BILOXI, Miss. — From the balconies of the Isle of Capri Casino, Mississippi's once-glittering coastline spreads toward the horizon like an allegory of bad luck -- a nightmare vision of heaped debris, buildings stripped to beams and traffic lights blinking on tilt.
But in the second-floor gambling parlor, an alternate, windowless reality is hermetically sealed from the devastation. The sound of power tools is drowned out by the incessant blooping of the slots. In here, nearly six months after the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the good times are rolling.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday February 26, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 0 inches; 25 words Type of Material: Correction
Mississippi casinos -- A map in Saturday's Section A mislabeled the locations of two casinos on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The correct locations are shown below.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday March 03, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
Mississippi casinos -- A graphic in Saturday's Section A on Mississippi's recovering casino industry said Casino Magic in Biloxi planned to reopen within nine months. A decision on whether to reopen the casino has not been made.
The gamblers are back, and they are bringing huge amounts of money to this beaten coastline's most important industry.
"We've been here since morning, and I've already spent his $300," said Christine Pitsos of Pensacola, Fla., nodding toward her fiance, Robert Call, after a day on the gaming floor.
"We wanted to come here and spend our money and help support the local economy," Call said, straining to be heard above the din of the casino's crowded restaurant.
Since its introduction in Mississippi in the early 1990s, casino gambling has transformed this stretch of the coast, often called the "Redneck Riviera," from the object of regional jokes to a booming resort area. Then Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, destroying most of the waterfront casinos and shuttering the remainder. Some economists and tourism officials predicted that their comeback -- if it occurred at all -- would be slow going.
But the Isle of Capri and two other casinos resumed business in December, and since then have attracted thousands of visitors who have helped the gaming industry post surprisingly strong numbers. In January, the three casinos pulled in nearly $64 million in gross gaming revenue, according to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The previous January, the total in Biloxi was $90 million -- when the city had nine casinos in business.
State officials say a healthy casino industry is key to rebuilding the coast. But they're surprised that so many visitors have returned so soon.
"We are just flabbergasted," said Larry Gregory, executive director of the gaming commission. "It could be curiosity, or pent-up excitement from people who for several months have been unable to play. We do know that it's an economic gold mine right now."
