Another Gulf Coast Casino Approved for Development

Casino executive Peter Simon predicts there will be substantial growth in the gaming industry along the Mississippi Gulf Coast as the region rebounds from the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.

Simon, through a company called West D'Iberville Development LLC, received approval Friday from the Mississippi Gaming Commission for a proposed development site in D'Iberville. The site is north of Biloxi Bay and west of Interstate 110. Plans call for a 52,500-square-foot casino with 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games.

Twelve dockside casinos on the Mississippi coast were damaged or destroyed after Katrina roared ashore on Aug. 29. Lawmakers last year voted to allow coast casinos to develop 800 feet on land as long as they still have part of the development touching the water. Simon said land-based gaming will change the perception gamblers have of casinos being boats on water.

"Now that we're able to come onshore and make people aware that we're on land, it will result in increased markets for the Gulf Coast," he said.

Billions of investment dollars have been dedicated to rebuilding the region. Five casinos have reopened. Another five are scheduled to reopen by mid-October. Simon brings industry expertise to the project. He has been in the casino business since 1971 when at the age of 20 he opened Pop's Oasis. He eventually became senior vice president of development for Mandalay Resort Group before it was bought out by MGM Mirage.

July 8, 2006
Posted By Bob Hartman
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