Mississippi's WaterView Casino Evicts Unwelcome Canine Visitor from Premises
A stray alligator decided to pay a visit to the WaterView Casino & Hotel in Vicksburg, Mississippi, prompting swift action from the casino staff and local wildlife authorities. The unwelcome guest was spotted outside the Mississippi riverboat on Tuesday, causing a small crowd to gather.
The WaterView Casino, as the name suggests, lies alongside the Mississippi River. The region has experienced a severe drought this summer, leading experts to believe that this has made certain animals, including alligators, more active. Alligators require freshwater to survive, and with many smaller bodies of water drying up, the reptiles are constantly on the move in search of suitable habitats.
Alligators are water-dwelling reptiles that provide an exciting visitor to any area. WaterView Casino & Hotel, which is owned and operated by Foundation Gaming, boasts 600 slot machines, 10 table games, a sportsbook, and 122 hotel rooms. In this case, the alligator's search for water led it to the casino's parking lot.
Thankfully, the alligator was quickly captured and transferred to a more suitable environment by wildlife officials. This was a relief for both the animal and the resort's guests, ensuring that they could continue enjoying their stay without any unexpected encounters.
The WaterView Casino is an adults-only establishment, requiring all guests to be at least 21 years of age. This is in addition to meeting other requirements, such as being human. It's safe to assume the alligator didn't meet these criteria.
The Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council notes that alligators reach around 4 1/2 feet in length when they hatch from their eggs. Growth rates vary depending on their habitat and sex, size, and age. While alligators can grow up to 12 inches per year, the Council states that growth rates slow as they get older.
Alligators can live as long as humans, with an average lifespan of around 70 years. This means that some of these reptiles may not only visit casinos but also enjoy the games there, just like their human counterparts!
This summer, another casino encountered a similar situation. The L'Auberge Casino Hotel in Lake Charles, Louisiana, experienced a visit from a smaller alligator in their lazy river. In this instance, the alligator was considerably smaller than its WaterView counterpart and was also relocated to a more appropriate environment.
But it's not just alligators causing trouble in Mississippi. The state's overall casino revenue seems to be following a downward trend. In 2021, its 26 commercial casinos reported a net gaming revenue of $2.66 billion. This figure dropped last year to $2.57 billion, representing a 3.6% year-over-year decline. Although 2022's gaming win exceeded the totals from 2019, it showed no sign of recovery in 2022's first eight months.
Cumulative gaming win from January to August was $1.67 billion, down from the same period in the previous year when it amounted to about $1.73 billion. It appears the WaterView alligator was looking for more than just water at the casino.
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Source: www.casino.org
