Casino News

Casinos leading post-Katrina recovery

2006-11-07 12:56:24

With 14 months having passed since Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the region's casinos are helping contribute to the slow recovery process.

Despite the hurricane having destroyed or damaged numerous gaming resorts in the region, the forthcoming opening of the Silver Slipper casino should push casino employment levels in the area past 14,000- meaning that numbers will surpass pre-Katrina levels for the first time.

Casino Magic and the Treasure Bay riverboat were two of the worst hit complexes, with the Treasure Bay barge having to be demolished and Casino Magic remaining closed indefinitely.

However, establishments such as the MGM-owned, 3.2 million square foot Beau Rivage complex have boosted the local economy in recent month. The Rivage opened at the end of August, and Harrah's Casino plans to spend $1 billion on two new resorts in Biloxi in the near future.

Part of the reason for the increase is due to new state legislation allowing the casinos to move 800 feet inland, eliminating the need for high-cost, elaborately designed casino boats.

Silver Slipper, which will become the tenth casino to re-open since Katrina struck, opens in south Mississippi next week.


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