Tunica-area casinos review:

The cows are just from a photo I pulled off the internet. Sorry, I can't tell you the story behind them.

As far as roulette, I didn't really pay attention (I tend to tune out roulette), but it seemed to be an afterthought. Most casinos had two or three tables with one open. Blackjack was definitely king, with it outnumbering craps and roulette by a lot.

I didn't notice the vig on the 5/9, but they vig on the 4 and 10 was after, I think. I don't make number bets so I'm not really sure. I wished I had asked. The field was all triple the 12.

I saw a couple companies advertising car service between Memphis/Little Rock and Tunica. Not sure how much that would cost. I saw a lot of tour buses, so there are probably junket operators from Memphis and elsewhere. Harrah's runs a shuttle between its main property (the former Grand) and the Horsehoe/Roadhouse cluster. It seemed to be running pretty frequently.

Gold Strike is objectively the nicest casino of the bunch. However, I personally am not impressed with the "Trump"-ish theme. Their limits were also the highest. I didn't get a chance to check out their hotel or restaurants, but the facilities looked nice. I like whatever casino gives me the best treatment, so my favorite was the Fitz, and to a lesser extent, Harrah's. For craps Gold Strike is probably the best and I saw the biggest action there. Harrah's would be my choice to play, though. Horseshoe was the most crowded. All the places (at least in the Nothern part of the area) seemed to be getting a ton of action generally.

The Paula Deen buffet is at Harrah's. The pit boss offered me a comp for that too, but I took the Toby Keith's comp because it had more value, and I had already had a buffet at Resorts. And yes, comps did seem extremely easy to get. I probably could have given them far less action and still gotten comparably comped. In fact, I wish I had ... :(

Most if not all casinos collect the vig after a win on 5/9 and 4/10. On crapless craps the Goldstrike collects the vig upfront on 2,3,11,12 but the others only collect on winning bets

Correction:
Its AirTran, rather than Allegiant Air that provides service to Tunica.
AirTran will soon be merged with SouthWest Airlines.

"With flights between Tunica and Atlanta on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, AirTran
Airways is the only commercial carrier to provide scheduled, full-size jet access to Tunica, a first
for the area since the recent expansion of the Tunica Airport."

I don't know if any casinos provide shuttle service from the nearby Tunica airport or what a taxi fare would be.

I live in the Atlanta area, so Tunica is my premier gambling destination. Harrahs sends me comps for air, hotel, and meals up to twice a month. The flights are on Air Tran out of ATL and fly directly into Tunica airport - one hour flight. Harrahs then transports the plane load of passengers (some comped, others are on reduced fares) to the Harrahs complex (used to be the Grand owned by Harrahs) by buses. The stay is for four or five nights whichever I prefer. Those are the only commercial flights offered. There are charter flights by Allegient into Tunica airport. Those flights originate from Florida, California, Texas, and some other cities.

As has been previously posted, there is nothing to do within the confines of the Tunica casino area other than gamble, eat, watch TV, play golf, or exercise. There are no forms of transportation to the outside world. Harrahs does provide a free shuttle service to its other properties which runs most of the day until about 10:30 pm. Those properties consist of the Horseshoe and the Roadhouse, both of which are in a pod with the Goldstrike. There is one car rental agency, and rental are very expensive.

Gambling: There are lots of slots and they are pretty tight. I found that the Goldstrike had the best "opportunity" to win if slots is your game. I did play the slots at the Fitz between craps sessions last time I was there on 9-26. I walked away with a win of $1.03 then ventured back to the craps table for some real winning.
The Harrahs facilities have serveral craps tables ranging from $5 - $25; BJ; carnival card games, roulette, and most have poker rooms. In general, I have found that the vast majority of dealers are friendly, courteous, efficient, and do a good job. The attendance at the Harrahs venues is pretty strong while my visits to other casinos is very limited, but during the week those other places are really vacant.

I play craps; I win about 80+% of the time; the tables are 20X odds; the 4/10 vig is paid only after a win; the 5/9 place is paid true w/o a vig; and they do comp very well.

Katrina did not effect Tunica so the casinos are on barges on water that is diverted from the Mississippi River.

The weather during the summer is HOT and sticky. The other seasons have their normal range of temps and precipitation.

For me, it is a good gambling destination

tuttigym

Quote: tuttigym

Harrahs sends me comps for air, hotel, and meals up to twice a month. The flights are on Air Tran out of ATL and fly directly into Tunica airport - one hour flight.
The Harrahs facilities have several craps tables ranging from $5 - $25; BJ; carnival games, roulette, and most have poker rooms. I have found that the vast majority of dealers are friendly, courteous, efficient, and do a good job. The attendance at the Harrahs venues is pretty strong, but during the week those other places are really vacant.
I play craps; I win about 80+% of the time; the tables are 20X odds; the 4/10 vig is paid only after a win; the 5/9 place is paid true w/o a vig; and they do comp very well.

Congratulations on the "win 80+ percent of the time". That is a real good track record.
Flight, room and meals comped is great. I wish they would do that for me but my experience at the Biloxi Grand was not particularly favorable and I think Harrah's formed a low opinion of my action anyway. I know I formed a low opinion of their generosity and the food at the Biloxi Grand. From South Florida its atleast eight hours to Las Vegas, around 4 hours to Biloxi, 4 hours to Tunica but only 2 and a half hours to Atlantic City, so I guess I should be looking at Atlantic City casinos, but I prefer Las Vegas. I just don't like long airplane flights anymore.

I assume the 4/10 vig refers to Buying the 4 or 10 since many players opt to Buy the 4 or 10 (20.00 bet for 1 dollar "vig" often charged only on a winning bet at the time of the win) rather than Place it at a higher house edge of 6.67 percent.

As to your comments about 5/9 Place bets are paid at True Odds w/o a vig. Does this mean that a PlaceBet on the 5or9 would be paid at 3:2 for a zero percent house edge? If so, Placing the Inside Numbers would be a pretty good deal.

Usual situation is:
Number Payoff True Odds House PC
4 & 10 = 9 to 5 2 to 1 6.67%
5 & 9 = 7 to 5 3 to 2 4.00%
6 & 8 = 7 to 6 6 to 5 1.52%

Quote: FleaStiff

Congratulations on the "win 80+ percent of the time". That is a real good track record.
Flight, room and meals comped is great.

As to your comments about 5/9 Place bets are paid at True Odds w/o a vig. Does this mean that a PlaceBet on the 5or9 would be paid at 3:2 for a zero percent house edge? If so, Placing the Inside Numbers would be a pretty good deal.

I think he means that if you try to buy the 5/9, the dealers will just give you a 7:5 place bet instead of a buy. A lot of times when you try to buy the 5/9, the dealers don't know what the hell you're talking about and will just give you a 5/9 place instead. That's probably what's happening here.

As regards comps, those who know tutti know that he is a "valued customer" of the Harrah's corporation.

Quote: teddys

I think he means that if you try to buy the 5/9, the dealers will just give you a 7:5 place bet instead of a buy. A lot of times when you try to buy the 5/9, the dealers don't know what the hell you're talking about and will just give you a 5/9 place instead. That's probably what's happening here.

As regards comps, those who know tutti know that he is a "valued customer" of the Harrah's corporation.

In Tunica the 5/9 is an automatic BUY when you bet more than $20. It is vig paid on win. Throw a quarter down for the 5, and you will get paid $36 (25+12-1vig). You don't have to ask, it will just happen. Therefore, to maximize your bets, over $20 you should make 'even amount' bets on the 5/9, so you get the true 3:2 payouts. I also recall them being rather generous on when they rounded up the commissions, but I don't recall exactly. I am 99% certain a $30 5 paid $44, so that meant the $1.50 vig was rounded down.

Actually Teddys and Rahleigh are correct concerning the 5/9 and the 4/10. I guess I am a "valued customer" of Harrahs as they continue to send me those comps month after month. This Sunday I fly to Biloxi to the Grand - all comp. They are also sending me comps to AC but since they are not for two, need to take my girlfriend, I will not attend.

Thanks for the heads up on their buffet. I think I will venture over to the Palace (not the IP) for their spread which in the past has been unbeatable.

The last two times at Harrah's and the Horseshoe in Tunica I received the biggest compliment a player could get from the Boxman. They actually changed the wagering rules, not the table limits, the wagering rules because I was killing them with a bet that is suppose to be a one roll bet but was turned into a five roll bet.
I was on a $5 table which allows $1 bets on the "sucker" bets or the hardways. After I had hit them several times in a row, the boxman declared that the MINIMUM bet at the table would be $5 for all bets. He did piss off the patrons. I colored; cashed out; and went to the next table and did it again without any heat.

Does anyone want to guess what I did?

tuttigym

Good heavens, I completely forgot to post an update from my last trip here, which was months ago.

Went down for a stay at Harrah's, two nights comped (back when I was in their good graces). Got put up at the newer towers across the street from the casino. These are nice hotels. Huge rooms with high ceilings. I might have been upgraded to a corner room. Nice spacious lobbies with a snack bar. Rooms had fridges.

Casino was across the way, but I wouldn't care to walk. There was a shuttle bus. I drove.

Hit all the stores again from south to north. At Resorts, I got a comped breakfast buffet. It was pretty good, with good meats. Fitz's got rid of their high limit room and converted it to slots. Got a comped buffet there, too. Solid Southern food, as usual.

Tunica Roadhouse had a nice craps game with, I think, $2 minimums. Fun crews.

I played a lot of craps at the Gold Strike, buying the 5 and 9 exclusively for $20 each, working them on the comeout. I didn't do too well.

I also played single-deck blackjack at Harrah's, but I don't remember winning much, if anything. I think the trip was just about a wash, which was better than the last time.

Quote: tuttigym

The last two times at Harrah's and the Horseshoe in Tunica I received the biggest compliment a player could get from the Boxman. They actually changed the wagering rules, not the table limits, the wagering rules because I was killing them with a bet that is suppose to be a one roll bet but was turned into a five roll bet.
I was on a $5 table which allows $1 bets on the "sucker" bets or the hardways. After I had hit them several times in a row, the boxman declared that the MINIMUM bet at the table would be $5 for all bets. He did piss off the patrons. I colored; cashed out; and went to the next table and did it again without any heat.

Does anyone want to guess what I did?

tuttigym

Hi Tuttigym

I'll give it a whirl.

Did you "hop" the hardway for a buck, (odds 30 to 1 ), take the quarter of the payoff, and then use the other 4 for the extra $1 for 4 more rolls?

Otherwise the regular hardways only pays 10-1 and I can't see a box getting is "panties in a bunch" over $10.

Am I close?

Eagledice