Two Biloxi casinos will have the same owner in $17.6 billion deal. What to know
Two Biloxi casinos just a few blocks apart — Golden Nugget and Harrah’s Gulf Coast — will soon share an owner under a $17.6 billion sale of Caesars Entertainment to Fertitta Entertainment. The deal could reshape the local market without major leadership changes.
FULL STORY: What will sale of Caesars mean for Biloxi and Harrah’s Gulf Coast?
Here are key takeaways:
- The sale, announced May 28, brings Caesars’ 50-plus casinos in 13 states and five countries under Fertitta Entertainment, a private company with more than 550 business outlets worldwide. Fertitta will assume $11.9 billion in Caesars debt.
- Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Jay McDaniel said he doesn’t expect antitrust problems in Biloxi’s 12-casino market, though state regulators and the FTC will review the deal.
- Leadership at both Biloxi properties is expected to stay. Allen Godfrey of the state Hotel Gaming and Hospitality Association said Jonathan Jones at Harrah’s and Chett Harrison at Golden Nugget have done a “phenomenal job” running their casinos.
- Golden Nugget Biloxi is larger, with 737 employees and 706 hotel rooms, compared with 441 employees and 499 rooms at Harrah’s Gulf Coast. Harrah’s owns extra land that could allow expansion.
- The combined Caesars Rewards, Golden Nugget and Landry’s loyalty programs could draw more first-time visitors to Biloxi. Popular Fertitta restaurant brands like Chart House and Rainforest Cafe could appear at Harrah’s. The sale could take up to a year to close.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
Mary Perez
Sun Herald