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Filed 3/25/08 GCN
UPDATED Bacaran
Bay Casino Developers Resolve Land Ownership Issue Torguson Gaming Group, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Caillavet Street Development Group, LLC (CSDG), owners of the land under the proposed Bacaran Bay Casino Resort and Firegame, LLC, a finance company holding security interests in some of the land, to convey the majority of its land and interests in the project to Phoenix Gaming Group, LLC, a new company formed by all three parties to direct development of Bacaran Bay Casino Resort. Torguson will remain involved with Bacaran Bay as a minority equity holder and will serve as a consultant to the project going forward. (More Here) Biloxi Planning
Commission Approves RW Development's Gold Coast Casino Representatives from RW Development's Gold Coast Casino are pleased after the Biloxi Planning Commission, March 6, overwhelmingly approved plans for a mixed-use development on U.S. 90 and Veterans Avenue that includes a casino north of 90. RW Development has a multi-year billion dollar develop planned for the area in central beach Biloxi that includes condos, a casino, shopping areas and apartments. The vote of 8-2-1 came at the end of a four-hour meeting that also saw the IP Casino Resort get approval to rezone land it owns south of the current hotel to allow an onshore casino. Both applications now go to the Biloxi City Council and if approved, the Mississippi Gaming Commission will decide whether both are legal casino sites.
Biloxi Casinos Pass Billion-Dollar Mark Biloxi’s casino industry reported its largest ever annual gross gaming
revenue in 2007, more than a billion The city announced the figures today, once December’s gross gaming revenue figure -- $78.3 million – was reported. Mayor A.J. Holloway had acknowledged last week that November’s revenue figures had pushed Biloxi gaming revenue to $929 million for the year, eclipsing the previous record year of $911 million in 2004. “This is a huge milestone, not only in our recovery, but in the overall growth of the casino resort industry in Biloxi,” Holloway said. “When you consider those gaming figures and the billion dollars in permits we’ve issued since Katrina – half of which were non-casino and non-condo – and the Biloxi Bay Bridge fully opening in three-and-a-half months, this tells the rest of the county that Biloxi is indeed coming back bigger and better.”
Biloxi Grand Casino
Opens Asian-Themed Rooms Harrah's Grand Biloxi Casino, Hotel and Spa's has opened an exciting new Asian gaming area and noodle bar. This is the first major addition to the casino since it reopened after Hurricane Katrina in August 2006. The area is located off the casino floor next to the casinos main buffet. Ribbon cutting ceremonies during the opening of the new gaming area included a ceremonial lion dance that traditionally brings luck and prosperity. Similar Asian gaming rooms have built at three other Harrah' properties in Atlantic City — Caesars, Bally's and the Showboat — and at Harrah's Lake Tahoe. Using Feng Shui. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of placement and arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the environment. Feng shui literally translates as "wind-water. The designer who worked at several Harrah's properties gave the room clean lines and high-end finishes such as Chinese terra cotta tiles and etched stone. Coast Casinos Featured in article on Katrina Recovery Filed 11/21/07 A recent article in a nationally distributed amusement trades magazine by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) features what several Coast casinos have done to recover from hurricane Katrina. The article focuses on the Imperial Palace President and General Manager, Jon Lucas and highlights the IP's steps to recovery after Hurricane Katrina. To read the full article, click on the following link IAAPA Article.
Isle of Capri Abandons Plan to Build a Casino in West
Harrison County Filed 11/08/07 Jackson County Voters Vote Against Choctaw Indian Casino Filed 11/08/07 Voters in Jackson County voted overwhelmingly Nov. 6, in a non-binding referendum to reject a plan by the Choctaw Indian tribe to build a casino along I-10 on their property in Jackson County. Jackson County residents have rejected casinos in their county, just east of Biloxi's casinos in Harrison County, two other times in the past. The latest vote was 60 percent against. Jackson County is among the state's largest industrial counties and the home of the giant Northrop Grumman shipyard. The tribe is still interested in building a gaming facility on the Coast.
Harrah's
Entertainment Announces Transaction Approval by the Mississippi Gaming
Commission
By Keith Burton - GCN 10/10/07 Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport officials and tenants are excited over a new cargo facility and the completion of the construction on the terminal expansion that should be finished by month's end. Casino visitors and businessmen flying in and out of the Gulfport/-Biloxi International Airport will note that construction on the new and expanded terminal is rapidly nearing completion. The airport overall has been undergoing a $50 million expansion that actually began prior to Hurricane Katrina, but was substantially setback by the hurricane when the existing work on the terminal was badly damaged. (More Here) More news.... Construction on Bacaran Bay and Margaritaville Casinos Underway Work begun in this past summer on two new Biloxi casinos, Bacaran Bay, near the IP Casino and Resort, and the new Margaritaville Casino on the beach on the former Grand Casino property. Both properties are scheduled to open in 2010 after construction is completed. The projects represent over $1.3 billion in additional casino investment in Biloxi with more to come. Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi Opens Ahead of Schedule Filed 6/26/07 Officials with Biloxi's Hard Rock Casino opened Saturday, May
30th, a week ahead of their announced The soft opening also benefits the casino in getting services and employees up to speed for what will surely be a huge crowd on the Grand Opening. Escatawpa's 3 Doors Down will open the 1,400-seat Hard Rock Live July 5, with Kid Rock playing on July 7. The Hard Rock Casino includes The Rock Spa, Merge Salon with three Coast stylists, a fitness center, beach pool with underwater music, shops and five restaurants, including Hard Rock Cafe. Hard Rock's original opening was delayed when hurricane Katrina slammed into the Coast August 29, 2005, just days from the planned original opening of the property, located just next door to the towering Beau Rivage. More information is available by visiting Hard Rock's website at www.hardrockbiloxi.com. Treasure Bay Opens
Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi opened its new hotel and casino Monday, July 2, marking the return of almost all of Biloxi's casinos that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Treasure Bay, whose former pirate ship barge became a Katrina devastation poster child, has finished a complete rebuild and remodel of their hotel site north of the highway. The casino has an entirely new theme, no longer the pirate ship look. Casinos that are not returning are the President and Casino Magic. The President's location at the former Broadwater Resort has new owners and Casino Magic was purchased by Harrah's and will become part of a huge casino complex near the new Margaritaville Casino that is planned to begin construction soon. Harrah's, Buffett
Unveil Plans for $700M Harrah’s Entertainment and world-renowned singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett joined Mayor A.J. Holloway and Gov. Haley Barbour May 15 to unveil plans for Margaritaville Casino & Resort, a $700-million-plus investment that will be on Casino Row in Biloxi and represents the single largest investment in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina. The company expects this to be the first phase of a development that may cost more than $1 billion. Construction of Margaritaville began this past summer with a target completion date of Spring 2010. The project is to be constructed on the former Grand Biloxi and Casino Magic property south of U.S. 90 on the Biloxi Beach. (More Here)
Biloxi Mayor Details Casino Industry Status for Audience
at 2007 Gaming Summit Casino resorts in Biloxi have acquired more than 175 acres in Biloxi in the 20 months since Hurricane Katrina. Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway told a Southern Gaming Summit audience meeting in Biloxi early in May that the city will continue to see extraordinary growth without compromising quality of life.... (Much More Here) More News Below...
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino reopened Aug. 29, 2006, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The resort also has opened its new Tom Fazio-designed golf course Fallen Oak for guests at the resort. Beau Rivage has new restaurants, a redesigned and more luxurious casino, and the stores along the promenade look more like a street with each having their own look inside and out. In addition, all of the guest rooms have been redesigned and have a new look.
Silver Slipper, opened November 9, 2006. The casino is located in Hancock County at Bayou Caddy west of Waveland. Silver Slipper has more than 1,000 slot machines, 26 table games and 10 poker tables. Restaurants include the Jubilee Buffet, the Blue Bayou Bar and Grill steakhouse and Palm Court Cafe.
Island View Resort in Gulfport is actually what has become of the former Gulfport Grand Casino. The new resort opened for the first time August 18, 2006. The owners of the Copa Casino purchased Harrah's Gulfport Grand property after Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the property and left the Copa's barge on land in a parking lot. The Island View Resort, which was the Grand Oasis Hotel, has been extensively expanded and reconfigured for the new casino resort. The Island View is Gulfport's only casino..
Hollywood Casino in
Bay St. Louis opened August 31, 2007. It is the former Bay St. Louis Casino
Magic. The new resort is similar to
the one its parent company, Penn National Gaming, owns in Tunica County. The casino
is dedicated to movie themes and has displays from "Titanic" and Elvis
Presley movies. The completely redesigned and updated resort also features
the Arnold Palmer-designed Bridges Golf Course. The new look is
Biloxi Grand Casino reopened, August 17, 2007 at 9 p.m. in the surviving BayView Hotel, but a huge $1 billion resort is being designed. The Grand is owned by Harrah's. All of the casino's shoreline property has been demolished in preparation for the much larger resort. The Grand currently features all-new rooms with flat panel televisions, a large gaming floor in the hotel, a terrific buffet and LB's for fine dining. A new casino on the south side of U.S. 90 where the former Biloxi Grand was located, named Margaritaville, is under construction.
The IP Casino Resort and Spa (Formerly the Imperial Palace) Features 1,000 refurbished and redecorated hotel rooms and a whole new decor since it reopened in December 2005. The busy resort has several new restaurants and popular entertainment venues that have turned this casino into a favorite since it reopened.
The Isle of Capri Casino Resort - opened Dec. 26, 2005 with the casino inside its new hotel. The resort is completely redesigned with numerous restaurants, upscale entertainment venues and a whole new feel inside and out. The Isle has also asked the Mississippi Gaming Commission for approval to open a new casino is west Harrison County near the Diamondhead community off of Interstate 10.
The Palace Casino Resort opened Dec. 30, 2005 with a new gaming floor inside the first and second floors of its hotel. An elegant pool located just at the edge of the Biloxi Back Bay and a variety of fine dining restaurants and buffet are among its charms.
Boomtown Casino reopened June 29, 2006 with major improvements since Hurricane Katrina blew through the Mississippi Coast. The casino has a new gaming floor on its renovated casino barge and remains a local favorite with is popular buffet.
Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi opened its new hotel and casino Monday, July 2, 2007, marking the return of almost all of Biloxi's casinos that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Treasure Bay, whose former pirate ship barge became a Katrina devastation poster child, has finished a complete rebuild and remodel of their hotel site north of the highway. The casino has an entirely new theme, no longer the pirate ship look.
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, held their former Grand Opening July 7th, 2007 but actually opened a week early on June 30. The resort took heavy damages from Katrina just days before the casino was to open in September 2005. After Hurricane Katrina, the overall structure survived but the property was heavily damaged.
Under Construction
Bacaran Bay Casino Resort - $500 million project, owned and operated by Torguson Gaming Group, with anticipated completion date 2010. 638 room all suite hotel; 432 one and two bedroom condominiums; Arnold Palmer signature 18-hole championship golf course; 40 lane bowling alley; and six movie theaters. Proposed Royal D'Iberville Casino & Hotel - The Mississippi Gaming Commission approved what could become D'Iberville's first casino Feb. 15. (See Below) Bayview Casino Resort is a project under design next to Boomtown on Back Bay. The project is moving forward with plans for a resort that will include 55,000 square feet in gaming space and a 500-room hotel. The Broadwater (former President Casinos) there are rumors that the huge Broadwater site is slated for a $2 billion development. Currently, the site has seen no construction, however, all of the structures that were once on the site have been torn down and in November the slabs from former structures were removed. The location has the potential for what could be the Coast's most significant casino and resort location. More News The Island View Casino in Gulfport opened their latest expansion May 14, 2007, that doubled the amount of gaming space for the casino. The Island View casino is Gulfport's only casino. IP Mississippi Charities – the philanthropic arm of IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi – donated a half-million dollars to the city of Biloxi in March to help purchase emergency vehicles destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. (More Here) The Isle of Capri is increasing its presence in Biloxi and expanding. It is also shortening its name to just The Isle. The casino is filling in some land it controls on Biloxi's Point Cadet. The site is approximately 1.8 acres along the water. A $180 million expansion will put a casino immediately adjacent to the the property's parking garage along with restaurants and bars. It will also allow ballroom and convention space - currently converted into a gambling floor - to go back to its intended use. It will be completed in May 2009. Biloxi’s casinos reported March 19, $86.2 million in gross gaming revenue in February, the largest February in city's gaming history, according to figures released by the mayor’s office. “This means that five of the last six months have broken records in some form or another,” Mayor A.J. Holloway said, “and these figures overall show the strength and vitality of the Biloxi market.” The trend, Holloway said, began six month ago, in September, when the city’s largest monthly gross gaming revenue -- $95.7 million – was reported. Added the mayor: “That was followed by the largest October ever, the largest November ever, the largest December ever, and now the largest February ever.” (More Here) Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., the casino company founded by real estate developer Donald Trump, has dropped plans to build a casino on Mississippi's Gulf Coast in Hancock County. Trump Entertainment ended negotiations with Diamondhead Casino Corp.,late February. Diamondhed Casino Corp is the owner of more than 400 acres in Mississippi in Hancock County. Reportedly, the plans were dropped after the companies could not reach an agreement and over concerns about the project's financial return. The companies had signed a letter of intent to build on Diamondhead's site, which was approved for gambling after the state Legislature allowed casinos on land. The owners of the site of the future Royal D'Iberville Casino & Hotel cleared two hurdles at once Feb. 15 when the Mississippi Gaming Commission declared the property a legal site for gambling and approved development plans. The plan calls for the casino resort to be built on the west side of Interstate 110 in D'Iberville and would be a cutoff before motorists reach casinos on the Biloxi peninsula. The developers envision a 60,000-square-foot casino with a 400-room hotel and a parking garage that will be parallel to the Interstate with condotel units on top. An elevated bridge would take gamblers directly into the casino. The waterfront towers would each have 99 units. Developers are now seeking financing for the project, that when finished, will become D'Iberville's first casino. Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway said Feb. 16, 2007 on WLOX that Biloxi could see as many as six more casinos in the city in the not too distant future. The city is hearing plans from casino developers for property along Back Bay east of Boomtown Casino, as well as additional casinos on Biloxi's southern shoreline. The property that was once the President Casino at the Broadwater Resort has yet to see any construction, however debris removal and the removal of the former buildings on the Broadwater grounds has been completed. The Isle of Capri reported Feb. 7, 2007, that they have purchased the property initially purchased by the Golden Nugget on Biloxi's Point Cadet. The land includes about 5 acres just north of the Isle's main property. The casino has not announced any plans for the property and a purchase amount was not released.
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dollars, according to figures compiled by the city today. The city’s eight
casinos reported total gross gaming revenue of $1.007 billion for 2007, a
year in which nine months saw revenue of more than $80 million, including
an all-time monthly high of $97 million in July. 
Filed 12/14/07
Airport
Terminal Expansion Nearing Completion
Grand Opening set for July 7th. For months the Hard Rock has said they
would be opening on July 7th, capitalizing on the 7/7/7 date, but
officials say they are ready to get started.
New Casino Casino and Hotel 
Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi
The
following is the latest information on post-Katrina casino activity on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast.