gulf coast, ms

We recently visited the Biloxi/Gulfport area and surveyed every casino in the process. There have been many changes since our last survey. As can be seen from our survey tabulations, except for Boomtown all of the casinos have at least a few good games.

If the focal point of your play in this region is video poker, you will do well to focus on Gulfport rather than Biloxi. In Gulfport, you have the Grand and the Copa together, both offering some excellent video poker. The Beau Rivage has only a few good games and on a busy night you may have a difficult time getting access to one. The Biloxi Grand is similar -- while there are good games to be had, they are fairly limited in availability and selection The Imperial Palace has a number of good games, but they are all older machines (no ticket-in, ticket-out games); the newer machines are all short pay. If 9/6 Jacks or Better is your game, Casino Magic in Biloxi may be worth a stop to check out the progressive.

The President and Treasure Bay offer good games but predominantly on older machines.

Video poker players will find plenty of good games in the area. Please check out the details of our listings below. (Visitors to the Gulf Coast region should check out TheLowRoller.com, web home of Linda Mabry, gambling columnist for the Biloxi Sun-Herald).

Map/Directions
875 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone:
Website Link: http://www.beaurivageresort.com/
Number of Video Poker Machines: Approximately 210
Cash Back:
Casino Size: 72,000 square feet

As is so often the case with larger, nicer casinos, there is very little good video poker to choose from at the Beau Rivage. We had just about given up hope for finding good games, when we stumbled onto a few 9/6 Jacks games. There are two back-to-back banks of 6 slant-top games near the bar that have 9/6 Jacks, and you'll find several 9/6 Jacks games near the entrance to Coast Brewing. These are the only good games we found at Beau Rivage. In general, we would recommend skipping the Beau, but if you are stuck there you can at least find these few games which are playable.

Map/Directions
676 Bayview Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: 800-627-0777
Website Link: http://www.boomtownbiloxi.com/
Number of Video Poker Machines: Unknown
Cash Back:
Casino Size: 34,000 square feet

Unfortunately, we found no games worthy of a visit to this casino. This seems to be typical of the Boomtown franchise. If you find yourself having to play here, there is a 50c 9/5/4 double-double bonus progressive -- should you find it with a jackpot of $3,888, it is a 100% game.

Map/Directions
711 Casino Magic Drive
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 39520
Robinsonville, MS 38664
Phone: 800-562-4425
Website Link: http://www.casinomagic-baystlouis.com/
Number of Video Poker Machines:
Cash Back:
Casino Size: 39,500 square feet

This casino has a reasonable selection of good games. Its location is somewhat out-of-the-way, yet it is a fairly short drive from either Gulfport/Biloxi or New Orleans. The facility is nice and in reasonably good repair; however, many of the video poker games are older machines and ticket-in, ticket-out has been only slightly implemented. Still, there are enough good games here to make the casino interesting. While visiting, we were frustrated a bit in having to wait for a handpay on a win of $125; but not all games are set to this ridiculously low handpay threshold. Note-The Triple Bonus games upstairs are Kings or Better and return 98.51% with perfect play (variance of 45).

We did find a number of progressives here, the most likely to yield a really good game being the 8/5 Bonus ($1) game.

Game	Return	Approximate Location
DEUCES WILD (25/15/9) (25c)	98.91%	ALONG WALL UPSTAIRS VP AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (25c)	99.10%	ALONG WALL UPSTAIRS VP AREA
8/5 BONUS POKER ($1) PROGRESSIVE	99.17%	BACK CORNER UPSTAIRS VP AREA
9/6 JB ($1) 3-PLAY/5-PLAY	99.54%	UPSTAIRS VP AREA-6 UNIT CAROUSEL
8/5 BONUS ($1/50c/25c) 3-PLAY/5-PLAY	99.17%	UPSTAIRS VP AREA-6 UNIT CAROUSEL
8/5 BONUS (25c) 3-PLAY	99.17%	DOWNSTAIRS 6 UNIT CAROUSEL
8/5 ACES & FACES ($1/2/5/10)	99.26%	HIGH LIMIT
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES ($1/2/5/10)	99.24%	HIGH LIMIT
9/6/4 DDB ($1/2/5/10)	98.98%	HIGH LIMIT
9/7/5 DB ($1/2/5) 3-PLAY	99.10%	HIGH LIMIT
9/6/4 DDB ($1/2/5) 3-PLAY	98.98%	HIGH LIMIT
9/6/4 DDB (25c)	98.98%	LOWER LEVEL

Map/Directions
195 E. Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
Phone: 866-867-7711
Website Link: http://www.casinomagic-biloxi.com/
Number of Video Poker Machines: Unknown
Cash Back: Unknown
Casino Size: 49,260 square feet

When we visited Casino Magic in Biloxi we were disappointed with the games we found. Even the games in the high-limit area were poor games. However, Linda Mabry (TheLowRoller.com, and columnist for the Biloxi Sun-Herald) was kind enough to resurvey Casino Magic for us when we realized the 9/6 Jacks machines (that had long been a fixture there) were missing from our lists. So, there are at least SOME good games at Casino Magic in Biloxi. There are now a total of 18 multi-game, multi-denomination slant-tops with 25c and 50c 9/6 Jacks or Better. In addition, there are dollar versions of these games that are progressive.

While the selection of games is limited, you can't overlook a 9/6 Jacks progressive -- since a progressive of $4,880 makes it an even money game, even without cash back.

Map/Directions
777 Copa Blvd.
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
Phone: 228-863-3330
Website Link: http://www.thecopacasino.com/
Number of Video Poker Machines:
Cash Back:
Casino Size: 43,000 square feet

The Copa offers some of the best games in the area. In particular, it has the only 100% + games (full pay 10/7/5 Double Bonus and full pay deuces wild (FPDW)) we found. In addition, the bars offer a variety of games, including full pay Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker progressives. Many of the games, particularly those upstairs, are old and in moderate repair. However, the Copa is well worth the stop for video poker players who are seeking out the best games in the area.

The bar downstairs has a 25c progressive with several good games; the 50c/$1 games at these machines are not progressives, however. If you play Double Double Bonus, we found one 25c 9/6/4 progressive game on the east side of the bar -- an apparent mistake. These bar games could be excellent in the event the jackpot builds for an extended period. But many players will want to seek out the four 50c 10/7/5 Double Bonus upstairs -- these are some of a very small number of 100% games still available in the South.

While the facility lacks the enormity and majesty of a Beau Rivage or Imperial Palace, if you are looking for the best games in the area you won't find them at the larger casinos in Biloxi. We recommend you check out the Copa.

ame	Return	Approximate Location
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (25c/50c/$1)	99.54%	BAR (25c ONLY IS PROGRESSIVE)
8/5 ACES & FACES (25c/50c/$1)	99.26%	BAR (25c ONLY IS PROGRESSIVE)
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES (25c/50c/$1)	99.24%	BAR (25c ONLY IS PROGRESSIVE)
25/15/9 DEUCES WILD (25c/50c/$1)	98.91%	BAR (25c ONLY IS PROGRESSIVE)
9/6/4 DDB PROGRESSIVE (25c) **	98.98%	BAR - ONE MACHINE ONLY ON EAST SIDE
8/5 BONUS (25c) PROGRESSIVE	99.17%	UPPER FLOOR BAR
10/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (25c)**	100.17%	UPPER FLOOR BAR
FULL PAY DEUCES WILD (25c) **	100.76%	UPPER FLOOR BAR
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (25c) PROG	99.54%	UPPER FLOOR BAR
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (25c) PROG	99.10%	UPPER FLOOR BAR
25/15/9 DEUCES WILD 3/5 PLAY (25c)	98.91%	UPPER FLOOR (2 MACHINES)
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($1)	99.54%	UPPER FLOOR
10/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (50c)	100.17%	UPPER FLOOR

**THERE ARE NINE GAMES AT THE BAR, AND ABOUT HALF OF THESE HAVE THE FULL PAY GAMES LISTED; THE OTHERS HAVE SHORT-PAY GAMES. WHEN VISITING THE COPA, BE SURE TO SEEK OUT THE FULL-PAY VERSIONS OF THESE GAMES. THANKS TO SITE VISITORS FOR DETAILS ON THESE GAMES.

Map/Directions
265 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
Phone: 800-354-2450
Website Link: www.grandbiloxi.com
Number of Video Poker Machines:
Cash Back:
Casino Size: 134,200 square feet

A few good games can be found at the Grand in Biloxi -- mostly near the entrance to the restaurants on the lower floor. The best games are found at the $1 denomination; however, you can find a few 25c Deuces Wild and Double Double Bonus games, but generally, 25c/50c players are not going to find much to choose from at the Grand in Biloxi.

We would recommend playing at the Grand in Gulfport if possible. The Biloxi Grand suffers from "Big, Busy Casino Syndrome" -- there is no reason for them to offer great games because they are able to crowd the facility by offering mediocre games.

Game	Return	Approximate Location
25/15/9 DEUCES WILD (25c)	98.91%	MAIN FLOOR NEAR RESTAURANTS
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS (25c)	98.98%	MAIN FLOOR NEAR RESTAURANTS
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS ($1)	99.10%	MAIN FLOOR NEAR RESTAURANTS
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($1)	99.54%	MAIN FLOOR NEAR RESTAURANTS
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS ($1)	98.98%	MAIN FLOOR NEAR RESTAURANTS
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES ($1)	99.24%	MAIN FLOOR NEAR RESTAURANTS
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($1)	99.54%	MAIN FLOOR MIDDLE BAR
25/15/9 DEUCES WILD ($1)	98.91%	MAIN FLOOR MIDDLE BAR
25/19/9 DEUCES WILD ($1)	98.91%	UPSTAIRS/NONSMOKING/NEAR BAR
8/5 BONUS POKER ($1)	99.17%	UPSTAIRS/NEAR POKER ROOM
9/7/5 DBL ACES & FACES ($1)	99.24%	UPSTAIRS/NEAR POKER ROOM
25/15/9 DEUCES WILD ($1)	98.91%	UPSTAIRS/NEAR POKER ROOM

Map/Directions
3215 W. Beach Blvd.
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
Phone: 800-946-7777
Website Link: www.grandgulfport.com
Number of Video Poker Machines:
Cash Back: Unknown
Casino Size: 85,000 square feet

This casino offers great video poker value in the Biloxi/Gulfport area. The facility is nice, most of the games are relatively new, almost all are ticket-in, ticket-out, and there is plenty of variety from which to choose. Games on the lower floor, other than those in the dollar and high-limit area, should be avoided -- for example, at the bar. The upstairs video poker area has many machines and many of the games are over 99% return for 50c and $1. There are numerous 25c games offering 99%+ returns. Unfortunately, we were unable to collect cash back information during our visit, but some of the games in the high-limit area are very likely to be over 100% returns when cash back is included.

We highly recommend the Grand Casino in Gulfport as one offering excellent video poker value and selection. While we would always prefer to see some 100% plus games (full-pay deuces wild or unmodified double double bonus), this casino has gone the extra mile to push returns to near 100% in the high-limit area.

Game	Return	Approximate Location
8/5 ACES & FACES (25c/50c/$1)	99.26%	BAR/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES (25c/50c/$1)	99.24%	BAR/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
8/5 BONUS POKER (50c/$1)	99.17%	CAROUSEL/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES (50c/$1)	99.24%	CAROUSEL/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
8/5 ACES & FACES (50c/$1)	99.26%	CAROUSEL/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
25/15/9 DEUCES WILD ($1)	98.91%	CAROUSEL/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (50c/$1)	99.10%	CAROUSEL/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (50c/$1)	99.54%	ON WALL/UPSTAIRS VIDEO POKER AREA
9/6/4 DBL DBL BONUS (25c/50c/$1)	98.98%	ON WALL/EAST SIDE OF VP AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (25c/50c/$1)	99.10%	ON WALL/EAST SIDE OF VP AREA
8/5 ACES & FACES (50c/$1)	99.26%	ON WALL/EAST SIDE OF VP AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES (50c/$1)	99.10%	ON WALL/EAST SIDE OF VP AREA
9/6/4 DBL DBL ACES & FACES (50c/$1)		ON WALL/EAST SIDE OF VP AREA
9/6/4 DBL DBL BONUS ($1)	98.98%	LOWER FLOOR EAST END NEAR ESCAL
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS ($1)	99.10%	LOWER FLOOR EAST END NEAR ESCAL
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (50c/$1/$2)	99.54%	DOLLAR SLOTS AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (50c/$1/$2)	99.10%	DOLLAR SLOTS AREA
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS (50c/$1/$2)	98.98%	DOLLAR SLOTS AREA
8/5 ACES & FACES (50c/$1/$2)	99.26%	DOLLAR SLOTS AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES (50c/$1/$2)	99.24%	DOLLAR SLOTS AREA
9/6/4 DBL DBL ACES & FACES (50c/$1/$2)		DOLLAR SLOTS AREA
25/16/10 DEUCES WILD (50c/$1/$2)	99.73%	DOLLAR SLOTS AREA
8/5 ACES & FACES ($5/$10/$25)	99.26%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES ($5/$10/$25)	99.24%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/6/4 DBL DBL ACES & FACES ($5/$10/$25)		HIGH LIMIT AREA
10/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS ($5/$10/$25) **	99.79%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
8/5 BONUS POKER ($5/$10/$25) **	99.14%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($5/$10/$25) **	99.52%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
10/6/4 DBL DBL BONUS ($5/$10/$25) **	99.68%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($1/$2)	99.54%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
8/5 BONUS POKER ($1/$2)	99.17%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS ($1/$2)	98.98%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS ($1/$2)	99.10%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
8/5 BONUS 3-PLAY ($1/$2/$5/$10)	99.17%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS 3-PLAY ($1/$2/$5/$10)	99.10%	HIGH LIMIT AREA
9/6/4 DBL DBL BONUS 3-PLAY ($1/$2/$5/$10)	98.98%	HIGH LIMIT AREA

** THESE GAMES HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY PROGRAMMED TO PROVIDE A HIGHER RETURN, YET NOT MORE THAN 100%. THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY USING THE HIGHER PAYTABLE INDICATED, BUT BY REDUCING THE STRAIGHT FLUSH AND/OR SELECTED FOURS OF A KIND PAYOUTS TO 239 (INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 250). THE BONUS POKER AND JACKS OR BETTER APPEAR TO BE ACCIDENTAL CUTS IN THE RETURN, WHILE THE DB/DDB APPEAR TO BE DELIBERATE ATTEMPTS TO RAISE THE PAYOUTS. FOR BONUS AND JACKS OR BETTER, THERE IS A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE IN PLAYING IN THE DOLLAR GAMES AREA RATHER THAN THE HIGH-LIMIT. THE DB AND DDB GAMES ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE AREA.

Map/Directions
777 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
Phone: 228-374-7625
Website Link: www.hardrockbiloxi.com
Number of Video Poker Machines:
Cash Back: N/A
Casino Size: 48,500 square feet

Map/Directions
850 Bayview Avenue
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
Phone: 800-436-3000
Website Link: www.ipbiloxi.com
Number of Video Poker Machines: Approximately 150
Cash Back: 0.29%
Casino Size: 70,000 square feet

The Imperial Palace is a nice casino that is worth visiting. The facility includes a hotel, casino, comedy club, movie theater, and several bars and lounges -- in addition to the usual selection of eating establishments. The video poker is mostly short-pay, but there are a few good games to be found. While there is some variety in the available video poker, these are predominantly older machines that just haven't been replaced yet and which are relatively few in number. The newer games appear to be fairly standard throughout the casino, and are not games you would generally want to play.

Game	Return	Approximate Location
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS (25c)	98.98%	NEAR MAI-TAI LOUNGE
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS (25c)	99.10%	NEAR MAI-TAI LOUNGE (1 MACHINE)
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS (25c)	98.98%	NEAR GEISHA BAR
8/5 BONUS POKER (25c)	99.17%	NEAR GEISHA BAR
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS POKER ($1)	99.10%	NEAR GEISHA BAR
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS ($1)	98.98%	NEAR GEISHA BAR
8/5 BONUS POKER ($1)	99.17%	NEAR GEISHA BAR
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($1)	99.54%	NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE (2 MACHINES)
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS	99.10%	NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE (1 MACHINE)
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS ($1)	98.98%	NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE (5 MACHINES)
8/5 BONUS POKER ($1)	99.17%	NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE (2 MACHINES)
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (50c)	99.54%	NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE (1 MACHINE)
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS (50c)	98.98%	NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE (6 MACHINES)
8/5 BONUS POKER (50c)	99.17%	NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE (1 MACHINE)

Map/Directions
151 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
Phone: 800-843-4753
Website Link: http://www.isleofcapricasino.com/Biloxi/
Number of Video Poker Machines: Approximately 100
Cash Back:
Casino Size: 32,500 square feet

Isle of Capri would not be our choice of places to play video poker in Biloxi. There are a small number of 9/6 Jacks or better games (25c) as well as a number of Deuces Wild games returning 98.91%. While most of the games are in reasonable states of repair, some are older. But the real problem is the sense that management is trying to pack games into the casino as tightly as possible making for a less than comfortable playing experience.

There are better places to play in Biloxi, so we would generally recommend passing the Isle of Capri by for one of the other casinos listed here.

Map/Directions
158 Howard Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: 800-725-2239
Website Link: http://www.palacecasinoresort.com/
Number of Video Poker Machines:
Cash Back: 0.33%
Casino Size: 58,500 square feet

The Palace Casino offers a good selection of video poker, but mostly at the $1 denomination. There are a few 25c and 50c machines just outside the entrance to the Sportszone which have 9/6 Jacks or Better and 8/5 Aces & Faces for all denominations.

Sports fanatics will appreciate the Sportszone, which is complete with a sports viewing theater with many big-screen TVs, lots of video poker (almost 50 games in the Sportszone alone), and reasonably good games so long as the $1 denomination is your interest. The 25c and 50c denominations of these games are all reduced payouts.

Game	Return	Approximate Location
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($1)	99.54%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
9/6/4 DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS ($1)	98.98%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
8/5 ACES & FACES ($1)	99.26%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (25c)	99.54%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
8/5 ACES & FACES (25c)	99.17%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (50c)	99.54%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
8/5 ACES & FACES (50c)	99.26%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER (50c)	99.54%	OUTSIDE SPORTSZONE ENTRANCE
9/7/5 DOUBLE BONUS ($1)	99.10%	SPORTSZONE BAR
9/6 JACKS OR BETTER ($1)	99.54%	SPORTSZONE BAR
8/5 ACES & FACES ($1)	99.26%	SPORTSZONE BAR
9/7/5 DOUBLE ACES & FACES ($1)	99.24%	SPORTSZONE BAR
9/6 BONUS DELUXE ($1)	99.64%	SPORTSZONE BAR
8/5 BONUS POKER ($1)	99.17%	SPORTSZONE BAR

Map/Directions
2110 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, Mississippi 39531
Phone: 800-843-7737
Website Link: www.broadwater.com
Number of Video Poker Machines: Approximately 98
Cash Back:
Casino Size: 38,000 square feet

You'll find a selection of good games at The President. However, many are in disrepair and all, or almost all, are coin machines (no ticket-in, ticket-out). We found it particularly frustrating that so many games had defective bill changers, which seems inexcusable to us. The downstairs bar has a mix of machines, and even some seats with merely a hold where a machine previously was.

That said, there ARE plenty of good games here. Not surprisingly, the casino was not very crowded when we visited, even though on a busy weekend -- so, it is easy to find good games in working order in spite of the large number of machines in disrepair. As we typically find, the better paying games are often in the least impressive of facilities. It is a tradeoff you have to make sometimes. While the unimpressive facility may put some players off, the selection of games, including the 25c progressive at the bar, may be attractive to serious players. The crowd-averse may find an excellent game here at times when other casinos would be just too crowded to find good games.