Will Next Months Bring Profit to Mississippi Coast Casinos
October 19th, 2007Author: Mark Newman
This year it’s been 15 years of gambling for Mississippi Coast casinos. To say more, it’s been their best August on record, as the gross gaming revenue amounted to $108.9 million. The figure has dropped by 12% in comparison with July (an all time record was set in July with the opening of the Hard Rock Casino – it was as high as $124.7 million), but still, it is a record.
Revenue at casinos in Mississippi’s river counties in August also dropped from $143 million to $130.9 million. As for the state revenue, with the Coast and river casinos lower, it also dropped. The total state revenue so far stands at $1.98 billion, while the goal is $3 billion.
Mike Bruffey, an associate with the Biloxi law firm of Brown Buchanan and a casino development consultant, claims that investors take into consideration the monthly revenue. So, the fluctuations “might impact the scope of their project”. Bruffey thinks that a key to expanding the marketing area of the casinos beyond the Coast is the expansion of Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport and more non-casino attractions.
