Coast spending and casino play peaks at the same time each year. Here’s when
Spending by residents and visitors in South Mississippi peaks in early spring, driven by events like Mardi Gras, Easter, and March Madness.Summary
South Mississippi experienced strong economic activity in 2025, with sales tax revenue increasing across most of its cities. Biloxi and Gulfport led in collections, with $16 million and $32 million respectively, while D’Iberville also saw significant growth. Coast casinos also experienced a revenue increase, reaching $1.59 billion after a two-year decline. The peak spending season isn't during typical times like Christmas or summer, but rather in early spring. This surge is attributed to a combination of events including Mardi Gras, Easter, spring break, and March Madness, resulting in the highest sales tax diversions and casino revenue in April and March respectively. The trend is expected to continue, with March being the highest-grossing month for casinos for the past two years, totaling $144 million in 2025.
(Source：Sunherald)