Busy Labor Day in Biloxi

[Thomas]

Beau Rivage packed people in, while the I-P more than held its own.

The skyscraper casino resorts in Biloxi stayed busy until the early morning hours of Sunday and Monday over the holiday weekend.

The parking lot at Boomtown was full. On Casino Row, late crowds were sparse at the Grand Casino, the Isle of Capri and the Palace.

With eight casinos now open, Labor Day weekend was a benchmark.

Casino executives and analysts have been keeping a close watch on the coast to see how the market shakes out.

Paul Girvan, a partner with The Innovation Group, which provides feasibility studies and market analysis for casino developers, says he expects the coast market to surpass its old levels.

Girvan says with new casino developments coming in, the coast market could reach two (b) billion dollars by the end of this decade.

That would be a 60 percent increase over pre-Hurricane Katrina revenues.

Scott King, who teaches casino management for Tulane University, says he expects some settling in the market now that summer is over.

King says business typically slows until New Year's Eve.