Nov. 29, 2012--BILOXI -- The sale of Isle Casino will close Thursday now that the Biloxi Council has voted to assign city property leases to Landry's Golden Nugget, according to Landry's attorney Britt Singletary.

The special meeting was held Thursday and the vote was unanimous. David Fayard and Bill Stallworth were not at the meeting.

The casino will continue to operate as the Isle of Capri.

Renovation and construction will begin in January and team is in Biloxi to meet with city's Commmunity Development department.

Jeff Cantwell, senior vice president of development for Landry's, said by June, enough of the renovations will be complete to rebrand the casino resort.

There have been modifications to the plans, Cantwell said, and the new restaurants that will be added to the property include Morton's Steakhouse, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Lillie's Asian cuisine and a 24-hour cafe' as well as a buffett.

The sale of the Isle Casino to Golden Nugget was announced in March. The casino will become the Golden Nugget Biloxi.

Tilman J. Fertitta, chairman and CEO of Landry's Inc., parent company of Golden Nugget, told the Sun Herald the company plans a $150 million on the purchase, upgrade and expansion of the resort.

He said the entire property will get a modern look, including new bars, lounges and shops, a new spa, poker room and showroom.

At the entrance of the resort off U.S. 90, an H2O Resort Pool will be built with all-season hot tubs and fire pits.

The Isle of Capri was the first casino to open in Mississippi and the South. A pair of steamboats arrived from Iowa and Bernie Goldstein, knows as "the Father of Riverboat Gambling," opened the casino on Aug. 1, 1992.

Golden Nugget also has casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev. and Atlantic City, N.J.

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