EXHIBIT 12.1 MAJESTIC STAR CASINO, LLC COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Amounts in thousands of dollars) (UNAUDITED) Fiscal year ended Six months ended June 30, -------------------------------- ------------------------- 1996(B) 1997 1998 1998 1999 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net Income (loss) ($ 8,887) ($13,887) ($ 4,473) -4058 ($13,024) Extraordinary Item: Loss on bond redemption(C) 15,238 Interest Expense and amortization of debt discount and premium on all indebtedness 8,598 12,877 15851 7920 7925 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Earnings (loss) before fixed charges ($ 289) ($ 1,010) $ 11,378 $ 3,862 $ 10,139 Fixed Charges: Interest Expense 8,598 12,877 15,851 7,920 7,925 Capitalized Interest 213 2,317 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Fixed Charges 8,811 15,194 15,851 7,920 7,925 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A) (A) (A) (A) 1.28 (A) As a result of the losses incurred, the company was unable to fully cover the indicated fixed charges. (B) The Company had 205 days of gaming operations during 1996. (C) The loss on bond redemption was excluded from earnings (loss) before fixed charges. If the loss on bond redemption was included, the Company would have been unable to fully cover the indicated fixed charges.