Three of the 12 Coast casinos have moved to adults-only resorts, banning children inside the casino and at the hotels, restaurants and pools.
Comments on social media leaned in support of management at Silver Slipper Casino in Hancock County, who announced last week only adults age 21 and over will be allowed at the resort. The policy takes affect July 1.
Island View Casino in Gulfport and Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi have been adults-only since reopening in May 2020, after the two-month coronavirus shutdown.
Children are allowed at some of the outdoor activities at these resorts, like the flame throwing competition during Cruisin’ The Coast at Island View and the car show near the water at Silver Slipper.
The other nine casino resorts in South Mississippi allow children in the hotels, restaurants and pools.
Following the Silver Slipper announcement, the Sun Herald asked readers if they thoughht kids should be allowed at Coast casinos.
The online poll brought 822 responses:
78% said children shouldn’t be allowed at Coast casinos.
19% said kids should be allowed on casino property.
4% were unsure.
A romantic dinner for two is celebrated at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi. A large majority of those who responded to a Sun Herald poll say children should not be allowed at Coast casinos. Courtesy of Landry's
The problems with kids
Even more important than public sentiment is how Mississippi Gating Commission views issues with children on the casino floor, since infractions potentially can cause a casino to lose its license to operate.
Jay McDaniel, executive director of the Gaming Commission, said he’s heard reports of minors being left alone at restaurants and in hotel rooms while parents gamble.
“The responsibility for minors first lies with their guardian,” he said.
But casinos also have duties that are defined in the code that spells out regulations for minors at Mississippi casinos.
Many of the casinos are laid out so that children have to cross the casino floor to eat with their parents at one of the buffets or other restaurants.
McDaniel said security is supposed to check them in and have security cameras watch them until they arrive at the restaurant.
“They’re trusting that parent,” he said, and where issues come is when the parent decides to stop and play a game on the way through the casino.
Underage players a no-no
If casino staff sees children playing a slot machine, they are required to report it to the Gaming Commission.
“Both the security and surveillance departments shall immediately determine, to the extent possible, how the person was able to gain access to the premises without being detected and, where possible, how the licensee plans to prevent such breaches in the future,” the regulations say.
There is no incentive for a minor to play a slot machine.
“If he plays and wins, he has to forfeit the money,” McDaniel said.
If the casino had an incident and isn’t at fault, the Gaming Commission will tell management to tighten their security.
“We don’t want to have another,” McDaniel said.
The Gaming Commission can fine the casino, and McDaniel said that has happened in the past for minors on the casino floor.
The penalties are not as harsh if casinos self-report, he said.
When Gaming Commission agents are at a casino, they look for minors on the casino floor.
“If we see it,” he said, “it’s a much bigger problem.”
Mississippi regulations say children under 16 are not allowed in the casino. Those ages 16-20 can sit in the next seat and watch their parent play, but must wait until they are 21 to play the slots or table games.
McDaniel says there definitely are more issues in the summer when kids are out of school, and the commission reminds the casino operators to be on the watch.
Kids welcome here
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi is one Coast casino that caters to families — in large part because the arcade, shops, buffet, theater, hotel and other family amenities don’t require children to cross the casino floor.
Kids come in their fancy clothes to get their family Christmas card photo in the decorated atrium or to attend the annual Christmas show or one of the other special concerts and family events.
When children do need to cross the casino to get to a special event in the conference center, security hands the family a card they must carry.
“They really do watch that,” said Mary Cracchiolo Spain, regional director of public relations.
The swimming pool is open to hotel guests only and is big enough for kids and adults, she said, and they haven’t had any issues with kids lingering in the casino.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 11:30 AM.
Mary has won numerous awards for her business and casino articles for the Sun Herald. She also writes about Biloxi, jobs and the new restaurants and development coming to the Coast. She is a fourth-generation journalist.
