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NATCHEZ — Natchez aldermen learned Tuesday that Magnolia Bluffs Casino is behind on some of its payments due to the City of Natchez.

As part of its agreement to operate with the city, Magnolia Bluffs Casino makes an annual lease payment to the city of $1 million to operate at 7 Roth Hill Road. In addition, the casino pays annually into a community development fund.

On Tuesday, while approving an estoppel certificate for Magnolia Bluffs Casino, City Clerk Meghan McKenzie reminded the Natchez Board of Aldermen that the casino is delinquent on its payments to the community development fund. She said it owes a total of $535,286, or $267,643 per year for 2024 and 2025.

An estoppel certificate is a legal document that certifies that the terms of a lease agreement are being met. The aldermen approved the casino’s estoppel certificate, pending it being up to date on the payments to the community development fund.

McKenzie verified Thursday morning that the casino is current on its $1 million lease payment to the city. She said the casino makes monthly payments on that lease.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said he is confident the casino will make the community development payments it owes. Those funds are earmarked for parks and recreation projects in the city.

On Thursday, attempts to reach Eugene Gibson, Magnolia Bluffs Casino’s general manager, and Amy Brannigan, spokesperson for Saratoga Casinos, Magnolia Bluffs’ parent company, were unsuccessful.