Top Twelve Mississippi Gaming Stories in 2011

Posted: Dec 20, 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, we are reminded of the top twelve Mississippi gaming stories for the year.  Here is this year’s version of our annual list, and although we “checked it twice,” you may have your own list. 

 1.         Under New Management.  Allen Godfrey was promoted to Executive Director at the Mississippi Gaming Commission, and Jay McDaniel was hired back to the Commission as Deputy Director.

 2.         Moving On Up.  Larry Gregory retired as Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, assumed the job of Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, and moved the office to Jackson in brand new “digs”.

 3.         The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same.  Boyd Gaming Corporation purchased the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi for $278 million, complementing Boyd’s ownership of Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Tunica, Mississippi, which it opened in 1994.  However, Boyd elected to keep the “IP” and theme under the new ownership.

 4.         (Not) Wastin’ Away Again in Margaritaville.  Jimmy Buffet and Tom Brosig celebrated the ground breaking of their Margaritaville project in Biloxi, Mississippi, after having received approval to proceed with development from the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

 5.         Under the Hill.  Kevin Preston of Premier Gaming and his investment group of financial backers obtained approval to proceed with development and are moving forward with construction of the Mississippi Bluffs Casino at Roth Hill in Natchez, after several years of pre-development efforts.

 6.         Fit for a King.  Palace Casino opened a multi-million dollar expansion of its existing casino in Biloxi, including Pure, The Palace Spa, Mignon’s Lounge, a new hotel lobby, VIP check-in and gift shop. 

 7.         A New Day.  After the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians opened the Bok Homa casino near Laurel and the FBI raided the Silver Star and Golden Moon casino offices, the tribe chose to elect Phyllis Anderson as the new Tribal Chief.  Chief Anderson quickly moved to put her stamp on tribal casino operations and management.

 8.         Bigger and Better.  Churchill Downs announced an expansion of its Harlow’s Casino near Greenville, Mississippi.

 9.         In with the New.  Majestic Holdco, LLC and its Mississippi property, Fitzgeralds Hotel and Casino, emerged from bankruptcy with the old creditors now the new owners.

 10.       Help Me, I Think I’m Falling.  Mississippi fell to fifth in revenue among gaming jurisdictions in the United States, behind Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

 11.       Water, Water Everywhere.  Spring flooding along the Mississippi River devastated the gaming industry from Tunica to Natchez for several weeks in the spring.  Some say business is still not back to normal.

 12.       Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Fold ‘Em.  The owner of Resorts Tunica and Ballys Tunica reached an agreement with their lenders, permitting foreclosure on its two Mississippi properties and handing the keys to Foundation Gaming Group to run the properties while the lenders find a buyer.