By AP/KWMU
Biloxi, Miss. – The president of Isle of Capri casinos says the company will probably move its corporate headquarters to St. Louis.
The company is currently based in Biloxi, Mississippi.
President Tim Hinkley says the company needs to move from the Gulf Coast to reduce disruption during hurricanes, but he adds no agreements have been signed.
Isle has casinos in Kansas City and Boonville, Missouri. It offered proposals for casinos in St. Louis City and County but Pinnacle Entertainment won those bids. Construction of those facilities is underway. Isle also tried to buy the bankrupt President Casino, at Laclede's Landing, but later gave up that effort.
Hinkley says St. Louis will centrally locate offices and attract new employees. On August 29th, Hurricane Katrina forced the corporate offices to close for about two weeks and temporarily move to Louisiana.
About 130 employees work at the corporate office.
Isle of Capri is one of the ten largest publicly traded casino companies. It has operations in five states and annual revenue of $1.1 billion.