There was a time when Mississippi ranked third among states with casinos, after Nevada and New Jersey. But last year the state dropped to sixth place, with a decline of 5 percent in gross casino revenue to .25 billion compared to 2012. Revenue at Mississippi’s 12 Coast casinos fell million compared to 2012, to .06 billion in the same period. Louisiana moved up to fourth place.
To try to boost those numbers, Beau Rivage Casino recently began offering Sunday charter flights on Sun Country Airlines from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport to the resort for preferred players. In addition, the resort now will offer nonstop jet service five days a week to the Mississippi Gulf Coast from more than 60 other destinations in the U.S. Beau Rivage expects to serve 6,000-7,000 people per month, or about 80,000 people annually, through the program.
Troy Dickbernd, director of national marketing for Beau Rivage, said, “We’re operating about 50 to 60 flights per month with Sun Country. They have a lot of experience operating programs like this, both on the charter side and also with the scheduled commercial side of things. We really enjoy being able to provide this service. It helps bring tourism to the local Gulf Coast where people are spending money in restaurants and retail outlets.”
The resort previously offered free air service for preferred customers through a seven-year contract with Vision Airlines, which recently ended. The Sun Country contract is for three years.
The chartered Sun Country flights will be offered five days a week, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
MGM Resorts International, owner of Beau Rivage, has flown gamblers from other locations to Gulfport since 2008. Last year the Beau Rivage air program coordinated 656 flights and transported more than 81,000 passengers to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. MGM Resorts International also flies gamblers to its Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi.
Gulf Coast casinos are not the only gambling operations that are struggling—so are the area’s bingo games operated by 31 charitable groups. “Bingo’s tough right now. Halls are struggling. It’s just the economy more than anything,” said Sonny Weathersby, director of the Charitable Gaming Division of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. He said throughout the state, bingo players spent $93 million in fiscal 2013, with $14.7 million of that total supporting organizations that run the games. Pascagoula’s American Legion bingo games took in more than $1 million last year with a profit of $273,000, making it one of the biggest operations in South Mississippi, Weathersby said. The Waveland American Legion made a profit of $78,000 on winnings of $500,000 before expenses and prizes.
Operators must use up to 60 percent of proceeds for winnings and expenses and 40 percent for charity. The Gaming Commission’s Compliance Division audits the nonprofits and agents check on the games regularly.
Weathersby noted bingo and casinos do not consider one another competition. “Most of the people that play bingo have been playing it all their lives. Bingo players aren’t slot players,” he said. He added people call his office frequently asking how they can open a bingo hall. “You can’t do that,” he said. Bingo operators in Mississippi must be a registered nonprofit with the secretary of state and Internal Revenue Service.
