Page 106 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2026

story by Lori Beth Susman
Mississippi’s commercial gaming industry held its ground in 2025, producing $2.43 billion in revenue and finishing with flat growth— the only U.S. gaming jurisdiction to post no annual increase. As
in previous years, casinos in Biloxi and elsewhere along the
Gulf Coast outperformed those in the state’s northern and central regions. Yet despite the stagnant
revenue picture, the first half of 2026 has
been marked by several proposals that could
reshape Mississippi’s casino industry. In May, Caesars Entertainment, Inc.,
parent company to four Mississippi casinos, including Harrah’s Gulf
Coast, announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Fertitta Entertainment, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $17.6 billion. Fertitta Entertainment is the parent company of Golden Nugget Biloxi.
In June it was announced that Scarlet Pearl Casino
Resort would be acquired by Ilitch Companies, owner of MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit, as the company forms Ilitch Gaming, a unified gaming, hospitality and entertainment platform that will oversee the organization’s gaming-related businesses.
The addition of the D’Iberville-based Scarlet Pearl gives Ilitch a property known for its strong culture, loyal customer base, and commitment to the surrounding community.
Both proposals are subject to regulatory approvals.
Additionally, the Mississippi gaming industry saw the addition of four new members to the Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame. The Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association (MGHA) held
the eighth annual Hall of Fame Dinner Gala June 18 honoring industry leaders who have played a significant role in the Mississippi gaming landscape.
Inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame were Karen Sock, industry pioneer; Joe Billhimer, industry pioneer; John
Ferrucci, industry influencer; and Allen Godfrey, industry regulatory/government official. Sock,
who passed away in April, was honored as a history maker in Mississippi for becoming
the nation’s first Black female to lead a major casino company. Her husband, Fred, and daughter, Kristan, accepted the award on her behalf.
Billhimer, currently chief operating and development officer for Cordish Gaming,
was recognized for his leadership in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as he spearheaded the
complex multi-year rebuild of Hard Rock Biloxi. Recently retired from more than 30 years in the
state’s gaming industry, Ferrucci was honored for his deep commitment to community involvement and consistent support of countless charities and civic organizations. Ferrucci most recently served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Full House Resorts and general manager of Silver Slipper Casino Hotel.
Godfrey was recognized for being instrumental in guiding the industry through continued growth, first as deputy director (2003) and then as executive director (2011) of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, as well as assisting the industry in overcoming several disasters. Godfrey is currently deputy director of the MGHA.
106 | August 2026
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