Players Tentatively OKs Riverboat Casino Project

Players International Inc. of Calabasas has tentatively agreed with Jebaco Inc. in Louisiana to jointly build and develop a riverboat casino in Lake Charles, La., at a cost of $23 million.

Players International will provide 75% of the financing, with Jebaco being responsible for the remainder. The companies expect the 1,400-passenger riverboat to be in operation by early 1994, but the project is contingent on the approval of a lease agreement and various licensing and regulatory approvals.

Players International, an entertainment and gaming specialist whose investors include entertainer Merv Griffin, plans on launching its first riverboat project this spring in Metropolis, Ill., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Southern Illinois Riverboat Casino Cruises Inc.