Mississippi casinos report dip in business

Matt Volz

Friday, April 11, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

JACKSON, Miss. -- Some Mississippi casinos are reporting thin crowds and slow revenues since the war with Iraq in March.

"We were off last week considerably," said Jose Oakley, senior director of operations for Isle of Capri Vicksburg. "If this war continues for a long period of time, it could take its toll."

Oakley said he called the two other Isle of Capri casinos in Natchez and Biloxi and they also reported having a "soft" week.

Curt Follmer, general manager of the Rainbow Casino in Vicksburg, said head counts there were also down for this time of year.

"When you have the revenue dips, that's a concern. When we get a lot of the uncertainties out of the way in Iraq, things will pick up," Follmer said.

Casino operators attribute the dip partially to the war, but say it could also be due to rising fuel prices and the slumping economy.

Brian Richard, research director for the Mississippi Gaming Association, said there has been a slowdown across the state, but it has not been drastic.

"I've heard that the crowds have been irregular over the past few weeks. It's been a little unpredictable," Richard said.

Some in the industry say Mississippi casinos will likely be less affected than other popular gambling destinations by war. Most patrons who come to the state's casinos drive in, so the Mississippi industry is not affected by a decline in air travel.

That was the case after Sept. 11, 2001, when the terrorist attacks affected Las Vegas casinos, but less so in Mississippi, said state Gaming Commission spokeswoman Leigh Ann Wilkins.

"Our numbers tend to stay steady in times like these," Wilkins said.