Less than two months after the layoffs of 570 employees at the Golden Moon Hotel and Casino, Pearl River Resort has laid off at least 63 more.

The most recent layoffs included employees of both the Golden Moon and the Silver Star Hotel and Casino. The layoffs included all levels of employees, not just hourly workers.

„We’re in a depression, so we have to do what we have to do,“ said Warren Strain, a Pearl River Resort spokesperson. „We’ve got to fulfill our obligations to the bank and to the tribe.“

The casinos, which are located in Choctaw, are owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Tribal member employees were not included in the layoffs.

Hours at the Golden Moon were cut from 24 hours a day, seven days a week to weekends only in January. Now, the hours have been cut by another 8 hours, or one work shift. The casino will now close for the week at 8 p.m. Sunday evenings rather than at 3 a.m. Monday mornings.

Strain said the 2002 opening of the Golden Moon across the street from the Silver Star created „too much casino for this market.“

Despite layoffs, the Silver Star will continue to operate as usual. „It will be (operating) 24/7 and that’s not going to change,“ Strain said.

When asked whether more layoffs were planned, Strain said: „we’re not going to rule that out.“