Details about damage to casinos still sketchy

August 31

Officials at several Las Vegas casino companies are still saying they have little or even no information about the damage sustained at their shuttered properties on Mississippi's Gulf Coast from Hurricane Katrina.

Almost all of Harrah's Entertainment Inc's 8,000+ casino gambling employees have been evacuated from the company's New Orleans, Biloxi and Gulfport casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi.

The company has kept in touch with a small crew of casino workers still on hand in New Orleans that have reported some damage to that property. As with the Superdome, a section of Harrah's roof has blown away, causing water damage inside. Some of the doors to the casino, which were chained and locked have also blown right off the hinge.

The New Orleans casino has sustained probably the least amount of damage of all the area Harrah's casinos. The company's two other casinos on the Mississippi's Gulf Coast are most likely totaled. This casino stands to lose about $1 million dollars day when not in operation. News reports indicate that power will be out in New Orleans for close to three weeks at the bare minimum. All casino cash and chips were evacuated prior to landfall.

Also, MGM Mirage officials still remain in the dark about Beau Rivage, the company's luxury resort on the coast of Biloxi. The resort was built several feet above sea level so that floodwaters would be not a major issue. From news pictures, it look like it fared better than the other casinos. About 3,000 people work at the property.

Additionally, Boyd Gaming Corp. is still unable to gain information regarding its Treasure Chest riverboat casino that docks in the Mississippi River near New Orleans.