...as a touring musician followed by a loyal cadre of ‘Parrtoheads’, he is also the mastermind behind a successful series of Margaritaville restaurants that evoke his laid back itinerant lifestyle.

The new Gulf Coast destination will be on the Biloxi and is expected to cost more than $700 million, the single largest investment in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina. The company expects this to be the first phase of a development that may cost more than $1billion when finally complete.

“I am privileged to announce Harrah’s plans for Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi,” said Gary Loveman, chairman, chief executive officer and president. “Along with Jimmy Buffett, we plan to develop the next generation destination resort on the Gulf Coast. This project of more than $700 million dollars is vital to supporting the rebirth of Mississippi’s tourism industry.”

“I have always considered myself a “Gulf Coast kid,” said singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett. “I was born there, grew up there and jumped on a stage for the first time there, before hitting the road. I have seen the world, traveled to distant shores, written a few songs and lived a few tall tales along the way, and now it is good to be coming back home. I have seen the best and the worst of times along Mississippi Sound, and as a survivor of storms myself, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude and good fortune to be part of the re-birth of the region by joining forces with Harrah’s to bring the Margaritaville Casino & Resort “Down around Biloxi”.”

The Margaritaville Casino & Resort will be developed on 46 acres of land south of U.S. Highway 90 in Biloxi on the site formerly occupied by Grand Casino and Casino Magic. With a projected development start date of summer 2007, the Margaritaville Casino & Resort project features include approximately 100,000 square feet of casino floor; 250,000 square feet of retail space; 66,000 square feet of meeting space; 420 new hotel rooms and 378 renovated hotel rooms; pool deck area with cabanas, bar, and tropical landscaping and full-service Spa.

Sun Palace Casino
Play for Fun or Money, you will
always going to win!!!

This is the first major project to be announced since the company agreed to be taken private in a $28 billion deal (including about $10 billion in debt) by Apollo Management Group and Texas Pacific Group. According to Harrah’s executives, this project has been in development since shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the community in summer 2005. A law passed after the storm now permits casinos to be built on land rather than on the water, which is paving the way for more Las Vegas style developments.

"We now have 80 contiguous acres on the water," Harrah's chief executive Gary Loveman told The Associated Press. "You look out over the beach and there's a tremendous footprint that's completely clear that you can put stuff on. That could include more hotels, a condo development, further retail or a theater."

He also told the AP that major projects in Las Vegas and Atlantic City are still in the works but that’s the first onlinecasinocrawler.com has heard. Last fall a major announcement regarding Atlantic City was put on hold and sources have said planning had stopped for now on new Vegas projects.

In Atlantic City, Harrah’s is in the middle of a massive expansion and will open the city’s largest indoor pool complex in time for Memorial Day. The  new area is a 172,000-square-foot glass enclosed 90-foot high domed swimming pool complex and Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa.

© Copyright 2007 Gambling Central's material. It may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.