Mark's Notebook


	If you believe everything you read, better not read. - Japanese Proverb

Mississippi Casinos Trump Katrina

Los Angeles Times

Saturday 25 February 2006, 8:50 pm
Keywords: Katrina Hurricane Relief , News Articles

By Richard Fausset, Times Staff Writer

BILOXI, Miss. — Nearly six months after the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the good times are rolling. The gamblers are back, and they are bringing huge amounts of money to this beaten coastline's most important industry.

Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, destroying most of the waterfront casinos and shuttering the remainder. Some economists and tourism officials predicted that their comeback — if it occurred at all — would be slow going.

But the Isle of Capri and two other casinos resumed business in December, and since then have attracted thousands of visitors who have helped the gaming industry post surprisingly strong numbers. In January, the three casinos pulled in nearly $64 million in gross gaming revenue, according to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The previous January, the total in Biloxi was $90 million — when the city had nine casinos in business.

In October, the Mississippi Legislature changed the law to allow onshore casinos within 800 feet of the shoreline. The casinos got another boost when Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) helped them win federal tax relief to rebuild.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-casino25feb25,0,3293245.sto
ry