Casinos Close As Gustav Sparks Katrina Memories
As Hurricane Gustav's approach recalls horrible memories of Katrina three years ago, area casino managers are taking no chances, making the safety of customers and employees paramount. Harrah's New Orleans Hotel and Casino announced play would be suspended in the casino today at 2 p.m., and the hotel would also close for business two hours later.
Boyd Gaming already closed its property, the Treasure Chest Casino, earlier this morning. Other smaller casinos and slot parlors throughout the Atchafalaya Basin region west of New Orleans to Lake Charles, Louisiana, were closed or preparing to close.
Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos were cautiously operating, but remained ready to shutter themselves if the storm approached any closer than currently forecast. Since Katrina, Mississippi has changed its laws, allowing the rebuilt casinos to be constructed on land near the shoreline rather than strictly on anchored barges.
After Katrina, Harrah's New Orleans was closed for over seven months, due to damages to the entire city as well as specifically to Harrah's. Gary Thompson, spokesman for Harrah's Entertainment, said of the decision to close well before any mandatory order, "It give our employees a chance to make plans if they wish to evacuate the area."
