(AP) — Mississippi’s casinos reopened just in time for the Memorial Day weekend and what a weekend it was.
Casinos raked in $5 million more than Memorial Day weekend 2019, when they won $28.9 million in gaming revenue, the Mississippi Gaming Commission reported Thursday. That increase was without the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi — the state’s largest casino — being open, The Sun Herald reported. Customers will be welcomed back there beginning June 1.
“What we know is there’s a lot of pent up demand out there,” Gov. Tate Reeves said during a press conference Thursday.
People want to go out to nice restaurants and casinos after being home for so long, he said.
Casinos reopened May 21 under tight restrictions including 50% occupancy on the casino floor and social distancing requirements.
Silver Slipper Casino in Hancock County opened with only 392 of its 855 total slot machines, and only permitting three active positions at table games that normally accommodate six or more people, according to a press release from parent company Full House Resorts. The total casino win increased by 12.3% despite a 15.9% decrease in customers over the first five days the casino was open, the company reported.