News story today on new Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino on St. Croix, Virgin Islands:

CHRISTIANSTED, St. Croix (AP) _ The first casino in the
U.S. Virgin Islands has opened in St. Croix, five years
after the government passed a controversial law allowing
limited gambling in hopes of boosting the Caribbean
territory's depressed economy.

``This is new tourism and it builds economic momentum
for everyone,'' Brad Whitmore, president of Grapetree
Shores, said at Tuesday's opening. ``The casino is not
enough for an economic turnaround, but it's a good start,''
he said.

Grapetree owns St. Croix's Divi Carina Bay Resort and
Casino and has leased the gambling operation to
Treasure Bay Corp., which operates a large casino in
Biloxi, Mississippi.

The 5,000-square-foot (450 square-meter) casino,
employing at least 130 people, had been scheduled to
open in December but was damaged by Hurricane Lenny
in November, forcing a further delay.

St. Croix is the only one of the U.S. Virgin Islands
approved for gambling, under a 1995 law which aims to
increase hotel rooms and jobs.