Travel America: Casino Craze, Southern-Style - Directory

At Mississippi and Louisiana casinos, odds are in favor of nonstop fun

Southern vacations always mean a good time: sun, great sightseeing, and fabulous food. Add the excitement of casinos and it doesn't get any better. Louisiana and Mississippi fill the bill on all accounts, with casinos galore presenting dazzling entertainment, superb dining, and a chance to strike it rich.

With 12 casino resorts on the Gulf Coast alone--counting 23 million visits a year--Mississippi is now the third largest gaming destination in the United States. The hotels are on land but because zoning laws allow gambling only on water, the casinos are literally "at sea." Several dockside casinos inhabit Biloxi, such as Casino Magic Biloxi (800-562-4425), where there's no sleight of hand, just lots of slots, table games, and a free comedy club.

At Biloxi's Palace Casino (800-725-2239), Las Vegas-style shows and headliner entertainment keep audiences happy. A 45-foot-high atrium with a sky-light and cascading fountain highlight the lobby of the 236-room luxury hotel. The colorful Isle of Capri (800-843-4753) features Caribbean-style decor with waterfalls and palm trees and boasts favorite table games and hot new slots.

President Casino (800-THE-PRES) is a replica of an antebellum French Quarter mansion, featuring nearly 1,000 slot and video poker machines and 38 gaming tables. Set amid live oak trees, the resort also offers golf, tennis, a full service salon, and the largest dance floor on the coast. Before leaving Biloxi, be sure to visit Beauvoir, the last home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis--and make a point to take a dip in the Gulf and a stroll ,along the white beaches.

Head about 30 miles west to Casino Magic Bay St. Louis (800-562-4425), which was the first barge-concept casino in the world. Already a delight with a championship golf course on property, RV park, four great restaurants, free daily entertainment, and over 1,100 slots and some 40 table games, Casino Magic Bay St. Louis is constructing its second hotel, to be completed in 2002. And the casino offers a daily shopping shuttle to charming downtown Bay St. Louis.

To Civil War buffs, Vicksburg immediately brings to mind history. After touring the battle sites and historic homes, unwind at Rainbow Hotel Casino (800-821-8330) in a deluxe room overlooking the Mississippi Riven And try the buffet, which blends local and Old South regional recipes. Another tropical oasis awaits at the Isle of Capri (800-843-4753) with Vegas-style gaming.

Don't miss Harrah's Hotel and Casino Vicksburg (800-843-2343), on the Yazoo Diversion Canal of the Mississippi. Gaming takes place on all decks of the 297-foot-long riverboat, designed in the spirit of those that historically plied the river. It's docked next to an entertainment complex featuring the Market Buffet and Range Steak House. End an enjoyable day curling up in one of the luxury hotel's 117 rooms.

In Philadelphia, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians runs the state's only land-based casino and one of its most successful gaming enterprises, Silver Star Resort & Casino (800-557-0711). With over 3,100 slot machines, the newest table games and old favorites, six restaurants, great entertainment, a 500-room hotel, and the acclaimed Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, it's definitely a winner. A sister property--the Golden Moon--opens next year.

Tunica offers the best of two worlds--a sportsmen's paradise along the Mississippi River and a gambler's paradise in the casinos. The Isle of Capri (800-843-4753), with its indoor waterfalls, towering palms, and fountains, even has strolling doo-wop singers. Deluxe hotel suites feature in-room whirlpool tubs, and the two-theater Paradise Entertainment Center presents spectacular music productions the likes of those seen in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri. The "friendliest tables in the Delta" await in Greenville at the Lighthouse Point Casino (800-878-1777).

Louisiana's carnival atmosphere doesn't skip a beat at Casino Rouge (800-44-ROUGE). The gaming area is actually on a riverboat, which takes scenic cruises down the Mississippi River. Right across from the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, Casino Rouge claims to be home to the loosest slots in town.

On the Mississippi River in the downtown historic district, Argosy Casino Baton Rouge (800-676-4847) says their "You Attitude" sets them apart, and it's all about "helping you have fun." A good time awaits with over 800 slots, 40 table games, entertainment, and sports bars.

In Central Louisiana, Paragon Casino Resort (800-WIN-1-WIN) offers over 2,000 slot machines, 50 gaming tables, superstar entertainment, and four restaurants, plus a golf club, 218-room hotel, and luxury RV park. Owned by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, Paragon (formerly Grand Casino Avoyelles) is located in Marksville.

New Orleans' visitors flock to the suburb of Kenner and the Treasure Chest Casino (800-298-0711), where the action takes place in a colorful Caribbean setting. Blackjack, roulette, and much more make for an exciting time.

East of Lake Charles, Grand Casino Coushatta (800-58-GRAND) might be in the little town of Kinder, but there's nothing small about the resort. With a casino boasting 3,150 slot machines, 80 table games, a 12-table poker room, a hotel, and luxury RV resort with 50 chalets, the Grand, which is owned by Louisiana's Coushatta Tribe, has something for everyone. Kids are welcome at the Kids Quest center and Grand Arcade.

On the shore of Lake Charles, you'll find Southern charm and 24-hour fun in Harrah's Lake Charles' (800-427-7247) two casinos. Harrah's adjacent lakefront hotel, five restaurants, and a lush, floating island pavilion complete the tropical paradise complex. Lake Charles also flaunts an Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel (800-843-4753).

Shreveport is home to the state's newest and largest gaming venue, Hollywood Casino Shreveport (318-220-0711). Located along the shores of the Red River and resembling an Art Deco palace, the casino and glamorous 403-suite hotel make everyone feel like a star. Slots, table games, a spa, grand entertainment, restaurants, and an extensive collection of movie memorabilia combine to make the resort a sure bet.

Even if you don't strike it rich, a visit to the casinos in Mississippi and Louisiana will make the best Southern vacation even better.