Just got back from a week in Memphis.
Arkansas now has a huge casino that is directly accross the river from Memphis. Its mostly been a slot parlor but they are currently hiring live table dealers which will be coming very soon. Its a huge place.
Since its only about 5 minutes from downtown I suspect its going to take a big bite out of Tunica. Given the crowd I saw in there it looks like it already has.
The Arkansas Times agrees with PJStroh's analysis of the effect on Tunica.
Oh, . . . and for anyone interested, . . . they're hiring at "Southland" .
True. For years Tunica/state of Mississippi has profited from Arkansas gamblers. Tunica and Bossier City LA are about equal driving distance from Little Rock. Oaklawn Racing and Gaming (Hot Springs Arkansas) and the West Memphis Southland dog track had opened casinos with restrictions (slots had to be "games of skill") some years back. Now Arkansas is gearing up for real casino gambling and most definitely will draw from the Tunica traffic. Oklahoma has been drawing traffic from Arkansas, especially the bus tours. This may change if the newer casinos are competitive. Certainly Oaklawn and Southland will benefit from the relaxed gambling restrictions, and both are expanding their casinos and building hotels, which they did not have until now.
Plus, there is a plus in being able to enjoy horse racing or dog racing AND casino gambling during the same visit! Oaklawn has expanded their (fairly short) live horse racing season a few weeks, another strategy to keep gambling profits in Arkansas.
Tunica has sports gambling and I don't believe the others have that.....yet. Tunica is a strange place, but I like the Casino cluster near Gold Strike....I especially liked 1st Jackpot.
Originally posted by: PJ Stroh
Just got back from a week in Memphis.
Arkansas now has a huge casino that is directly accross the river from Memphis. Its mostly been a slot parlor but they are currently hiring live table dealers which will be coming very soon. Its a huge place.
Since its only about 5 minutes from downtown I suspect its going to take a big bite out of Tunica. Given the crowd I saw in there it looks like it already has.
It definitely has
Since someone advanced this thread so I'll add to it. I've been to the new Saracen Casino (Indian) in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I'm not in the market for a new casino to support, but a friend likes it a lot and willing to make the 45 minute drive and take me along, kill 2-3 hours in an afternoon.
From the outside you wouldn't know it is a casino, no neon signs, etc. They have started the building of a hotel, so it will probably get 'fancier' as time goes by. There are motels nearby.
Inside it is very nice, tons of slot machines, not enough VP machines to suit me, specifically no 3-5 play; all single line that I've found. I haven't checked other VPs for pay schedules.
Few tables open until early evening (after we've left). Middle of the day they've had one Louisiana Stud and one 3 Card Poker open, 2-3 BJ tables, but all $5 minimum bet.
I'm told their eateries are excellent, have at least one very nice restaurant getting good reviews. One problem with Arkansas law is the cocktails aren't free (as they weren't at Oaklawn). A guy next to me paid $3.50 for a beer. Haven't seen/heard a cocktail ordered to ask how much. Coffee and soft drinks are free, self-serve and served by the CWs, which I saw very few of them.
Candy
Originally posted by: O2bnVegas
Since someone advanced this thread so I'll add to it. I've been to the new Saracen Casino (Indian) in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I'm not in the market for a new casino to support, but a friend likes it a lot and willing to make the 45 minute drive and take me along, kill 2-3 hours in an afternoon.
From the outside you wouldn't know it is a casino, no neon signs, etc. They have started the building of a hotel, so it will probably get 'fancier' as time goes by. There are motels nearby.
Inside it is very nice, tons of slot machines, not enough VP machines to suit me, specifically no 3-5 play; all single line that I've found. I haven't checked other VPs for pay schedules.
Few tables open until early evening (after we've left). Middle of the day they've had one Louisiana Stud and one 3 Card Poker open, 2-3 BJ tables, but all $5 minimum bet.
I'm told their eateries are excellent, have at least one very nice restaurant getting good reviews. One problem with Arkansas law is the cocktails aren't free (as they weren't at Oaklawn). A guy next to me paid $3.50 for a beer. Haven't seen/heard a cocktail ordered to ask how much. Coffee and soft drinks are free, self-serve and served by the CWs, which I saw very few of them.
Candy
It's good that there's something to make you temporarily forget you live in Arkansas without having to leave the state. Remember the horrified anti-gambling crusades of days of yore? Now pretty much every state has decided that it doesn't want its tax dollars spent across the border.
Also, any alternative to Vegas is a good thing.
