BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -
2011 was like riding a roller coaster for the coast casino industry. Revenues were up some months, and down in others. Overall, business dropped about one percent from the previous year.
"2011 was really a non-event," said Bill Kilduff. "Nothing really happening in the gaming world in Biloxi."
But that may change this year.
"There's been a lot of positive interest recently in the casino world. And I think a couple of the potential casino developers that are really serious, I think they're moving along with their projects."
It's been several years since a new casino opened on the coast. In 2012, that is going to change with the opening of Margaritaville Casino. But what will be the impact on the market? Kilduff has a theory.
"I think the name is going to be really big, and people from the outer markets, as well as actually people from the inner markets, they are looking for something new," Kilduff said. "I think it's going to cause people to take an extra visit into the Biloxi area if you're from out of town. And if they have a good time, they're going to come back."
The boldest experiment in recent months, the decision by the Palace to go smoke-free. Kilduff likes the idea, but has his doubts.
"I think that a couple of months down the road, we'll be able to look back at the Palace and see if their gamble worked or not," Kilduff speculated. "I would be pleasantly surprised if it did work though."
Casinos currently pay 12 percent in state taxes. Kilduff says if that rate went up, new casinos probably would not come into the area, and existing casinos wouldn't spend any more money.
More states are getting into gaming, but that doesn't worry Kilduff.
"Competition is a good thing," he said. "And I think what competition will do is cause the current operators to invest in their properties and make those properties the best those properties can be."
Kilduff has not entirely left the business. He still works as a consultant for several proposed casino projects along the coast.
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