Isle of Capri examining progressive slots at its Mississippi casinos

Matt Moore

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000 | 4:34 a.m.

JACKSON, Miss. - The Isle of Capri Casino Inc. will examine the possibility of establishing its own set of linked slots - including a progressive jackpot - when its merger with Lady Luck Gaming Corp. is completed.

Isle President and CEO Jack Gallaway said the idea is something the company has been considering for the better part of a year, but said any implementation isn't on a concrete timetable.

"If we can, we will," Gallaway said. "I kind of like the idea but we haven't addressed it before."

Before its $420 million acquisition of Lady Luck, Isle of Capri operated just three casinos in Mississippi: Isle of Capri Biloxi, Isle of Capri Vicksburg and Isle of Capri Tunica.

With the Lady Luck deal expected to close sometime next month, that number will grow by two: Coahoma County and Natchez.

Gallaway said Thursday the idea of a linked progressive jackpot through the five casinos would be welcomed by players.

"It is a natural thing to do," he said.

And it's legal.

Chuck Patton, executive director of the state Gaming Commission, said if Isle of Capri does go forward with the idea, it would need the commission's approval. He said there is nothing wrong or illegal about setting up the network.

"There really is a lot of interest in those kind of jackpots," Patton said. "There's no prohibition at all and it's certainly not against our regulations or anything like that."

Patton said the Gaming Commission is required to give its approval to all slot machines for casinos in Mississippi, including linked slots.

The Gaming Commission will also start taking public comment on a proposed regulation governing the use of progressive jackpots on linked slots.

During its meeting Thursday, the commission said it wanted to be certain that progressive jackpots that build to such a high level are rolled over into other jackpots when casinos shut the game down, and not put into casino coffers.

"After a time they fall out of favor so they want to take them down and they want to keep the jackpot," Patton said. "We don't want them to do that."

He said part of the jackpot contributed by players would be rolled over into other linked slots with progressive jackpots.

"If the odds of winning get to 500 million to one, it's a good likelihood that jackpot is not going to get hit in any of our lifetimes," Patton said.