[3] Barden was the manager, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Majestic Star Casino, LLC, from its formation, with responsibility for key policy making functions.
The selection was made over heavy objections of local taxpayers who preferred another competing offer from Isle of Capri Casinos.
In 2008, Barden was unable to secure permanent financing that would have permitted work to continue on the North Shore Casino project.
Only after Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm of JMB Realty bought controlling interest in the project, did work continue.
Earlier that year, his wife Bella had filed for legal separation, saying in court documents that her husband was so sick with cancer that he could not make his own business and financial decisions.