Page 25 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Summer, 2024

Vicksburg
Ameristar Casino Hotel
WaterView Casino Hotel
casinos join in
Day of Caring
VICKSBURG — The United Way of West Central Mississippi held its 71st Day of Caring event in April. Three of Vicksburg’s casinos participated as a part of the event, which provided the opportunity for individuals and businesses to do volunteer work for various nonprofit organizations in the community.
Casino team members joined with more than 188 individuals to participate in this single-day service event, helping organizations in Warren, Sharkey, Issaquena, Yazoo and Claiborne County.
WaterView team members worked at the Vicksburg Public Library, while Ameristar Vicksburg team members planted shrubs at Good Shepherd and assisted with projects at the Warren County Children’s Shelter. Bally’s Vicksburg employees, led by General Manager Derrius Morris, were involved in community painting and clean-up efforts.
Bally’s Vicksburg
Gulf Coast casinos paddle hard in United Way festival
GULF COAST — This year’s Dragon Boat Festival benefiting the United Way of South Mississippi was the biggest one yet. Twenty-one teams participated, including five casino teams: IP Casino Resort
Spa, Harrah’s Gulf Coast, Beau Rivage, Boomtown Casino Biloxi and Hollywood Gulf Coast.
Dragon boating is a unique kind of boat racing. A dragon boat team consists of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a cox who steers the dragon boat from the rear and a drummer who sits at the front. The boat itself is 46 feet long and will go as fast
as one can paddle. The team of paddlers work in unison to propel the boat forward from a standing start, the aim being to
reach the finish line in the fastest time.
According to
United Way CEO
Kathy Springer, IP
and Harrah’s have
participated in the event
since the beginning.
Beau Rivage, returning
after a few years off
the water, placed third
overall and the team’s
drummer took home the
award for the most Dynamic Drummer.
Sister properties Boomtown/Hollywood were new to dragon boat racing this year and won the Best Newbie award. Harrah’s
The Boomtown Biloxi/Hollywood Gulf Coast team won the Best Newbie award at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival benefiting the United Way of South Mississippi.
won the award for the Most Enthusiastic. “United Way of South Mississippi is
grateful to have the support of our casino property partners,” Springer said.
SUMMER 2024 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS 25