Evangeline Downs Launches Truck Giveaway

A major multi-media campaign is underway as Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino gets the word out that it wants customers to win a truck every day in the month of September, starting tonight.

The Opelousas facility has been posting record levels of revenue in the last year. Casino officials acknowledge that the increase magnified after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. However the casino primarily draws a local crowd, and those increases are continuing in the post hurricane environment.

"We were on track to post these gains before the hurricanes impacted Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. With record revenues came more winners and bigger payouts," said Mike Howard, general manager of Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino. "We planned this September promotion to create even more winners. The word's out and it's generating a lot of interest for Evangeline Downs."

Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino is a 41-year-old Louisiana-based business that is rooted in the Acadiana culture. In 2003, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino moved from Lafayette Parish to St. Landry Parish and the City of Opelousas. Since relocating, Evangeline Downs has exceeded the success it once had in Lafayette Parish and has become an economic focal point in St. Landry Parish.

According to the St. Landry Economic and Industrial Development District Commission, several economic indicators demonstrate the positive impact of Evangeline Downs on the community. This is good news in light of this week's release of the Census Bureau's income and poverty report, which named St. Landry as having the highest poverty levels and lowest average income in the United States in cities 60,000 to 249,000 population.

The year 2003 marked a first for the parish, city and state: each entity began receiving gaming taxes from Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino. This was a completely new source of income for these entities.

Since that time $13.4 million in taxes have been paid to parish and city government. Nearly $39 million in taxes has been paid to the state. More importantly, the facility employs over 800 people, most of who are from St. Landry Parish. Evangeline Downs paid wages and benefits of nearly $19 million last year. That's big news in St. Landry Parish where unemployment levels have fallen significantly.

New housing starts have also dramatically increased since Evangeline Downs opened, up to nearly 1,500 in 2005, an increase of almost 700 a year. This has created a large increase in property taxes generated to the Parish.

Louisiana horsemen have also benefited from the growth at Evangeline Downs through purse supplements paid by the gaming dollars generated by the Casino. Total purse money won by horsemen totals around $51 million for the same time period.

Today kicks off the big promotion. Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino will have a drawing every day in September for a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado or a coupon option redeemable for $10,000.00 in cash.

* You must be 21 years of age or older to participate in the promotion. Winner must be present to wi

2006-09-01