Horseshoe Tunica bullish, expands poker room

14 January 2014

By Rudi Schiffer

Even though there has been a fall-off of poker rooms in Tunica, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel - Tunica is heading the opposite direction and has just re-opened a newly modeled poker room that it says is the largest in Mississippi.

The house that Binion built has always been a mecca for serious poker players and now it has opened its doors with a slew of amenities that make it seem more like a poker spa. Even though poker is not a big contributor to any casino's profit, Horseshoe felt the larger room would be a solid contributor and underscoring its commitment, Caesars Entertainment executives Darold Londo, regional general manager, and Jesse Keaveny, regional vice president of marketing, attended two media events.

Why the larger room?

"The answer is simple," said Londo. "We've outgrown the facility and needed more space and more reasons for making this a great player experience. We have a team of some 65 dedicated poker room staffers who all have a goal of making the room the premier poker destination not only locally, but regionally in the Mid-South."

The new facility, now about double in size, dominates an exposed corner on the first floor of the casino with 25 tables set in an open plan with a four-foot high wall separating it from the rest of the floor. The amenities pile up and new poker players used to older-style rooms will be delighted.

Here's the menu: Back massages at the tables, a new World Series of Poker lounge with a full bar and food service where players can relax while waiting for a seat or between sessions, comp beverage service and even Starbucks coffee, a dedicated poker cage, new chairs, 16 large TV screens, free WiFi, a cash game sign-up podium, a tournament registration area, electric and USB outlets at each player spot, and so-called "feature tables" for big games and tournament finals. There is also Bravo software broadcast which will allow updates via text or e-mail for players awaiting an open seat.

"We also plan a more aggressive lineup of tournaments and strong, ongoing promotions like the current giveaway of a 2014 Chevy V6 Camaro with entries earned for every five hours of poker play," said Lisa Crompton, shift manager, who helped open the former Grand Casino poker room in 1999 before moving to the Horseshoe in 2001. "This room has always been a money maker and we are confident new growth will occur from the investment Caesar’s has made."

"We are betting on poker growing after the slowdown following the boom," said Londo, a West Point graduate. "We have major tournaments in the works and the overflow will be at our Roadhouse casino next door. With our new room and promotions geared to players having a pleasant experience, we will grow this room and rival any in the country."

And Londo hinted there was more to come in the next six months in the rest of the casino that will enhance guests' experiences.