Page 13 - MGHA Annual Report, 2023

Local Man Wins Largest Jackpot
The largest jackpot in the 30-year history of Mississippi casinos was won by a Biloxi man in 2009. He won $14,287,950 playing a statewide progressive $1 Wheel of Fortune slot machine at Hard Rock Casino.
Advance Preparation Helped In River Flood
Casinos all along the Mississippi River went into recovery mode after the 2011 Mississippi River flood, which has been compared to the historic Mississippi River flood of 1927. By temporarily closing in late April and early May, and through advance preparation for the natural disaster, Mississippi casinos along the swollen Mississippi River received much less damage than they would have otherwise. Most were able to reopen by Memorial Day 2011.
Lula Has Only Remaining Isle Property in MS
At one time, there were five Isle properties in Mississippi:
Biloxi, Tunica,
Vicksburg,
Natchez and
Lula all had Isle
of Capri Casinos.
Today, there is
only Isle of Capri
Casino Lula (pictured), which is now operated by Caesars Entertainment.
Casinos Came, Went, Stayed In Greenville
Greenville opened its first casino, named Las Vegas, in 1994. Since then, Jubilee and Cotton Club casinos were opened and closed. Currently, Greenville is home to Trop Casino and Harlow’s Casino Resort.
Pandemic Did Not Stop Gaming Industry
In 2020, just before St. Patrick’s Day (March 16), Mississippi
casinos temporarily closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Casinos, including Treasure Bay in Biloxi (pictured), reopened with new safety protocols in May, just prior to Memorial Day. Efforts to create a safe environment where guests would feel comfortable succeeded; the gaming industry in the Magnolia State has recovered to the point where it is now experiencing pre-pandemic revenue growth.
IP Casino Rebranded After Hurricane
When it first opened in 1998, IP Casino Resort Spa was known as Imperial Palace Casino. The name came after a major rebranding following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In fact, in December 2005, IP Casino was the first property to reopen after the hurricane and helped house first responders and volunteers.
Sports Betting Came to State in 2018
The Mississippi Gaming Commission approved sports betting regulations in 2018, making it possible for casinos to begin accepting wagers on professional and some amateur sporting events. In August, Mississippi became the third state to activate legal sports betting after the repeal of PASPA — just in time for the start of football season. MGM’s Beau Rivage
in Biloxi and Gold Strike in Tunica launched their sports book operations simultaneously on Aug. 1, coinciding with the 26th anniversary of gaming in Mississippi. Pictured, openings at Fitz Casino Hotel in Tunica (below) and Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa in Greenville (bottom).