Casino and gaming tech shine at the Southern Gaming Summit

The Southern Gaming Summit, held at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, has showcased a host of new casino and gaming technologies and products. The summit was a meeting place for industry insiders and leaders to discuss the latest relevant issues affecting the industry.

Duncan McKenzie, General Manager of IP Casino, said: “I always get a kick out of people who come here for the first time. We always exceed what they expect to see. They expect to come here and see riverboat gambling and they see beautiful casinos and facilities and wonderful restaurants.” said.

The summit attracted plenty of tourism interest as well. Milton Segarra, CEO of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, said: “People want to visit a destination and the destination has to be strong and diversified. The gaming industry is important to being a successful destination.” It was Marlin Torguson who started the first casino in the state 26 years ago when he brought Casino Magic to Bay St. Louis immediately after Mississippi first legalised gaming. Only a few states were in the casino business at that time, as opposed to today when more than 40 states allow gambling in some form.

Torguson spoke at the summit: “I think we need a lot more non gaming items and properties with more non gaming things to do and we definitely need more air service.”

The Summit concluded with a ceremony to induct several prominent people into the Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame.