Pinnacle Entertainment
announced today that it received approvals from the Louisiana Gaming
Control Board in accord with its previously announced plans to open
L’Auberge du Lac to the general public on the evening of May 26, 2005.
This planned opening remains subject to further approvals by the Louisiana
State Police and other regulatory and safety agencies. L’Auberge du Lac is
Pinnacle’s new $365 million casino hotel in Lake Charles, Louisiana,
approximately two hours from the Houston metropolitan area.Pinnacle’s agreements with the Louisiana Gaming Control Board required
“substantial completion” of certain facilities by May 12. Pinnacle
expected to meet such requirement, but noted that it plans to use the
completed facility for several days of training and preparation before
opening to the general public on May 26. Rather than allowing any
confusion between “substantial completion” and “open to the public,”
Pinnacle suggested that the Louisiana Gaming Control Board extend the May
12 date by a month. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board agreed to such
request.

Pinnacle also noted that it is planning a grand opening weekend for
invited guests on July 16.
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