Bally’s Baton Rouge Reimagines Casino AV with SAVI iQ
Replacing fragmented systems with the unified SAVI iQ platform, Alpha delivers scalable video, audio and digital signage across the $144 million redevelopment
About the Venue
Bally’s Baton Rouge has been transformed into a modern, vibrant entertainment destination, converting the historic Belle of Baton Rouge into a fully reimagined hotel and casino. Opened last December as part of a $144 million redevelopment, the centerpiece is a 50,000-square-foot glass-enclosed atrium, once part of a rail and marketplace complex, now alive with gaming, a dedicated sportsbook, dining and immersive social experiences.
To power the transformation, Bally’s turned to SAVI iQ’s AV-over-IP platform purpose-built for high-energy, gaming, sportsbook, and resort environments. Implemented by technology integrator Alpha, the solution unifies video distribution, audio control and digital signage into a single, intuitive platform, eliminating friction and enabling seamless experiences across the property.
“In today’s casino and hospitality sectors, guest expectations are increasingly shaped by high-impact visual experiences, real-time content and seamless operation across multiple zones—demands that have traditionally required multiple standalone systems, adding cost and complexity,” said Kevin Higginbotham, Senior Account Executive specializing in casino AV integration at Alpha. “At Bally’s Baton Rouge, those functions are now consolidated within a single, networked SAVI solution, simplifying day-to-day operation while enabling a more dynamic and responsive environment.”
A Historic Space Reimagined for a Modern Casino
For Alpha, the mandate went beyond integration—it was about removing friction between technology and experience. The challenge was not simply to deploy audio and video systems at scale, but to unify them within a complex, historically constrained building while delivering the flexibility and usability expected of a contemporary casino.
The new casino represents a shift from Bally’s previous riverboat operation to a permanent land-based venue within the redeveloped Belle of Baton Rouge complex, introducing both architectural and operational challenges. For the AV integration, this meant delivering a modern and sophisticated system within a historically constrained structure while preserving key elements of the original building.
“So much of this project came down to how do we take an old historic building and turn it into something completely new without losing the vision for the space,” explained Higginbotham. “The design intent was clear: preserve the character of the depot and the atrium, but the expectation was equally clear: deliver a technology experience that is highly visual, high-energy and simple to operate. That’s a difficult balance to strike, and it forced us to rethink how the overall system architecture was designed and delivered within the constraints of the building.”
Like many casino developments, the project began with a basis-of-design specification built around multiple standalone systems. To meet the demands of a modern, lively environment, Alpha reworked the design around SAVI, consolidating those systems into a unified platform that reduces inefficiency, improves scalability and streamlines long-term operation. At the heart of the complex, the DraftKings sportsbook anchors the experience, designed as an immersive destination where content, scale and immediacy drive engagement.
The glass-enclosed atrium now houses a modern 25,000-square-foot casino floor featuring nearly 800 slot machines and more than 20 live table games. Within this environment, SAVI provides control for a 46-foot video wall capable of showing multiple games simultaneously, alongside a real-time sports ticker delivering live scores, league updates and breaking sports news.
The sportsbook entrance is marked by a distinctive architectural feature: an archway incorporating two nested LED tickers. Working alongside Alpha, SAVI’s platform was used to optimize content layouts and motion speeds to balance visual impact with legibility, creating a high-tech portal that reinforces the venue’s immersive identity from the moment guests arrive.
One Platform. Built for Scale. Designed for Simplicity.
Underpinning the entire experience is SAVI’s AV-over-IP infrastructure, anchored by SAVI Server Pro. Across the casino environment, more than 70 LG commercial displays run on webOS, enabling direct integration with SAVI Canvas and eliminating the need for costly external media players or set-top boxes. Video is distributed across the casino by SAVI STREAM.One 4K encoders handling broadcast television, sportsbook feeds and in-house content, alongside integration with third-party technologies including Vantiva COM3000, Q-SYS and NovaStar LED processing.
At the central feature of the venue, the DraftKings sportsbook delivers a high-energy viewing and betting experience, with SAVI enabling a 47.5-by-18-foot concave LED video wall supporting up to 16 simultaneous sources across multiple layouts, complemented by a dual-banded 70-foot LED ticker.
“In a space like the sportsbook, the system has to be intuitive from day one because there’s no time for complexity,” said Fred Martinez, AV specialist at Alpha. “Staff need centralized control of gaming floors, sportsbooks, hotels and entertainment venues to make changes instantly, without thinking about the underlying technology. With SAVI, they can go straight to the space they’re in, select what they need and move on. That simplicity is what makes it effective when you’re managing multiple zones, events and constant change.”
Just as critical as scale was simplicity. With SAVI Glass, operators have customized, control of the entire system from 5” SAVI TOUCHPAD.Ones and iPads —no dedicated apps or extensive training required. In a fast-moving casino environment, staff can make changes instantly and confidently, without navigating multiple systems or workflows.
“The SAVI interface fundamentally changes how staff interact with the system,” Martinez added. “Instead of navigating channel lists or trying to remember inputs and display locations, they can search for a game, select it and send it directly to the screen. That simplicity is what makes it effective.”
An advantage was the elimination of a separate digital signage CMS, consolidating content creation, scheduling and distribution within a single environment. Using SAVI Show, Bally’s can create, schedule and distribute content within the same platform used for control and video distribution, while the direct integration with LG webOS displays further reduces hardware requirements by removing external playback devices.
“One of the biggest drivers for the client was removing the need for a third-party signage platform. That’s not just an upfront saving, it also removes an entire layer of complexity. Everything lives in one environment, which makes it easier to deploy, manage and support over time. When you reduce hardware, you reduce cost, failure points and long-term maintenance. As the system scales across multiple zones, from the gaming floor to hospitality spaces, the ability to manage everything centrally becomes increasingly valuable.”
Delivering a Seamless, High-Energy Guest Experience
To match the visual intensity of the space, a fully zoned audio system, comprising more than 180 speakers, delivers consistent coverage across the gaming floor, sportsbook, bars and dining areas. As part of the wider SAVI integration, staff can control source selection and volume by zone, while automated adjustments maintain a consistent atmosphere throughout the day.
“The goal was to maintain a consistent level of energy across the venue,” said Higginbotham. “We implemented automated audio adjustments based on time of day, so levels adapt without requiring manual intervention, ensuring the space always feels active and engaging regardless of occupancy.”
Behind the scenes, SAVI unifies multiple third-party systems into a single operational layer, allowing staff to coordinate video, audio and content in real-time without managing separate platforms.
“There are always multiple technologies involved in a project like this, but the operator shouldn’t have to think about that,” said Martinez. “SAVI allows us to bring everything together into one simple yet sophisticated interface. It also gives us the flexibility to respond quickly when requirements change, which is critical in a live environment where things continue to evolve once the venue is open.”
A New Standard for Casino AV
The ongoing collaboration between SAVI and Alpha highlights a new approach to AV in casino and hospitality environments, one built around consolidation, scalability and ease of use. “Casinos operate in one of the most demanding AV environments in the world,” said Vincent Anastasi, Regional Sales Director at SAVI iQ. “With the SAVI casino solution, we provide operators and integrators with a scalable, always-on platform that unifies gaming, sportsbook, hospitality, and entertainment experiences.”
“SAVI gives us the flexibility and support we need to deliver the right solution for each project,” added Higginbotham. “It allows us to simplify intricate systems, reduce hardware and system management costs and ultimately provide something that the customer can count on when 24/7 reliability and redundancy for always-on operations is a must.”
“Ultimately this is about simplifying an expansive multi-zone environment,” added Anastasi, “The platform enables real-time promotion and jackpot content management, seamless integration with surveillance and life-safety systems, multi-property scalability, and simplified deployment with a reduced hardware footprint for integrators.”
“From an operational standpoint, the system delivered by Alpha and powered by SAVI gives the Bally’s team a far simpler and more intuitive way to manage a complex environment,” said Higginbotham. “They can control displays, audio and signage across the venue from a single interface, allowing staff to respond quickly during busy periods. At the same time, it helps create a more engaging and consistent guest experience, which is ultimately what this investment was designed to achieve.”
The result isn’t just a technology deployment, it’s a new operational model for casino AV.