Mississippi Casinos Affected by Hurricane Lili

The storm was quickly nearing and becoming an imminent threat that the Gaming Commission ordered gamblers and low profile workers to evacuate by 6pm.local time Wednesday. Cash and surveillance equipment were left in the casinos.

The rapidness of the storm disabled the normally instituted l2 hour shutdown process to proceed, whereby all staff would be evacuated and agents would seal the buildings.

Larry Gregory, the executive director of the Gaming Commission, was able to get the okay from the Civil Defense Dept. to reopen the coastal casinos by 2pm. Thursday. However, seven other casinos in Greenville, Natchez and Vicksburg areas were being closed down by 2pm. Thursday. No time was set for their reopening as of yet.