If workers finish paving roads and the city and state give final approvals, Vicksburg’s fifth casino might be in business tonight.

“We’re expecting to (open), but it’s not final. Paving is the main thing, and it’s too cold to pave right now,” Riverwalk President and General Manager Rob Long said this morning.

Casinos in Vicksburg

Riverwalk Casino will be Vicksburg’s fifth:

Isle of Capri — opened in August 1993 with 560 employees and a 125-room hotel. It was sold in 2006 and is now DiamondJacks Casino.

Harrah’s — opened in November 1993 with 831 employees and a 117-room hotel. It was sold in 2003, and is now Horizon Casino.

Ameristar — opened as the city’s largest casino in February 1994 with 1,000 employees.

Rainbow — opened as the city’s smallest casino in June 1994 with 300 employees.

If it does not open this evening, marketing director Ginny Tzotzolas said the casino will likely open “as soon as possible.” Tzotzolas said workers have been putting in long hours and additional days to ready for the opening of the $100 million facility on Warrenton Road, which features 805 slot machines and 18 gaming tables on its 25,000-square-foot gaming floor as well as two restaurants and a five-story, 80-room hotel. The facility will employ roughly 500 people, said Long, who also helped plan and open Rainbow and Ameristar Casinos in Vicksburg.

The Mississippi Gaming Commission, which gives final clearance to open doors to casinos, said it expects to give approval about 5 p.m.

When doors are unlocked, the hotel and restaurants will open along with the gaming floor, and Tzotzolas said there has already been demand for reservations.

“We have been taking hotel reservations for about a week now, but only for November and beyond just to be on the safe side,” she said. “Hotel reservations will be on a first-come, first-serve basis for this week.”

Along with the gaming commission, city inspectors will also be on hand at Riverwalk this afternoon to give final approvals.

“We don’t think there will be any problems,” said Tzotzolas. “We’re excited to show everyone the finished product, and show them what all the hard work has been about.”

Work on an ambitious landscaping and river walk project will be ongoing at the casino, said Tzotzolas. A grand opening for the casino is planned for Dec. 11-13, but Tzotzolas said there will be some promotions and giveaways for patrons when the gaming floor and facilities open.

Long has said he believes the opening of Riverwalk will expand the gaming market in Vicksburg, and help boost gaming tax revenues to the city, county and schools that ended down for the second straight year at the end of September.

Riverwalk’s opening brings to 30 the number of casinos regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. The Mississippi Band of Choctaws also owns two.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.