Biloxi Planning Commission Clears Path for Black Marlin Casino Through Rezoning and Tree Removal Approvals

The Biloxi Planning Commission delivered a unanimous approval covering rezoning for three parcels to waterfront zoning along with adoption of a master plan and removal of 28 protected trees that include 25 live oaks plus three magnolias, all tied directly to RW Development’s proposed Black Marlin Casino at the intersection of US 90/Beach Boulevard and Veterans Avenue in Biloxi, Mississippi.

That decision addresses elements of a project delayed more than fifteen years, and it sets the stage for further review by the City Council along with the Mississippi Gaming Commission before any construction can begin, while the completed facility would mark Biloxi’s ninth casino if those remaining approvals come through.

Project Components and Site Details

Plans for the Black Marlin Casino outline a 300-room hotel paired with a 43,800-square-foot gaming floor that would house 1,100 slot machines, 24 table games, and a dedicated sportsbook, while additional amenities include restaurants and bars, meeting space, and a $1 million handicap-accessible Veterans Avenue Pier that would extend public access along the waterfront.

The three parcels sit at a high-visibility location along the main coastal highway, and the rezoning shifts the land use category to accommodate the full scope of the mixed-use entertainment complex that combines lodging, gaming, and dining under one master plan.

Tree Removal Provisions and Environmental Considerations

Approval for removal of the 28 protected trees forms part of the overall package, and observers note that such steps often accompany large-scale waterfront projects where site grading and infrastructure placement require adjustments to existing vegetation, although the commission’s action keeps those removals within the boundaries of the approved master plan.

The specific count breaks down to 25 live oaks and three magnolias, and records from the meeting show the commission weighed these details alongside the rezoning request before reaching the unanimous outcome.

Timeline and Remaining Regulatory Steps

More than fifteen years have passed since initial concepts for the Black Marlin first surfaced, and the recent commission vote marks the latest milestone in a process that still requires sign-off from the Biloxi City Council before advancing to the Mississippi Gaming Commission for licensing consideration.

According to the project timeline shared during the meeting, those next reviews would determine whether construction permits can be issued, and the commission’s approval now places the remaining decisions in the hands of those two bodies.

Context Within Biloxi’s Casino Landscape

Should the project receive final clearances, the Black Marlin would join eight existing casinos that already operate along the Biloxi shoreline, and the addition would expand the city’s total gaming footprint while introducing a new hotel tower and pier facility at the Veterans Avenue location.

The 43,800-square-foot casino floor, with its specified mix of 1,100 slots and 24 table games plus the sportsbook, aligns with the scale of several other properties in the market, yet the integrated pier and public access elements distinguish this proposal within the local development pattern.

Conclusion

The unanimous action by the Biloxi Planning Commission resolves the rezoning, master plan, and tree removal requests for the Black Marlin Casino in one step, moving the long-delayed RW Development project forward to the City Council and Mississippi Gaming Commission for their respective reviews, and it positions the 300-room hotel, 43,800-square-foot gaming facility, and Veterans Avenue Pier as the next potential addition to Biloxi’s established casino corridor if those approvals follow.