Scarlet Pearl's opening isn't Coast's only positive development this week
What already was expected to be a momentous week in South Mississippi with Wednesday's opening of Scarlet Pearl Casino got better with the announcement Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a compact Monday with the Seminole Tribe that expands casinos in South Florida but not to the Florida Panhandle.
A report in the Miami Herald said the agreement will generate nearly $3 billion in additional revenue to Florida over seven years in exchange for the tribe's exclusive right to operate blackjack and add craps and roulette.
The compact, which still must be approved by the Florida legislature, also opens the door for new slot casinos in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties and allows existing South Florida racinos to seek voter approval to operate limited blackjack tables.
Not in the agreement was any provision to allow slot machines at a dog track in Gretna, west of Tallahassee, without violating the terms of the contract. A local voter referendum to allow slot machines passed, and Mississippi casino operators and regulators were concerned an operation there or in South Alabama would hurt business in South Mississippi.
"I don't believe they would grow the market," Richard Bennett, chairman of the Mississippi House Gaming Committee, said of casinos in southern Alabama or western Florida. "I think they would take a slice of ours."
He doesn't see Scarlet Pearl, D'Iberville's first casino, as a threat to the other 11 Coast casinos.
Mayor Rusty Quave, City Manager Bobby Eleuterius and other D'Iberville officials have worked "so hard for so long," Bennett said.
He believes Wall Street and investors will be watching to see if the casino does attract new people to South Mississippi to visit and play the new Lava Links miniature golf course with a volcano that emits steam so players know it is about to erupt with a flame.
"The location is great. The facility is fabulous. I think it will grow the market," he said of the new casino that opens Wednesday. Scarlet Pearl and its rooms, restaurant and miniature golf will open after a fairly short ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. A fireworks display is planned for Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Mississippi Gaming Commission staff has been on site, completing the checks of surveillance, slot machines and table games.
"I have been told there are no issues," Gaming Commission Executive Director Allen Godfrey said.
The Scarlet Pearl is the first casino built since the Gaming Commission enacted minimum standards that require a casino resort have at least 300 guest rooms, a fine-dining restaurant and an amenity that will grow the market rather than divide the same number of visitors among the other casinos.
"Obviously, gamblers are probably not large miniature golfers," Godfrey said. But families come along on business conferences, stay at a casino and make it a vacation.
"We've got to have things for the kids to do while their parents are at conventions," he said. Pre-Hurricane Katrina South Mississippi had amusement parks, water parks and family attractions. While those are returning to the Coast, Scarlet Pearl's miniature golf may encourage people to stay an extra night. "That's a good thing," he said.
This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Scarlet Pearl's opening isn't Coast's only positive development this week ."