Ilitch family to buy Atlantic City and Mississippi casinos under new gaming division
The family has founded Ilitch Gaming and plans to take full ownership of Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort and Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in Mississippi.
US.- The Ilitch family has established a dedicated gambling-focused entity and announced move to buy Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, Mississippi, and the remaining ownership interest in Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Chris Ilitch will chair the company, named Ilitch Gaming, which would combine the new assets with the family’s MotorCity Casino in Detroit, pending regulatory approval and closing requirements.
Ilitch, who is also chief executive officer of Ilitch Companies, said: “My mother Marian Ilitch’s vision for MotorCity Casino Hotel and our success in Detroit over nearly three decades is the inspiration for what comes next. The formation of Ilitch Gaming marks a defining new chapter in the evolution of our gaming and hospitality business. We remain committed to creating memorable experiences for guests, supporting responsible gaming, and serving as a positive economic force in the communities where we operate.”
Marian Ilitch became the sole owner of MotorCity Casino in 2005. She and her late husband, Mike Ilitch, had set out in business with Little Caesars Pizza in 1959.
The Ilitch family purchased a 50 per cent stake in Ocean Casino Resort in 2021. The venue is located on 20 acres along the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It has 1,860 hotel rooms and suites, 160,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a 4,500-seat concert venue and a 135,000-square-foot casino floor. Fanatics Sportsbook provides its land-based sports betting, and the venue operates online gaming in New Jersey via its betOcean platform.
The Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort opened in December 2015 on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The hotel features 30 table games, 300 rooms, the Scarlet Pearl Sportsbook and over 800 slot machines and video poker terminals.
John Policicchio, chief executive officer and chief development officer of Ilitch Gaming, said: “We are excited to build on the success of MotorCity Casino Hotel and Ocean Casino Resort and welcome Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort to the Ilitch Gaming portfolio. Scarlet Pearl has built something special over the past decade, and we look forward to supporting its continued success. Our focus is straightforward: support great teams, deliver exceptional guest experiences, invest in the communities we serve, and responsibly grow the business over time.”
