Biloxi council approves rezoning for Black Marlin Casino

The Biloxi City Council voted 5-1 on October 6 to rezone seven parcels near Beach Boulevard and Veterans Avenue, clearing the way for RW Development’s Black Marlin Casino. The decision authorises the removal of 28 protected trees — 25 mature live oaks and three magnolias — and conditions the project on tree mitigation and final approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission before any opening.

Details of the council vote and municipal conditions for the Black Marlin Casino

The council vote approves the land-use changes necessary for the developer to proceed with the master plan earlier approved by the Biloxi Planning Commission. That commission unanimously approved the master plan, the rezoning and the tree removals on 3 September.

Under the conditions imposed by the council, RW Development must wait at least 10 days before cutting any trees and comply with the city’s established replacement requirements. The options to offset the vegetation loss are:

• plant 209 replacement trees on-site or at other city-approved locations;

• contribute funds to the Biloxi Tree Fund;

• or a combination of both measures.

The parcel designated for the development is listed as 1820 Beach Boulevard in municipal records.

What the project includes and who is leading it

The plan described in prior filings calls for a complex with a 43,800 sq ft casino, a 300-room hotel, food-and-beverage outlets and parking for 668 vehicles, plus additional retail and hospitality space. RW Development is leading the initiative; Ray Wooldridge, president of RW Development, heads the project and the company has partnered with Encompass, a Kentucky-based casino design and construction firm.

The investment cited in earlier reports is approximately US$3m.

State permit status and critical timeline

The Mississippi Gaming Commission granted site approval for a casino development in December 2023. That approval has an expiration date: it lapses on 22 December 2026 unless the commission agrees an extension. In addition to site approval, the commission must review the developer’s final submission and complete the licensing process before any work that would enable the casino to open.

The need for state authorisation means the municipal rezoning is not the last regulatory milestone: the project must now pass formal reviews and licensing by the state regulator. For regulatory context consult the commission page in the [regulation](/regulation) section.

Local reaction and environmental considerations

Residents and local groups voiced concern about the impact on the site’s natural character, focusing on the loss of mature live oaks and magnolias. The planned removal of 25 live oaks and three magnolias was the principal point of controversy during prior public hearings.

The council sought to balance project approval with tree-mitigation measures: the requirement to plant 209 trees or pay into the municipal fund aims to compensate both the number and value of the affected species. RW Development will have to document compliance and coordinate replacement locations and species with municipal authorities.

Implications for operators and the supply chain

For contractors, hotel suppliers and gaming operators the local approval clears a land-use barrier but does not remove commercial or regulatory risks. Confirmation of the licence by the Mississippi Gaming Commission remains the decisive requirement before the project can progress to construction and operation.

Design and construction remain in the hands of Encompass as RW Development's partner, placing design, engineering and supply firms in a potential procurement window if the state commission completes licensing. Parties interested in operational and service opportunities linked to the resort can monitor related developments in the sector's b2b and news sections.

Timelines and next steps

In the short term, RW Development may begin local administrative filings, but it cannot carry out tree removal until municipal wait periods have passed. The next key stage is the final review and licensing process by the Mississippi Gaming Commission before 22 December 2026, the date the December 2023 site approval would expire if not extended. The company must file the final project version and meet the commission’s requirements to advance toward construction.