Mississippi bill would move Tunica casinos from flood areas, onto dry land

Saturday, November 5, 2022 12:05 PM
Photo:  By hotels.com - http://exp.cdn-hotels.com/hotels/2000000/1770000/1770000/1769958/1769958_5_z.jpg, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38676447
  • Tom Dees, WHBQ-TV

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.