Harrah’s Entertainment Explores Options For Return To Gulfport
The world’s largest gambling company has begun exploring options for its return to Gulfport. Harrah’s Entertainment said earlier it plans to construct a “very impressive” hotel-casino in Biloxi to replace the one smashed by Hurricane Katrina. However, company officials had held back a commitment to resurrect the Gulfport casino, a signal that Harrah’s may put its vast resources into a one major coast resort.
The president of Harrah’s Central Division had said it was easier for the company to say it would rebuild in Biloxi because he believes the city is a true casino destination, but he felt Gulfport’s casino market wasn’t as strong.
All 13 floating hotel-casinos on the Mississippi coast, including nine in Biloxi, were damaged or destroyed when Katrina slammed ashore August 29th. The killer winds and storm surge tore the walls off many gambling houses and tossed some of the massive barges on land.
Yesterday, port commissioners in Gulfport directed the agency’s lawyers and staff to begin drafting lease amendments for Harrah’s Entertainment and Copa Casino, which also had its Gulfport casino wiped out by Katrina.