BILOXI — Harrison County casinos can reopen today starting at 7 a.m.

Mississippi Gaming Commission executive director Larry Gregory came to the Coast on Tuesday and said if the casinos have completed their checklists that “we will reopen them.”

The checklist includes permission from the fire marshal, the Department of Health and all other approvals, along with the proviso that security and surveillance are operational.

“I expect the majority will be ready to open in the morning,” he said Tuesday night.

The Gaming Commission determines when the casinos can reopen, but doesn’t have authority over the hotels.

IP Casino opened its hotel, some of its restaurants and supporting operations on Tuesday and plans to reopen its casino today.

Beau Rivage announced that it will open its casino floor at 9 a.m.

“We let the casinos know on Saturday night” they needed to have patrons out by 7 a.m. and be completely locked down by 3 p.m., Gregory said. That coincided with the 3 p.m. evacuation orders from Harrison and Hancock County and many of the casinos closed earlier than required.

“We have done this for 15 years,” Gregory said, and that Mississippi casinos have never had an injury or death due to hurricanes. “We take it very seriously.”

Read full article:
Most Coast casinos reopen today

Here is a picture that shows a good example of the flooding and storm surge during Biloxi.