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Casino Owner Comments on April Casino Revenues

16 May 2000

NEW ORLEANS, May 16 (Press Release) -- Fred Burford, president and chief executive officer of JCC Holding Company (Amex: JAZ - news), offered the following comments on the release by the State of Louisiana of April's gaming revenues for Harrah's New Orleans Casino, which opened for business on October 28, 1999, at the company's annual shareholders meeting in New Orleans.

"The $19 million reported today for the month of April by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board is slightly less than the results reported for the previous three months," stated Burford. "As we look at our revenue growth, beginning with the opening weekend through April numbers released today by the state, we are pleased, yet concerned on a number of levels," added Burford. "The casino is drawing large crowds through its doors. We have built a business that presently has gross gaming revenues of approximately $20 million a month, achieved by vigorous competition, which includes, among other successes, recapturing patrons from the Gulf Coast market, and growing the overall market. In fact, Harrah's New Orleans is today among the most successful commercial casinos in the southeastern United States, and exceeds the monthly gaming revenue totals of the flagship of the Mississippi Coast, Beau Rivage. But we recognize that we need to continue to grow our revenues, if we are to remain a good partner with our community, our employees and our shareholders. To this end, we are devoting significant energies on a daily basis to increasing revenues while looking closely at how we can best control and decrease costs without in any way diminishing our customer's positive experience."

Burford added, "Clearly, the greatest cost we face is the significant required payment due to the State of Louisiana each year. The State minimum guaranteed payment of $100 million represents, at our current run rate, an effective gaming tax burden of 44.5%, creating a very difficult, if not impossible, burden for the casino. For the long-term, a state tax rate of 44.5% -- more than five times what our competitors are paying down the road on the Gulf Coast—puts the casino's viability in question."

Burford continued, "Despite the many challenges ahead, we remain committed to doing everything within our power to make our casino successful, and to allow it to continue to be a significant economic engine for the State and the City."

Jazz Casino Company, LLC, a subsidiary of JCC Holding Company, has the exclusive license to own and operate the only land-based casino in Orleans Parish. Harrah's New Orleans Management Company, a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment has been awarded the management contract for the casino. The casino employs approximately 3,000 people with an annual payroll and benefits of approximately $80 million. The 100,000 square foot casino is located at Canal Street at the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans, is adjacent to the French Quarter, the Aquarium of the Americas and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Statements in this press release that are not historical fact, including particular statements about JCC Holding Company's efforts to increase revenues and control and decrease costs are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Management cautions that the future performance of JCC Holding Company involves certain risks and uncertainties, and that JCC Holding Company's actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of certain factors including, without limitation, factors that are contained in documents that JCC Holding Company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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