Hurricane
Dennis Hurt Profits at Mississippi Coast Casinos
Hurricane Dennis caused Mississippi
Gulf Coast casinos to have their worst July in seven
years.
Although the hurricane left the Mississippi coast
unscathed, casinos lost money because they closed
during what would have normally been a busy weekend.
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors issued
a mandatory evacuation order on July 10.
The casinos closed on a Saturday afternoon and
did not reopen until Monday morning.
Total revenue for the month on the coast was $102.3
million compared to $113.7 million in July 2004.
It was the worst July since 1998, the year before
Beau Rivage and Imperial Palace opened.
Casinos along the Mississippi River reported revenue
of $136.3 million, compared to $134.8 million in
July 2004. The statewide total for the month was
$238.6 million, compared to $248.5 million during
the same period a year ago.
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