Mississippi Gaming Commission drafts ordinance prohibiting casino west of I-110

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000 | 8:17 a.m.

The draft ordinance by the Mississippi Gaming Commission would kill the Royal D'Iberville hotel-casino proposed by Coast Resorts of Las Vegas.

Company chairman Michael Gaughan hopes to build a 300-room hotel and casino on 9 acres next to the west side of the bridge.

Gaming Commission executive director Chuck Patton said the agency had delayed drafting a zoning regulation for the Back Bay in anticipation of a proposal for a D'Iberville casino. The commission decided to move forward after a federal court ruling last week.

A federal judge ruled Royal D'Iberville and two proposed casinos for the Bay of St. Louis would require environmental impact statements, a process that would delay the projects up to two years.

"We think that project won't be going anywhere with the court ruling," Patton said.

The public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Biloxi, Patton said. The three-member commission is scheduled to vote on the ordinance at its October meeting.

Executives with Mandalay Bay Resorts of Las Vegas and Europa Cruises in Florida said they're continuing with plans to build hotel-casinos on the Bay of St. Louis.

D'Iberville Mayor Rusty Quave has said he will continue to work to bring a casino to his town.