| Gaming trade group to strategize without Beau Rivage |
The Mississippi Gaming Association, one of two trade organizations in the state, will hold a meeting next month as part of a "strategic planning process," said incoming president Duncan McKenzie.
The planning session also comes after the withdrawal from the association of Beau Rivage, MGM's showplace in Mississippi and one of the organization's biggest financial contributors.
Jeff Dahl, president and general manager of Beau Rivage, said in a statement this week that the casino would be in a better position "to address issues affecting our company rather than being a member of an association made up of many and divergent interests."
"Going forward we will use our own voice to communicate with our community and government leaders and we will focus our resources on accomplishing goals that will directly benefit our company, employees and customers," Dahl said.
Beau Rivage in recent years has set an independent course from other casinos. It withdrew from the United Way of South Mississippi campaign three years ago and instead encouraged employees to contribute to a company-sponsored charity.
This year, Beau Rivage was the only casino to oppose the expansion of the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center.
Beau Rivage, however, is not the only casino to opt out of membership in the state association. Imperial Palace and the Copa Casino don't belong to the group.
Dahl said the Beau Rivage will continue its membership in the Gulf Coast Gaming Association, which represents local casinos.
McKenzie, general manager of Grand Casino Biloxi, said the Mississippi Gaming Association will be better once agreements are reached at the strategy meeting. "We hadn't been through a strategic planning process in a few years," McKenzie said. "We thought it was prudent in today's age of casino company consolidation.
"We're going to have a way different ownership makeup than we had a few years ago. We felt it was a good time to take a step back, get everybody together and decide what our important objectives were going to be in the new year."
Several potential hot issues for the casino industry are brewing, including debate in the Legislature over tax increases.
McKenzie said the association would effectively state the industry's viewpoints.
"We're not broken," he said. "We're just trying to do some future planning."
Source: The Clarion-Ledger
Friday, 31 December 2004
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