Which MS Coast casinos were busiest in 2021? This chart shows foot traffic at 5 sites.
Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos had their best year ever in 2021, with revenues topping $1.47 billion.
Casinos in Biloxi, Gulfport, D’Iberville and Bay St. Louis reported just over $1 billion in revenue for 2020 during the first waves of the coronavirus pandemic.
Casino executives credit the success with taking COVID-19 seriously, implementing rules and protocols to keep guests and gamblers safe.
Casinos also handed down changes in 2021, many permanent, as a result of the coronavirus. Some sites won’t bring back buffets, while others charge extra for crab legs due to a nationwide shortage.
Others added VIP lounges and sports betting, new restaurants and more.
But how busy were Coast casinos in 2021?
Data from SafeGraph shows casino foot traffic at five sites across the Coast: IP, Hard Rock Casino Hotel, Palace and Golden Nugget in Biloxi, and Scarlet Pearl in D’Iberville.
Seven casinos, including the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Island View in Gulfport and Silver Slipper in Hancock County, were not included in the SafeGraph report.
The data is measured in weekly increments from Jan. 1 to Dec. 13. A visit counts as someone visiting a casino or casino hotel for longer than four minutes.
Here’s which casinos were busiest in 2021:
- Golden Nugget saw a big spike over the summer, particularly in July
- IP saw the most consistent high number in weekly visits
- Foot traffic at all five casinos dropped the week of Aug. 23-29, the day Hurricane Ida made landfall, bearing down on the Coast.
- Golden Nugget saw a spike in traffic the week of Oct. 3 while other casinos on the list stayed flat.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 10:03 AM.
