Biloxi Planning Commission Approves Black Marlin Casino at Veterans Avenue

The Biloxi Planning Commission gave its blessing to a casino developer’s request to rezone three parcels of land at US 90/Beach Boulevard and Veterans Avenue. The approval moves forward the proposed casino development that’s now being called the Black Marlin Casino. The southeast corner at Beach Blvd. and Veterans Ave. has been approved for casino gaming in Biloxi. The Mississippi Gaming Commission issued its support this week for casino gambling on the property. (Image: Google) The Biloxi Planning Commission agreed to rezone three properties east of Veterans Avenue across from the Big Play Entertainment Center, which is owned by local businessman Ray Wooldridge. Through his company, RW Development, Wooldridge has been trying to convert the family-fun center into a casino resort for over 15 years. His persistence might soon finally pay off. Partnered with Kentucky-based Encompass Develop Design and Construct, whose client list includes Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, and Jack Entertainment, RW Development successfully had its property located north of US 90 reclassified to waterfront zoning, a key condition of a project qualifying for a casino license from the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC). The Biloxi Planning Commission also approved RW Development’s request to remove 25 live oak trees and three magnolia trees on the 11-acre property. An arborist told the Planning Commission that 18 of the trees were in poor condition, seven were fair, and three were in good condition. RW Development must plant 209 new trees or pay into the city’s tree fund to offset the trees’ removal. Project Details The plan for Black Marlin Casino includes a 300-room hotel with restaurants and bars, meeting and event space, and 668 parking spaces. The casino would measure 43,800 square feet and feature 1,100 slot machines, 24 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook. Wooldridge is sweetening the deal by offering to construct a $1 million handicap-accessible pier south of the casino that would be called the Veterans Avenue Pier. The former pier at the West Beach Boardwalk was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Wooldridge previously pitched the pier as a way to classify his property north of US 90 as waterfront. Since the casino would be linked to the pier, he argued it made the Big Play Entertainment Center property waterfront and therefore could apply for a casino. Biloxi Planning Commission approved rezoning three parcels for the proposed Black Marlin Casino, advancing RW Development’s long-running casino bid The $1M Veterans Avenue Pier is part of the plan, while the casino would feature 1,100 slots, 24 table games, a sportsbook, and a 300-room hotel Black Marlin would become Biloxi’s ninth casino if approved by the City Council and Mississippi Gaming Commission Then-Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann pushed back, saying Wooldridge needed a tidelands lease to build the pier since the state controls the tidelands. The case ultimately went to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which ruled in March 2023 that Wooldridge didn’t need a tidelands lease to build a public pier. With the Biloxi Planning Commission agreeing to rezone Wooldridge’s property as waterfront, the Black Marlin Casino bid can proceed to the Biloxi City Council for review. If the Council approves the development, the project would then go before the MGC. Market Competition Black Marlin would be the ninth casino in Biloxi and the 13th in South Mississippi. More could be on the way. There are ongoing plans to develop a casino where the Tivoli Hotel stood until it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Just east of that project, developers have proposed the Tullis Gardens Hotel & Casino, which would include a full-scale replica of the Tullis-Toledano Manor, which was also destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The post Biloxi Planning Commission Approves Black Marlin Casino at Veterans Avenue appeared first on Casino.org.