Casinos reopening after Ivan’s passing

Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 | 10:45 a.m.

The Gulf Coast casinos of Mississippi and Louisiana escaped the brunt of Hurricane Ivan, representatives of several gaming companies said today.

Caesars Entertainment Inc.'s three properties sustained minor wind damage and some downed trees, while officials with Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. said they had minor damage to landscaping and signage at their property.

Mississippi Gaming Commission officials met Thursday to detail the reopening of 12 coast casinos, a spokeswoman said. State regulators closed casinos Tuesday at noon as the hurricane approached.

Most properties opened or made plans to open by today.

Yvette Monet, a spokeswoman for MGM MIRAGE, said today that the company's Beau Rivage property, which had minor cosmetic damage, but no flooding or structural problems, reopened at 7 this morning, local time.

In a statement, Caesars Entertainment officials said their Grand Casino Gulfport, Grand Casino Biloxi and Bally's New Orleans casinos were to reopen by today.

"Our Gulf Coast casinos weathered Hurricane Ivan much better than we had anticipated," said Caesars vice president Tony Santo.

Isle of Capri is in the midst of an $80 million expansion project, but officials said the construction site was secured in advance of the storm.

"Operating on the Mississippi Gulf Coast does bring with it the danger of tropical weather, so we understand the value of a solid hurricane preparedness plan," said Tim Hinkley, president and chief operating officer of Isle of Capri.

The Harrah's New Orleans casino reopened its doors Thursday night. Harrah's officials closed the property Tuesday night as a safety precaution, but reopened at 6 p.m., local time, Thursday.

The company said there was no damage from the storm.

Hurricane Ivan, which at one point packed winds of up to 160 mph, moved northeast away from Mississippi's coastal resorts, doing most of its damage in the Florida panhandle.