Allen Godfrey, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, recently delivered his annual State of the Casinos report, noting in the past decade the state fell from the third largest to the sixth largest casino market but remains a strong, well-respected casino market. The state’s casinos ended 2014 with a 3 percent revenue drop to .07 billion from .14 billion in 2013.
Godfrey said South Mississippi was “the shining star” in 2014 since it was the only region where casino revenue increased over 2013. Coast casinos posted a 1 percent increase to $1.08 billion from $1.07 billion in 2013. Godfrey noted several ongoing reinvestment projects at Coast casinos, including Island View Casino’s $58 million restoration of its hotel tower south of U.S. 90, set to open April 29, with 404 rooms and 56 suites. The new tower and the existing facility will offer five new restaurants, a saltwater pool with beach access, a fitness center, salon and spa, gift shop and meeting space.
Godfrey noted Hard Rock Casino Biloxi opened a new hotel tower in 2014, Silver Slipper started hotel construction and Golden Nugget completed its total renovation. He said these major projects, plus the lazy river attraction at Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, renovations at several other Coast casinos and a new minor league baseball stadium in Biloxi will help attract more visitors.
In the north river region, casinos have been hurt by competition. In fact, Godfrey said, the market once was the third-largest in the U.S. but has decreased to below $700 million in annual revenue. “But they’re still a strong gaming market,” Godfrey said.
He stated Mississippi needs to see what other states facing the same issues have done right and wrong. “Let’s see if we can’t do more things right. I think we need more attractions. The additional slot machines are not needed until there are more visitors coming here,” he said.
