At a special meeting, the Mississippi Gaming Commission recently voted unanimously to grant site approval for the state’s 13th Gulf Coast casino in Long Beach. The former 12-acre K-Mart property meets state requirements that the casino will be within 800 feet of the mean high-water line.
Before developer James Parrish and his investors can move forward on the project, they must prove they have financing in place to complete the project. Also, they must show the casino will be at least 40,000 square feet, and a 300-room hotel, fine dining restaurant and other required amenities will be included, as stated by law. Another requirement is that the new casino resort must offer a unique amenity or attraction that will help the casino market grow.
Long Beach Mayor George Bass said the city’s architectural review board must approve the casino plans.
In November, the Gaming Commission met in Long Beach and postponed a decision on the application for site approval to allow for more time to study the project.
