Biloxi Casino and Hotel Gains Approval from Mississippi Gaming Commission
Another casino has been approved, this time in Biloxi, Mississippi. According to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Tullis Gardens Hotel & Casino is set to start construction, and once finished, it will only be the 2nd casino along the Gulf Coast ever since Hard Rock opened in 2007. The casino proposal includes an 11-story tower as well as 300 guest rooms and over 53,000 square feet dedicated to gaming.
The Mississippi Gaming Commission has greenlit a site for the proposed Tullis Gardens Hotel & Casino, paving the way for the first new casino resort in Biloxi along the Gulf Coast since the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opened in June of 2007.
At a meeting held last Thursday, the Commission approved the 35-acre site at 360 Beach Boulevard. The decision confirms that the location satisfies Mississippi's stringent gaming regulations, including compliance with the state's tidelands lease requirements.
From concept to reality
The Tullis Gardens Hotel & Casino project is spearheaded by businessman Israel Schwartz, who hails from Tennessee. The resort aims to pay homage to Biloxi's rich history by incorporating a replica of the Tullis-Toledano Manor, a mansion styled in the Greek Revival design that stood in the area before being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The proposed development envisions an 11-story hotel with 300 guest rooms, alongside a casino featuring over 900 slots, 35 live table games, and a sportsbook. The casino floor would span more than 53,000 square feet, complemented by the replica of the historic manor to serve as a key attraction.
Regulatory hurdles and development path
Securing the MGC's site approval is only the first step in bringing the Tullis Gardens vision to life. The developers must now secure financing and provide proof of funding to the Commission. Furthermore, Schwartz and his executive team will undergo rigorous suitability checks before progressing to the next stages, including obtaining construction permits and final design approvals.
Mississippi's gaming laws mandate that casinos along the Gulf Coast be constructed within 800 feet of the mean high-water line. Additionally, since tidelands are state-owned, developers are required to enter into lease agreements to build on or near the shore.
A tribute to Biloxi's past
The Tullis Gardens project seeks to honor the legacy of the original Tullis-Toledano Manor. Built in the 1850s, the historic home served as a community center and museum for decades before its destruction during Hurricane Katrina. The manor's replication within the resort is intended to celebrate Biloxi's cultural and historical roots, blending modern gaming and hospitality with a nod to the past.
But while the MGC approved the Tullis Gardens site, it delayed action on a competing casino project, the Tivoli Casino, which is proposed for a nearby location. The Tivoli development, led by developer Danny Conwill, envisions a $1 billion resort featuring 1,300 hotel rooms, a sprawling 100,000-square-foot casino with 2,000 slot machines, 75 table games, and a sportsbook as well as a convention center.
However, the Tivoli Casino project has encountered legal and regulatory obstacles. The site lacks a tidelands lease, a critical requirement under Mississippi law. Conwill contends that an agreement with the Biloxi City Council to build a pier satisfies the state's water proximity regulations. This claim is currently under dispute in court, with Mississippi State Secretary Michael Watson challenging its validity.
Potential economic impact
If realized, the Tullis Gardens Hotel & Casino would mark a significant economic boost for Biloxi, potentially creating jobs and generating tax revenue. The Gulf Coast, renowned for its gaming and hospitality industries, has not seen a new casino project in over 15 years, making the Tullis Gardens project a pivotal development in the region's ongoing recovery and growth.
As Schwartz and his team move forward with financing and regulatory approvals, the potential for a new era of gaming along Biloxi's famous shoreline draws closer. Meanwhile, the Tivoli project's legal battles demonstrate the complexities of expanding Mississippi's gaming landscape.
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