Ocean Casino Resort dominated the Atlantic City casino market in the first half of 2021 in terms of having both the highest average room rate and the highest occupancy rate.

So under a new ownership team, the plan is to get even bigger.

The well-known Ilitch family of Detroit — owner of the Little Caesars pizza chain, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Red Wings — obtained approval from state regulators Thursday to acquire half-ownership of the casino from Luxor Capital Group. That hedge fund announced plans in April for the new partnership with the family.

“I won’t say we kissed a lot of frogs, but we batted eyelashes at a few frogs and found ourselves a prince,” Luxor executive Michael Conboy said Thursday.