Biloxi Casino With 1,300-Room Hotel Gains Site Approval From Mississippi Gaming Commission
A casino project in Biloxi is moving forward with a $700 million plan to build and operate a casino resort on the Beach Blvd. property. The development will include a 13th casino floor, featuring 2,000 slot machines and 75 table games, as well as a sportsbook.
The resort is expected to have 1,300 guestrooms, convention space, and other typical amenities like restaurants and bars.
Daniel Conwill, the owner of Felix’s Restaurant Group, has been trying to open a casino on the property for almost two decades. He finally gained approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission after courts ruled against the state in its allegation that the city allowing Conwill to build a pier from the beach to his casino does not satisfy the state law that requires gaming floors to be within 800 feet of the 19-year mean high water line.
The project is set to bring a significant boost to the local economy, although some have questioned whether Biloxi needs more casinos given the declining in-person gross gaming revenue in recent years. In 2021, the casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast won $1.608 billion, but this figure has declined each year since then.
Here are some key points about the Tivoli Casino project:
Key Features:
- A 13th casino floor with 2,000 slot machines and 75 table games
- A sportsbook
- 1,300 guestrooms
- Convention space
- Restaurants and bars
- A replica of the Tullis-Toledano Manor
The History Behind the Tivoli Hotel:
The historic Tivoli Hotel was built in the 1920s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The hotel fell into disrepair in the 1970s and later became an apartment complex before shuttering in the 1990s.
Does Biloxi Need More Casinos?
The casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have not been thriving in recent years, with in-person gross gaming revenue declining each year since 2021. Some argue that the area needs more economic stimulus, while others believe that the decline is due to a range of factors including increased competition from neighboring states.
Conclusion
The Tivoli Casino project is set to bring significant investment and jobs to Biloxi, although it remains to be seen whether it will help to reverse the declining trend in gaming revenue on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
