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