Strong performances by casinos in Mississippi’s Gulf Coast drove statewide casino revenue up three percent in November.

Figures released last week by the State Revenue Department show casinos won $161 million in November, up from $156 million in November of last year. An increase of 10 percent from last year, the state’s 11 coastal casinos won $91 million. The opening of The Scarlet Pearl casino in D’Iberville on December 10th increases the Coast’s number of casinos to twelve, according to the Associated Press.

Showing a decrease were the 16 Mississippi River casinos which won $70 million, down five percent from the same time last year in November.

As conditions along the coast outweigh revenue declines along the river, November marks 2015’s seventh month that revenues increased statewide. The Magnolia State is slated to realize a gain in revenue for only the second time in eight years. The state’s revenue numbers don’t include Choctaw Indian casinos, which do not report their winnings to the state.

While the state’s gaming revenues have been down in past years, performances from coastal casinos have increased the overall numbers and the Scarlet Pearl should provide another boost for the region’s economy. Investments in beautifying the Bay area are also being made by other casinos in the immediate area. A casino across the Back Bay has been a long-standing desire and the Scarlet Pearl’s opening earlier this month will be the culmination of that.