In Louisiana, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s idea of opening up the city’s downtown area to more casinos went nowhere. Until now, they’ve rested on barges moored along the beach, though hotels and other amenities were built ashore. Haley Barbour got the Legislature to allow casinos on shore. Within weeks after Katrina, Mississippi Gov. Reaction to destruction of the two states’ gambling industries was a huge contrast and, perhaps, a telling sign why many predict profitable days ahead for the Magnolia State. The casinos tell me their base is coming back.” We’re getting a lot of people from out of town coming here. “A lot of people say this is FEMA money and insurance money, but I don’t believe that. “It’s really amazing,” said Biloxi Mayor A.J.
That’s more than half of what 12 coastal casinos took in during the same period of 2005. The three coastal casinos that have reopened since Katrina grossed a total of $246.6 million from January through April, according to the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
Already, despite catastrophic damage from Katrina, business in Mississippi have made a stunning rebound.
