February gaming figure breaks records in Biloxi

Biloxi’s casinos reported $86.2 million in gross gaming revenue in February, the largest February in gaming history, according to figures released today by the mayor’s office.

“This means that five of the last six months have broken records in some form or another,” Mayor A.J. Holloway said, “and these figures overall show the strength and vitality of the Biloxi market.”

The trend, Holloway said, began six month ago, in September, when the city’s largest monthly gross gaming revenue — $95.7 million – was reported. Added the mayor: “That was followed by the largest October ever, the largest November ever, the largest December ever, and now the largest February ever.”

January’s gross gaming revenue figure of $85.9 million, while short of the $90.2 million in January ’05, nonetheless represented the third highest month since Hurricane Katrina.

“I think these new figures reflect the influx of the so-called snowbirds,” Holloway said, “with a number of visitors coming from the Florida panhandle, lower Alabama, and, of course, our traditionally strong markets from the east, such as Atlanta and the rest of the Georgia region.”

The mayor pointed out that February’s numbers also may have been buoyed by the city hosting the largest Mardi Gras parade in Gulf Coast Carnival Association history, which rolled on Feb. 20.

Said Holloway: “We’re hoping that we’ll see this trend continue, particularly with the Smokin’ the Sound boat races coming up this weekend.”

To see the city’s monthly gaming revenue figures, click here.