Gulf Coast casinos back open after Ivan

September 17

Now that Ivan has moved thru the Gulf Coast Area causing havoc, the casinos are now reopening for business. Thankfully, the casinos in the area of Mississippi and Louisiana escaped the brunt of the worst weather. If the casinos were located in Florida's Panhandle, it would be a completely different story.

Of the three properties that Caesar's Entertainment Inc. runs in the area, none of them came away with any major damage. Other casinos also report minor damage with landscaping and other such minor problems

Mississippi Gaming Commission officials met Thursday to detail the reopening of 12 coast casinos, a spokeswoman said. The casinos were ordered to close by the state Tuesday at noon, as the bad weather approached the coast. Most all properties opened or at least planned to open by today.

In a statement made today by Yvette Monet, a spokeswoman for MGM Mirage, said the company's Beau Rivage hotel and casino, that sustained minimal damage, reopened at 7am, local time.

The Isle of Capri, which is currently undergoing an $80 million revamping and enlarging, said the construction site was secured before the storm is just fine..

In New Orleans, the Harrah's New Orleans casino opened it's doors again on Thursday night. The casino was closed as a precaution on Tuesday pending the hurricane. They also state that there was no damage from the storm.