coast to Harrah’s in exchange for 24 acres of land adjacent to the site where Echelon Place will be built.

The board voted 3-0 to back the proposal, giving Boyd more land—now a total of 87 acres—to develop its $4 billion megaresort Echelon Place, and at the same time giving Harrah’s ownership of a contiguous two-block area along the Strip.

The plan calls for Harrah’s to assume ownership of Barbary Coast and rename the property Bill’s Gambling Hall and Saloon.

The deal still needs approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Dennis Gallagher, a Harrah’s executive, said the companies plan to formally trade properties soon, after which the Barbary Coast will be closed for two to two-and-a-half days and then reopen as Bill’s in honor of Harrah’s founder Bill Harrah.

“It will be business as usual,” Gallagher said.

He added that almost all Barbary Coast employees will be retained at “substantially similar salaries.”

By Greg Jones

Greg Jones is managing editor of Casino Connection Nevada, as well as associate editor of Global Gaming Business magazine.

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