Harrah's Gulf Coast

Harrah's Gulf Coast is a casino and hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi, owned by Vici Properties and operated by Caesars Entertainment.

Harrah's Gulf Coast
Location Biloxi, Mississippi
Address 265 Beach Boulevard
Opening dateJanuary 21, 1994[1]
No. of rooms495
Total gaming space35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2)
Notable restaurantsLB's Steakhouse
Casino typeLand-based
OwnerVici Properties
Operating license holderCaesars Entertainment
Previous namesGrand Casino Biloxi
Websitecaesars.com/harrahsgulfcoast

This facility replaces the former Grand Casino Biloxi, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. At the time, the casino offered a 106,000-square-foot (9,800 m2) casino, two hotels with 975 rooms, and a 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m2) convention center.

Currently, the casino features around 800 slot machines and 35 table games.[2]

History
After Katrina: Grand Casino Biloxi barge washed inland

Prior to 2005 this casino was a Grand Casinos and Park Place Entertainment property. After the ownership change to Harrah's Entertainment it was announced that this casino was being converted to the Horseshoe brand. But these plans were put on hold when Biloxi and the Gulf Coast were hit by Hurricane Katrina. The storm destroyed the barge on which the casino floor was located; the storm surge swept the barge from the shoreline all the way across Beach Boulevard, nearly 500 feet (150 m) inward. On May 21, 2006, demolition crews imploded the beach-side hotel structure, leaving Harrah's with a clean slate for rebuilding.

After Katrina, the company announced that they will be re-opening the facility during Summer 2006, with a 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) casino, a spa, and other amenities, but the facilities south of Highway 90 would take several years to complete. On August 17, 2006, the first phase of the rebuilding opened with a 495-room hotel and a new land-based casino.

The long-term plan for this property had been to construct what Harrah's (now renamed back to Caesars) called "a destination resort." Part of the expansion plans revolved around Caesars' purchase of the 18 acres (73,000 m2) that comprised the neighboring Casino Magic property. In May 2007, Harrah's announced the Margaritaville Casino and Resort would be built on the site.[3]

However, construction of that expansion ceased in 2008 due to economic concerns, and in January 2011, Caesars officials announced the termination of the agreement with Jimmy Buffett and his Margaritaville brand. A new Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant, not affiliated with Caesars Entertainment, was to be constructed at a different location in Biloxi.[4]

In October 2017, ownership of the property was transferred to Vici Properties as part of a corporate spin-off, and it was leased back to Caesars Entertainment.[5][6]

See also

References
  1. "Casino provides posh apartments for guests". Press-Register. Mobile, AL. January 18, 1994 – via NewsBank.
  2. "Biloxi Slots - Best Slot Machines in Biloxi". Harrah's Gulf Coast.
  3. "Harrah's Entertainment and Jimmy Buffett Unveil Plans for New Margaritaville Casino and Resort in Biloxi" (Press release). Harrah's Entertainment. 2007-05-17. Archived from the original on 2005-09-24.
  4. "New Margaritaville in the works" Archived 2011-01-14 at the Wayback Machine, Sun Herald, January 13, 2011
  5. "Vici Properties Inc., completes spin-off from Caesars Entertainment Operating Company" (Press release). Vici Properties. October 6, 2017 – via NewsBank.
  6. Form 424B4: Prospectus (Report). Vici Properties. February 2, 2018. pp. F-54 – via EDGAR.

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