Casinos betting on big comeback
Less than two years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated Louisiana, gambling along the Gulf Coast has returned and is expected to set records in 2007.
“Legalized gambling is going to save us,” predicted the mayor of Biloxi, Miss., A.J. Holloway, a few weeks after the hurricanes landed in 2005.
Biloxi’s casinos reported the most lucrative February in gaming history, based on figures from the mayor’s office.
The trend began seven months ago in September, when the city’s largest monthly gross in gaming revenue was reported.
“That was followed by the largest October ever, the largest November ever, the largest December ever and now the largest February ever,” he said.
While the casinos are setting records, one stumbling block has been finding the staff to cater to them.
Wade Duty, executive director of the Casino Association of Louisiana, says the problem is faced by all casinos in the region.
“A lot of people found employment opportunities elsewhere and are just flat-out tired of running from hurricanes,” he said.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025