A groundbreaking ceremony recently was held for the million, 123,000 square foot Beach Casino at Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport, Mississippi, set to open next summer. The uniquely designed casino, the largest in the state, will be smoke-free south of U.S. 90 and allow smoking in the casino on the north side of the highway, connected by an enclosed crosswalk over the roadway. The expansion will create 250 new jobs.
Gulfport native and owner Rick Carter said he’s been pursuing his dream of operating a casino in his hometown. He formerly operated casino cruises, then Copa Casino which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Childhood friends Carter and co-owner Terry Green are said to have invested $400 million in Island View and Gulfport since they bought the Grand Gulfport from Harrah’s during a post-Katrina Las Vegas trip. They invested $58 million to restore and reopen the Beach Tower that was damaged in the hurricane.
Carter called the property, Gulfport’s only casino, “off-the-charts,” with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Amenities will include a show bar, restaurant and other food and beverage options. Cater said the property also will offer games and features that will appeal to younger customers.
Carter said, “We need to do a better job of marketing the Mississippi Gulf Coast, showing what we are and what we can do.” Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes noted Carter “believes in Gulfport and this Coast.”
