Golden Nugget Coming to Biloxi

HOUSTON, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tilman J. Fertitta, Chairman, CEO, and Owner of Landry's, Inc. announced today the expansion of his Golden Nugget Casinos to include The Golden Nugget Biloxi. Mr. Fertitta's gaming companies which include Golden Nugget Casinos in Las Vegas, Laughlin and Atlantic City now will expand to the South with the acquisition of the Isle Casino Hotel in Biloxi, MS.  Fertitta said, "I am not only excited to acquire this choice property but to grow in an area which for me has personal, family ties. We are excited to bring the Golden Nugget to Biloxi and have plans to transform the property to a luxurious and exciting hotel and casino with the highest level of service. All upgrades and improvements are expected to be completed by 2013."  After closing, The Golden Nugget Biloxi will honor all Isle Biloxi customer points and rewards not only in Biloxi, but also in Golden Nugget properties in Las Vegas, Laughlin and Atlantic City.

Pending regulatory approvals necessary to complete the purchase, exciting and dramatic changes to the property are planned to transform the hotel-casino into a Golden Nugget resort destination.  The transaction is expected to be completed within four to six months.

Fertitta's plans for the Golden Nugget Biloxi will enhance the look and reputation of the 720 room Biloxi property, with the third largest casino hotel in the Biloxi/Gulfport marketplace being transformed into one of the premier resort destinations in the South.  Mr. Fertitta's team is incorporating Landry's award winning concepts to include the Chart House restaurant, Lillie's Asian Cuisine, nationally recognized Grotto Italian Ristorante, and a Morton's Steakhouse.  In addition, Fertitta stated, "The entire property will be updated with a modern look to include new bars and lounges with live entertainment, stylish retail offerings and updated rooms. There will be a high energy Rush Lounge and a unique Live Bar to complement a new spa, poker room, and a state of the art showroom.  Also, there will be an innovative H2O Resort Pool and Lounge which will introduce all season hot tubs and fire pits. Together these will deliver an exhilarating experience unlike anything available in Biloxi."

The Golden Nugget has strong brand recognition worldwide.  Since Landry's purchased the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, they have invested more than $300 million to renovate and expand the property, continuing it as one of the top hotel-casinos in Las Vegas.  The centerpiece of the Golden Nugget Las Vegas is The Tank, a unique pool and shark aquarium which has been recognized as one of the top ten hotel pools in the world by Forbes Traveler and top ten most extreme pools by The Travel Channel.  This stunning pool is open year-round for guests to enjoy.  The most recent addition to the Las Vegas property is the Rush Tower which opened in late 2009 offering additional rooms and includes a Chart House restaurant featuring a 100,000-gallon tropical aquarium, and high-end retail shopping.

The Golden Nugget Las Vegas is home to hit poker shows, Poker After Dark on NBC and High Stakes Poker on GSN, and also hosted a variety of reality television shows on TLC, VH1, Spike TV, and was the setting for two episodes of CBS's hit series CSI.  Landry's plans to bring this same type of energy and notoriety to the Biloxi property.

The Golden Nugget Hotel Casino and Marina in Atlantic City was purchased in May, 2011 and immediately began a 10-month, $150 million renovation project. The waterfront property is a premier resort destination, offering guests more than 750 contemporary rooms and suites, a high-energy casino featuring the most popular slot and video poker machines, table games, and 20-table plush poker room and Landry's signature world-class restaurants such as Chart House, Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse and Grotto.  The resort also boasts new bars and lounges, several stylish boutique retail offerings, and will soon debut a state-of-the-art luxury spa and salon as well as the H20 year-round pool and lounge.

Landry's is a national, diversified restaurant, hospitality and entertainment company principally engaged in the ownership and operation of high end and casual dining restaurants, primarily under the names of Landry's Seafood House, Rainforest Cafe, McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, The Chart House, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Claim Jumper, Saltgrass Steak House and Oceanaire, as well as a fine dining signature group of restaurants:  Morton's Steakhouse, Vic & Anthony's, Grotto, Willie G's and others.  The Company is also engaged in the ownership and operation of gaming, hospitality and entertainment businesses, including the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada, and Atlantic City, the Kemah Boardwalk, the San Luis Resort Complex, and the Downtown Aquariums in Denver and Houston.  Landry's and Mr. Fertitta's affiliated companies will generate approximately $2.5 billion in revenues in 2012.

About Golden Nugget

Mr. Fertitta, through various wholly-owned affiliates, operates three (3) Golden Nugget Hotels and Casinos which are located in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey. 

Las Vegas - Winner of the AAA Four Diamond Award consecutively since 1977, the Golden Nugget Las Vegas is the most luxurious resort on the Fremont Street Experience, and consistently receives critical acclaim for exceeding customer expectations. The Golden Nugget Las Vegas now offers more than 2,400 deluxe guestrooms and suites; a high-energy casino featuring the most popular slot and video poker machines, table games, race and sports book, and poker room; nightly entertainment with master impressionist and comedian Gordie Brown; world-class restaurants such as Grotto Italian Ristorante and Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse; a luxury spa and salon; and The Tank (rated one of the world's top ten pools), a year-round outdoor swimming pool complete with a 200,000-gallon, live shark aquarium and the new H20 poolside lounge.

Atlantic City - The Golden Nugget Atlantic City, located on Frank S. Farley Marina is a premier resort destination, offering guests more than 750 rooms and suites. The entire property is currently under renovation and will shortly take on a fresh, modern look to include a high-energy casino featuring the most popular slot and video poker machines, table games, and poker room.  Already completed are new bars and lounges, a new world-class poker room and high limit gaming areas, stylish retail offerings, as well as Landry's signature world-class restaurants such as Chart House, Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse and Grotto.  The world class luxury spa and salon and H20 poolside lounge will be completed this month. The Golden Nugget will introduce first-class accommodations, exquisite dining options and fun-filled entertainment venues unlike anything else available in Atlantic City, with all renovations slated for completion by March 2012.

Laughlin - An oasis in the desert, the Golden Nugget Laughlin is a hotel-casino located on the banks of the Colorado River, near the Arizona and California borders, in Laughlin, Nevada. The whimsical, tropical-themed resort features top-notch restaurants, comfortable guest rooms and some of the hottest gaming action in Laughlin – all accented with personalized service and hospitality that have earned the hotel and casino many accolades. Guests can bask in a tropical paradise where the intimacy and serenity of the Colorado River region meets the high-energy gaming action of Nevada. The casino features slot and video poker machines, including progressive-play machines; table games, and a complete race and sports book, which is linked to the Golden Nugget Las Vegas for the most up-to-the-minute betting lines. In addition to gaming guests can wet their palate at several signature dining concepts featuring Harlow's, Joe's Crab Shack and Saltgrass Steak House before partaking in the energy of the nightclub/lounge.

SOURCE Golden Nugget