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A
Steamboat Circa 1915 1 |
Gaming is as much a part
of the state of Mississippi's
mythos as the Delta
Blues or the mighty Mississippi
River. Since card games were introduced to the region by French settlers
from New Orleans
in the mid-1800s, gambling has become ingrained in the culture of the south.
It originally gained popularity as a way for travellers to pass the time while
riding on the riverboats that were commonly found traversing the Mississippi
River. Since being legalized and regulated by state officials in 1990, Mississippi's
love affair for gaming has flourished and casinos have been built at an exponential
rate. The state has quickly become the Nevada
of the south, and cities such as Tunica,
Vicksburg,
Robinsonville
and Biloxi
are welcome alternatives to gaming meccas like Las
Vegas or Atlantic
City. The following WorldWeb.com
Travel Guide will look at some of the most popular casino-resorts in
Mississippi, and the ample services and entertainment options they provide guests.
ORIENTATION
The Mississippi Gaming Commission
requires companies granted operating licenses to have all gaming activities
take place on water. This led to every casino in the state being built along
the Mississippi River in towns like Tunica, Vicksburg and Robinsonville, or
on the Gulf Coast of
Mississippi in cities such as Biloxi. Due to state laws, Mississippi's
capital and largest city, Jackson,
does not possess any gaming establishments.
In August of 2005, Hurricane
Katrina devastated the gaming industry south of Tunica. Several casinos built
on floating barges —as legally required— were completely destroyed.
Consequently, gaming laws have now been relaxed and in several counties companies
are now allowed to build casinos on land in order to curtail any further losses.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI
Tunica / Tunica Resorts
(in Robinsonville)
Quickly becoming Mississippi's answer to Las Vegas, Tunica and the surrounding
area is widely considered the primary center of gambling in the state. The area's
booming popularity can be attributed to its close proximity to Memphis,
Tennessee,
which is only 60 minutes north of the area. Unlike its neighbors to the south,
Hurricane Katrina left the area largely unharmed, and as such the casinos are
still situated on the Mississippi River.
Horseshoe
Hotel and Casino
A sister-casino to the landmark Binion's
Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, the Tunica location is known for its
large gaming floor and throwback feel. The casino features over 2,000 slot machines,
75 table games and 12 poker tables. Horseshoe is also home to Bluesville,
a showroom that has hosted performances by some of the nation's top musical
acts and variety performers. Guests of this hotel are often looking to experience
the feel of vintage Las Vegas in the heart of the deep south.
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Televised World Poker Tour Event 2 |
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Grand
Casino Resort
The largest casino-resort between Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the Grand offers
a wealth of services for the most conscientious gaming enthusiast and their
family. The resort is home to three hotels, a full-service spa and a world-class
golf course. The gaming floor features over 140,000 sq ft (43,000 sq m) of mid-to
high-limit games such as slots, baccarat and poker. Guests of the Grand are
treated to a 5-star experience that is comparable to any of the most opulent
resorts in North America.
Gold
Strike Casino Resort
This MGM
Grand property —owners of such Las Vegas casinos as the Bellagio,
and the Luxor—
is a welcome destination for serious gamblers. The casino has become a haven
for poker enthusiasts, in large part because they regularly hold large-scale
competitions and high-limit games. Every year the poker community descends onto
the Gold Strike for the World
Poker Open, a Texas hold-em poker tournament. A charter-member of the
World Poker Tour, this tournament costs $10,000 USD to enter, with the winner
receiving approximately one million dollars.
Hollywood
Casino
Evoking the fun of theme hotels like New
York New York or Circus
Circus, this hotel and casino is a perfect destination for movie-buffs.
The casino contains a vast amount of film memorabilia, most notably a Harrier
jet from the movie “True Lies”, the Batmobile and a scale model of the Titanic.
Set on the sound-stage of a fictional jungle-adventure, the Safari
Bar is a popular destination for guests of the hotel and people staying
in the surrounding area.
Other Casinos in North
Mississippi
Tunica and Robinsonville are both home to several other hotels and casinos.
Those of note include the Sheraton
Casino and Hotel, Fitzgeralds
and Sam's
Town. Many of these casinos are slimmed down versions of larger complexes
located in Nevada.
BILOXI AND THE GULF COAST
Biloxi
Biloxi is the southern complement
to Tunica, as it contains several Vegas caliber resorts and gaming venues. Innumerable
casinos in the area sustained considerable damage during Hurricane Katrina and
are just now beginning to reopen their doors to the public. The majority of
the establishments are owned and operated by reputable hotel chains such as
MGM, Harrah's or the Hard
Rock Cafe.
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The
Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi 3 |
Beau
Rivage Resort & Casino
The Beau Rivage is owned and operated by MGM Grand, the same company that owns
the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and as such it exhibits many of the same five-star
amenities and world-class services. The casino floor covers 85,000 sq ft (26,000
sq m) and features high-limit pits for the most experienced players. It also
holds the Gulf
Coast Poker Championship, a stop on the World Poker Tour circuit. The
resort contains 11 restaurants
including celebrity chef Todd English's Mediterranean inspired Olives,
and the four-star Jia,
which delivers pan-Asian cuisine to guests. Other amenities at the Beau include
the Fallen
Oak Golf Club, which features a course designed by noted designer Tom
Fazio, a full service spa, and a marina on the gulf. The recently opened Beau
Rivage Theatre regularly books the country's most popular musical acts.
Grand
Biloxi Casino Resort and Spa
Owned and operated by Harrah's, the Grand is the younger brother of the Grand
Resort in Tunica. The casino floor is similar in capacity, but the hotel is
noticeably smaller. Guests are treated to the same quality facilities as in
Tunica, as the hotel also contains a spa and golf-course. This casino has been
approved by state officials for expansion, and is being converted into a Margaritaville
Resort and Casino. This Jimmy Buffett designed resort will be completed
in 2010.
Hard
Rock Hotel and Casino
Biloxi's newest casino, the Hard Rock, was to originally open in August of 2005,
but was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In June of 2007, almost two years later
the rebuilt hotel and casino opened for business. As with Hard Rock's other
holdings in Las Vegas and Florida
this casino is geared toward a younger demographic, with croupiers dressed in
semi-casual attire and rock-music playing throughout the premises. Typical of
Hard Rock venues, this casino contains rock and roll memorabilia such as B.B.
King's guitar Lucille and Elvis Presley's army uniform.
Other Casinos in Biloxi
Biloxi is home to several other casinos including the Boomtown
Biloxi, IP
Casino, Isle
of Capri Casino and the Palace
Casino Resort. Even more casinos are currently in development, making
the Gulf Coast an up-and-coming gambling mecca.
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| Blackjack
at the Beau Rivage 4 |
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SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Vicksburg
If Tunica is the Las
Vegas of Mississippi then Vicksburg most closely resembles Laughlin.
The town does not possess the same quantity or quality of casinos as Tunica
or Biloxi, but is nonetheless popular because of its proximity to Jackson. The
devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina damaged many of the casinos here beyond
repair and forced owners to establish temporary casino facilities while new
buildings are being constructed.
Ameristar
Casino
The premier casino destination in Vicksburg, this casino is smaller in stature
than the resorts in Biloxi or Tunica, but still possesses the key ingredients
of a successful establishment. Prominent features at the Ameristar include the
Bottleneck
Blues Bar and the Heritage
Buffet. Musical acts that have performed here in the past include American
Idol's Taylor Hicks and Sex and the City's John Corbett.
Other Casinos in Vicksburg
Facilities also found in the area include the DiamondJacks
Casino, Horizon
Hotel and Casino and the Rainbow
Hotel and Casino. In April 2007, construction began on Vicksburg's newest
casino, the Riverwalk Casino and Hotel. This property is expected to open in
the summer of 2008.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- c/o B.C. Archives;
Steamboat, BC, CAN
- c/o WPT Enterprises,
Inc.; World Poker Open 2007 Final Table; Tunica, MS, USA
- c/o MGM Mirage; Beau
Rivage Biloxi; Biloxi, MS, USA
- c/o MGM Mirage; Blackjack
at the Beau; Biloxi, MS, USA
