Gaming News

Casino oppose Mississippi port expansion

GULFPORT, Mississippi -- As reported by the Mississippi Sun Herald: "Ambitious plans to expand the Port of Gulfport west along the beachfront nearly to Broad Avenue would damage federal resources, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"The Sun Herald obtained a letter sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last month in which NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service recommends the port's application to expand westward by filling 145 acres of water bottoms 'be denied.'

"...Island View Casino executives are the loudest critics of the port's plan to expand west, as it would put cargo vessels and shipping terminals between the casino and its view.

"The casino and port had appeared to be longtime friends. The port has called the casino one of its best tenants, with good reason; in recent years the casino accounted for more than half of the port's annual income.

"But what appeared to be a cozy friendship in public was growing turbulent in private. In a closed-door meeting this week, Port Authority commissioners reviled casino executives for opposing the port's expansion plan and accused the Island View of purposely leaking information to the media..."

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