Kiss Is Planning Its Own Casino

Revival of Margaritaville

The US rock band KISS has been active in the catering business for years and operates 21 restaurants worldwide. Now the cult band's activities are to be expanded to include the casino business. For this purpose, the band, which is famous for its martial stage outfits and face paint, has entered into a partnership with the gaming operator RAM Group. The aim is to revive the former Margaritaville Casino Biloxi in the state of Mississippi.

The building complex has been standing still for five years. The reason was a dispute between the former casino operator and the landlord of the 68,000 square meter property. The conflict led to the gambling establishment being closed in 2014 and the attached hotel never being completed. RAM acquired the venue last November and a letter of intent has now been signed with KISS.

Casino with a rock & roll flair

The establishment will shine in new splendor in the form of a theme casino with a rock & roll flair, with the rock band founded in 1973 taking center stage. With over 100 million albums sold, KISS is one of the most successful bands of all time. The old school rockers are currently on a big farewell tour. A concert is scheduled for March 15th at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.

According to frontman Paul Stanley, the bandana will be cut on the casino grounds on Fifth Street in advance of the concert. According to reports in the local newspaper Sun Herald, the ceremony will take place in the early afternoon. In addition to the band, RAM spokesman Tom Moore is also expected. Also in attendance will be Adam Goldberg, CEO of Rock & Brews, the restaurant chain owned by KISS co-stars Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.

Million-dollar construction project

While the rock stars will provide an appropriate lifestyle ambience, industry experts RAM will be responsible for installing the necessary infrastructure and the technical equipment for the casino and hotel operations. The group of companies wants to invest over 200 million US dollars in the necessary renovation work and, according to its own statements, a superlative gaming facility will emerge.

Firstly, the venue will be equipped with a luxury hotel. This will have over 300 rooms, be located directly on the harbor and also offer a pool area. For this purpose, a casino area of 40,000 square meters (or more) is to be built. Over 1,000 slot machines and several gaming tables are planned. According to Moore, the existing building was perfect for the iconic project, stating:

"The interior of the building is better than we ever expected, which was a real selling point for Rock & Brews. It has the potential to bring this part of Biloxi back to life. Mayor Andrew Gilich has also endorsed the renovation."

In addition, the old Margaritaville location is to be expanded to include a 3,000-seat concert hall. “When people come here, they will have a completely different sound experience,” said the announcement. In order to offer the resort's visitors an "interactive experience", the establishment's rooms are also equipped with pictures and collectibles from the world of rock music.

According to Moore, who grew up on the Mississippi coast and calls the site a "forgotten area," construction on the new casino will begin in the spring. The financing of the resort is secured. Approvals have also been received from the Biloxi Planning Commission and the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Tourists and residents alike can therefore look forward to a “unique facility” that will benefit the entire state.

Hard rock meets iGaming

When it came to solidifying the KISS brand, the band around Stanley and Simmons had always shown a magical touch. Hardly any other band has managed to maintain such relevance over decades. However, it is not uncommon for well-known rock groups to enter into partnerships with gaming companies and try to gain a foothold in the sector.

Evidence of this can be found in a number of hard rock slots, including KISS presenting a slot via WMS (Scientific Games) last year. Bands like Guns N' Roses and Motörhead also released slot machines of the same name via the Swedish game developer NetEnt. There is also an AC/DC slot in cooperation with the Maltese manufacturer Wazdan.

Furthermore, a partnership between the Swedish development studio Play'n GO and the band Candlemass made headlines in 2018. The House of Doom slot machine was introduced based on the motto Play’n Goes Doom Metal. The Nordic music giants contributed a suitable soundtrack to the iGaming project. However, with its own casino, KISS is setting new standards here.