Bally's Vicksburg

The project was initiated by the Rainbow Casino Corporation (RCC), made up of John A. Barrett and Leigh Seippel. Hospitality Franchise Systems agreed to provide $7.5 million in financing, and to franchise a hotel at the property under its Days Inn brand.{{cite news|title=N.J. firm signs pact for Vicksburg casino|newspaper=The Advocate|location=Baton Rouge|agency=AP|date=September 28, 1993|accessdate=2012-06-14|publisher=via NewsBank|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LSAB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB4776266ADC972&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D6884C8DA6CD5B5}} {{subscription required}} Six Flags agreed to build a 10-acre theme park named Pennants.{{cite news|title=Lady Luck gets approval at Coahoma|newspaper=The Sun Herald|location=Biloxi|first=Louise|last=Taylor|publisher=via NewsBank|date=February 18, 1994|accessdate=2012-06-14|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BSHB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FB3373FEC8D2149&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D6884C8DA6CD5B5}} {{subscription required}}{{cite news|title=Six Flags plans Vicksburg park|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|location=Memphis|publisher=via NewsBank|agency=AP|date=February 23, 1995|accessdate=2012-06-14|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:CMAB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF94F14168E023&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D6884C8DA6CD5B5}} {{subscription required}} United Gaming (later known as Alliance Gaming, and then Bally Technologies) signed on to manage the casino.{{cite news|title=Utd Gaming to acquire 45% stake in partnership|newspaper=Dow Jones News Service|date=July 13, 1994|accessdate=2012-06-14|publisher=via Factiva|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=dj00000020011101dq7d0022n&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required}}

The Rainbow Casino opened on July 12, 1994, with 574 slot machines and 28 table games.{{cite news|title=Vicksburg welcomes 4th casino|newspaper=The Sun Herald|location=Biloxi|publisher=via NewsBank|agency=AP|date=July 13, 1994|accessdate=2012-06-14|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BSHB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB622ED669665DE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D6884C8DA6CD5B5}} {{subscription required}} United Gaming took a 45 percent ownership stake on the day it opened. It took a controlling stake the following year, after RCC failed to finance elements of the casino that it was responsible for.{{cite report|title=Form 10-K|publisher=Alliance Gaming|date=September 28, 1995|accessdate=2012-06-14|page=F-18|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2491/0000002491-95-000003.txt}}

The hotel, owned by AmeriHost, opened in May 1995, and the company called it "the most upscale Days Inn anywhere".{{cite news|title=4 operators share Vicksburg|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|first=Fred|last=Faust|publisher=via NewsBank|date=May 15, 1995|accessdate=2012-06-14|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:SLDB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB0830A324269D9&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D6884C8DA6CD5B5}} {{subscription required}} It was rebranded as an AmeriHost Inn by 2000,{{cite report|title=Form 10-K|publisher=AmeriHost Properties|date=March 24, 2000|accessdate=2012-06-15|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/778423/0000914760-00-000068.txt|page=6}} and in 2002 it was sold to AmeriHost's former chairman, Michael P. Holtz.{{cite report|title=Form 10-K|page=39|publisher=Arlington Hospitality|date=March 31, 2003|accessdate=2012-06-15|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/778423/000091476003000056/0000914760-03-000056.txt}}

The theme park, renamed as Funtricity Entertainment Park, also opened in May 1995.{{cite report|title=Form 10-K|publisher=Alliance Gaming|date=September 28, 1995|accessdate=2012-06-14|at=Casino Operations|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2491/0000002491-95-000003.txt}} Six Flags designed it as the flagship in a new chain of entertainment centers, targeted at markets too small to support a full-size park;{{cite news|title=Flagship location of Six Flags' newest attraction comes to Vicksburg|newspaper=Mississippi Business Journal|first=Nita Chilton|last=McCann|date=May 29, 1995|accessdate=2012-06-15|publisher=via Factiva|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=miss000020011026dr5t00040&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required}} within two years, though, the concept was reportedly put on hold.{{cite news|title=The Players|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=Greg|last=Johnson|date=March 23, 1997|access-date=2012-06-15|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-23-fi-41207-story.html}} The park closed in 1998,{{cite press release|title=Funtricity Family Entertainment Park to close|publisher=Premier Parks (via Factiva)|date=September 11, 1998|accessdate=2012-06-14|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=bwr0000020010915du9b02cc6&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required}} and Alliance bought the site for $500,000{{cite report|title=Form 10-K|publisher=Alliance Gaming|date=September 28, 1999|accessdate=2012-06-15|at=Casino Operations|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2491/0000002491-99-000009.txt}} and adapted its main building for use as a concert venue.{{cite news|title=Rainbow approaches 5th anniversary|newspaper=Associated Press Newswires|first=Paul|last=Purpura|date=June 20, 1999|accessdate=2012-06-14|publisher=via Factiva|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=aprs000020010829dv6k04ehi&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required}}

A casino expansion was completed in 1999, increasing the number of slot machines from 725 to over 1,000.{{cite news|title=Few serious offers may pull Rainbow Casino off market|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|location=Memphis|agency=AP|date=February 23, 2000|accessdate=2012-06-15|publisher=via NewsBank|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:CMAB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF96E5DFF8495D&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D6884C8DA6CD5B5}} {{subscription required}}

In 1999, United Gaming put the property, along with its other casino in Nevada, on the market, to help pay down corporate debts, but no satisfactory offers were received.

Bally put the Rainbow back on the market in 2006.{{cite news|title=More gaming M&A deals: A safe bet|newspaper=Mergers & Acquisitions Report|first=Joshua|last=Hamerman|date=December 4, 2006|accessdate=2012-06-15|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-155400470.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307125931/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-155400470.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 7, 2016}} In 2010, a sale was finally made to Isle of Capri Casinos for $80 million.{{cite news|title=Isle of Capri completes $80 million casino purchase|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Howard|last=Stutz|date=June 9, 2010|accessdate=2012-06-13|url=http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/stutz/Isle_of_Capri_completes_80_million_casino_purchase.html}} Isle of Capri rebranded the property under its Lady Luck name in November 2012.{{cite press release|title=Lady Luck returns to Mississippi with re-branding of Vicksburg casino|publisher=Isle of Capri Casinos|date=November 30, 2012|url=http://isleofcapricasinos.com/uploadedFiles/z-Asset_Library/Corporate/Press_Releases/LL-VK-Rebrand-Press-release.pdf|accessdate=2012-12-03}}

In March 2018, Eldorado Resorts (which had acquired Isle of Capri Casinos in 2017) agreed to sell the property to Churchill Downs Inc., owner of the neighboring Riverwalk Casino, for $51 million.{{cite news|title=Eldorado Resorts agrees to sell two casinos in Pennsylvania and Mississippi|newspaper=Reno Gazette Journal|first=Jason|last=Hidalgo|date=March 1, 2018|url=http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2018/03/01/eldorado-resorts-agrees-sell-two-casinos-pennsylvania-and-mississippi/385971002/|accessdate=2018-03-01}} The sale was canceled, however, as a result of inquiries from antitrust regulators.{{cite news|title=Churchill Downs Inc. terminates plan to purchase casino|newspaper=Louisville Business First|author=Marty Finley|date=July 9, 2018|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2018/07/09/churchill-downs-inc-terminates-plan-to-purchase.html|accessdate=2018-07-13}} In July 2019, Eldorado agreed instead to sell the property to Twin River Worldwide Holdings, along with the Isle of Capri Casino Kansas City, for a total of $230 million.{{cite news|title=Eldorado Resorts to sell 2 properties in preparation of Caesars deal|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Bailey Schulz|date=July 11, 2019|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/eldorado-resorts-to-sell-2-properties-in-preparation-of-caesars-deal-1708508/|accessdate=2019-07-13}} The deal was made to help finance Eldorado's pending acquisition of Caesars Entertainment. The sale to Twin River closed in July 2020, and the property was renamed as Casino Vicksburg.{{cite news|title=Eldorado sells 2 properties ahead of Caesars merger|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Bailey Schulz|date=July 2, 2020|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/eldorado-sells-2-properties-ahead-of-caesars-merger-2066384/|accessdate=2020-07-02}}

Twin River then purchased the Bally's casino brand from Caesars Entertainment, changed its own name to Bally's Corporation, and announced plans to rebrand most of its casinos.{{cite news|title=Twin River could soon become Bally's|work=Providence Journal|author=Patrick Anderson|date=October 13, 2020|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/10/13/twin-river-could-soon-become-ballyrsquos/114274594/|accessdate=2021-08-03}}{{cite press release|title=Bally's Corporation completes name and ticker symbol change|publisher=Bally's Corporation|date=November 9, 2020|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ballys-corporation-completes-name-and-ticker-symbol-change-301169023.html|via=PR Newswire|access-date=2021-08-03}} As part of this rebranding, Casino Vicksburg became Bally's Vicksburg in August 2021.{{cite news|title=Casino Vicksburg is now rebranded to Bally's Vicksburg Casino|work=The Vicksburg Post|date=August 17, 2021|url=https://vicksburgpost.com/2021/08/17/casino-vicksburg-is-now-rebranded-to-ballys-vicksburg-casino/|access-date=2021-08-18}}

• List of casinos in Mississippi

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• {{Official website|https://casinos.ballys.com/vicksburg|Bally's Vicksburg}}

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Category:Casinos in Mississippi

Category:Hotels in Mississippi

Category:Buildings and structures in Vicksburg, Mississippi

Category:Tourist attractions in Warren County, Mississippi

Category:Casinos completed in 1994

Category:1994 establishments in Mississippi

Category:Riverboat casinos in Mississippi

Category:Casino hotels in Mississippi