Heard it on the river: A new face on the Mississippi casino map

There's a new face on the Mississippi casino map with a name that spans the decades and on Dec. 8 it will be officially introduced when HARLOW'S CASINO holds is grand opening down in the heart of the Delta at Greenville. This lady is glamorous, just like her namesake, and evokes the glory of the legendary art deco 30s period of Hollywood. The opening also marks the comeback of RICK SCHILLING, who launched the first casino in Northern Mississippi when he and his brother, Ron, brought SPLASH to Tunica County in 1992.

With 33,000 square feet of gaming space and 105 hotel rooms, Harlow's is located between the current bridge and a new span that will open in a couple of years over the Mississippi River and believes its location to be a prime one that will have a very positive spin-off for Washington County in jobs and tax revenue. GEORGE JONES will be the opening act that night in the 2,500 seat Celebrity Theatre following a 11 a.m. ribbon cutting.

Speaking of openings, the Mississippi quail season is underway and a large piece of acreage behind GRAND CASINO is given over to this pursuit. There are thousands of stocked Bobwhites on the WILLOWS property, that now also has many wild coveys, and the shooting is first class with guides, dogs and even shotguns and shells provided. MIKE MIZE, the Texas reared director hunting guide, says that as far as he knows, this is the only hunting amenity connected directly to a casino in the country. The sporting clays facility has also proven a tremendous attraction and has expanded with three new courses. That has led to bookings by many corporations and tournaments such as the Tennessee State Championship that is expected to draw some 500 shot gunners next June. Call 662-357-3111 for more info.

Free play seems to be the trend in Tunica these days and GOLDTRIKE reports it has given away over $580,000 in slot free play from three games, The Rapid Fire Jackpot, the Quick Fire Jackpot and the Sure Fire Jackpot which starts at $150,000 and is guaranteed to hit by $200,000. On Wednesday Dec.12 at 6 p.m., the poker room is holding a WPO $10,000 seat guaranteed tournament for only a $100 buy-in plus $25 entry fee. The WPO begins a three week run at GoldStrike on Jan. 3 with single and super satellites.

I like the new rug at the FITZ as management continues to brighten up the place but I bemoan the loss of my favorite triple diamond slot which has disappeared from the floor after I whacked it several times. Live boxing returns to the Fitz on Dec. 8 and tickets can be purchased at the door for $35.00. Or call 1-800-766-5825. HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT continues to garner its share of favorable publicity and two national magazines recently honored the corporation. BusinessWeek placed it on its "Best Places to Launch a Career" list and it was ranked among Fortune's "Most Admired Companies." However, perhaps the most significant recognition came in the Nov. 26 issue of BusinessWeek magazine which highlighted the most generous philanthropy programs among companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index. Harrah's ranked #1 on the list of "Most Generous Cash Givers as a Percentage of Profit" and #14 on the list of "Largest Cash Givers." Last year the corporation distributed a healthy $76.8 million to non-profits across the country, or about $1.5 million a week. It was the only gaming company to make the lists of Most Generous Corporate Donors. I think some of my money was amongst those millions. It's nice to know my losses went to good causes.

So you think you wanna be an Elvis impersonator? Here's your chance. Submit your best Elvis-like photo through Dec. 28 and you could be selected to take part in the King Tribute contest at the SILVER STAR CASINO in Pearl River Resort. First place pays $5,000, more than Elvis made in his debut. Call 1-866-44PEARL for more info or send your photo to Pearl River Resort, Attn: Public Relations, PO Box 6048, Choctaw, MS 39350.

A very, very large bad beat was still up for grabs when I wrote this column and probably is still active at GOLDSTRIKE where the jackpot was over $309,000 when I last looked. Over at SOUTHLAND PARK in West Memphis, there is a $1 million bad beat on the automated tables. Not an easy one to win but what the heck…might be your lucky day. For you devoted video poker players, Southland will be adding more machines to its inventory soon. A big branding television campaign is soon to be launched at the Park to create more awareness in the market.

LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER.