Chris Ilitch will serve as Chairperson of Ilitch Gaming
Detroit pizza billionaires are making a significant expansion into the casino industry with the launch of a dedicated gaming company. Detroit’s billionaire Ilitch family, founders of the Little Caesars pizza chain, has established Ilitch Gaming to pursue casino acquisitions and consolidate their gaming portfolio. The new company has agreements to purchase Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, Mississippi and acquire the remaining 50% stake in Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Furthermore, the family’s existing MotorCity Casino in Detroit will be integrated into Ilitch Gaming. Chris Ilitch, son of Little Caesars founders Marian Ilitch and the late Mike Ilitch, will chair the gaming company.
Both casino acquisitions remain subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort expands the platform into a third gaming market, adding a property recognized for its strong culture and loyal customer base. The Mississippi Gulf Coast resort features a 300-room hotel and a gaming floor with over 800 slots and video poker machines, 30 table games, and the Scarlet Pearl Sportsbook. The property opened in D’Iberville on December 9, 2015.
Ocean Casino Resort represents a different scale of operation. The Atlantic City property features 1,860 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, alongside a 135,000-square-foot casino floor. Additional amenities include a 4,500-seat concert venue and 160,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. The resort hosts land-based sports wagering through a partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook and operates online gaming via its betOcean platform within New Jersey.
John Policicchio serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Development Officer of Ilitch Gaming. The company’s stated focus centers on supporting operational teams, delivering exceptional guest experiences, investing in local communities, and pursuing responsible business growth. Scarlet Pearl has operated for over a decade on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, building relationships within the surrounding community.
The Ilitch family’s casino expansion builds upon substantial wealth generated from the Little Caesars pizza empire, co-founded by Marian Ilitch and her late husband Michael Ilitch in Garden City, Michigan, in 1959. Marian Ilitch ranks as the third-richest self-made woman in the United States with an estimated net worth of $6.90 billion. Little Caesars generates approximately $5.00 billion in annual systemwide sales.
The family entered the gaming sector as one of the original investors in Detroit’s MotorCity Casino. In 2005, Marian Ilitch paid $600.00 million to acquire total interest in the casino resort complex from various minor stakeholders and Mandalay Resort Group. Michigan gaming laws prohibit one company from owning more than one Detroit casino property. MotorCity Casino operates as one of the largest independently owned casino enterprises in the United States and likely the largest woman-owned casino in the country.
Beyond Detroit, Marian Ilitch and partner Michael J. Malik, Sr. pursued casino gambling interests from coast to coast. They worked as developers of casinos for federally recognized tribes, including the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan, with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Additional partnerships included the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Hampton Bays, New York, and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians in Barstow, California.
Chris Ilitch will serve as Chairperson of Ilitch Gaming, with Bruce Dall appointed as Vice Chairperson. As president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings Inc., Chris Ilitch provides oversight to businesses founded or purchased by his parents, Detroit entrepreneurs Mike and Marian Ilitch. He has held various roles throughout the organization for nearly 30 years.
Under his leadership, Ilitch Companies has increased revenue more than 600% while outperforming the S&P 500. The company portfolio spans multiple industries through strategic ownership of Little Caesars, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Development, Olympia Parking, Little Caesars Supply Chain, Champion Foods, Little Caesars Fundraising, Tenda, and joint venture ownership of 313 Presents. Combined revenue across these businesses reached $3.60 billion in 2017.
In addition to leading Ilitch Holdings, Chris Ilitch serves as governor, president and CEO of the Detroit Red Wings, along with chairman and CEO of the Detroit Tigers. Major League Baseball rules prohibit an owner or officer of a baseball club from owning or operating a casino. According to baseball’s chief operating officer in 2006, the arrangement proved permissible because Marian has no stake in the Tigers while Christopher has no stake in the casino.
Currently, Chris Ilitch leads development of The District Detroit, a sports and entertainment district expected to deliver $2.10 billion in economic impact.
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