Travel Blog

By far the best place to stay at a hotel when you’re in Tunica or even Memphis is one of the cheap Tunica hotels and casinos. We found all of these hotels to be very inexpensive. If you play the casino and use a slot card quite often the hotel room will be comp’d. You can expect to pay between 45 and a hundred dollars for a hotel room. Depending on the style of the room and how busy the hotel is. We really enjoy staying at the Goldstrike Casino and Hotel. It is part of the MGM group of hotels

Cheap Tunica Hotels in Off Season

The rooms are typical of many three-star hotels, they are clean and have all of the amenities that you need when staying at a hotel. Parking is free at either surface parking or within the garage. We like to park in the garage on the same floor as the walkway into the casino to avoid having to deal with any weather situations that might be occurring. They quite often get very heavy rain in the Tunica area.

Memorial Day, special events, etc can cause the rates to go up and various times during the year. You may want to check other dates if you find that the hotel rates are not what you were expecting.

Call Ahead for Reservations for Cheap Tunica Hotels

We suggest calling ahead to make a reservation at any one of the approximately 10 casino hotels in the Tunica area. If one is having a conference or hosting a large number of people chances are the room rates will increase. On the other hand, a sister hotel or one that is very close by may have much lower rates. It always pays to shop around and compare prices. Use your slot card to negotiate the best price and watch for offers that are mailed to you by email for low rates, casino rates, and free rooms.

These offers can make a cheap Tunica Hotels really inexpensive to the point of being free. Always use your slot card to ensure that you are entitled to the best rate.

Approximately one hour south of Memphis by car, there is the small town of Tunica Mississippi. This area is home to approximately 10 casinos that are spread out over about 10 miles along the Mississippi River. The large chain casinos are there including Harrahs, MGM and several others. In fact several of these casinos are associated with Casinos in Nevada as well as California. This means you can use your slot cards in these casinos and be comp’d for rooms and meals just the same way in Las Vegas. You may find that your slot points go further in these Casinos near Memphis Tennessee because prices are lower in general than they are in Vegas. The picture above shows the Goldstrike which is a member of the MGM group. Beside it, not shown in the picture is the Horseshoe Casino which is part of the Harrah’s group of hotels.

Casinos near Memphis Tennessee

Goldstrike Casino

We enjoy staying at the Goldstrike casino run by MGM grand group. This is a modern hotel with surface parking as well as garage parking, excellent restaurants and a great casino.

In addition to the Goldstrike Casino, there’s the Horseshoe Casino and the Tunica roadhouse Casino and Hotel located right next door. This particular location is very comfortable in the sense that you can walk to any of the three casinos without having to consider getting into your car. For all of the other casinos in the area you either need to take the shuttle bus or drive your car to get to them and of course you have to be careful about how much you drink.

Location

Tunica is located about one hour south of Memphis and about five hours north of New Orleans. There’s golfing in the area and it is well-connected by major highways for easy transportation to the casinos. There is lots to do in the Memphis area, including visiting Elvis’s mansion.

There is a tour through the mansion. Fans of Elvis can also walk through his planes to get a feel for what they were like.. You can also eat at his restaurant and order one of his sandwiches.

Casinos all over the US are offering casino hotel deals to attract customers to their casinos, their restaurants, their hotels and their shows.  They do this to drive up occupancy and to attract people to the casino itself to enable more revenue. This is also really beneficial for patrons of the casinos, since receiving a free room, free play or a free meal at the buffet is like winning a small jackpot. As with most things in life, moderation is key to enjoying life and that applies to casinos as well. Enjoy the benefits but watch how much you spend. Tunica Casino Hotel Deals are part of this trend.

Tunica Casino Hotel Deals

The casino hotels in Tunica are no different and in fact they have to work pretty hard to fill their venues since they are in the middle of the country and do not have the name recognition and reputation that other places like Las Vegas and Atlantic city have. As a result they offer some pretty good hotel deals. Many patrons who use their slot cards will find that they will be offered free rooms and meals as part of the enticement to come to their hotels.

The picture above is of the Gold Strike in Tunica and is one of the hotels that we enjoy staying at once or twice a year. They recently upgraded their buffet restaurant, have nice rooms and they offer many different slot machines that are attractive to all players. We always use our slot cards which gives us free rooms at the gold strike in addition to free meals and free slot play. Sometimes they will also offer us tickets to shows that they may hosting at their casino as well. This is all part of the enticement package for their hotel deals to get more and more people to come to Tunica and the casinos in the area.

We are not staying at the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica Mississippi this time however we were able to enjoy their dinner buffet one evening in January, 2014. We are staying at the Goldstrike casino next-door to the Horseshoe. They are within easy walking distance of each other and patrons can walk from one to the other in less than 60 seconds.

We like to play several different casinos at this location. We approached the total rewards desk to find out what comps we might have available at the Horseshoe Casino. They informed us that we had a free buffet available which we quickly took advantage of, especially since they offered it to us as a comp.

Horseshoe Casino

The Horseshoe casino is located beside the Goldstrike Casino. Harrahs runs the Horseshoe and MGM runs the Goldstrike.

Always Check with the Rewards Desk

It never hurts to ask the total rewards desk what comp’s you have available. They will also always take advantage of the opportunity to build loyalty and keep you from leaving the casino. In some cases you may also be awarded free play to use at the slot machines

We dined at the buffet. You can see from the picture above that there are many food stations. They are well spread out offering great choices and well-managed crowd control. The food was excellent and there really is something available for everyone no matter what you like or dislike. Even people who are on diets can go to the buffet and stick to a variety of salads etc,. Although it is very tempting to try many of the other dishes that are available.

We are staying at the Goldstrike Casino owned by MGM resorts in Tunica Mississippi. We travel to this area at least once a year and stay at the Goldstrike for a couple of days. It is interesting for us to see the changes that the hotel has made each year. They did not disappoint us this time and have completed several new improvements that really add to the comfort and experience of staying at this hotel.

Goldstrike Casino Buffet

The picture on this page shows the brand-new buffet, called the American buffet, which they just opened in the last few months. It is new, it is modern, it has many different food stations and they offer high-quality food with gorgeous presentation. We really did not enjoy the previous establishment that much, however this one is a huge improvement.

It was truly a pleasure to dine in this restaurant. Many people will scoff at eating at a buffet however the newer modern buffet restaurants offer fantastic food, and lots of selection, with excellent crowd control.

We enjoyed what for us ended up being brunch. However we paid for breakfast around 1030 and were able to enjoy both breakfast and lunch as they transitioned between these two meals. Although we did not plan this it worked out very much in our favor. There was a huge selection of breakfast foods and the lunchtime menu. This is a tip for anyone who does not mind eating a bit late in the morning and wanting to enjoy a selection from both meals.

If you’re ever passing through the area, we can strongly recommend the Goldstrike Casino Hotel as an excellent location to stop over. The prices for hotel rooms are reasonable, and the meals are fantastic. There are also two other casinos within walking distance of the Goldstrike Casino. We have stayed at both of them and found them to be acceptable. However we prefer this casino to the others. If we can get a room, in other words it is not sold out this is where we will stay.

There are quite a few casinos along the Mississippi river south of Memphis. Memphis is actually in Tennessee and the border with Mississippi is just a few miles south of the city. The majority of casinos are located along the river just north of Tunica and there is a number south of the town as well. Casino patrons can visit any of these casinos coming south from Memphis, north from Jackson, or across the bridges from Indiana. As far as we are aware at this time there are no casinos in Indiana along the river, however, we must say that we have not had the time to visit this area.

At one time we had an objective to visit every casino in the country, however, over the past 10 years many states have approved new casinos, large and small and it is virtually impossible to visit all of these casinos. In one state alone along route I40, we counted 15 casinos just along this highway. Many were on Indian reservations and they were actually quite small. They are sometimes even attached to gas stations and convenience stores. One of these days we will build a post that lists all of the casinos that we can find in every state, so stay tuned for that post.

Tunica Casino Locations – Major Location

With so many casinos to choose from, we are focusing on casino properties that are in the top four locations such as Vegas, Atlantic City, Laughlin, and Tunica. Other properties will be included if we have visited them or if they are notable and interesting. For example, we included the Windsor Casino and hotel in our blog. It is part of the Total Rewards Harrah’s slot program and it is a very nice place to stay for a few days.

Head south on highway 61 towards Tunica and after about 30 miles you will see the signs for the various casinos. Alternately take Interstate 25 south from Memphis, then head west along interstate 69 towards Tunica. This same route can be taken from Jackson as well coming north on Interstate 25 and then exiting onto 69 as previously mentioned. Patrons can drive to any of these casinos, take a flight into Memphis and rent a car or utilize a limo to transfer to these locations. There is ample parking on surface parking lots as well as in parking garages located on the properties. They are also monitored by roving security guards on bicycles.

Topics we will be covering in this post include the following:

• Listing of Tunica Casino Locations
• A Mini Vacation in the Tunica Area
• On the Top 10 List of Casino Locations
• Use Your Slot Cards In Tunica and Across the Country
• Competition for Your Gambling Dollar
• Smoking is Still a Problem

Listing of Tunica Casino Locations

This is a partial list of the casinos located in the Tunica area. We have visited all of these casinos over the last couple of years.

• Gold Strike Casino & Hotel
• Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
• Roadhouse Casino & Hotel
• Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel
• Hollywood Casino & Hotel
• Harrahs Casino & Hotel

A Mini Vacation in the Tunica Area

Many people come to Tunica every month to visit one of the casinos in the area. Some will just come for the day and many others will stay at one of the casinos for several days. Most people use their slot cards when they are playing and will receive invitations, as a result, to stay for free at many of the casino hotels that they frequent.

There are lots to do while in Tunica in addition to gambling. If you looking for a few days of relaxation, some nice meals, maybe take in a show or two, and share a couple of drinks at the bar, all of the casinos and hotels in the area can meet this need.

Tunica is easy to get to by car, since it is less than half an hour from Memphis and several hours from Jackson, Mississippi. We have run into people who are making a road trip across the country or heading south on their way to their winter vacation home. Tunica becomes a great stop-over point on the way to Biloxi, Golf Port, and New Orleans as well as points east and west of these cities.

We have included another post on this website that outlines all of the activities that can be of interest to people visiting the area. These include museums, music, and even Elvis’s mansion. We have personally gone to visit this location and we can vouch that it is well worth the money to take the time and visit his home and grounds.

There are also golf courses in the area for those people who are so inclined.

On the Top 10 List of Casino Locations

Las Vegas is obviously at the top of the gambling locations in the country. Next, you have Atlantic City, which is now recovering from a devastating storm in the fall of 2012. Laughlin in Nevada and Tunica in Mississippi are the next two locations that can be considered among the top 10. Both are on opposite sides of the country and both have approximately the same number of casinos. Most other locations around the country are more isolated and do not have much competition from each other.

Windsor/ Detroit and Niagara Falls are two other locations with small numbers of co-located casinos. Tunica is obviously 3^rd or fourth on the top 10 list of locations to visit in the USA. It is easy to get to by highway as well as by air and is located in the central part of the US. There is also competition from the concentration of casinos in these top four locations.

Use Your Slot Cards In Tunica and Across the Country

One of the advantages of using slot cards from the main casino companies such as MGM and Harrahs is that their slot cards are good right across the country and in many of their properties. They do track your visits and your usage. From that, they develop offers of free room visits, free entertainment to shows, free meals and other comp’s that may be interesting to you from time to time. These offers are available online as well as they can be sent to you in regular mail.

Both Harrahs and MGM have casinos and hotels in all of the major centers and the most popular locations across the country. Tunica is no different with both companies having several casinos that they run in the Tunica area as well as in other areas of the state of Mississippi such as Biloxi on the coast. The Gold Strike Casino is part of the MGM group and accepts the MLife card. The Horseshoe, the Roadhouse, and another hotel in the area (Harrahs) are part of the Harrahs chain and accept the Total Rewards slot card.

Competition for Your Gambling Dollar

As we mentioned earlier in this post, Tunica is on the top 10 list of casino locations in the country. We feel that this is a good thing because it means that there is competition for your gambling dollar on many levels.

None of the casinos advertise their payback ratios, however, there are various ways that they compete for your dollars. These include free rooms while you are staying at their location, free meals in terms of write-offs, express comp’s, free play, and point play. Some days are better than others in terms of how many points you are allowed to collect each time you play.

These comp’s can be like mini jackpots for some people. For example, if your room is free or they write off all of your food and room costs, this is the same as winning a small jackpot and is really money that you save on your vacation. This is part of your overall compensation in terms of what you win or lose.

Payouts are Lower

Many people have mentioned to us in passing that they do not win like they used to. We have noticed this as well and even though there is lots of competition, the casinos appear to have tightened up their payouts. Large wins seem to be fewer and the cost of rooms and meals has gone up. The only way to deal with this is to make sure that you always collect all of your comp’s before you leave.

We always speak to the slot host and let her know that we are checking out. They do not always write off our expenses, but it happens often enough to make it worthwhile. The worst that can happen is that they decline and you just have to accept that decision. It is all calculated by computer anyway and they have very little discretion to go outside the guidelines that have been established by management.

Smoking is Still a Problem

In all of these casinos, smoking is still a problem. It continues to amaze the writer that they still allow smoking in the casino when there are so many issues associated with smoking from a personal level as well as a business level. They even allow people to smoke cigars inside the casino which annoys everyone including smokers since the atmosphere is polluted by some of the stronger cigars.

For the casinos, cleaning of the rugs, and the machines, and maintenance of the machines would be drastically reduced. No more ashes everywhere and no more nicotine getting on everything including the moving parts of the slot machines. The air would smell much better and more people who do not smoke would come to these casinos.

Banning Smoking

In other locations, they have banned smoking altogether inside the casinos. They have built smoking rooms for smokers to go to and take a break. Some of these rooms are actually outdoors when the weather permits. If they are inside, there is ample air circulation to accommodate the smoke. A key decision was made by the casino management which in our mind makes this work.

Patrons are allowed to place their slot machine on hold while they take a break and go for a smoke. They are allowed to do this for a short time, 5 or 10 minutes while they take a smoke break. The economics are much better in terms of less cleaning. Also less maintenance on the machines which makes up for the downtime of these slot machines during busier times in the casino. Placing a napkin or something similar over the screen is all that is generally needed. Speak to someone playing beside you to ask them to keep an eye on the machine for you. Never leave any more than two or three dollars in the machine. Patrons have lost large amounts by leaving too much in the machine while they went for a smoke break.

We have found that these casinos that do not allow smoking on the casino floor are busier than ever. People who traditionally stayed away because the smoke was too bad are now coming to these properties. They play the machines and enjoy an evening at the casino. The smokers seem to be happier and the nonsmokers are definitely happier.

It is that time of year again and we are back in Tunica, Mississippi on our annual trip to Tunica and the Tunica Casinos. This time we are staying at the Gold Strike Hotel and Casino for four nights complimentary. This is such a great deal since the rooms are very nice, clean and modern as is the hotel. If you are looking for a place to stay for the night whether you gamble or not this is one of the better hotels to stay at. Tunica is just south of Memphis. It takes about 30 minutes by car to get from Memphis to the closest Tunica Casinos.

Tunica Casinos – Rooms at the Gold Strike In Tunica

Our room at the Gold Strike hotel looks out onto the Mississippi river from the 22nd floor. It is close to the elevators which we like and the room is one of the upgraded rooms with a separate foyer and a large marble bathroom. the only thing lacking is a flat screen TV in the bathroom to match the one in the main bedroom.  This is probably a $150 to $200 room and when you consider it is complimentary, it truly is a great deal. Sure we like to gamble and sometimes we pay for it in losses, but sometimes we also make money and it is a win for us overall.

Two for One Deals at the Buffet

We ate at the buffet this morning. Today is a 2 for one deal when you pay for your meal using your express comp dollars! These are dollars that you receive as you are gambling and can be used for everything from paying for meals to paying for your room if it is not fully complimentary. Several times during the month the Gold Strike offers these two for one deals at the buffet when you use you express comp’s. All you have to do is give them your MLife card, show proper ID such as a driver’s license and they will give you two free buffets which only cost half price when you pay with express comp’s. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Tunica Casinos – Changes at the Gold Strike

So far we have not noticed any changes at the Gold Strike from last year. There certainly have not been any major upgrades that we saw and the same machines appear to be all in the same places. Many casinos will move machines around and / or install new ones from time to time. So far it does not look like they have done this.

The same is true at the Horseshoe casino run by Harrahs. It is next door to the Gold Strike. Unfortunately the Roadhouse was closed the last time we visited the area. We also visited the Roadhouse Casino next door to the Horseshoe which is also run by Harrahs. We like this small casino. It has introduced a lot of new machines in the last year, many that we like. It kept many of the old stalwarts that we also enjoy. One of the things we like the most about the Roadhouse is that you can order your drink at the machine. all you need to do is type on the slot machine message board. No waiting to flag down a waitress. Just type in your order and your drink is delivered a few minutes later! How great is that?

Summary

Well that completes our update for this visit. Looks like the same old great value and great food, what more could you ask for? Well maybe winning at the slots would help, which we have not done yet. If you have comments about this post , feel free to leave a well written comment. We will be happy to post it to our blog. We will even include your link if it is a good comment. Too many leave junk comments wanting a link and frankly these are all caught by our spam filter.

We are visiting the Gold Strike Casino once again this fall. We are writing a brief update about this casino, as well as it’s neighbor the Horse Shoe Casino and the Roadhouse Casino. You can click on any of the links above. Review more information about all of these great vacation spots.

We checked in a bit early and were given our room key right away. The October time frame prior to thanksgiving is a slow period for the hotels in this area. There are lots of rooms available.They put us on the 31st floor with a great view of the river.

We are staying free at the hotel as part of a comp package we received in the mail from the hotel. We were offered free rooms for two nights, $25 towards meals and $55 in free play. When you combine this with the new express comps feature and points conversion for food while staying at the hotel, it turns out that this is a pretty good deal.

Gold Strike Casino Meets Expectations

The hotel as usual met all our expectations. We would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to spend a few days gambling, playing golf in the area or taking in some of the activities in Memphis.

We noticed that the buffet is perhaps a little bit reduced from past years. However the food is just as great and the value is there.  Service was a bit slow, but then we are on vacation and not in a hurry.

The new express comp feature is a really nice add on. Your screen on the slot machine you play will show you exactly how much you have in express comp’s. You do not need to visit the M-Life desk any longer to get a comp for a meal. Just hand over your M-Life card to the cashier. They will use the comp’s on your card to pay for your meal. And the best part is that when you use your comp’s the meal will be half price! We think this is a really good deal for everyone and another reason to always use your slot card.

Gold Strike Casino Update

They have updated the slots with all of the latest multi-line penny machines while still maintaining many of the traditional reel machines as well. There are less video poker machines as well and very few keno machines. There was no damage at all due to the floods as far as we could tell to the hotel, the casino or even the grounds around the hotel.

This is a great place to visit and we will be coming back here again.

We just received news that some casinos are reopening. The Gold Strike has reopened as of May 18th,2011 . Obviously they still have a lot of work to do, and the residents have many repairs to make, but at least some of them have jobs, even if it is part of cleaning up after the flood. this was truly a devastating blow to the region, not only to the casinos and the people who worked at them, but also to the farms and towns in the area.

Many people have lost homes and businesses, equipment has been ruined and land will take months to dry out. With a flood like this it is pretty obvious that the dikes, levies or what ever they are called are simply not high enough. They are also not strong enough. Many broke allowing millions of gallons of water to pass through and flood the surrounding land.

Rebuilding

The Casinos in Tunica have been rebuilt and are in full operation again. Hopefully there will never be another flood like this one in 2011 which disrupted many persons lives. We are looking forward to going to the Tunica area once again. Also we like to support the local economy and to try our hand in the casinos once again.

We love to stay at the Gold Strike operated by the MGM Resorts group. Also the Horseshoe which is operated by the Harrahs group of companies. Both hotels are side by side and compete with each other. They seem to offer the best deals for us and we will return to this area again in 2013. Our slot cards continue to keep us receiving comp’s in terms of food, rooms and beverages. So why not take advantage of these offerings and have a little vacation.

If you need more information about why slot cards are so great, check out the several posts that we have on this subject. Slot cards provide slot players with many benefits. You are really losing out if you do not take advantage of these benefits. I like to think of it as a small jackpot each time I receive a free meal or a free room! These comp’s can add up to several hundred dollars on each trip. Which you might spend anyway on paying for your room and meals if you did not take advantage of these advantages.

Check out our posts as well on the casino reviews for all of the casinos we have visited over the years. With the exception of Texas and Utah there seems to be a casino in every state in the nation.

The water has surrounded the casinos in Tunica as well as the surrounding areas. It looks like they will be closed for another few weeks. This occurred in May 2011 and the casinos have obviously reopened since then. They re-opened about the middle of June, 2011.  Originally we were told that they would reopen sometime around May 23rd. However based on the level of the water, the damage that it is causing and the fact that it will slowly recede, these casinos were closed for sometime.

We have included a picture of Harrahs in Tunica, which we have visited several

Thanks to WMCTV Action News

times. This picture is courtesy of  WMCTV Action News. Pictures are worth a thousand words. It is certainly true in this case. Based on this picture the main lobby area, the restaurants and perhaps even the casino is flooded. Rooms at the hotel will be find. However before guests can come back to the hotel a thorough cleaning is required. In addition, repair to the building, electrical systems is needed. All furniture that could not be removed prior to the waters appearing on the scene has to be replaced.

Tunica Casinos Still Flooded (2011)

At the present time there is over 7 feet of water covering the parking lot and the hotel entrance. The casino itself is supposed to float which will protect the slot machines. The casino operations should be ok. However there is a limit to how far up they can float.

As more information is made available we will include an update on this blog regarding the rising flood waters at the casino hotels in Tunica.

While this blog focuses on casinos and information about them for our readers,  we also want to acknowledge the hardship that many people in the Mississippi delta are experiencing. We have traveled to Tunica, to Memphis and Helena many times and our hearts and prayers go out to these people.

We once had car problems in Helena and the people at the garage were extremely helpful and friendly to us. They drove us to a hotel were we stayed the night while we were waiting for parts for our car and then picked us up the next morning to bring us back to the garage. this was service that we have never experienced before and we appreciated very much. The repairs were completed on time and the price was very reasonable as well. We compared the cost of repairs with our own garage at home and found them to be less expensive at this garage in Helena. Great people, very helpful!

They sure do not deserve this huge flood and the damage it causes to land , to buildings , to families and the ability to earn a living to support your family. Our prayers are with you!

Apparently the casinos in and around Tunica will be closing from May 3rd 2011 until approximately May 22nd 2011 due to the rising flood waters  from the Mississippi. This picture shows the Gold Strike Casino with their parking lot under water and the casino itself flooded. Lots of damage to the floors and the machines. Not only that if your car was in the parking garage it was going to have to stay there until the waters receded.

We had reservations at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica for May 5 and 6th. We received an email advising us that this casino along with all others in the area were closing. This is due to the expected rising flood waters cresting as much as 60 feet above normal. This is an unprecedented flood level! We are glad that they warned us that the casino was closed. We would not want to be there when the waters were coming into the casino! Who would not like being stuck in our rooms with nothing to do.

We wish all of the employees and the residents in the area good luck. They need to take special care that they and their families are safe during this difficult time. We have watched the weather over the past week. Although the rain has stopped, the swollen river will not crest in this area for another few days.

Tunica Casinos closed

Several articles have that we have read indicate that employees will continue to be paid during this time while the casinos are closed. Hopefully all of the casinos will do this, so that employees can meet their financial obligations. This will also ensure employee loyalty and return to their jobs when the casinos reopen. The entire area appears to be depressed from an economic perspective and they really need the money they do not need to be losing their jobs or dealing with floods like this.

We will be back to Tunica, perhaps in the fall when hopefully all repairs have been made and everyone has recovered from the Mississippi river floods.

Note that the Tunica Casinos reopened a few weeks after we wrote this post. There was little damage to the casinos and what there was, was quickly cleaned up by the staff. One of the things we really liked about this set of casinos is that they continued to pay all of their staff while they were closed to make sure they had jobs to come back to and did not go looking for new jobs.

While we could not confirm this story, we did hear it from a reliable source and felt that this was a really nice gesture on the part of the casino owners. This was in one of the online papers that we keep an eye on when we are in the area. Reading online news is a great way to stay in touch with the world as well as local news. Most of the casinos will have WiFi available for their customers.

All casinos were reopened shortly after the waters receded and the clean up was completed.

We just finished staying at the Gold Strike casino one of the Tunica Casinos,  just outside of Tunica for two nights. We enjoy staying at this hotel because it is always clean. It provides good value for our time and of course our money. We did not win any thing on this trip, however we did have our rooms comp’d as well as two dinner buffets that were worth $20 each. So in a way even though we lost money at the slots, we broke even in total when you take into account these comp’s.

The location of the Gold Strike is great because there are three casinos within walking distance. There is the Gold Strike, the Horseshoe and the Roadhouse. The last two are owned and operated by Harrahs Casinos. You can go back and forth between them if you need a change of action or you find that the machines are not paying very well at one or the other. They both honor the Harrahs slot card and you can order your drinks right from the slot machine. This is a huge advantage for Harrahs and a service for their customers. You do not have to wait for a server to randomly come by your slot machine now. Just order it on the screen and it will arrive usually within 5 minutes.

Tunica Casinos – Remember to Get Your Comp’s

While it is nice to go back and forth, you need to take into account that to continue to receive comp’s in terms of free rooms and free play along with meals you need to play were you want to stay. We really enjoy the MGM chain in general. They are usually a level above some of the other hotels in terms of service and rooms. If you are new to slot cards take the time to read one of our posts. It will help to understand why you would want to have a slot card and the benefits of having a slot card. You can click here for more information.

We did not notice a lot of change at these three hotels. In fact a great deal was the same. For a review of each take a look at our previous posts about these hotels.

What we did notice is that both chains, MGM and Harrahs, have updated their slot card systems. They are making them more convenient for the players and reducing the control that the hosts have on comps. If you are a high roller, you will still want to get to know your slot host or table host, however for the average player, you really do not have to stand in line any longer to receive your cash comps . Both systems display your cash comp balance either right on the slot machine screen above the reels or on special terminals located throughout the casino.

Ordering Beverages From the Slot Machine

In addition, Harrahs has added another feature which we really enjoyed. Now you can order beverages right from your seat without having to try and flag down a casino waitress. Place your order on the slot machine touch screen, the order is sent to the bar and the cocktail waitress delivers it 5 minutes later. Wine, mixed drinks, beer, water , coffee and specialty drinks can all be ordered in this manner.

In the mornings when there are only a few cocktail waitresses around or at night when it is really busy, patrons will really appreciate this feature. We found that at the Roadhouse Casino in the morning, there was only one cocktail waitress on duty for the entire casino. We never saw her until we ordered our coffee on this new touch screen. She was there in five minutes. Without this feature, we would never have seen her, since she would hang around the tables were  most of the players were ordering drinks and tipping of course.

We are off to Vegas next and looking forward to staying at the Mirage Casino. We have not stayed at this casino for some time, and there are rumors that there have been lots of updates to the casino and the rooms. It is also part of the MGM chain so we can use our MLife cards at this casino as well. The Mirage has already comp’d us for the rooms so we have already won before we even arrive!

Comments are welcome, especially if you have information about the Tunica Casinos that our readers will find interesting.

The Hollywood Casino and hotel is located close to Sams Town and Fitzgeralds casinos. However you will need a car to travel from one hotel to another. Or you can also wait for one of the shuttle buses to take you to the next hotel. In addition the Hollywood hotel is also located several miles from the other cluster of casinos near Tunica.

The Hollywood casino offers a 14,000-square-foot ballroom just off the main casino. Consequently it seats up to 1,200 guests. In addition it includes a catering service. Hollywood Casino offers a variety of meeting packages. Luxury accommodations and action-packed entertainment are provided In addition these packages offer special bonuses that are perfect for social organizations, corporations and charitable groups of 20 or more.

Hollywood Casino – RV Park

The property also offers an RV park for travelers looking for a spot to park their rigs and relax.  There are also nearby golf courses near by. You can make arrangements for golf by contacting the hotel. The hotel offers priority tee times at their River Bend Links golf course, just steps away from the casino.

The casino definitely has a Hollywood theme with movie memorabilia which is one of the largest authentic collections in the Mid-South. From the DeLorean car that traveled through time in Back to the Future to Elvis Presley’s race car from Spinout, the collection of authentic movie and television props is enough to thrill any Hollywood fan. Explore the  extensive collection of authentic costumes and props.

Slot Machines

There are over 1,300 slot machines for your gaming fun, whether you play pennies, nickels, quarters or dollars, Hollywood Casino Tunica has your favorite games with over . Mr. Cashman, Hot Hot Penny, and Progressive 25¢ and $1 Wheel of Fortune slots are just some of the games you can choose from.

Table Games

There are over 30 gaming tables offering Blackjack, 20X Odds Craps, Roulette, Poker and many more. New table games just added… Crapless Craps and Let It Ride Bonus!

Hollywood Casino Restaurants

Fairbanks Steakhouse – you’ll enjoy award-winning cuisine served with style and attention to detail fit for a star. Voted “Best Steakhouse” in Tunica by Casino Player magazine, Fairbanks fulfills dining expectations for those who simply want the best.

Epic Buffet – Designed to look like a movie studio backlot, this generous buffet features something to satisfy your every craving. International, continental and local fare are on the menu at this 220-seat eatery. Enjoy Filet Mignon and Crab Legs Friday and Saturday nights for only $19.99 plus enjoy Filet Mignon and Crab Legs all day on Sundays for only $19.99.

Enjoy a Buffet breakfast on Saturdays for only .77 Star Comp Dollars! Plus If you’re 55 years or older, join The Breakfast Club and enjoy a .55 Epic breakfast offer on Thursdays for only .55 Star Comp Dollars!

Hollywood Diner – is a ’50s flashback offering breakfast, lunch and dinner 24 hours a day. From waitresses in poodle skirts to bebop oldies playing on the jukebox, Hollywood Diner offers a taste of classic Americana along with delicious food. Star-themed booths with movie greats like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean await you.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the
• Buffet was very clean, with lots of choice at lunch time. Good Prices
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Hollywood casino

It is a 3 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs. The level of smoke odor was not too bad at this hotel, however we were there on a slow day.

Hollywood Casino Slot Player Card

They are part of the Hollywood Screen Test® or Marquee® Card and patrons should always use this card when playing to earn complimentary meals and hotel accommodations and more! Slot members can take advantage of benefits at the Hollywood Casino and Hotel.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Hollywood casino & hotel in a  surface parking lot in front of the hotel.

Directions: Hollywood Casino is an easy drive, just 35 miles south of Memphis, in the heart of Tunica’s Casino Strip.  The address is Hollywood Casino Tunica, 1150 Casino Strip Resort Blvd, Robinsonville, MS 38664

Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel

This is another one of the casinos that is located in the Tunica area. You will need a car to get to this casino from any of the other casinos or take one of the shuttle buses that run. The hotels are spread out and do not facilitate walking from one to another. The picture on the left was taken on a cloudy day in the winter. Normally the hotel and casino look much brighter and the grass would be green, making it a much more picturesque looking place. Fitzgeralds Casino is shown on the picture on the left.

We have not visited this particular casino, so all of our comments are based on an internet search about the property. If anyone who has stayed there and has comments, please feel free to leave comments on our blog.

Fitzgeralds Casino – Unique Decor

The Fitxgerald casino has a unique outdoor decor as can be seen in the photo above.  With over 500 renovated rooms with views of the Mississippi river this is one of the hotels you should consider for a visit while gambling in Tunica. Although we have not personally seen these rooms they look great and will more than meet any ones expectations and requirements. Newly renovated rooms are always great and when you check in ask for a non smoking room. Of course if you smoke in the room you could be subject to a hefty bill to clean the room properly.

The pool at this hotel is also very nice and can be used by patrons staying at the hotel. With lots of light it looks like a great place to relax and enjoy while taking a break from the casino slot machines or the tables. Overall this casino has everything that one needs while taking a short vacation in Tunica.

In terms of entertainment, there is the Stage Bar which is open Tuesday through Sunday and dark on Mondays. The hours vary and of course the entertainment also.

There are 3 restaurants – Don’s B Steakhouse, the Buffet, and the Players Snack Bar.

Fitzgeralds Casino – Slot Machines

There are over 1300 slot machines at this casino in all denominations from penny to $100. The newly redesigned High Limit Area offers $5, $10, $25 and $100 slots…along with many stand alone progressives.

Fitz offers penny, nickel, quarter, fifty-cent and dollar slots throughout the casino extending across two floors. Look for the new Deal or No Deal, Monopoly, Gilligan’s Island and more of the latest hot-playing machines.

Video Poker machines in 5 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $5 denominations can be found at both the Stage Bar and Poker Bar…and throughout the casino.

Be sure to use the Club Fitz card whenever playing slots at Fitz. By using your card you earn points towards downloadable promo cash, complimentary meals, complimentary rooms, and discounts.

Table Games

There are

Restaurants

There are 3 restaurants –

Don’s B Steakhouse – Enjoy casual dining in an elegant atmosphere. Menu choices include steak, seafood and specialties prepared daily for you. Reservations are recommended.

the Buffet – Breakfast & Brunch;Monday-Saturday: 7am – 11am – $6.95;Sunday: 7am – 10am – $6.95;Sunday Brunch: 10am – 3pm – $13.95

Lunch – Monday-Saturday: 11am – 4pm – $8.95; Sunday: 3pm – 4pm – $8.95

Dinner – Sunday-Thursday: 4pm – 10:30pm – $14.95; Friday Seafood Buffet: 4pm – 2am – $18.95; Saturday Steak & Crab Buffet: 4pm – 2am – $16.95

the Players Snack Bar.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines with over 1350 machines in total
• Free drinks while gambling
• Pool area and spa for hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very reasonable with some specials at $35/ night including breakfast
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about Fitzgeralds hotel & casino

It is a 3 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs. Similar to most hotels and casinos, patrons are allowed to smoke in the casino and this can become over powering at times.

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Fitz Club slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits such as cash back, dining comp’s as well as room comp’s and much more.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at Fitxgeralds hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel as well as  surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions: The address of the Fitzgerald Casino is 711 Lucky Ln, Robinsonville, MS 38664-9141. Patrons can get to this hotel and casino easily from Memphis and other points north by following Route 55 south to route 69 and then just follow the signs to the casino.

The Tunica Roadhouse Casino and Hotel was formally called the Sheraton Casino & Hotel. The casino was redesigned and redecorated in the last quarter of 2009 into a roadhouse format. This is a huge improvement over the previous casino which was in great need of cleaning and updating.  The roadhouse concept is reminiscent of a Texas roadhouse with lots of barn board and decorations that are reminiscent of many roadhouses across the United States.

The Tunica Roadhouse Casino and Hotel is right next door to the Horseshoe casino  and shares the parking lot and garage with the Horseshoe Hotel and casino. The Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel is also part of the Harrah’s chain of casinos which means your Total Rewards card is accepted in all of their slot machines and your comp’s can be used at this hotel as well. We have stayed at this hotel before when it was still called the Sheraton hotel and casino and found the rooms to be large and quite acceptable. At the time we did not like the casino, however with the recent update, the casino is well worth the visit.

Roadhouse Casino and Hotel – Slot Machines

At the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel, they are working at having the newest and hottest slots in town! From pennies to high dollar machines, there’s something for every slot enthusiast. They have more than 1,000 slots, in every denomination!

Table Games

There are the usual table games for customers to enjoy, including blackjack, craps, roulette and poker. AS we mentioned the entire casino has been recently redesigned and decorated into a roadhouse theme. The carpets are new and the casino actually smells new. All of the tables have a roadhouse look to them that matches with the décor throughout the casino and the hotel reception area.

Restaurants

The Roadhouse Casino and Hotel has two restaurants. The Range Steakhouse features a warm, inviting decor in a fine dining setting – with friendly service and great food.

The Roadhouse Casino and Hotel is also home to Tunica’s most expansive buffet, the Big Kitchen Buffet, where chefs spin pizzas and decorate desserts right in front of your eyes! You’ll feast on home-style Southern cooking, all-American favorites — and the best seafood spread in Tunica.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Lots of room between slot machine banks, so that you do not get that over crowed feeling.
• Free drinks while gambling and friendly service
• Buffet
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel, although it is older and the rooms have not been remodeled in some time.

Although we have stayed at the Roadhouse Casino and Hotel and found the room to be quite acceptable, we did notice that there are quite a few reviews on various web sites that are negative about the cleanliness of the rooms.

The Casino has been recently been updated and looks great. We hope the rooms are next , which will return this hotel to a 1^st class location to stay at.

It is a 2 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for most tourist needs.

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Total Rewards slot players card system run by Harrah’s. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels, as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno as well as across the United States in various locales..

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes. Harrah’s has over 30 properties across the US and also one or two in Canada.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel in a large surface parking lot in front of the casino. There is also a parking garage located by the Horseshoe casino which is immediately beside the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels and then walk across the road to the casino. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions:

Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel, 1107 Casino Center Drive, Tunica Resorts, MS 38664

From Atlanta, GA

Take I-20 West to Birmingham, AL. Follow US 78 West to Hwy 302. Go west on Hwy 302 (Goodman Rd ) to Hwy 61 South. Take 61 South to Casino Center Dr. Then, turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Biloxi, MS

Take I-10 West to US Hwy 49 North. Follow Hwy 49N to I-55 North. Next, follow I-55 North to exit I-69 South. Take I-69 Sto Hwy 61 South. Turn left on Hwy 61 South to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Birmingham, AL

Take US-78 west towards Tupelo, MS/Memphis , TN. Follow US 78 for approx. 210 miles. Take Hwy 302 (Goodman Rd ) west towards Southaven, MS. Follow Hwy 302 west for approx. 14 miles. Hwy 302 will run into US-61 South. Turn left onto US-61 to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Central or Eastern TN

Take I-40 West to Memphis. Follow I-240 to I-55 south. Continue to follow I-55 South to the I-69 Exit. Follow I-69 to Hwy 61 S. Turn left on Hwy 61 S. Take Hwy 61 S to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Little Rock, AR

Take I-40 east to Memphis (follow signs to I-55 South). Next, take I-55 South to Hwy 61S. Follow Hwy 61 S to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Memphis International Airport

Exit the airport heading west on Winchester. Go west on Winchester to 3rd St. (Hwy 61). Turn left on Hwy 61. Take Hwy 61 S to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

The casino hotels around Tunica are spread out within a mile of each other with the exception of the Gold Strike, The Horseshoe and the Roadhouse (formerly the Sheraton) . These three casinos and hotels share the same huge surface parking lot and are located next to each other. The Gold Strike and the Horseshoe both have their own parking garage as well. Casino patrons of the Roadhouse can use the surface parking lot or they can use the parking garage at the Horseshoe Casino.

The other casino hotels are Bally’s, Fitzgeralds, Harrahs, Hollywood, Resorts, and Sam’s Town for a total of 9 casinos in the Tunica area. A nice feature about staying at either the Roadhouse, the Goldstrike or the Horseshoe is that you can easily walk from one casino to the other. No need to get in a car. All of the other casinos are pretty much by themselves. You will need a car or take one of the shuttle buses to the other hotels.

National Chains

Harrah’s is a national casino hotel chain and owns at least 3 hotels in the Tunica area. The Horseshoe, the Roadhouse, Bally’s and Harrah’s are all members of the Harrah’s chain and part of the Total Rewards slot program. There are also shuttles that go back and forth between some of the hotels, however they do not run very often and most people come by car anyway so they can move around from one hotel to another by car. There are bus loads of people coming from nearby cities such as Memphis, St Louis, Knoxville and Cincinnati as well as other locations.

Today, Tunica County is the third largest gaming market in the nation with 9 world-class casinos featuring 24-hour gaming plus all the amenities of modern full-service vacation resorts. And since casino gaming was only legalized in Mississippi since 1990, all of the facilities are quite new, luxurious, and generally well-kept.

Tunica Casino Hotels

If you come on one of these bus tours and stay at the Goldstrike, the Horseshoe or the Roadhouse, you have a choice of 3 casinos to play at as well as try out various restaurants. There is not much in the general area of the casinos. On route 61 , that runs down from Memphis, there are a couple of small outlet malls and gas stations. Down the road a few miles is the village of Tunica. It is a small town, with all of the normal things you would expect to find. Some of the attractions in the general area of the Casinos, Tunica and Memphis  include:

Beal Street

Know as the home of the blues and the birth place of rock and roll, no other Memphis landmark has held such mystique, intrigue, fame and infamy over the years. Today you will find countless Blues joints, barbecue restaurants, live music and dance clubs to keep you up all night.

Graceland

Everything’s gone Elvis at this theme park dedicated to the life and legacy of the king of rock and roll. Get a little closer to the king with a tour through his Graceland Mansion. Explore Elvis after dark, check out the Kings wheels at the Elvis automobile museum and then jump on his private jet for a look at all of the luxury he enjoyed.

Sun Studio

If Memphis is the birthplace of rock and roll, then Sun Studio is the delivery room. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and many more cut their first record at Sun Studio and then blazed a trail to Stardom. Visitors can visit all year round.

Peabody Place

Smack dab in the heart of Memphis on Peabody and 3^rd street, Peabody Place is a massive entertainment and retail hub featuring 22 theaters, 17 shops and 14 restaurants.

Orpheum Theater

The Orpheum theater may be more than 100 years old, but that does not stop it from hosting 10 to 12 Broadway productions a year. Many celebrities can be found in the audience as well as in some of the shows.

Fedex Forum

The Memphis Grizzlies tear up the court all year round in the middle of downtown Memphis.  Besides basketball, the Fedex forum also hosts circus events and music concerts of all tastes and conventions.

Tunica River Park and Tunic Queen

Learn about the famous Mississippi river delta at the Tunica River park. The River Park is home to a museum packed with information. Watch a film about the river, view the map room, or take in a spectacular view from the observation deck.  Enjoy a cruise down the river on the Tunica Queen River boat.

Historic Downtown Tunica

Recently revitalized and only 10 minutes away from your hotel. Historic downtown Tunica is perfect for those who want to relax and take in all of the southern hospitality Tunica has to offer. From antiques, specialty stores, banks, beauty gift shops, and restaurants, there is something for everyone.

Tunica National Golf and Tennis

This is the newest golf facility in the greater Memphis area. This magnificent course boasts an exciting 7210 yard, par 72 championship design. The course was created by PGA tour player and architect Mark McCumber. This course features rolling terrain, water hazards and bunkers that will challenge the most skilled players.

There is a lot to do in the Tunica and Memphis area. The casino hotels acting as the focal point for a relaxing and fun place to stay. All of the hotels are top notch hotels with entertainment, restaurants and of course gambling for all levels of slot and table players. All of the hotels are spread out and several miles apart. You will need to either have your car or take one of the shuttle buses that travel between the hotels 24 hours a day. Ask the front desk or the concierge for schedules and which buses run to which hotels.

The Horseshoe casino & hotel is a 14 story hotel with over 500 rooms and suites to its credit, along with a large casino. Most rooms come with a flat screen TV, fridge and coffee maker. These last two items rank high with us since you can keep soft drinks and water cold for use in your room and also enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning before joining civilization!

The Horseshoe casino has over 1700 slot machines and video poker terminals. There are over 70 tables including all of the popular table games as well as a live poker room with daily tournaments.

We enjoy the Horseshoe casino & hotel every time we go to Tunica and so far we have found very reasonable rates as well as excellent service. Drinks are free as long as you are gambling, however you cannot carry them outside the casino or hotel property.

Colorful & Bright

The Horseshoe casino & hotel is one of the most colorful and bright casinos in the Tunica area as can be seen by the picture. Customers can enter at the front under the lighted signs directly to the casino or they can enter at both ends of the building.  If you enter on the right as you face the casino, patrons can be dropped off by car and enter directly into the lobby of the hotel without having to go through the Horseshoe casino.

The slots are about the same here at the Horseshoe casino , not tight but not loose either. Playing the slots here at the Horseshoe casino means you have to be careful and play with your head just like everywhere else.

There are three hotels and casinos in this particular are and you can walk safely from one to the other. The Gold Strike and the Sheraton casinos and hotels are on either side of the Horseshoe casino & hotel. This makes for great competition as well as if one casino is not working for you, you can always try another.

In addition there are 4 or 5 additional casinos in the area, however you have to drive to each one of these or you can take a shuttle. There sometimes is a long wait for the shuttle so if you came by car the easiest way is to drive over. Patrons should be mindful of the number of drinks you may have had and getting behind the wheel after several drinks at the casino.

Restaurants

Restaurants at the Horseshoe casino & hotel include Jack Binions Steak house, Magnolia: a Delta Cafe, The Village Square Buffet, and the Ace High Snack Bar as well as a Starbucks. We have eaten at the Village Square several times and have found the food and service fine. Both the quantity  and the variety is more than enough to satisfy just about anyone. We would recommend this buffet. We have also enjoyed Starbucks. This is a pretty standard Starbucks so nothing special to report. We have not tried any of the other restaurants.

What We Liked

We like the following areas:

• Nice bright and clean casino area with lots of slots machines and video poker
• Great buffet with good variety of food and excellent service
• Lots of parking which is monitored and routinely patrolled
• Entrance to lobby area from the parking garage
• Lobby area and entrance to the elevators is located next to each other
• Security guard at the elevators verifying guests
• Rooms were clean and well appointed
• Nice bar area as long as a band is not playing, then it is far too loud

What We Did Not Like

• Some rooms are located on the 2nd floor without good access to the elevators
• They were also a long walk to the casino area as well from the room
• The bar area has a band behind it that plays music far too loud

Slot Player Card

The slot player card in use is the Harrah’s Total Rewards. This slot card is good at all of the Harrah’s properties across the US. Also at the Casino in Windsor Canada. Slot players as well as table players are encouraged to always use their slot cards. They will receive benefits such as free rooms and free meals, along with cash back are earned. Any of the Harrah’s properties including the Horseshoe casino & hotel will comp you a room just to get you to come to their casino and hotel. In fact one night we were playing the slots. A slot hostess approach us, confirmed that we were the people she was looking for and handed us a free voucher to the buffet! Now that was a nice touch!

Parking

There is ample parking at the Horseshoe casino & hotel both in front of the main entrance as well as in a large parking garage behind the hotel. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather. We have stayed there a few times when there has been heavy rain and threat of tornado’s. You can reach the parking garage by following the signs that lead to a short road that runs between the Horseshoe casino & hotel and the Sheraton hotel & Casino. You will see the entrance to the garage on the left.

Directions: Take route 55 from Memphis, then route 69 west to 61 and south on 61. Follow the signs to the Gold Strike hotel & casino. Mapquest and GPS systems may suggest you take highway 61 all the way from Memphis. This is the shortest route, however you drive through a rather run down and difficult looking area. The safer route is to take 55 south as mentioned before.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is located just north of the village of Tunica in Mississippi and south of Memphis. There are two casinos located beside the Gold Strike hotel & casino and several more within 5 or 6 miles of the Gold Strike hotel & casino.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is a modern casino with lots of glitz and gold. The foyer is marble throughout, very modern and clean. The entrance to the hotel is very nice, not exciting or memorable. Hotel guests can register, then head up to their rooms without having to go through the casino which is a big plus in our books.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is part of the MGM Mirage casino hotel chain. Slot players who use their slot cards will be pleased to know that there slot play will be considered at the Gold Strike hotel for discounted room rates and meals. If you are not an MGM slot player member already, and you play the slots or the tables, you should get one. There are numerous benefits to having one of these memberships and they are absolutely free.

Gold Strike Hotel & Casino – Slots

We have been going to the Gold Strike hotel & casino for several years now and have never had any serious issue with the hotel and services. The slots pay relatively well since there is some competition for slot players between the various casinos in the area. Fridays and Saturdays there is lots of action in the casino and many times the hotel will be fully booked. If you plan on staying over the weekend, we recommend that you book ahead.

Weekdays, you can usually get a room at the Gold Strike hotel & casino at very reasonable rates. With your slot card you may even receive a discount or a free room. Simply call the 1-800 number and ask to speak to your casino slot host. He or she will review your previous play and offer you room rates at a level commensurate with your level of play.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is also a riverboat casino, however you would never realize it, since they have integrated the casino and the hotel so well. Hotel guests staying on higher floors can actually see the Mississippi river from their rooms. There is actually what looks like

Rooms are modern, clean and nicely appointed. This hotel is not at the standard of the some of the Las Vegas properties that are part of the MGM Mirage chain, however you will not be disappointed with the hotel, the rooms, the casino or the restaurants.

Great Restaurants

We have eaten in the buffet several times. The variety of the food, quantity, service and value are very satisfactory. They also provide a free wine with meals on Sundays which customers can either serve themselves or request one of the servers to provide. The only negative about the buffet is that it is a bit dark and drab. We have also eaten in the coffee shop called the Atrium Cafe. Service is great as is the food. Decor is a little dark, however we really enjoyed it.

The casino has over 1400 slot machines with all of the favorites , such as video poker and reel slot machines. In addition there are 40 table games available, a poker room and high limit gaming for those more discerning players. The poker room is upstairs and there are also a number of poker machines on the 2nd floor as well.

The hotel offers a spa and pool. There is shopping and golf near by. The pool area is free for hotel guests, clean and offers a nice respite from the action of the casino floor.

Gold Strike Hotel & Casino – Restaurants

The Atrium Cafe is an attractive and relaxing spot to eat towards the rear of the casino. As its name implies, the cafe is decorated to look like an atrium outdoors, complete with fake sky, fountains, a greenhouse, and plenty of plants. The small menu includes soup, salad, appetizers, sandwiches , burgers  steak and seafood entrees , breakfast at all hours, and desserts.

Chicago Steakhouse is next to the Atrium Cafe on the first floor of the casino and serves steaks, fish, and chops in an elegant, mahogany-paneled dining room.

Courtyard Buffet> features a carving station, made to order omelets, and quite a selection of other food as well.

A food court, located near the lobby has the following to offer: Burger City has hot breakfast items (pancakes, waffles, etc.) and typical burger joint fare.

Pizzeria Fresh get a whole pie or just a slice.
Gold’s Deli serves sandwiches, Nathan’s hot dogs, baked potatoes, donuts and ice cream.

Java Hut serves Starbucks coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts (in the lobby).
What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the casino
• Buffet
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

• There are no real complaints about the Gold Strike hotel & casino
• Internet is provided by Cox and costs $12.99 for 24 hours. The charge is applied to your credit card and you must deal directly with Cox if you have any problems.
• It is a 4 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

They are part of the MGM Mirage slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels,  as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Gold Strike hotel & casino both in front of the main entrance as well as in a large parking garage beside the hotel. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather. We have stayed there a few times when there has been heavy rain and threat of tornado’s

Directions: Take route 55 from Memphis, then route 69 west to 61 and south on 61. Follow the signs to the Gold Strike hotel & casino. Mapquest and GPS systems may suggest you take highway 61 all the way from Memphis, however we do not recommend this, due to the area immediately south of Memphis appearing to be somewhat run down and dangerous.