Las Vegas based gaming company Boyd Gaming Corporation announced reaching an agreement with Harrahs Entertainment regarding Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino. According to the agreement, Barbary Coast Hotel will be exchanged with 24 acres of Harrahs Las Vegas Strip property.

Boyd Gaming will receive 24 acres land that was purchased by Harrahs Entertainment from a third party. The land is neighboring Boyd Echelon Place development site. With the additional land, Boyd Gaming would be the owner of 87 acres land at the Las Vegas Strip. The transaction is expected to be closed by the beginning of 2007.

Bill Boyd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming stated that the agreement would expend the company development opportunities at the Las Vegas Strip. He added that the additional 24 acres would enable the company to develop the future phases of the Echelon Place project.

Boyd Gaming Corporation owns and operates 17 gaming entertainment properties statewide including in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana. Boyd Gaming is currently developing the Echelon Place on the Las Vegas Strip, which is expected to be open in 2010 and to become one of the top gaming entertainment destinations on the Strip.