State regulators have approved a financing plan that will eventually lead to a replacement boat for the Casino Queen in Marquette.

Racing and Gaming administrator Brian Ohorilko says a $46 million financing plan was approved for the parent company to buy two boats in Louisiana. “The long-term plan would be for Casino Queen to purchase those riverboats, operate those casinos in Louisiana, but move one to Marquette and replace that boat. So it would be a larger boat, maybe a little newer,” Ohorilko explains.

He says the new boat is a good thing for Marquette. “Just having the ability to have something larger, fresher, is definitely good for that market,” he says.