Biloxi council approves Black Marlin Casino rezoning after 5-1 vote

The Biloxi City Council approved rezoning for the Black Marlin Casino on 6 October, voting 5-1, according to a report attributed to WLOX. The decision covers 1820 Beach Boulevard and allows RW Development to proceed with the waterfront project, though the development still requires state licensing before gaming operations can begin.

Local reporting indicates that on September 3 the Biloxi Planning Commission gave its unanimous support to the master plan, the zoning change and the request to remove trees. Before that, it examined an arborist's assessment, which judged most of the trees to be in poor or fair condition. The Mississippi Gaming Commission first cleared the casino plans in December 2023. That approval followed four tries across 16 years by the developer to win backing for a casino at Veterans Avenue and Highway 90. RW Developments was given three years to file final plans with the commission.

Even with city approval, the Mississippi Gaming Commission's site approval expires on 22 December 2026 unless the licensing process is completed or extended.