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DEL.ICIO.USTunica: Hold em or fold em?
What else can you do in this Delta gaming spot?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few months ago, we discussed gambling spots around the region. This week, I want to focus specifically on the southern gambling den of Tunica, Miss.
I’ll say upfront that I’m no gambler. You don’t have to be Kenny Rogers to see my poker face is an open book with large print. I’ve driven by the town of Tunica on my way from Memphis to Oxford, Miss. in the middle of the day and in a bit of a hurry. But if there are any bright lights that illuminate the Delta sky at night, I wouldn’t know about them.
For a while, William would travel there for an annual golf tournament and schmoozefest. Occasionally, he will suggest we head to Tunica for the weekend. I’m not opposed to it, but if I’m going to plan a (rare) child-free getaway, I don’t normally think of taking a gambling trip.
That’s probably because my gambling threshold is pretty low. I enjoy the casino atmosphere and the games themselves - especially hold em poker, but in the end, what I really want to hold onto is my money.
William always sets a limit on what he will spend in the casinos. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. If he comes out ahead, that’s great. If not, he knew upfront what the weekend’s entertainment was going to cost him.
If we’re playing with Monopoly money, I’m in for the entire weekend. But I seem to have a hard time determining the entertainment value of losing real money. Fifteen dollars will only last a couple of minutes in a casino.
I need to find other things to do in Tunica after my luck runs out. I have been looking at several Tunica websites, but I really wanted to get some reliable info from folks who have been there and done that.
Where do you stay in Tunica? What’s your favorite casino and why? How are the restaurants there? Is there any nightlife other than the casinos? Do you spend all of your time at the tables? Do you hit the spas or take in a show? Any advice for a casino novice to make the most of Tunica?
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Southeast travel
Comments
By Heather
July 16, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Tunica is OK, but there are a lot better places to gamble that are closer and nicer. Tunica is started to become dated and old. Off the top of my head is the Golden Moon and Silver Star, in Central MS. Went there recently and had a great time.
By wendy
July 16, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
I am not a gambler, but have been to Tunica twice. I like it as a base to go on day trips to Oxford, Memphis, and Clarksdale. Tunica has a good outlet mall, riverboat rides, a blues museum in one of the casinos, and the Blue & White restaurant for traditional Southern food. I’ve stayed at Bally’s - it’s farther away from the main group of casinos and therefore a bit cheaper. For nightlife, I would drive 40 min. to Clarksdale for blues on the weekends.
By Dionne
July 16, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
After visiting Tunica, go to Clarksdale. Stay at the shack Up Inn and eat at Madidi.
By Been there, done that
July 16, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
Biloxi is the same distance from the ATL with casinos closer together. Better food with the gulf view. Great golfing and New Orleans is 60 miles away!
By Get at me
July 16, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Tunica is a good base, to go on to Memphis for the evening. The downtown area is about completely revived, and has a lot of blues clubs as well.
By maddoxh
July 16, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Shorter Alabama has an up and coming casino. Ouincy’s 777 at Victoryland. Its worth the 2 hour trip from atlanta.
By Chris
July 16, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Being that I am from that neck of the woods, I find it hard to believe that you would pass by Tunica on your way to Oxford considering one is SW of Memphis where the other is SE. The seafood buffets were well worth the cost. My folks use to take me there to put on a few pounds for high school football season. When Pan Am Clipper flew to Atlanta, they use to have connecting flight to Tunica during the middle of the week.
By maplover
July 16, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
i went there last year for my b-day. not my choice but my boyfriend had to pick up an ebay purchase nearby and indicated some resorts had day spas, so i relented. he played texas hold’em and i sat by the pool, went to the spa and we went to memphis for dinner. all in all, tunica wasnt so bad, course i’m not a gambler either. it was certainly cheaper than the peabody, and everyone’s seen ducks swim and walk right?
By Muffin
July 16, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
We visited Tunica for a night several years ago after going to Graceland and on our way back to Atlanta. It was boring as all get out. Of course I’m sure it’s built up some since then but the only hotel with a room was quite a distance from the casinos and since we planned on drinking we took a cab. I think the cab ride took 45 minutes b/c of all the traffic that bottlenecked on the one and only main road that led to the casinos. Basically we ate and gambled and went to bed and got up and left. I would much rather go to Biloxi where this is an ocean even though I won’t swim in it. The town is much more charming with the trees and Spanish Moss and it’s just a more exciting atmosphere. Or at least it was. There wasn’t much left the last time we visited during the grand re-opening of the Beau Rivage. Heartbreaking.
By Ks
July 16, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
My husband and I love Tunica. If you don’t gamble you should not go to a casino. We stay at the Grand Hotel, which is now Harrah’s Tunica. The site is beautiful, with a golf course, spa, workout room, pool. Various types of entertainment, club, and one of the several casino have live entertainment. The food is wonderful, I have no comaplaints, and getting ready to back this month. Since Harrah’s took over in May 2008, I have not been so I really excited. I have not complaints.
By Corde
July 16, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Discovered BF was a compulsive gambler in Tunica. He is from Miss. Everytime I go to a casino, I have chills!
By Keith
July 16, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Chris — I used the term “drive by” a bit casually and perhaps I could have stated things more clearly. I have driven by the Tunica area on my way down I-55, but as I said, I’ve never been there. I knew I was in the neighborhood and wished I had the time to drive over and explore. But, yes, Tunica lies a few miles west of the interstate and Oxford is east.
Sorry for any confusion.
By fedupingwinnett
July 16, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
I’ve never been to Tunica, not a gambler however my friends who live in Arkansas go there quite a bit. I spoke to her last week and she told me her sister who was staying at Bally’s was attacked by a security guard at the back of the building earlier this year. The entire incident was on video and apparently Bally’s knew about this guard’s prior record yet hired him. She is now in negotiations with Bally’s or their insurance carrier for a settlement. If I went I’d stay away from Bally’s.
By Slim
July 17, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
I,ve been gambling in Tunica several times and enjoyed myself each time. I like Tunica better than the other Miss. casinos. I think there are nine casinos in the immediate area and if you don’t like one you can go to another. We generally take a break and ride to Beale St. for some Blues and eat some B.B.Q and one of the many resturants in Memphis. The Bally’s casino is the worst of the bunch and hardly ever go there. The rest are extremely nice and have great rooms nd good food. The Binion’s steak house in the Horseshoe has some of the best steaks the you will ever eat (rivialing any steak house in Atl.)
By Ks
July 17, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
thanKs slim
I’m going to tunica next week and will try the steakhouse you mention. Like i said , I love going to Tunica and looking forward to visiting Harrah’s Tunica Casino and all the other 8 casinos.
:)
By chuck
July 17, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
The last time I was in Tunica there were huge mosquitos flying around the blackjack tables. I had a better time in Memphis, not gambling with the skeeters.
By PHR
July 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Keith, I’m Theresa’s friend that lives near you. If you are anywhere close to Memphis then go visit. My husband is from a town in MS close to there and I just convinced him to go visit about a year ago. He hadn’t been there in ages. There is so much to do in Memphis. We did the “Duck” tour of Memphis, we went to Graceland (I loved it), Beale Street, and went to the Peabody to see the ducks. We did have our young son along and he thought that was great. We still have the souvenir duck in the bath tub.
I actually think that I would like to go back with some other adult friends and go to Memphis and Tunica. It’s definitely not the action of Las Vegas, but it is really nice.
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