Developers have worked for years to build a new casino in east Biloxi and now two properties a few blocks from each other are going to the Mississippi Gaming Commission for site approval.
“They’re two different casinos,” said Jay McDaniel, executive director of Mississippi Gaming Commission.
Tullis Gardens Hotel and casino is just west of Harrah’s Gulf Coast.
Biloxi Capital proposes building on the Tivoli a short walk away, near the Biloxi Yacht Club and Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art.
The Tullis Garden Hotel request for site approval is on Thursday’s Gaming Commission agenda to be presented to the commission in Jackson, McDaniel said,
The legal advertisement for Biloxi Capital’s site is running in the Sun Herald for the required three weeks, Oct. 2, 9 and 16, and then will be considered.
Getting site approval from the three-member Gaming Commission is necessary to proceed with plans, but it’s still a lengthy process before actual construction can begin.
If the properties are awarded site approval, the next step would be to get permission to proceed. Developers must submit extensive plans and financial documents showing they have the funds to complete the casino resort before they start building.
Tullis Gardens Hotel and Casino
Tullis Gardens Hotel originally was proposed as a resort, until a feasibility study showed it would need a casino to be profitable.
That required an additional 100 rooms added to the plans to meet the 300 minimum required by Mississippi Gaming Commission.
Israel “Izzy” Schwartz of Tennessee owns 90% of the development company and Luke Lenzi, Schwartz’s attorney and the chief executive officer, owns 10%.
Among the amenities of the casino resort are:
▪ 300 room hotel
▪ 53,280 square foot casino floor
▪ 909 slot machines
▪ 35 table games
▪ Sports book
Biloxi Capital’s Tivoli site
This same property, west of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, was proposed in 2007 as a $1 billion Tivoli Casino.
Biloxi Capital LLC continued to work on a casino resort on 32 acres. The company proposes:
▪ 1,300 room hotel
▪ 100,000 square foot casino space
▪ 2,000 slot machines
▪ 75 table games
▪ Sports book
Convention space and other amenities also have been proposed.
Biloxi Capital and developer Danny Conwill purchased the Tivoli site after Hurricane Katrina for $40 million. It was zoned for casinos in 2007. The site is bordered by Holley Street on the west, Biloxi Yacht Club on the east, Howard Avenue on the north, and the Mississippi Sound on the south.
Other Biloxi casinos
Biloxi has eight casinos and many more have been proposed over the years.
In December 2023, RW Development won long sought site approval for a casino at U.S. 90 and Veterans Boulevard. Approval came with a deadline of three years. Site approval can’t be transferred to another company without approval of the gaming commission.
The rock band KISS had proposed a Rock & Brews casino resort at the former Margaritaville Casino in east Biloxi. The band had intended a groundbreaking when they were at the Coast Coliseum in March 2020 for a concert. They canceled the ceremony because of the Covid-19 outbreak and ultimately the plans for the casino. The property since was sold and is being transformed into a Hammered Harry’s restaurant and entertainment complex.
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