Crab Legs Shortage at Gulf Coast Casinos Leaves Guests Crabby

Due to a worldwide scarcity of crab legs, a number of casinos located along the Gulf Coast have had to remove the popular item from their all-you-can-eat buffets.

Gulf Coast casinos, some of the largest consumers of crab legs in the United States, have faced difficulty in buying and selling the seafood recently. One Biloxi casino general manager, Keith Crosby at the Palace Casino, attributed this dip in availability to an increased wholesale cost of the item. Therefore, only two of the regional 12 casinos – Treasure Bay and Silver Slipper – still include crab legs as part of their AYCE buffets for an increased rate. Luckily, those looking to indulge in crab legs can find them for picking at the Green Valley Ranch Casino Buffet in Henderson, NV with the standard buffet price.

Treasure Bay’s popular buffet is currently offering AYCE (All-You-Can-Eat) for $31.99 and includes Dungeness and snow crab legs. Those who don’t wish to enjoy the crustaceans can opt out and pay only $19.99. However, due to the nation-wide shortage of crab, Susan Varnes, president and COO of Treasure Bay has stated that prices for all types of crab are at a record high. Alternatively, the Golden Nugget Biloxi buffet offers snow crab legs as an add-on for $14.99, totalling to the regular buffet price of $19.99 and an additional $14.99 for the crab, or a total of $34.98.

Casino Buffets

Due to the pandemic, buffets had to suspend operations per the CDC guidelines and recommendation to avoid self-service options. Casinos around the US have since reopened their buffets with a few modifications, such as food being served by workers rather than a buffet line. May 1 marks the reopening of self-serve buffets in Las Vegas, which many deem the “Buffet Capital of the World.” Strip clubs are allowed to open on the same day, however, crab shortage may slightly affect the availability of some seafood dishes.

Crab Shortage

This week, Gordon Food Service – one of the largest food distributors in the US – reported in their market update that snow crab production is not able to keep pace with demand. Despite the lack of need from casinos, cruise lines, and buffet restaurants due to the pandemic, demand for snow crab has surprisingly been strong. In response to this fact, Gordon believes that larger quantities of crab will soon be available; the crabbing season began in New Brunswick last week and peak production is projected to reach in late April. Although higher prices may have an impact on retail orders, it is expected that foodservice orders will take up the slack. According to the update, “As more areas start to reopen and people begin to dine out again, demand will continue to be strong.”