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Big gain in gaming revenues on Coast; hotel room occupancy causes concern.

Article Excerpt
Coast gaming revenues posted a significant gain in September from the previous month, nearly doubling from $66.8 million in August to $109.8 million.

It was the best September ever for the Coast casinos. The Coast casinos had zero revenues in September 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, Revenues in 2004 for September were $86.6 million and September 2003 revenues were $93.3 million.

"The numbers for September are reflective of hard work, but they are not a big surprise," said Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. "We projected the Coast market would return once a majority of the casinos were reopened. The numbers indicate growth in the market. If the numbers hold, and I think they will, we will return to the $1 billion mark for state gaming revenues by January 2007, one year after the re-opening of the Gulf Coast market."

Gregory said as the Gulf Coast returns, the Mississippi River casinos are also growing with a 10% increase over 2005. September 2006 river casino revenues of $131 million were the highest September gross gaming revenues since 1992.

"Overall, the numbers definitely reflect a healthy Mississippi gaming market," Gregory said.

The Coast's largest casino, the Beau Rivage, reopened August 29. 2006. Other Coast casinos also reopened in late summer. That likely...

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