Page 26 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Winter, 2023

Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort Fitz Casino
Casinos rush in with aid, support after tornadoes
MISSISSIPPI — When a powerful EF-4 tornado cut a devastating path through Mississippi in March, it flattened much of Rolling Fork and nearby communities, killing more than two dozen people. Individuals and businesses across the state jumped into action to help. The gaming industry in Mississippi, which in the past has been directly impacted by weather- related disasters, quickly responded
to the needs of those affected by the severe weather event.
In the Tunica area, casinos partnered with the Tunica County Sheriff’s Office. “The name Tunica is derived from the Native American Tunica Indian Tribe and means ‘the people,’” said Clara Hoover, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. “In the aftermath of the tornadoes, it was time for Tunica County Sheriff’s Office to do what we
do best, and help our neighbors and all of the people in need in their time of despair across the state.”
Hoover said the Sheriff’s Office was fortunate to have casinos, including Hollywood, 1st Jackpot, Fitz, Gold Strike and Horseshoe, partner with them in collecting and transporting items for those in need.
For example, Fitz Casino donated multiple pallets of water and toiletry items. Horseshoe Tunica supported Rolling Fork by donating cases of water, boxes of toiletries, and cleaning supplies and Gold Strike Casino
Resort teamed up and sent more than $5,000 in aid to storm-ravaged areas.
“Mississippi is our home, and the folks impacted by these storms are our friends and neighbors,” said Craytonia Collins, vice president of hospitality
at Gold Strike. “We’re dedicated to providing for our community when it needs it the most.”
The executive team at Bally’s Vicksburg delivered water, gift cards, drills, extension cords and many other items to Rolling Fork. And Ameristar Casino Hotel team members collected water, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, canned goods and cleaning supplies for Rolling Fork. Ameristar’s sister property in Louisiana,
Hoover talked about the involvement of area casinos in relief efforts, saying, “We collected 16 pallets of
bottled water, cases of sanitizer, cutlery kits, lysol, wipes, soaps, shampoo, and conditioner.
Tunica County is fortunate
to have its local casinos as
members of its communities.
These properties care about
the people and have a passion
to lend helping hands in any
time of need. We appreciate
their readiness to go above and beyond, any time we lean on
them for help.”
Across the state casinos
pitched in. Trop Greenville’s Senior Vice President and General Manager Colin Skidmore and Carl Smith, sportsbook manager, went to Rolling Fork days after the tornadoes. They set up a feeding station and prepared food for those in need. And Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa gave $2,500 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for their work in the impacted areas. Additionally, Harlow’s teamed with sister property Riverwalk Hotel Casino in Vicksburg to send a box truck loaded with water and other household essentials.
A team from Margaritaville Bossier City delivered goods to sister property, Ameristar Casino Hotel.
Margaritaville Bossier City, took up a collection, as well, and delivered the goods to the Vicksburg property.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Fire Department took two pallets of drinking water from Pearl River Resort to Amory, Mississippi, and more to the Mississippi Delta for those in the communities of Rolling Fork and Silver City as part of an ongoing effort to assist victims of the devastating tornadoes.
Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville collected items, including diapers, water and sundries, that were
26 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS SUMMER 2023