Scarlet Pearl Construction Nears Completion

Last year, the Mississippi Gaming Commission granted the City of D’Iberville a permit for their first casino. Now the Scarlet Pearl is nearing completion.

Construction of D’Iberville’s Scarlet Pearl Casino is moving right along and on schedule. While the site is now dominated mostly by concrete and cranes, it will be transformed into a tropical refuge for visitors by the end of the year. Bobby Eleuterius, City Manager for D’Iberville, says, "When you look at the project, you’re going to think you’re in the Bahamas with all the waterfalls and palm trees. The people over here overwhelmingly voted for gambling. I’ve had no complaints at all."

But not everyone was happy with the Scarlet Pearl. Some Biloxi casino leaders spoke out against the project, fearing D’Iberville’s new and first casino would take away some of their customers and cut into their profits.

They also feared the new casino would lead to over saturation in south Mississippi’s already crowded gaming market, but Scarlet Pearl developers have heeded and followed through with the Gaming Commission’s call last year for more non-gaming amenities to keep casinos open and from going bankrupt, like in Atlantic City, New Jersey. John Hairston, former Mississippi Gaming Commissioner, says, “I think we’ll see a return to family attractions, we have a few, but we don’t have enough. I think we’ll see mini golf like we’ve never seen before on the Coast.”

For the Scarlet Pearl to be approved, it had to bring something new to the table, something not seen in any casinos in the area. What they are bringing to the table is miniature, but could be huge for the D’Iberville area. Eleuterius closes, “They’re proposing a world class putt putt course of golf where they’ll actually hold regional and world championships here in D’Iberville, Mississippi. It’ll even have a volcano that erupts at certain times.”

Construction is currently at the 9th floor of the 14 floor casino. It’s slated to open by mid-December. If construction stays on schedule, the Scarlet Pearl has plans for a big New Year’s Eve celebration.