My last post dealt with me receiving a free suite offer at The Venetian as a result of very minimal play. Love Vegas and I certainly love the Venetian. But there are others…
For you easterners out there, Biloxi is a great place to get your casino fix that has great offers to take advantage of as well.
Biloxi tends to get very overlooked by Vegas purists. Granted, the Gulf Coast is definitely not Vegas nor will it ever be. There are minimal shows, an older overall crowd, and no sports books. But, there’s also less crowds, cheaper fine dining options, and the beach! Plus, it’s a hell of a lot closer and you still get free booze when playing. Those factors, along with the fact that the table game rule are typically much better than in Vegas, make Biloxi a great gaming getaway choice.
Another common misconception of the Biloxi area is that the casino resorts are not up to par with those in Vegas. While not as huge, this is simply not true. A few are nothing to write home about, but Biloxi does have 5 or 6 great options. I can’t speak for each and every one as I have not visited all of them, but I can safely say that the Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, and IP all stack up very nicely to the Vegas mid-tier resorts such as Harrah’s, Flamingo, Tropicana, and Monte Carlo.
For you loyal Player’s Club people out there (such as myself), Biloxi’s got you covered as well. The Beau is considered the overall nicest property on the Gulf Coast and it’s an MGM spot. Therefore, that same Player’s Club card that you use to rack up comps at Vegas properties like Mirage, New York New York, MGM Grand, and TI also works the exact same at the Beau. (Don wrote about player’s cards here) Those who prefer Harrah’s Total Rewards program, you’re good to go as well at The Grand in Biloxi. And the IP, while not linked to any major casino chain, has a very generous called My IP Rewards. On my last trip, I racked up about $30 on my IP card with fairly light slot play. The best aspect of the IP card is that it continuously builds up a comp balance that you can check in real-time at automated kiosks throughout the casino. Then, when you want to cash in on a free meal or round of drinks, it works just like a debit card anywhere at the resort. Very cool!
Biloxi also has great recreation options almost year round. This is probably one area where Biloxi actually does clearly outshine Vegas. Plenty of golf courses are abound along with a big stretch of public beach complete with vendors and raft/umbrella rental stands. I don’t know about you guys, but I love the option of spending a couple of lazy hours sprawled out on the sand after a heavy dose of drunken gambling the night before. Like to fish? Biloxi offers plenty of great and affordable charter fishing trips as well, most are dock right next to the Hard Rock at the Small Craft Marina. That means you likely are no more than a 10 minute cab/car ride to the marina and, BOOM, you’re fishing for out on a boat for hours for probably no more than $45 a person. The convenience of Biloxi is one of its greatest pluses. No matter what, you’re 10-15 minutes from anything and cabs are easy to score at the casinos. The airport is also very small, laid-back, and quick to get in and out of. Back to the fishing, a group of 5 of us went out with Capt. Jim, who can be found at be-slick.com, and had a good ol’ time!
Another thing worth noting about Biloxi is the outstanding local bayou cuisine. I have yet to try them all, but quite possibly the best BBQ I’ve ever had (definitely the MOST) was found at a place 2 exits away from the IP called The Shed. And that name is certainly no misnomer. It is literally a rundown wooden shed, but the food is impeccable and the outdoor seating area is top-notch. If ever in Biloxi, this is an absolute must if you’re even a slight BBQ fan. Go.
One last thing that I feel worth mentioning about Biloxi is that it really needs the tourism. Vegas does as well, no doubting that, but Biloxi needs it a little more in my opinion. Vegas had a bad ’09, sure. But the city itself will rebound and is firmly entrenched as America’s #1 gambling destination and adult play haven. That will never change.
Biloxi though did not just have a bad ’09, it’s had a bad 4+ years. As you know, Katrina leveled the area in August of 2005. All of these aforementioned casinos were closed for at least 3 months, some over a year, and a couple didn’t survive at all. The Grand was destroyed and had to move to a temporary home across the street and the Hard Rock’s opening gala was delayed for nearly 2 years because of the massive cleanup. While Vegas is in no danger of ever going away as a gaming mecca, Biloxi could be. They really need visitors like us.
As a result of the shared ordeal that all of the locals experienced, I’ve also found that the dealers and service staffs in general are incredibly warm and friendly. I’ve had many extremely pleasant table sessions with awesome dealers. Several shared their stories and tales of Katrina with me and can give great advice on local eateries and activities to check out. Unlike Vegas where SOME dealers are cool, pretty much all of them in Biloxi are and appear, to me at least, to be happy, genuine, and unjaded. Good, good people there.
So if you’re in need of a gaming getaway but don’t quite have the time, tolerance, or scratch to get out to Vegas, definitely consider Biloxi if you’re in the eastern half of the country. It’s also about an hour from New Orleans and all that it has to offer (including a great Harrah’s property to boot).
Stay tuned for an upcoming post where I’ll outline how to get to Biloxi for cheap!
