City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (800) 766-5825

Address: 711 Lucky Lane

Description: This is one casino where you can get a good look at the Mississippi River. Fitzgeralds, the only one overlooking the river, touts the luck of the Irish to draw visitors. It’s a favorite for its penny and nickel slots and $3 blackjack, and the high limit area was recently redesigned and offers $100 slots. The casino is built to resemble an Irish castle, with a whimsical ceiling painting of clouds, castles, and leprechauns in the gaming hall. The 500-room hotel is in modern style, with an indoor swimming pool and exercise room. It has three restaurants, including a steak house, and indoor parking, a welcome amenity during the summer hot-car season.

City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Nightlife

Address: 1010 Casino Center Drive

Description: With its marble floors, brass, and elaborate decor, Gold Strike draws the usual crowd as well as the high rollers. Its 31-story luxury hotel tower, with 1,200 rooms and suites, wins raves from visitors, who consider it to be one of the best. Players enjoy more than 50,000 square feet of gaming, with 1,400 slot machines and 40 game tables. Its 800-seat, state-of-the-art Millenium Theater attracts national acts such as Tanya Tucker and Collin Raye. Restaurant choices range from a food court featuring burgers, pizza, and Krispy Kreme donuts to the elegant Chicago Steakhouse. One of the Gold Strike’s most popular amenities is its luxury spa.

City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (800) 394-7263

Address: 13615 Old Highway 61 North

Description: Grand has the distinction of being both the largest casino in Tunica County and the closest one to Memphis. Four gaming areas—each with a different theme—feature 3,100 slot machines and 110 game tables for players. The amenities are more extensive here than at any other place in the area: Seven restaurants (plus two poolside cabanas in summer) include two steak houses and an Italian cafe, three hotels offer more than 1,500 luxurious rooms, and an RV park provides 200 spaces for guests who bring their homes with them. The Grand also has a spa and salon for guests seeking to be pampered. Its 18-hole Cottonwoods Golf Course, designed by Hale Irwin, offers tee times as well as a golf school. Its Willows Hunting & Sporting Clays allows sportsmen to shoot a variety of targets in a controlled environment, one of the few places like it in the region. Deer and quail hunting are also available in season. Live entertainment at its event center includes such acts as Kenny Rogers and B.B. King. The Grand also has its own convention center and an activity center for kids.

City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (800) 871-0711

Address: 1150 Casino Strip Boulevard

Description: This casino has plenty of star quality, with 54,000 square feet of gaming (1,600 slots, 35-plus game tables). You’ll find great movie memorabilia, including the DeLorean car from Back to the Future, and three restaurants, among them the ornate Fairbanks Steakhouse. For accommodations Hollywood has a hotel with almost 500 rooms and suites. There’s also an indoor pool for guests to enjoy. Golf aficionados will enjoy the River Bend Golf Links course, a challenging links-style course designed by Clyde Johnston, which Hollywood operates in partnership with Sam’s Town.

City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (800) 303-7463

Address: 1020 Casino Center Drive

Description: Horseshoe is a big favorite among Memphians, who rave about the friendly ambience, the generous comp policies, and its steak house. Fans of this Tunica casino are hoping things won’t change much now that Harrah’s acquired Horseshoe. Horseshoe has more than 2,500 slots and 90 tables as well as five diverse restaurants. The casino caters to high rollers as well as the more general player. Of all the casinos this is the one that pays tribute to the blues heritage of its Mississippi Delta location, with a tiny blues museum featuring memorabilia. Its Bluesville entertainment complex is a big draw, featuring rock and blues acts that have included Ringo Starr and Michael Bolton. Horseshoe’s 15-story hotel tower has about 500 rooms and suites for guests.

City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (800) 456-0711

Address: 1477 Casino Strip Boulevard

Description: Expect to see some cowboy boots here. Although Sam’s Town retains the exterior look of an Old West town, its interior was updated to the tune of $21 million in 2000, replacing the rustic look with a more polished ambience. The gaming area consists of two floors with 1,500 slots and 60 tables. Sam’s Town is known for its country flair, both in music and general ambience. A favorite among its restaurants is Corky’s BBQ, where you can get your Memphis barbecue fix. The hotel has 850 rooms and suites, and a new RV park has 60 spaces and plenty of amenities. Sam’s Town gets some of the hottest acts around, including James Brown and Merle Haggard, at its 1,600-seat arena. It also operates River Bend Golf Links golf course in partnership with two other casinos, an amenity that’s popular with golf-playing visitors.

City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (800) 391-3777

Address: 1107 Casino Center Drive

Description: This casino resembles a Tudor mansion on the outside, with 31,000 square feet of gaming on the inside that includes 1,300 slots and 50 game tables. This one definitely has the most annoying ads of any Tunica casino, featuring a clown character touting its claim of loose slots. The Sheraton prides itself on its full-service spa and luxurious accommodations, with a whirlpool bath in every room.

City: Robinsonville, MS

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (888) 539-9990

Address: 205 Nine Lakes Drive

Description: These two courses are owned and operated by the casinos in Tunica County, Mississippi. River Bend’s manicured course was created by the collaboration of Harrah’s, Hollywood, and Sam’s Town. Wide open and without trees, the grass-covered dunes are indeed reminiscent of true Scottish links. The course opened in 1998; the architect is Clyde Johnston. Fees run $60 with cart. Cottonwoods is owned by Harrah’s. A touch longer than River Bend (6,999 yards versus 6,923 yards), it is a links-style course as well. Hale Irwin designed this resort course, and peak-season fees are $65 on the weekend, including cart. Packages are available through the casinos.