NATCHEZ, Miss. – Magnolia Bluffs Casino owes Natchez about $535,000 as part of the deal it has leasing city-owned property it occupies along the Mississippi River.
While Mayor Dan Gibson expressed confidence Tuesday the money will be paid soon, city officials will not reaffirm the lease until then.
The money due is for the 2024 and 2025 installments the casino is contracted to pay annually into a community development fund created when Magnolia Bluffs opened in 2012. This has provided money in the past for recreation-related projects, such as renovations of the North Natchez Youth Center and the Duncan Park Golf Clubhouse.
The community development funds are in addition to the $1 million Magnolia Bluffs pays the city annually for leasing property it occupies by the Mississippi River at the end of Roth Hill Road.
The gambling facility is owned by New York-based Saratoga Casino Holdings, which bought Magnolia Bluffs in 2022 from its previous owners.
Magnolia Bluffs Casino employs nearly 160 people and has 490 slot machines, 10 table games and sports-wagering features, according to statistics filed with the Mississippi Gaming Commission that regulates casinos. Magnolia Bluffs’ workforce has declined in recent years. It had 280 employees in 2017.
In addition, Magnolia Bluffs employs about 30 people at its nearby 140-room hotel on Canal Street.
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