Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 | 10:17 a.m.
BILOXI, Miss. - Las Vegas gaming executive Ralph Engelstad opened his $350 million Imperial Palace in Biloxi Tuesday night, just in time to attract New Year's Eve crowds and gain 1997 tax benefits.
It has more than 1,600 slot machines, 64 table games, three restaurants, 1,100 rooms, an antique auto collection and a movie theatre.
The company originally planned to open the casino and at least a few floors of its 32-story hotel Dec. 15. But the city of Biloxi would not issue a certificate of occupancy to the casino because it initially failed to pass safety inspections.
The casino, which originally planned a 30-story hotel, built the top two floors without permission from the city.
Imperial Palace's controversial saga began when Engelstad initially refused to pay a tidelands lease to the secretary of state's office. In November, as the opening deadline drew near, the lease was paid.
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