Biloxi - august 2014 - trip report

[Dicenator]

After leaving the Carnival Dream cruise ship at 9 AM on Sunday 8/24 we took a cab to the airport and rented a car for 2 days. We left the car rental agency (Budget) at 10:30 AM and arrived at the Golden Nugget at noon. We had 2 nights comped at the Nugget.

 

Our first impression of the Golden Nugget was positive. It is decorated exactly like the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City so we felt at home. The rooms were identical also. Since it was noon we had lunch at Bubba Gumps. This was our first time there and the food was very good. They had 1 craps table open with a $10 minimum but the table was almost totally filled the whole day so I never got to play craps. Around 8 PM they opened a second table which was crapless craps and that table was also filled with players. Eva played some Pai Gow Poker at a $10 table which is very good. In AC we only see $15, $20 or $25 minimums.

 

Around 7 PM we drove over to Harrah's which used to be called the "Grand". It seemed a little bit drab and dreary there but the table limits were only $5. There were 2 craps tables open, a regular table and a crapless table. Both were filled with players the whole time we were there. So day #1 Sunday I never got to throw the dice.

 

Monday morning around 8 AM we drove over to the IP since I had read that the craps table here had a good bounce. IP seemed to be a lot nicer than Harrah's the night before. They had 1 table open with a $5 minimum and about 5 players at the table. I was able to buy in at SR1. I played 2 hands with 17 throws on the first one followed by a 5 throw hand. I made 3 points in the first hand and 2 come out winning 7's in the second hand. I have to agree the table bounce was fine. We left after this because more players came to the table. We then went back to the Golden Nugget and spent a few hours at the pool until around 1 PM when a shower came in.

 

Our next stop was the Beau Rivage. This casino was very impressive and in many ways it reminded me of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The table minimums here were $10 for the most part. When we got there only 1 craps table was open and it was filled with 8 or 10 players. At 2 PM they opened a second craps table but I wasn't there quick enough and had to take SL1. The reports that I read said that the craps tables here were on the bouncy side. I have to agree with that but I rate the table as bouncy but playable. I only played 2 hands using an Underhand throw with my left hand and had a 12 throw hand followed by a 15 throw hand. I made 3 points with 1 come out win. I certainly would have preferred using my right hand at this table to get a better opinion.

 

We then went next door to the Hard Rock casino. This was also nice but not as elegant as the Beau Rivage. Most of their games were $5 minimums. I tried a few hands of craps at the second open table where I was by myself. I shot one Underhand and one Parr hand. I did fine with 11 throws and then another 11 throw hand. It was then back to the Nugget.

 

After dinner around 7 PM I was finally able to get on one of their craps tables at SL1 where I tried Underhand with my left hand. I had a 14 throw hand with 2 points made followed by a 5 throw hand with 1 point made. I stopped at this point because I really wanted to throw with my right hand and couldn't get that position. The tables at the Nugget I rate as bouncy but playable.

 

In the one and a half days I got to throw the dice at 4 casinos only a couple of hands at each one. In order I would rate the tables as follows:

 

IP - very good with a normal bounce.

Hard Rock - good with a normal bounce.

Beau Rivage - bouncy but playable.

Golden Nugget - bouncy but playable.

 

We saw Boomtown and the smoke free Palace casinos but didn't have the time to check them out.

 

One additional note is that at all the casinos if you have a hard way bet it is automatically working on the come out unless you tell them you want it off.

 

My summary is that I was disappointed in the craps play in Biloxi. For example the Golden Nugget at 8 AM on a Monday morning had $10 limits at all their table games despite there being very few players there. I was not really able to play with a small table population of players so that I could really asses the craps tables. My foot and leg were still bothersome. With what I know now I am in no rush to go back to Biloxi anytime soon. If I ever cruise out of New Orleans again I would probably do this trip again but add on another day.

 

 

Dicenator

[Tutontow]

If you ever go back to Biloxi check out Mary Mahoney's directly across the street from The Beau Rivage.

 

I used to go to Biloxi a couple of times a year. Always a nice trip from Tampa. The limits were low, good food and friendly people.

 

It is strange, it seems like once they felt like they got me hooked my comped trips dried up.

 

One humorous note, when they opened up the first casinos there were actually 12 hour junkets from Tampa. We took advantage of several. The Biloxi economy was so depressed then that if you tipped a waitress a red chip she was your friend for life. In addition the BJ dealers couldn't add worth a hoot. I was paid on more pushes and pushed on more bust hands than you can imagine.

 

I hope your leg heals in a hurry. It must be rough for a craps player who can't stand.

[fla gang]

We do the Beau Rivage 2 or 3 times a year. We fly a comped junket out of St Pete, Fl. We do the 2 night trip.I only play slots but want to learn 3 card poker.

[Djptcp]

DH and I moved to North FL in 2005 and immediately started going to Biloxi (6 hour drive). We usually were comped or received very reduced rates at the Harrah's Grand or Treasure Bay. We were there the week before Katrina hit and when we returned after the casinos started reopening, we couldn't believe the devastation. Very sad, but we watched it slowly come back and be better than before. We usually went to Biloxi 3-4 times a year or more. However, several years ago we bought a house near Tampa and now we go to Hard Rock Tampa all the time and haven't been to Biloxi in over 2 years because the drive is so much longer now. We noticed in a Sunday newspaper recently there is a travel agency out of Ocala that has bus trips to Biloxi with various pickups in FL. DH and I are going to try one of those and let someone else do the driving!

 

Beau Rivage is beautiful and quite elegant. IP is grubby and seems old and worn out. The new Treasure Bay is small, but elegant with Dale Chihuly sculptures all over the place. Buffet has the best omlettes anywhere. We both do horribly at Boomtown and always say we aren't going back, but then we do and lose. The Palace is okay, but no smoking so we don't go there. Haven't tried the Golden Nugget since it opened after our last visit to Biloxi, but DH stays at the one in Vegas every year.

 

I wish there was a ferry that went from Tampa to Biloxi 'cause we would be on it!!