Boyd Gaming Opens South Coast Hotel and Casino

Press Release

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Boyd Gaming Corporation opened its newest property, South Coast Hotel and Casino, on December 22.

Bill Boyd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, commented on the opening, "South Coast is ideally located to attract a growing locals market, as well as a significant number of tourists, given its strategic location to both residential and tourist corridor patrons."

Located five miles south of Mandalay Bay on Las Vegas Boulevard and adjacent to Interstate 15, South Coast is the first major casino entertainment property to be located in the fast-growing southern Las Vegas area. The $600 million property offers affordable luxury in the way of beautiful accommodations, distinctive dining experiences and a wide array of gaming entertainment amenities. In addition to a spacious, fully-equipped 80,000 square-foot casino, the development also includes seven restaurants, a 16 screen Century Theatre complex, a 64 lane bowling center, and expansive meeting, exhibit and convention space. Unique to South Coast will be a world-class equestrian center with seating for 4,400 spectators.

A second hotel tower is under construction and planned to open in the second quarter 2006, adding 700 guest rooms and suites. Opening with the second tower will be a luxurious spa with more than 20 treatment rooms, a nightclub and showroom, and an outdoor recreation area complete with oversized swimming pool and sand volleyball courts.

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD - News) is a leading diversified owner and operator of 19 gaming entertainment properties, located in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana and Louisiana. The Company recently opened the South Coast Hotel and Casino, a $600 million development located in the growing southern part of the Las Vegas valley. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at www.boydgaming.com.

Tribe plans to expand casino
As Reported by The Daily Herald

ARLINGTON, Washington - The Stillaguamish Tribe is planning to cash in some of its chips to pay for expanding its Angel of the Winds Casino.

During the 14 months since the casino opened, the tribe has made enough money to secure loans that could double the casino's size, adding 50 percent more video slot machines and a bigger restaurant, said Dave Seufert, the casino's general manager.

"Now that we have a track record that's a good track record, the banks are more comfortable to talk to us," Seufert said.

Details have not been finalized, but he expects the project to cost between $4 million and $6 million.

The original 22,000-square-foot casino cost $19 million in construction alone. Site preparation, demolishing homes and relocating more than two dozen families cost the tribe several million dollars more.

After the expansion is completed, the casino could end up with close to 45,000 square feet, Seufert said. No construction schedule has been set, he said.

Eddie Goodridge Jr., the tribe's executive director, said the tribe originally had envisioned building a 45,000-square-foot casino.

"I don't view it as an expansion. It's really just getting up to where it's supposed to be," Goodridge said, adding that the casino was designed to be easily expanded.

The casino now has 455 video slot machines, many of the popular penny variety. By building onto the casino's west end, as many as 200 more slots could be added, Seufert said.

The building also will grow on its north side, where a new buffet-style restaurant would be built. Katie's Kitchen, the casino's restaurant now, is more of a snack bar than a sit-down dinner place, Seufert said.

The news of expansion did not come as a surprise to Ken Childress, one of many neighbors who opposed putting the casino near their rural neighborhood in the first place. He said tribal leaders had always wanted a bigger casino.

"All I can say about it is, yea; I'm glad it's taken them more time and cost them more money," Childress said.

Despite the hard feelings, Childress said many neighbors have learned to live with the casino nearby.

"The casino is probably little more than a nuisance," he said. "There's definitely more traffic. There's been a few minor mishaps on the road."

Childress also gave the tribe credit for the building's understated aesthetics.

"It's not an eyesore, I'll give them that," Childress said.

The expansion still worries him, though, particularly at the casino's entrance, which he said is hard for drivers to see. Childress suggested clearing some trees to make 35th Avenue NE safer.

"I don't think it would hurt the aesthetic much," he said.

Goodridge said the neighbors' fears have proved to be exaggerated as few serious incidents have occurred.

"Any time something has happened the tribe has jumped on it" to fix it, Goodridge said.

With the expansion, the tribe would be close to the state's maximum of 675 video slot machines per tribe. Any future expansions would require the tribe to make deals with tribes that don't have casinos to use their slot allotments.

Expansion plans

Details of the Stillaguamish Tribe's plans to expand its Angel of the Winds Casino are being studied, but changes will likely be close to these figures: Existing square footage: 22,000. Total square feet after expansion: 45,000. Video slot machines now: 455. Slots after expansion: 655. Project cost: $4 million to $6 million. Other additions: A second restaurant. Source: Dave Seufert, general manager, Angel of the Winds Casino.