October 3

In the ongoing saga as to what to do with the damaged and destroyed casinos in the Mississippi Gulf Coast, lawmakers voted today to permit coastal casinos destroyed by Hurricane Katrina to be rebuilt on dry land instead of barges floating on the waters of the Gulf.

The new bill is expected to be signed by Haley Barbour, the Governor of Mississippi. Last week, he even called a special session of the Legislature to deal with the hurricane related issues such as this one. He asked lawmakers to let the casinos move on land by as much as 1,500 feet.

This new decision comes over a month after Hurricane Katrina destroyed or caused major damage to 12 casinos along the coast of Mississippi. Sadly, thousands of casino workers have lost their much-loved jobs and Mississippi's gaming industry has been dealt a majotr financial blow.

Mississippi officials believe the state is losing more than $500,000 in tax earnings each day the casinos are not in operation. 

Casino companies such as Harrah's Entertainment sought changes in Mississippi law to allow the coastal casinos to become land-based.

In the writings of the new casino law, casinos can be rebuilt within 800 feet of the Gulf shore. 

Harrah's, the gaming industry's largest casino operator, lost 2 casinos in Mississippi to Katrina, They were the Grand Casino Biloxi and the Grand Casino Gulfport.

Loveman said his company would begin planning immediately to replace its Grand Casino in Biloxi but didn't know whether it would return to its Gulfport location.

In the beginning of the session to change the casino law, Pinnacle Entertainment, which operated the destroyed Casino Magic in Biloxi, had been undecided about the new legislation.

Yesterday after the House permitted the measure, the state Senate passed the bill 29-21. after the House approved the measure last week. Of course, religious groups were against any changes in the state law.

Mississippi legalized casinos 15 years ago, but the law stated they must be on barges floating on either the Gulf of Mexico or the Mississippi River. The bill headed for Barbour's approval does not allow the river casinos to move onto dry land.

While some gambling companies have said they plan to rebuild over water, others want to go on shore so their buildings will be sturdier and easier to insure.

After 2 whole hours of debating, the vote came to and end.