Page 9 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Fall, 2022

Dockside gaming pioneer shares history
By David Grisham
and Lori Beth Susman
BILOXI — As a pioneer in riverboat and dockside gaming, Allan Solomon received one of the first gaming licenses in the state of Mississippi. He was co-founder and executive vice president of Isle of Capri
Casinos Inc. at the time, and that gaming license led to the opening of the first casino in state, the Isle
of Capri Biloxi, on Aug. 1, 1992. It was no ordinary day in Mississippi as it would spark an explosion
of gaming in the Magnolia State.
Vicksburg and Fitz Casino & Hotel
in Tunica, said Isle of Capri Casinos was in a good position to be the first to open in Mississippi. “We were fortunate that we had two riverboats that we were planning to bring down from our operations in Iowa,” he explained, “so our initial preparations
were not as extensive as if we were starting from scratch.”
Biloxi was on the radar as the location of the first casino from early on, and Goldstein and Solomon actively worked to get gaming passed on the local level in Harrison County. Solomon recalled the mindset of the Isle of Capri team leading up to the opening of the state’s first casino. “We were confident,” he said, “but
were waiting in line.”
The Mississippi gaming trailblazer
said the foundation was in place for casinos to experience success, which made opening a casino a safer bet. “They (the state) set a reasonable
tax rate with no limit on the number
of licenses that attracted significant amount of investment in the industry to the point we are today with 26 commercial properties and two native American properties operating in the state,” Solomon said. “The state also set a reasonable regulatory framework and structure that has allowed the industry to flourish, while maintaining a high degree of public confidence in the industry.”
And gaming has flourished, creating good-paying jobs, generating significant state and local tax revenue, and providing an engine to drive tourism growth here. Looking ahead, Solomon expressed a sentiment shared
by many, “I hope the industry is a successful in the next 30 years as it was in its first 30 years.”
Remembering the Isle of Capri Casino’s opening day, Allan Solomon said orange juice was given to customers waiting in line.
In the early 1990s,
Solomon had the vision
to become involved in
gaming with the “father
of riverboat gaming,” the late Bernie Goldstein. Solomon’s familiarity with the state of Mississippi fueled his interest in gaming opportunities on
the Mississippi Gulf Coast. As an Isle executive of more than 16 years, he played a central role in establishing and growing the company as one of the leading regional gaming operators.
reasonably
with any new venture, there is risk, and no one was sure that we would
be that successful. There was long history of gaming along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, so we knew there was a segment of the local population that would have a predisposition to game.”
Allan Solomon
During Solomon’s tenure, Isle of Capri opened its second property in Vicksburg in August 1993. This was followed by Isle of Capri Tunica in 1999, and Isle of Capri Natchez and Isle of Capri Lula, both in 2000. Today, none of those properties are owned
by Isle of Capri Casinos, and only
Isle of Capri Lula, owned by Caesars Entertainment, carries the Isle name.
Solomon, who is currently a principal and chairman of Foundation Gaming Group and of Foundation Gaming
& Entertainment, which owns and operates WaterView Casino Hotel in
Focused on making the Biloxi property a success and making a profit, Solomon said there were no thoughts of opening multiple properties in Mississippi at the time. The response on opening day turned out to be a harbinger of successes to come, however. Surprised by the long lines
of people waiting to enter the Isle of Capri Biloxi, Solomon thought back to opening day, “People were waiting for hours in the heat to get on the boats. We were the first one that opened, so we had no frame of reference on what to expect. I also remember we were serving customers orange juice who
many. Our low cost-of-living, regional diversity, natural resources, multiple amenities, short transit times, as well as our resilient, hospitable people, have combined to create a rich cultural gumbo that should be experienced and enjoyed by all. The gaming industry
has both contributed to and been a beneficiary of this success. Because of steps taken in the past, the future
of gaming in Mississippi looks bright. As long as new operators up the ante, with regard to unique transformational amenities, we can grow the existing market.
So, if the question is, “Has legalized gaming been a good deal?” With the adoption and consistent enforcement of sound gaming regulations, a strong sense of community engagement,
the creation of thousands of jobs, the delivery of new amenities, attractions, and entertainment options, and the introduction of a new Mississippi to America, the answer is, “You bet!”
Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes served as a State Senator from 1992 to 2012. He can be reached at mayorsoffice@ gulfport-ms.gov.
FALL 2022 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS 9