TUNICA COUNTY, Miss. — A new proposal could be a game-changer for Tunica County casinos.
The bill would allow casinos to be built on dry land instead of inside of a levee, where there are flood risks. State Representative Cedric Burnett drafted the bill and said it would protect against such events.
A river topped out at more than 48 feet during a flood in 2011, which was 14 feet above flood stage. The event flooded many casinos and caused the county a major loss of revenue.
”Well, I think that is always a good thing, if they have been flooded before,” said James Simmons of Birmingham, Ala. “Don’t be near water, if you can help it.”
But that’s not the only reason for the bill. It’d also allow casinos to be built on the east side of Highway 61 near the DeSoto County line.
Putting them closer to Memphis and in the event Tennessee legalizes gambling, Tunica County casinos could still stay in the game if competition set up shop in Tennessee.
”I don’t know that it would affect anything because everybody has a good time where they are,” said Krista Frazier of Horn Lake.
Burnett said that he’s not sure if any casinos would move or not but added that established casinos would be given three- to five-year first dibs over any outside casinos coming in.
And putting them closer to Highway 61 means closer proximity to traffic and in a central area.
”Well, if they did, it would probably be a lot more convenient,” Tunica County’s Shawn Lewis said.
”I think that would be a good thing. It’s out here in the middle of nowhere for now,” Simmons said. “I would think they would have more traffic, more business and not as many of them shut down.”
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