Mississippi Casinos

Mississippi authorized dockside casino gambling in 1990, and within a few years had become the third-largest gambling market in the United States behind Nevada and New Jersey. The Gulf Coast — Biloxi, Gulfport, and the beachfront corridor — emerged as a southeastern resort destination. Tunica County in the Mississippi Delta became a casino-driven economic engine for one of the poorest counties in the country. Both markets have contracted from their peaks, but Mississippi remains one of the larger commercial casino states east of the Mississippi River.

The post-Katrina rebuild changed the Gulf Coast casino landscape significantly. Mississippi moved the gaming floor authorization from the water (floating barges) to land up to 800 feet from the waterway, and the rebuilt properties are larger, more hurricane-resistant resort structures than what existed before 2005.

Two distinct market segments operate independently: the commercial casino sector regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission, and the Choctaw tribal gaming at Pearl River Resort, regulated under an IGRA compact and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Biloxi and the Gulf Coast Casino Corridor

Biloxi is the center of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast casino market, with multiple major resort casinos concentrated along a stretch of US-90 and Beach Boulevard. Most are within a few miles of each other.

Biloxi Gulf Coast casino resort properties

B

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

Biloxi

I

IP Casino Resort Spa

Biloxi

24/7 · Hotel

H

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi

Biloxi

24/7 · Hotel

P

Palace Casino Resort

Biloxi

G

Golden Nugget Biloxi

Biloxi

24/7 · Poker Room

I

Island View Resort Casino

Gulfport

IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi (Boyd Gaming) is the second major Biloxi resort casino, with hotel rooms, a full gaming floor, and an entertainment venue. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi brings the Hard Rock brand to the Gulf Coast with hotel rooms, a full table game and slots floor, and entertainment programming. Palace Casino Resort is a locally owned Biloxi property with hotel accommodations and a full gaming floor. Golden Nugget Biloxi (Landry’s Inc.) is the Gulfport-area counterpart, on the Back Bay waterfront. Island View Resort Casino is a Gulfport property serving the central Gulf Coast market.

West of Biloxi: Gulfport, Bay St. Louis, and the Western Shore

Western Gulf Coast casino properties

S

Scarlet Pearl Casino

Diberville

24/7 · Hotel

S

Silver Slipper Casino

Lakeshore

24/7

H

Harrah’s Gulf Coast

Biloxi

24/7

B

Boomtown Biloxi

Biloxi

24/7

Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville is a modern Gulf Coast property that opened after Katrina and serves the eastern Biloxi market alongside the Biloxi resorts. Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis is the westernmost Gulf Coast property, serving the Bay St. Louis and Waveland communities near the Louisiana border. Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi is a Caesars property near downtown Biloxi. Boomtown Casino serves the western Biloxi market.

Tunica: Northern Mississippi’s Casino Corridor

Tunica County sits in the Mississippi Delta about 30 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. In the 1990s it had more than a dozen casino properties and ranked as the third-largest gambling market in the United States. The market has contracted significantly since then — Tennessee’s neighboring market changes, the growth of casinos in nearby states, and the closure of several properties reduced Tunica’s footprint. A smaller number of properties continue to operate.

Tunica County casino properties

G

Gold Strike Casino Resort

Tunica Resorts

24/7 · Hotel

H

Horseshoe Casino Tunica

Tunica Resorts

24/7 · Poker Room

1

1st Jackpot Casino Tunica

Tunica Resorts

24/7

S

Sam’s Town Hotel Casino

Robinsonville

Gold Strike Casino Resort (MGM Resorts) is the largest remaining Tunica property, with hotel accommodations and a full gaming floor. Horseshoe Tunica (Caesars Entertainment) was a major property in the market; its current operational status should be verified before visiting, as the Tunica market has seen closures and rebranding in recent years. 1st Jackpot Casino Tunica and Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall Tunica round out the Tunica corridor.

Pearl River Resort: Choctaw Tribal Gaming

Pearl River Resort — Choctaw tribal gaming complex

P

Pearl River Resort

Choctaw

S

Silver Star Casino

Choctaw

24/7

G

Golden Moon Casino

Choctaw

24/7 · Poker Room

Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia, Mississippi, is operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and is one of the largest tribal casino resort complexes in the southeastern United States. The resort encompasses two casino properties — Silver Star Casino and Golden Moon Casino — along with hotel rooms, multiple golf courses, a water park, and extensive resort amenities. The property serves central Mississippi and draws visitors from across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Pearl River Resort operates under an IGRA compact with the state and is one of the most economically significant enterprises of any southeastern tribe.

Games on Mississippi’s Casino Circuit

Mississippi’s commercial casinos offer full Class III gaming: slot machines, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and table game variants. Poker rooms are active at Beau Rivage (WPT host), IP Casino, Hard Rock Biloxi, and Gold Strike Tunica among others. Pearl River Resort tribal casinos also offer full table games and poker. Sports betting is available in person at licensed Mississippi casinos — mobile sports betting is not authorized.

★ Editor-in-Chief · Casino Perspectives

Best Land-Based Casinos, By Visitor Profile

Samuel Okonkwo

Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🌊 For Gulf Coast Weekend

Best Biloxi resort for a casino weekend

Beau Rivage for the Full Gulf Coast Package

"For a Gulf Coast casino weekend, Beau Rivage in Biloxi sets the standard — more hotel rooms, more dining variety, and the most complete gaming floor on the coast. IP Casino Resort Spa is the strong alternative with comparable gaming and good hotel rates. Hard Rock Biloxi brings a branded experience with entertainment programming. The proximity of the Biloxi resorts means you can explore more than one property on the same trip — the main properties on the strip are within a few miles. Beach access is available between casino visits, which distinguishes Biloxi from inland casino destinations."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🎷 For New Orleans Day-Tripper

Best Gulf Coast casino from New Orleans

Biloxi is 90 Miles East on I-10

"Biloxi is approximately 90 miles east of New Orleans on Interstate 10 — roughly 90 minutes of driving without traffic. For New Orleans visitors who want a Gulf Coast casino day trip or overnight, the Biloxi resort corridor is the practical destination. Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis is only about 55 miles from New Orleans and can be a quicker stop. For the full resort experience, push the extra time to Biloxi and Beau Rivage or IP Casino. The Gulf Coast casinos and New Orleans are close enough that combining both in a trip makes logistical sense."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🎸 For Memphis Visitor

Best casino from Memphis

Tunica: 30 Miles South, But Verify What's Open

"Tunica County is about 30 miles south of Memphis — a 30-minute drive that made it the primary gaming destination for Memphis residents for decades. The market has contracted from its 1990s peak when it had more than a dozen properties. Gold Strike Casino Resort (MGM) is the most complete remaining Tunica property with hotel accommodations and a full gaming floor. Check current operational status of other Tunica properties before planning a visit, as the market has seen closures and rebranding. For a fuller resort experience, Beau Rivage in Biloxi is about 3 hours south — a longer trip but a more complete destination."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

♠️ For Poker Player

Best Mississippi poker rooms

Beau Rivage Leads With WPT History

"Beau Rivage in Biloxi is the top poker destination in Mississippi — it has hosted World Poker Tour events and runs one of the most active tournament schedules on the Gulf Coast. IP Casino Resort Spa also runs a solid poker room. Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica has a poker room serving the Memphis market. Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia has poker available for central Mississippi players. If tournament poker is the goal, Beau Rivage's WPT stops are the marquee events. Cash game action is strongest during Gulf Coast tourist season and major tournament weeks."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🌲 For Pearl River Resort Visitor

Best for central Mississippi and a resort stay

Pearl River Resort: Two Casinos, Golf, and Water Park

"Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia is the choice for visitors in central Mississippi or those who want a full resort experience away from the Gulf Coast. The complex has two casino buildings (Silver Star and Golden Moon), multiple hotel options, two championship golf courses, and a water park — more non-gaming resort infrastructure than any Gulf Coast property offers. The drive from Jackson is about 90 minutes. The resort draws from Jackson, Alabama, and Tennessee as well as local Mississippi residents. It is the most family-adjacent resort option in the Mississippi casino market since the non-gaming amenities are extensive."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

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Mississippi Gambling Law and Regulation

Mississippi’s gaming industry is regulated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission, which administers the state’s Gaming Control Act. The original 1990 legislation required gaming floors on floating watercraft; the post-Katrina 2005 law change authorized land-based floors within 800 feet of navigable waterways. In-person sports betting at licensed casinos has been legal since 2018, but the legislature has not authorized mobile sports betting. Mississippi launched a state lottery in 2019 — relatively late among southern states.

Quick Visitor Reference

• From New Orleans, LA: Biloxi is ~90 miles east on I-10 (~90 min); Silver Slipper is ~55 miles (~60 min)
• From Memphis, TN: Tunica County is ~30 miles south (~30 min); Gold Strike is the main option
• From Jackson, MS: Pearl River Resort is ~90 miles east (~90 min)
• From Mobile, AL: Biloxi is ~60 miles west (~60 min via I-10)
• Best resort casino: Beau Rivage Resort and Casino (Biloxi)
• Best poker room: Beau Rivage (WPT host) and IP Casino (Gulf Coast)
• Sports betting: In-person at licensed casinos only — mobile not available in Mississippi
• Minimum age: 21 at all Mississippi casinos