Casino news source: The Sun Herald – http://www.sunherald.com/
Casino expansion, extension allowed
By TOM WILEMON
BILOXI - The Commission on Marine Resources on Tuesday gave a long-delayed casino project near Diamondhead more time to put its plans into action and said the Isle of Capri Biloxi can fill wetlands to expand its gambling space.
Casino World Inc. received its fourth consecutive extension for a permit originally issued in 1996 to put two gambling barges, a bridge and a gazebo south of Diamondhead.
Deborah A. Vitale, the company's CEO, said the project is now on a faster track. In June, the company and Trump Entertainment Resorts announced they had signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture and develop a casino resort.
"Trump is a master of marketing and that's why I'm so excited about their participation," Vitale said after the meeting. "I firmly believe that the Trump brand will bring a visibility and a recognition that the Mississippi Gulf Coast did not have before and it would have taken years to get what a name like Trump brings."
Donald Trump, the celebrity billionaire, is the chairman of the board and the largest individual shareholder of the company that bears his name. The company is separate and distinct from Donald Trump's real estate and other holdings.
Diamondhead Casino Corp. has to come back before the commission to apply for a permit related to trees that have already been cleared from its property. Vitale said the trees were storm damaged and property needed to be cleared to remove hurricane debris, including the Casino Magic Bay St. Louis entertainment barge.
The casino company is likely to change its plans, which would require it to reapply for permits.
Vitale said the goal is to have the Diamondhead casino open by Dec. 31, 2008, to qualify for federal tax benefits on new construction as part of the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005. The federal legislation excludes casinos, but not hotels and other buildings.
Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. has plans for a new casino on property adjacent to the Diamondhead site, but it is in Harrison County and accessible from a different exit of Interstate 10. However, the request before the commission on Tuesday was at its existing Biloxi property.
The commission gave the Isle permission to fill in 1.82 acres of wetlands, where the casino had originally intended to dredge deeper to float an additional gambling barge inside a concrete coffer structure.
The Isle must still receive approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Biloxi before it can proceed.
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