By Mary Perez, The Sun Herald –
BILOXI, Miss. — Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis and Silver Slipper closed Monday as Tropical Storm Isaac approached.
Chett Harrison, general manager of Hollywood Casino, said the casino is required to close because of Hancock County’s mandatory evacuation of low-lying areas south of Interstate 10.
The storm track Monday afternoon put landfall in Louisiana and without a mandatory evacuation in Harrison County, the other 10 casinos in Biloxi and Gulfport will stay open.
“We’re just monitoring it,” said Allen Godfrey, Gaming Commission executive director.
If conditions warrant in Harrison County, he said, “In four to six hours the casinos will be empty.”
Casinos are taking precautions, he said, and some aren’t accepting room reservations for Tuesday night. He said police will prevent people from going to the casinos if the roads are impassible.
Silver Slipper management hopes to reopen Thursday at 4 p.m. after Isaac passes.