Top Mississippi Casinos: See reviews and photos of casinos & gambling attractions in Mississippi on Tripadvisor. The Queen Marquette is a smaller riverboat casino operated by CQ Holdings and is located in Marquette, Iowa. Like most of the riverboats on this list, the Queen Marquette rests on the Mississippi River. Across the river, you’ll find the quaint midwestern town of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

1. River Boat Casino Mississippi
2. Riverboat Casinos On Mississippi River
3. Casino Riverboat On The Mississippi River
4. Riverboat Casino Biloxi Mississippi
5. Riverboat Casinos On The Mississippi River

Introduction to Mississippi Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Mississippi slot machine casino gambling consists of 27 riverboat casinos and three American Indian tribal casinos. International cruise ships with onboard casinos also depart from ports in Biloxi and Gulfport.

Minimum and maximum payout return limits have been legally set by the state. Further, comprehensive actual payout return statistics are available by gaming machine type and state region.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!

Or … Listen Instead!

Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Amazon Audible Gaana Stitcher Pandora iHeart Radio Tune-In SoundCloud RadioPublic Deezer RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!

Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Mississippi*

The minimum legal gambling age in Mississippi depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: Not available
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: Not available

Gambling in Mississippi has aided to the economy of the state and breathed new life into its tourism industry. In 1990, the Mississippi state legislature was the third U.S. state to legalize riverboat gambling.

By law, Mississippi’s riverboat casinos must be located on coastal waters, the Mississippi River, and in navigable waters of counties bordering the Mississippi River.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Mississippi legislature allowed the state’s gulf coast casinos to rebuild on land within 800 feet of the shoreline.

Winning a jackpot of $1,200 or more in Mississippi results in a nonrefundable 3% tax of those winnings paid to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. This limit also applies to any cash prizes won in casino drawings and tournaments.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Mississippi

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Mississippi if it is at least 25 years old.

Gaming Control Board in Mississippi

The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) is responsible for non-tribal, commercial casinos. The gaming regulations used are from MGC but also from state law, specifically the Gaming Control Act.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians also has its Choctaw Gaming Commission for Mississippi’s three tribal casinos. The gaming compacts which authorized tribal gaming in Mississippi established this gaming commission.

Casinos in Mississippi

Mississippi has 27 commercial casinos, three American Indian tribal casinos, and cruise ships sailing out of the ports of Biloxi and Gulfport to international destinations.

The largest casino in Mississippi is Island View Casino Resort with 2,700 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Silver Star Casino at Pearl River with 2,500 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Mississippi

Mississippi’s 27 riverboat casinos are:

1. Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
2. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
3. Boomtown Casino – Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
4. 1st Jackpot Casino Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
5. Fitz Casino Hotel in Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
6. Gold Strike in Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
7. Golden Nugget – Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
8. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
9. Harlow’s Casino Resort in Greenville within the Northern Region located 119 miles northwest of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
10. Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
11. Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis within the Coastal Region located 91 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
12. Hollywood Casino Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
13. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
14. IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
15. Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport within the Coastal Region located 75 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
16. Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lula within the Northern Region located 59 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
17. Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
18. Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel in Natchez within the Central Region located 103 miles southwest of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
19. Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
20. Riverwalk Casino Hotel in Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
21. Sam’s Town Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
22. Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
23. Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis within the Coastal Region located 91 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
24. Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
25. Trop Casino Greenville within the Northern Region located 119 miles northwest of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
26. Tunica Roadhouse Casino and Hotel within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
27. WaterView Casino & Hotel in Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.

Tribal Casinos in Mississippi

Mississippi’s three tribal casinos are each a property of Pearl River Casinos and Resorts, owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, including:

1. Bok Homa Casino in Sandersville located 93 miles southeast of Jackson.
2. Golden Moon Hotel & Casino in Philadelphia located 75 miles northeast of Jackson.
3. Silver Star Hotel & Casino in Philadelphia located 75 miles northeast of Jackson.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Mississippi slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Mississippi is:

• North: Tennessee Slots
• East: Alabama Slots
• South: The Gulf of Mexico
• West: Arkansas Slots and Louisiana Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Mississippi.

Our Mississippi Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Mississippi? If so, join our new Mississippi slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Mississippi. Join us!

Payout Returns in Mississippi

The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) offers monthly return statistics for commercial casinos by region of the state:

• Central Region, including the cities of Vicksburg and Natchez
• Northern Region, including the cities of Tunica, Greenville, and Lula
• Coastal Region, including the cities of Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis

The minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits are 80% and 100% according to MGC’s Regulations, Part 3: Operations, Rule 12.5: Minimum Standards for Gaming Devices.

These limits apply for each wager of a gaming device. If the gaming device played is a skill-based, competition-style machine, these limits apply when playing it with optimal strategy or perfect play.

MGC’s Monthly Revenue Reports offer the most recent month Slots Player Win Percent. Their Monthly Archives offer return statistics reports from prior months over the last twenty years.

The revenue reports offer the Win% for machine denominations for all casinos within a state region: Central, Northern, and Coastal. Further, progressive machines have separate entries by denomination. Gaming machines include:

• Slot machines
• Video poker machines
• Video keno machines

Another useful monthly report is Gaming Devices Report, which offers how many machines of each denomination are in each commercial casino. Once again, progressive versus non-progressive machines are separate.

Relative to other U.S. gaming jurisdictions, the payout statistics provided by Mississippi are the most thorough treatment I’ve seen for payout returns.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has not established theoretical payout limits in their gaming compact or by its Choctaw Gaming Commission. Further, as is often the case, no actual return statistics are publicly available.

Summary of Mississippi Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Mississippi slot machine casino gambling consists of 28 commercial casinos, three tribal casinos, and cruise ships sailing out of the ports of Biloxi and Gulfport on the Gulf Coast to international destinations.

Minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits at commercial casinos are 80% and 100%. Possibly the best return statistics in the U.S. are available from Mississippi, available by three state regions and machine denominations as well as whether they are progressive machines.

Annual Progress in Mississippi Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, one commercial casino has closed, the Resorts Casino Tunica.

Related Articles from Professor Slots

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

• Previous: Minnesota Slot Machine Casino Gambling
• Next: Missouri Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC

Riverboat casinos conjure images of gamblers in pork pie hats, the mighty Mississippi, and Mark Twain smoking corn cob pipes. These pieces of Americana can still be found in cities across the United States and make exciting vacation destinations.

Typically, this style of real money casinos are found along the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast. States known for their riverboats often border and contain tributaries of the Mississippi, although not all.

Once railroad transportation rose to dominance in the early 20th century, riverboats became entertainment destinations with its live music, dancing, and gambling. The riverboats carried guests on small excursions often leaving and docking every several hours.

Riverboats are known as a type of legal fiction, meaning they were created to limit the areas where gambling establishments could be constructed and often never leave the dock.

1 – The Amelia Belle in Amelia, LA

The first riverboat on the list is from Boyd Gaming, a casino and hospitality company based in Paradise, Nevada. Located in Amelia, Louisiana, between Morgan City and Houma, the Amelia Belle rests in the Avoca Island Cutoff waterway.

One of the most beautiful riverboats on my list, this four-story casino has a classic turn of the century look and is impressive when lit up at night. Unique table game offerings include Three-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Mississippi Stud.

Along with your standard fare, the casino has a regular $10,000 giveaway and offers an advertised $777 slots jackpot. Don’t miss their touted Cajun Buffet for classic Louisiana favorites.

2 – The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois

The Grand Victoria is located on the Fox River in Elgin, Illinois. The destination is a holding of El Dorado Resorts, owners of the Tropicana, and another riverboat casino on my list, the Isle of Capri.

40 miles west of Downtown Chicago, the Grand Victoria boasts four restaurants:

River Boat Casino Mississippi

1. Buckinghams Steakhouse and Lounge
2. Indulge Show Kitchen Buffet
3. Crave Deli
4. Prime Burgerhouse

The casino contains over 1,100 video poker and slot machines in addition to 36 table games. It is the highest-generating casino in the state of Illinois and is known for its community outreach programs. So, you can take added comfort knowing that your fun is contributing to local toy-collecting programs and not-for-profit organizations.

3 – Casino Queen Marquette in Marquette, Iowa

If you’re looking for a more personalized experience, this is your destination. The Queen Marquette is a smaller riverboat casino operated by CQ Holdings and is located in Marquette, Iowa. Like most of the riverboats on this list, the Queen Marquette rests on the Mississippi River. Across the river, you’ll find the quaint midwestern town of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Although the Queen Marquette has only eight tables games, it more than makes up for it with over 566 slot machine games. Table games include blackjack, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 21+3, Fusion Roulette, Shoot to Win Craps, and Fusion Blackjack.

Although most casinos have hosts whose job is to provide personalized service to casino guests, the Queen Marquette puts extra emphasis on this staff. Owing to their smaller size, they tout more focused attention and accommodation in planning your visit.

4 – Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Shreveport, Louisiana

The Sams’s Town name is synonymous with gambling in Las Vegas, but this casino in Shreveport, LA, brings the luxury of Vegas to the South.

All Sam’s slots are progressive, meaning with each play, your chance of winning one of several jackpots becomes greater. A spin of the ol’ triple double stars will win you a jackpot over $90,000.

Along with standard table games, Sam’s Town Shreveport offers variations such as Craps no More, Mini Baccarat, and Let it Ride.

If you’re feeling luxurious, stay in the 760-square-foot Magnolia Suite and dine at the elegant William B’s Steakhouse. Spa Blu offers a variety of spa treatments, including massages, facials, body treatments, manicures, and pedicures. Relax in their dry saunas and steam rooms to unwind after a long day of winning. Check out their entertainment venue, Sam’s Town Live, for great local and national acts.

5 – Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hollywood Casino is located right across the street from the state capitol building on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Hollywood Casino has an extensive Tier Credit program. At the Executive Producer level, customers can enjoy such benefits as personal host service, access to the exclusive Producer’s Lounge, and free sports tickets.

Hollywood Casino has your standard slots, video poker, and traditional table games.

The Hollywood boasts several restaurants, including The Celebrity Grill, Epic Buffet, the Take Two Deli, and more. After that, you can take to the links on the Copper Mill Golf Club.

Copper Mill is a “links-style” course reminiscent of those found in Scotland, with a unique layout that’s a combination of holes with three par 3 holes, three par 4 holes, and three par 5 holes on each nine. You can also take in the latest movies at the Movie Tavern which offers restaurant quality food while you relax and enjoy the show.

6 – Isle of Capri in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The Isle of Capri Casino, located off the aptly-named Lake Charles in Lake Charles, LA, provides a classic casino experience with a wide range of luxury suites.

The casino contains 30 table games, 11 poker tables, and over 1,100 slots. Like many casinos in southwest Louisiana, you’ll find the unique game of Pai Gow based off of the ancient Chinese game of dominoes adopted for a modern card deck.

Restaurants include the steakhouse Otis and Henry’s Bar and Grill, the Farmer’s Pick Buffet, and the diner-style Lone Wolf Express. Check out the lineup of live local entertainment and hear the unique sounds of Louisiana Swamp Pop, a variation of classic zydeco native to southwest Louisiana.

After dinner, relax on the upper deck with a drink, take in the view of the city lights, and watch the locals stroll along the downtown waterfront.

7 – Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner, Louisiana

Located in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, Treasure Chest is a 24,000-square-foot dockside riverboat resting on placid Lake Pontchartrain. Enjoy the distant view of the downtown New Orleans skyline and picturesque cypress tree groves in the bayous surrounding Kenner.

Unique table games include Mini Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow, Flop Poker, Three-Card Poker, and Four-Card Poker. Restaurants include the Vista Buffet and Cafe Pontchartrain, both serving favorites of Louisiana food culture.

Riverboat Casinos On Mississippi River

Once you’ve eaten your fill of boiled crawfish and steamed crab legs, take in the live entertainment in the Treasure Chests Caribbean Showroom. National acts are great, but the local Cajun and zydeco acts will give you a unique musical experience.

Casino Riverboat On The Mississippi River

Conclusions

Riverboats may not have all the bells and whistles of your standard casinos (although some do), but what they lack in Vegas style amenities, they more than make up for in character. Riverboat casinos are perfect for those who are in it for the main draw, gambling, and would like to do so in a unique environment.

There are many destinations for riverboat casinos up and down the Mississippi River. There are also a few outside the confines of the “Mighty Mississippi.”

Riverboat Casino Biloxi Mississippi

The next time you’re at one of these uniquely American establishments, hearken back to the turn of the century and imagine yourself amongst maverick gamblers and saloon-style showgirls. Riverboat casinos are the stuff of movies and novels, but you can still experience the atmosphere of this early American tradition today.

Riverboat Casinos On The Mississippi River

Keep your eyes peeled when on deck, you might see Huck Finn floating by leisurely on a wooden raft off on his next adventure.