Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton flashed his blindingly perfect smile and five men dressed as Santa Claus parachuted from the sky Monday to help launch a new casino in rural Mississippi. The Bok Homa Casino, pronounced by locals “Bohk-ho-mah”, owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, opened its doors last week in a party hosted by entertainer Wayne Newton. The flying Santas parachuted from the skies above the gulf coast state watched by a crowd of locals waiting in low 50s temperature.

Newton, said: "I, too, am a very proud Native American, and it's with great honor that I join my brothers and sisters from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in saying welcome to the newest star on the horizon. A big round of applause, ladies and gentlemen: Bok Homa."

As the crowds chanted Newton’s name, Choctaw kiddies jumped up and down crying out Santa’s name. The 27,000-square-foot casino with an investment of US$18 million does not have glitzy lights outside but once the doors opened the seats at hundreds of slot machines filled quickly with people making the machines flash and clink.

Some religious groups and politicians, including Republican Gov. Haley Barbour opposed the opening of the casino, but people like teacher Addie Chinn, said: "I think of the job opportunities in this economy. It's good, but I hope the casino doesn't just draw from the community. I hope it gives back to the community — to the local schools."

The Choctaw chief, Beasley Denson, said the casino employs about 300 people, but this number should grow. In a press conference, Denson said: "We're coming in as a good neighbor." The Choctaw nation is converting another of its casinos, the Golden Moon, into a concert venue, as business has slowed down, and the economy has stuttered in the past few years. (E-12.21.10)

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