Diamondhead Casino Corp. has signed a nonbinding letter of intent with Casinos Austria International Holding to form a joint-venture partnership to develop, build and operate a destination casino resort in Diamondhead.

The casino resort would cover 50 acres of a 404-acre tract in Hancock County owned by Mississippi Gaming Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Diamondhead Casino, which fronts I-10 and the Bay of St. Louis. The property is debt- and lien-free.

Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, would not comment because the casino plans have not been presented to the commission. The site is the same one Donald Trump had said two years ago he intended to develop a gaming resort in partnership with a Mississippi company.

It was the second time in a dozen years Trump has announced plans to enter into the Coast gaming market, but nothing materialized.

In 1996, Trump appeared before the Gaming Commission to discuss his proposed $8.5 million renovation of Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport and a $90 million casino complex. Nothing came of the proposal.

Hancock County has zoned the property as a special use district-waterfront gaming district.

Deborah Vitale, president of the Mississippi company, said in a news release that the company “has enjoyed a long-term relationship with Casinos Austria in prior years and knows the company to be a quality organization with extensive gaming experience and expertise in the international gaming industry.”

The casino industry in Austria began in 1934. Casinos Austria today owns and operates the 12 casinos in Austria.

In 1977, Casinos Austria International was founded to consolidate the company’s international activities. It has been involved in 215 casino projects in more than 35 different countries.