The Mississippi Gulf Coast has long been a battleground of ambition and reinvention, where fortunes rise and fall along the glittering shoreline. Over the decades, casinos have promised prosperity and entertainment, only to be met with the unforgiving forces of nature and economic tides.
Through rare imagery and detailed accounts, this timeline delves into the history of the Coast’s gambling meccas, from dazzling beginnings to untimely ends. The evolution of the gaming industry is woven into the fabric of our Coast’s identity, a chronicle of loss and renewal.
The story of these casinos is not just one of grand openings and unfortunate closures but a testament to the enduring spirit of a region that has weathered both triumphs and devastation.
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The President Casino was initially operated as a riverboat near the Broadwater Resort at the Broadwater Resort Marina. It wasn’t until 1995 that operators replaced the riverboat with a barge abandoned by Gold Shore Casino a few months earlier.
The property, previously known as the Broadwater Beach Hotel and Resort, was a Mississippi landmark, having opened in the 1930s as an illegal gambling hall. As a casino, it was popular with the locals for featuring low-limit tables.
Owned by Mississippi Riverboat Amusement Corporation, the Biloxi Belle casino opened a dockside gaming vessel on August 28th, 1992, shortly after Hurricane Andrew passed through.
It operated as a riverboat-style casino at 857 Beach Blvd. Residents remember this casino for being small but elegant.
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Opened in 1992, Casino Magic was a popular destination in Bay St. Louis, MS, and left an enduring impact on the local gaming scene. Renowned for hosting top-tier entertainment and major sporting events like the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it became an essential stopover for travelers.
After Hurricane Katrina struck, its barge drifted miles away, ultimately leading to its closure and replacement by Hollywood Casino. Despite its untimely end, Casino Magic remains a memorable chapter in Mississippi’s casino history.
The Grand Casino in Gulfport was built in a mere 156 days, with crews working around the clock, seven days a week. This casino was known for its impressive amenities:
- 18-story, 400-room hotel, convention, and banquet space
- Full-service health space
- 3-acre waterpark with lazy river
- Clear sky bridge connecting the land-based and water-based facilities
Patrons fondly remember this casino’s entertainment options, which included a dueling piano bar, comedy club, and state-of-the-art child care complex.
Following the success of their Bay St. Louis property, Casino Magic Corp. opened their second casino barge at Point Cadet in Biloxi. It was a five-story complex with a companion five-story floating garage and housed roughly 70 table games, over 1000 slot machines, and even a keno parlor.
Initially, Casino Magic Biloxi had no lodging accommodations, but this changed in 1996 when operators added a 378-room hotel. The addition was an attempt to cater to the growing high-roller clientele who were taking advantage of new jet services provided by the city’s airport.
The ship that initially housed the Copa Casino was known as the Pride of Mississippi. This vessel took daily gambling trips into international waters but permanently dropped anchor in Gulfport when the state legalized gambling.
Like other casinos before it, the owners replaced the aging ship with a barge in 2001. The Copa was a local favorite for its low-limit table games and favorable payouts on video poker and slot machines.
Bayou Caddy’s Jubilee Casino in Clermont Harbor enjoyed being the closest casino to the Louisiana border, making it a favorite among our friends from the Pelican state. This casino was known to be off the beaten path, requiring a 20-minute drive down rural backroads.
The casino’s unique location added to its charm, providing a more intimate and exclusive experience compared to other casinos along the Coast. The spirit of this casino lives on at the Silver Slipper, where the Jubilee Buffett is a notable all-you-can-eat seafood feast.
During its short stint on the MS Gulf Coast, the Lady Luck casino was known for its unusual attractions and Asian themes. The casino was situated at Fisherman’s Wharf in Biloxi.
Visitors couldn’t miss the humongous Asian Dragon of Good Fortune, a four-million-dollar robotic dragon that delighted customers with its fire-breathing. The dragon performed each hour and reportedly consumed nearly 200 gallons of fuel per eruption.
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The Grand Casino in Biloxi was established a mere fifteen miles up Highway 90 from its sister casino, Grand Casino Gulfport. Upon launch, it sported a three-story complex with six restaurants, a poker room, and a Kids’s quest.
Over time, it added a vast theatre complex (the Grand Biloxi Theatre) and a 500-room hotel. The casino regularly hosted conventions, festivals, and popular musical acts.
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The Palace Casino is another casino that was constructed in Biloxi’s back bay. Its sleek appearance made it stand out from the rest. It featured a contemporary, elegant design with clean lines and large glass windows that reflected the surrounding waterfront scenery.
But this casino’s first incarnation was marred by controversy and litigation.
Timothy McDonald, the initial owner, was indicted on federal charges for allegedly defrauding investors by hiding profits through shell companies and inflated invoices. Accused of misappropriating $15 million intended for casino construction, McDonald and co-conspirators allegedly manipulated stock values and concealed ownership.
The controversy would lead to the company filing for bankruptcy just eight months after opening, clearing the way for new ownership.
Visitors celebrated the Treasure Bay Casino for its unique, distinctive pirate ship structure (designed to resemble a Spanish galleon). This theme was echoed throughout the facility, all the way down to the treasure map carpet.
Treasure Bay became a legendary landmark on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, regularly appearing on national TV and sometimes as the backdrop for local weather updates. Beyond the impressive facade, the venue was known for its loose slots, spacious rooms, and balconies with remarkable views.
The Gold Shore spent its short-lived tenure as a barge-based casino in Biloxi. The casino was known for its lively atmosphere, regularly hosted events, and live entertainment.
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Boomtown sits on the back bay of Biloxi and was originally owned by Boomtown Inc., a company known for its Western-themed casinos. Locals called it the region’s best “family-friendly” casino, thanks to its fun center and high-tech arcade for children.
While the arcade is now gone, Boomtown still prioritizes appealing to local customers. It has some of the loosest slots in town, hosts low-minimum table games, and features restaurants that won’t break the bank.
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Losing money hand over fist, the Biloxi Belle tried desperately to stave off bankruptcy. But it wasn’t meant to be.
On January 3rd of 1995, the casino officially closed its doors. The Biloxi Belle’s closing would vacate the site for what would eventually host the Beau Rivage.
After operating for less than a year, the Gold Shore Casino officially closed on May 14th, 1995. But it’s barge lived on, eventually becoming the foundation for the President Casino.
In late 1995, the Jubilee Casino picked up its anchor and moved to Greenville, Mississippi. It would be 10+ years before gaming would return to the site as the Silver Slipper.
In 1997, the Mississippi Gaming Commission approved a license for Robert and Lawana Low to assume ownership of the Palace Casino. They acquired it for $14.25 million through their rebranded company: New Palace.
Partnering with Casino Resource Corp. (CRC), the Lows revitalized the financially troubled casino by adding features like a marina and hotel. Over the years, the property has undergone several renovations, ultimately becoming one of the most prestigious resorts in the area.
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Founded by Minnesota businessman Ralph Engelstad, the Imperial Palace opened for business on Biloxi’s back bay. Upon launch, they paired the three-story floating casino with a hotel, lounges, restaurants, a showroom, and a 70,000-square-foot gaming space.
The casino was also a great spot to catch fantastic entertainment acts like The Beach Boys, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, and Foreigner.
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After fewer than five years in business, the Lady Luck Casino closed its doors. From the beginning, the casino was mired with financial issues. Lacking the space to expand and consistently losing money, it ultimately sold to Grand Casino.
Although the casino folded, the dragon lives on at the residence of Frank Gann, a local entertainment provider. Parts of the dragon have appeared around the Coast throughout the years, sometimes in Mardi Gras parades.
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French for “beautiful shore,” the 32-floor Beau Rivage opened in 1999 as the tallest building in Mississippi. Developer Steve Wynn initially planned to use the Beau Rivage name for what would become the Bellagio on the Vegas Strip but he ultimately decided to devote the name to the new Biloxi property.
Casino executives had originally scouted Biloxi’s back bay when seeking the ideal site. But after driving along the beach on Highway 90 and seeing the defunct Biloxi Belle casino, they oped for the gulf-facing site.
At the time of its grand opening, it was the largest casino hotel outside of Nevada, with 1,740 rooms.
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Due to the financial hardships of its parent company, the President Casino became the sixth casino to close up shop on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It would be the first time since 1992 that the Broadwater Marina would be without a casino.
The plan was to transport its barge to Waveland as the foundation for the new Silver Slipper casino. But as we’ll see next, nature had other plans.
Hurricane Katrina struck on August 29, 2005, inflicting severe damage on the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s casinos. The storm’s 25-foot wall of water and 28-foot storm surge decimated two of Biloxi’s ten casinos and heavily damaged the remaining eight.
The floating barge casinos, which adhered to Mississippi’s land-based gambling laws, were swept hundreds of yards inland, torn from their moorings. The Copa Casino, Casino Magic Biloxi, and Grand Casino Gulfport would never return.
Despite the devastation, this disaster set the stage for a remarkable economic resurgence, as the region’s resilience and determination would soon lead to a revitalized and thriving casino industry. A gold rush of sorts would start as casinos competed to reopen quickly and claim a slice of the pie.
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The Imperial Palace Casino proudly became the first casino to open following Hurricane Katrina’s destruction. Rebranded as the IP Casino Resort Spa (or IP for short), it opened less than four months after the storm.
The casino’s location on Biloxi’s back bay allowed it to avoid the damage from the storm surge that other casinos endured. The IP took advantage of the downtime to expand its operations and renovate the entire casino, adding slot machines, table games, and a poker room.
The first casino to open on the Gulf Coast became the second casino to re-open after Katrina. During the storm, the casino’s barge rose over twenty feet and collided with the parking garage. The storm also flooded the gaming floor with two feet of water.
So, taking advantage of the state’s new law allowing land-based gaming, the Isle of Capri initially opened using facilities previously serving as meeting and entertainment spaces. The casino played a pivotal role in getting residents back to work, at one point employing over a quarter of all gaming employees on the Coast.
The Palace Casino reopened just in time ring-in 2006. In five short years, it would go on to complete a massive expansion and renovation. Even today, it continues to make significant improvements, ensuring it remains one of the leading local casinos.
The current resort features hundreds of slot machines, all the favorite table games, CONTACT Sports & Race Book, Palace Buffet, STACKED Grill, Palace Café & Bakery, Mignon’s Steaks & Seafood, Wahoo’s Poolside Bar & Grill, PURE Spa, and more.
In 2024, Sun Herald awarded the Palace Casino 13 Best of Coastal Mississippi Gold Awards. Some of these honors include Best Casino, Best Local Casino, Best Sports Book, Best Spa, and Best Golf Course. It remains Biloxi’s only non-smoking casino.
Hurricane Katrina dealt the Treasure Bay ship a mighty blow, as operators couldn’t even salvage the barge. But the lead pirate, operator Bernie Burkholder, was not ready to go down with the ship. So a new Treasure Bay rose from the tatters.
Acting as its own contractor, the privately held casino initially launched on land, taking up the bottom two floors of the company’s hotel across Highway 90. It hired a Seattle architect, Peter Anderson, to give the casino a new look.
The new Treasure Bay launched with a mere 200 employees but added more as the operation expanded. To recruit workers after Katrina, they even significantly increased worker salaries.
Boomtown became the fifth casino to re-open after Hurricane Katrina, opting to relaunch The Original Locals Casino on a repaired version of its pre-storm floating barge. It would eventually expand to a pier-based expansion, adding 400 slot machines and a full-service restaurant.
Like other operations, Boomtown’s parent company offered up to 20% raises to encourage workers to return. The company even awarded employees 1.5 million dollars in grants across Boomtown and Casino Magic Bay St. Louis.
The plan paid off as the casino doubled its pre-hurricane business.
After Hurricane Katrina, Harrah’s Entertainment opted not to rebuild its Grand Casino in Gulfport. Instead, they concentrated on revitalizing and rebranding their Biloxi location, previously the Grand Casino Biloxi. The newly constructed casino would be aptly named “Harrah’s.”
It would become one of the Coast’s most popular casinos, with more than half of its guests coming from at least 300 miles away.
Despite being in the direct path of the storm, the Beau Rivage fared among the best casinos on the Gulf. Its durable mooring and huge floating superstructure made it almost as stable as a land-based facility. As such, it sustained only minimal cosmetic damage.
The Beau Rivage re-opened roughly a year after Hurricane Katrina, using the time to upgrade their lodging, gaming, and entertainment offerings. At the time, Resort President George Corchis said:
“We’ve been given a rare chance to do it all over again, and we have embarked on an even greater vision,”
The relaunch included remodeled hotel rooms, a new gaming floor layout, and a luxurious, high-limit salon.
Casino Magic, which sustained significant damage to its first floor and hotel, was rebranded as Hollywood Casino during its recovery. The newly renovated casino reopened with a temporary land-based facility, offering over 1,200 slot machines, 20 table games, and six poker tables.
Hollywood Casino soon became a local favorite and now features a marina, RV park, all-you-can-eat crab legs buffet, and swimming pool with lazy river.
Their Bridges Golf Club is Mississippi’s sole championship course created by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. It also earned the prestigious honor of being the first resort course worldwide to receive Audubon International’s Silver Signature Status, recognizing its dedication to environmental conservation.
Island View Casino rose from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, taking over the former Grand Casino Gulfport site. During Katrina, the casino barge was washed ashore, blocking Beach Boulevard (U.S. Highway 90). The obstruction led to its implosion on September 21, 2005, to make the highway passable.
Originally operated by Caesars Entertainment, Grand Casino Gulfport was sold to Harrah’s Entertainment in 2005, which opted for a brand-new casino. Now, Island View boasts one of the largest casino floors in the region, with over 126,000 square ft. of gaming space.
The Silver Slipper Casino, built on the Bayou Caddy’s Jubilee Casino site, was set to be replaced by the barge from the defunct President Casino. However, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the barge before it could be relocated.
After the storm, the Mississippi Gaming Commission allowed land-based casinos, leading to the Silver Slipper’s grand opening on November 9th, 2006. It became the first casino built from the ground up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast after the storm.
Situated on the beach in Hancock County, Mississippi, it is the closest casino to the Mississippi/Louisiana state line, making it popular among Pelican State visitors looking for a gaming getaway.
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi was scheduled to open on September 1, 2005, but Hurricane Katrina hit just days before, causing considerable damage. Originally built on a barge, the entire facility was destroyed, delaying its debut.
But the developers persisted, moving forward with the necessary repairs and even adding upgrades. The casino opened with a bang, featuring memorable performances from artists like 3 Doors Down and Kid Rock in only the first month.
The Hard Rock attic now harbors poignant artifacts from Katrina, including a guitar from Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell found in the Mississippi Sound. Rebuilt on sturdy cement pilings, it boasts the world’s tallest Hard Rock guitar sign.
In mid-2012, Margaritaville Casino opened with a theme inspired by Jimmy Buffett’s famous “Margaritaville” brand. It drew visitors with its predictable tropical and laid-back atmosphere.
Born in Pascagoula, Buffet famously made his first professional dollar in Biloxi back in the ’60s. He was thrilled to help the Gulf Coast recover after Katrina, bringing many new jobs.
Partnering with Grand Casino founder Tom Brosig, who came out of retirement for this venture, Margaritaville Biloxi made history in June 2013 as the first Mississippi casino to offer outdoor gaming. However, the success would be short-lived.
The Isle of Capri was one of the few casinos in Biloxi that weathered both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Compared to other casinos, the property sustained limited damage (the hotel remained intact) and could open after several months of repairs.
In November 2012, Fertitta Entertainment acquired the Isle of Capri for $45 million, with plans to transform it into the Golden Nugget. The purchase boosted employment from 600 to about 1,200 by the final phase of renovations.
The casino’s tropical theme gave way to the sophisticated gold, red, and brown hues emblematic of the Golden Nugget. Since its rebranding, it has seen multiple expansions and upgrades. These improvements include new dining options, revamped gaming floors, luxury accommodations, and new entertainment venues.
In 2014, Margaritaville Casino in Mississippi shut its doors due to financial struggles resulting from a dispute over hotel expansion plans between the casino’s operators and landlords. The conflict (and the reduced foot traffic at the casino’s location on Biloxi’s Back Bay) led to extreme instability.
This uncertainty led to the casino’s closure on September 15, 2014, after two years of operation.
The property would remain vacant for nine years until it was sold in 2023 for $4.9 million to MIC Limited, owned by Harry Mohney. Mohney, known for launching Dick’s Last Resort and Cat’s Meow karaoke bars, plans to revamp the former casino into a themed bar and restaurant called Hammered Harry’s.
The Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, initially approved as the Can Can Casino Resort in 2010, faced significant delays due to Hurricane Katrina. Revised plans were finally approved in 2013, rebranding it as the Scarlet Pearl.
Located across the back bay from Biloxi, the resort quickly became a magnet for locals and tourists. It featured a vibrant atmosphere and a 68,000-square-foot casino floor with over 1,200 slot machines, 38 table games, and a dedicated poker room.
These days, guests can enjoy a 36-hole Lava Links mini-golf course, a sparkling swimming pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The Scarlet Pearl is known for its loose slots and has won numerous Covey awards, making it a stand-out in the industry.
Imagery for this timeline was taken from the following sources:
![[2] – Hotel Isle of Capri](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hotel_Isle_of_Capri,_Biloxi,_MS.jpg){kind=link}
4 comments
Tammy Dickerson
Ummm, check your facts again…. The Palace casino opened before Boomtown casino.,…I was working at the Palace casino waiting for Boomtown to start interviewing for cocktails servers…
Brad Perniciaro
It’s really hard to nail down some of these dates. The dates I’ve come up with are based on news articles and records from the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
This article says the Palace opened in April of 1994, and you may be right, I found this that hints Boomtown may have opened on July 25, 1994
Marcus Pugh
Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I’ve spent the afternoon reminiscing of all the times we visited the casinos in Biloxi. We live in Pensacola and visit several times per year and have visited many times over 30 years.
Brad Perniciaro
Thanks, Marcus! Much has changed but it’s still a great (and ever-changing) destination.