After 2 years since Hurricane Katrina ripped through Biloxi, Mississippi leaving destruction everywhere, eight casinos are now open for business. The casinos by law had to be on the water and Hurricane Katrina only left two of the casinos barges standing in its aftermath.

But as of this week the slot machines are reeling and the cards are flying across the tables once again. The crowds of players are not up to par as they were pre-Katrina but that are steadily increasing and the owners are not worried, they are very optimistic looking into the future.

"There's such a pride in this area and can-do spirit that everybody just gets together and gets things done," says Ali Bass, communications manager at Grand Biloxi Casino. Many of the casino owners collected millions of dollars in insurance payments for their losses and could have gone and done anything they wanted with the money but the community spirit is high in Biloxi and most are reinvesting to open their casinos to benefit the community. The casino industry is one of the major employers in the area.

They have also revised the law on casinos having to operate on the water, they can also be land based and this will further open up the economy and put the life blood back in Biloxi.

- 2007-10-27