Safety Worth Millions to Tunica Casinos

TUNICA, Miss. - Unprecedented flooding in the Mid-South and the threat there could be more coming has prompted an equally rare response from Tunica Casino operators. 9 gaming operations in Tunica County are following a staggered schedule of closings until Monday in the face of a possible record crest of the Mississippi River on May 10th.

In the gaming industry the odds usually favor the house. But when it comes to dealing with the unprecedented threat posed by flood waters, the nine Tunica casino properties are willing to temporarily fold 'em rather than hold 'em.

According to Webster Franklin with the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau, "As it stands right, now we're going through a staggered closure of the 9 casino properties. All 9 will be closed by Monday at 2 o'clock due to access to the casinos."

It is in the interest of safety for employees and guests that Tunica casino owners are, for the first time in their 20-year history, voluntarily shuttering their operations as waters rise along a number of the access roads of entry. Bally's closed on Friday, following the lead of Resorts Casino who shut down Thursday. Four more, including Sam's Town, close up shop on Sunday with the remaining three turning out the lights on May 2nd. The plan is based on flood stage information gathered by the Army Corp of Engineers who expect a crest on the Mississippi River of 45 feet by May 10th.

"They worked collectively; the gaming industry with the Gaming Commission with Tunica Emergency management officials," said Franklin. "Most all of it has been based on the natural elevation level of the roads, the access roads going into the casino area."

If all this sounds like somebody's going to take a financial hit, you're right. For a Tunica gaming industry that collectively have had to ride out a long term economic turndown, the uncertainty of even the briefest of respites spells "Tilt" for state revenue coffers.

"In gaming taxes alone, if we're one month down that's 10-million dollars in state and local taxes. That's not payroll taxes. We look about 96-hundred employees will be affected by this," Franklin said. "When you look at 4,600 hotel rooms closed on that side of the levee that's another 6.2 million a month in revenue from hotels."

But, at least one Alabama couple we met wasn't going to let anything weather-wise stand between them and the place they chose to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary. In a way though, Toby and Carolyn Orr were ready to "stack the deck" when it came to their own entertainment.

"We don't gamble anyway. We came down here on Beale Street. So, you're going to spend some money on Beale Street? But, you're going to stay in Tunica? We spend the night in Tunica, but we going on Beale Street."