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Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (credit: Wikipedia)

Biloxi, MS- It has been nearly three years since hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, wiping out one third of Biloxi’s historical homes and damaging or destroying all thirteen area casinos. Many residents were displaced or lost their lives along with homes and jobs. Standing out on the shorelines now are the Casinos-symbols of Biloxi’s ability to come together and find a way to provide relief for Mississippi residents.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour knew what it meant to the community to have the casinos re-opened as soon as possible. Thousands were out of work and $500,000 in tax revenue was lost every day the casinos remained closed. Barbour signed a bill on Oct 3, 2005 that lifted restrictions from building casinos on land instead of being limited to floating barges. “By signing this bill, the state is taking the necessary precautions to provide safety for the casinos and, in turn, is providing jobs for thousands of displaced Mississippi workers," explained the Governor.

Eleven of the thirteen area casinos are now open in 2008, providing 15,000+ jobs and drawing visitors and tourists back to the area, boosting the economy. 2007 was a fantastic year for the casinos as gaming revenues hit a record breaking $3 billion. City officials reported that the revenues have become irreplaceable. $0.04 of every dollar the house wins goes to local schools, public safety, fire protection, and city government. $0.08 of every dollar goes to the state. Biloxi Mayor, AJ Holloway stated in an interview with NPR’s reporter John Brunnett , “If it weren’t for the casinos we wouldn’t be anywhere.”

There have also been other casino contributions beyond local requirements as in the case of the IP Casino. They supported the community by making several donations. Reported in Gaming South Magazine’s 2008 edition, the donations included $500,000 to the City of Biloxi for municipal vehicles, $500,000 to rebuild an elementary school and $200,000 to Habitat for Humanity who was sponsoring new Biloxi homes. 

Today, casinos such as the IP, The Hard Rock and the Beau Rivage tower over the beach in a grand display of achievement. They provide a solid foundation for rebuilding a visitor population and will allow local officials to focus on bringing in family attractions, making it a place for all types of vacationers and tourists. As the developmental hot-spot continues to draw new faces to the area, the future of Biloxi becomes brighter for everyone.

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