Seven original pioneers of the Mississippi casino industry make up the inaugural class for the Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame and will be inducted during the Southern Gaming Summit in May.
The conference and tradeshow marks the 25-year anniversary of Mississippi’s casino industry, which produced $2.08 billion in gaming revenue in 2017.
The initial Hall of Fame class includes Lyle Berman, co-founder of Grand Casinos, and Isle of Capri Casinos founder Bernie Goldstein as “Industry Pioneers.” Boyd Gaming Corp. Executive Chairman Bill Boyd and Mississippi State Sen. Tommy Gollott were named as “Industry Influencers,” while Horseshoe Gaming Corp. founder Jack Binion and Rick Carter & Terry Green, co-founders of the Island View Casino Resort, were named for “Commercial Gaming.”
Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, credited the inaugural class with playing “crucial roles in the development of our industry in the state.
Mississippi’s casino industry operates along the Mississippi River in Tunica, Greenville, Vicksburg and Natchez, and on the Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport and Biloxi.
“Without any one of these gentlemen, there might not have been an industry or at least one as successful as we see today,” Gregory said. “We’re proud to recognize them as the initial members of the Hall.”
Berman, not only played a role in the development of Mississippi gaming, but was also a major developer of Indian gaming in Minnesota. He currently serves on the board of directors of Golden Entertainment, Inc.
Goldstein, who passed away in 2009, is often referred to as the “Father of Riverboat Gaming.” He opened the first riverboat casino on the Gulf Coast.
Boyd developed the first riverboat casino in Tunica. He also helped develop Indian casinos in Mississippi.
Gollott, one of the longest serving members of the Mississippi State Senate from Harrison County, was instrumental in writing and promoting the legislation that approved casino gaming in the state, and especially the dockside element.
Binion, who like Boyd is a downtown Las Vegas casino pioneer, opened the Horseshoe casino in Tunica, which quickly became the state’s most successful casino.
Carter and Green were local Mississippi developers who opened the Copa Casino, which was a converted cruise ship. They since acquired and expanded the Island View Resort in Gulfport.
