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South Mississippi casinos keep upping their game

BY MARY PEREZ
[e-mail], @MaryPerezSHMay 3, 2014 Updated 4 hours ago

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/03/5545324/coast-casinos-keep-upping-their.html#storylink=cpy

BILOXI -- Casino industry executives from across the country will gather in Biloxi this week for the Southern Gaming Summit. They will stay in new hotel rooms, eat at new restaurants and enjoy upscale casino amenities as revenues hold steady on the Coast and casino operators invest in South Mississippi.

In just the last week, a new restaurant opened at Grand Biloxi Casino, and Landry's owner Tilman Fertitta cut the ribbon on a $100 million transformation of Golden Nugget Casino.

Fertitta will open the Gaming Summit at 9 a.m. Wednesday, giving those who attend a chance to hear from the man who built 500 restaurants, casinos and entertainment venues.

Jim Hoskins, general manager of Golden Nugget Biloxi, said he's learned from Fertitta, and "it has been the ride of my life."

Geoff Freeman, president of the American Gaming Association, will close the Gaming Summit at 11:30 a.m. Thursday with a look at competition and other issues the industry is dealing with and the future of casinos.

What is ahead in South Mississippi is certainly increased competition, along with the possibility of Internet gambling and sports betting being legalized one day, said Rep. Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach, chairman of the state House Gaming Committee. He called for a study to see if either or both types of wagering could keep Mississippi competitive and add tax revenue.

The focus now is on adding new restaurants, hotel and other non-casino amenities to draw visitors to new experiences.

Palace Casino became the first casino in the South to go smoke-free following an expansion and millions in improvements. Hard Rock Casino Biloxi's 12-story hotel tower, with its expanse of glass walls and doors and ultra-modern touches, brought a new level of sophistication to the market. The MGM Stadium at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino will bring a baseball team to South Mississippi when it opens next year. The city is building the stadium on land leased cheaply from the casino. A hotel and other amenities are coming to Margaritaville Casino.

Other improvements are on the way:

n The new Magnolia House by Kelly English at Grand Biloxi Casino isn't a typical casino steakhouse but a restaurant that's also an experience. Each dining room resembles a room in a house, and New Orleans artist Max Ryan created pieces that are displayed throughout and are for sale.

"It's exactly what we had in mind," General Manager Jonathan Jones said. "It's an old Southern home."

Celebrity chef Kelly English and his chefs scoured local fish houses and farmers markets looking for fresh, seasonal ingredients he's passionate about for his menu. Saturday's opening night was completely booked by customers wanting that first taste.

This is just one area of the casino that is new, Jones said. By Memorial Day, the pool bar will be finished, the buffet will be renamed Flavors, the casino will have a new layout, an updated look and a Steak 'n' Shake restaurant.

By June 21, the new boardwalk and greenspace south of U.S. 90 will be ready for a grand opening concert.

With millions in improvements complete, the resort will become Harrah's Gulf Coast, said Jones.

He said South Mississippi has been a relatively stable market despite challenges and Caesars Entertainment is spending millions to rebrand the Grand to Harrah's Gulf Coast.

"We wanted to make a commitment to this market and the people who live here and we're doing that," he said.

n A 350-foot lazy river will open in mid-May at Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, said general manager Chett Harrison. Complete with sun decks, a hot tub and a swim-up bar, it will give guests a resort experience, he said.

n Inclement weather delayed construction of the hotel tower at Silver Slipper Casino, but General Manager John Ferrucci said the foundation is being poured and the target opening is January.

"We are convinced that there is still plenty of room for Silver Slipper to grow here on the beach in Hancock County and that this first hotel tower will be just the beginning," he said. "Subsequent phases could include entertainment facilities as well as additional first-class hotel accommodations."

n The hotel tower on the south side of Island View Casino is being restored.

"It's a pretty fast timetable," said Cathy Mackenzie, vice president and general counsel for the casino. In about 300 days, Roy Anderson Construction will complete the hotel rooms and add a swimming pool, meeting rooms and a restaurant in the $68 million project.

The casino's owners grew up in Gulfport and Mackenzie said, "They believe in Gulfport for sure, and the entire Gulf Coast."

A casino in D'Iberville and one in Gulfport, whose developers recently missed deadlines to submit financial plans to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, could still be built. Chairman John Hairston said the Commission would work with them if financing becomes available and the projects meet the guidelines that call for enhanced amenities to grow the Coast market.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/03/5545324/coast-casinos-keep-upping-their.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/03/5545324/coast-casinos-keep-upping-their.html#storylink=cpy