Mississippi Gaming Commission approves site for new Tunica casino
the Commercial Appeal | By Tom Bailey
The proposed $75million Sportsman Casino took its first step toward getting licensed in Tunica this week when the Mississippi Gaming Commission gave site approval. The next steps for Abston-McKay Ventures will be a little tougher, including getting approval to proceed. By then, the company must have gathered the money to finance the project, said Allen Godfrey, the commission’s deputy director.
Sportsman Casino would inhabit the site of the Isle of Capri, which closed Sept. 4, 2002. Mississippi has 30 casinos, including 10 in the Tunica area. Abston-McKay Ventures will “refurbish the entire site and re-orient the property towards Sam’s Town, Hollywood and Resorts casinos, which will significantly enhance the casino strip area,” Abston-McKay Venture’s attorney, Wilson Carroll, said in a prepared statement. Sportsman Casino would be about 50,000 square feet, more than three times the size of the Isle of Capris’ gaming space. Abston-McKay anticipates the casino to be completed in 15 to 18 months, according to CEO Kevin Hunter. Abston-McKay and Orr Family Properties would own the casino.
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