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Isle of Capri Casinos would put a new 2,500-room hotel casino on the north side of U.S. 90 that would be more than three times the size of its current resort if the city leases the company land. Tim Hinkley, president of the Isle, discussed the company's intentions this week. The Isle has an inside track to the Point Cadet property because of a right of first refusal agreement with the city, but other casino companies have also looked at the property.Ameristar was the first to consider putting a casino on the property, but abandoned those plans earlier this year. More recently, Landry's Restaurant offered to lease the land for a Golden Nugget Casino, but the Biloxi City Council rejected its offer this week. The city and Landry's could not agree on a price.

Mayor A.J. Holloway has said that for the Isle to execute its right of first refusal, its plans would have to trump proposals submitted by other casino companies. Job creation would be a factor in choosing the best proposal, the mayor said. The Isle's proposal would require hiring more dealers and other casino employees. "I think the permanent casino would probably be twice the number of gaming positions as the pre-Katrina casino," Hinkley said. "I think the market will come back very strongly. We want to time it as such. I think a lot also depends on the timing of infrastructure." Rebuilding the U.S. 90 bridge over the Biloxi Bay is critical to Casino Row making a comeback. However, three Biloxi casinos.