Grand Spreads Some of the South's Hottest Poker Action!

Whether you're in the north Mississippi Delta region or down south on the Gulf Coast, you're never far from some of the South's premier casino resorts. Welcome to Grand Casino country!

Park Place Entertainment's three Grand Casino resorts in Mississippi are legendary, known as leaders in gaming innovation and entertainment – not to mention that famous Southern hospitality. Grand Casino Biloxi, Gulfport, and Tunica each offers a unique gaming experience, including some of the South's best and largest poker rooms.

From great gaming action and dazzling superstar entertainment to magnificent resort hotels, Grand Casino Biloxi is an ideal getaway.

The largest casino resort on the scenic Mississippi Gulf Coast, Grand Casino Biloxi is located in the heart of Biloxi's famous "Casino Row." The resort boasts 87 table games, more than 2,800 slots, and one of the largest poker rooms in the South. In fact, readers of Casino Player magazine recently voted Grand Casino Biloxi "Best Poker Room."

Inside the comfortable and spacious poker room, you'll find 21 tables with a wide selection of games, from low-limit stud, hold'em, and Omaha to $10-$20 and $15-$30 hold'em and Omaha, and its signature game, $20-$40 stud.

Weekly tournaments start at noon, with the exception of a $15 ladies-only stud tournament each Monday at 7 p.m. Two special Saturday hold'em tournaments are run each month with a $100 buy-in and one optional rebuy. These tournaments are limited to 100 players and normally fill up.

Sundays and Wednesdays are double-jackpot days, up to $10,000. The room also sponsors the annual Southern Classic Weekend and hosts the annual Mississippi Autumn Recreational Gaming Excursion (MARGE) convention and tournaments for Internet enthusiasts.

The poker room features liberal comps, a free self-service snack bar, freshly brewed coffee and cappuccino, and TV sports monitors.

Tony Collins, vice president of Mississippi poker rooms for Park Place Entertainment's mid-South region, attributes the success of the poker room to high-quality staffing, guest service, and continual promotional activities. Collins, who has been with Grand Casino for 10 years, has been a frequent speaker at the yearly World Poker Players Conference.

In addition to gaming action, Grand Casino Biloxi offers plenty of unexpected extras, including a wide variety of restaurants, two luxurious hotels, the world-class Bellissimo Spa & Salon, and a convenient shopping arcade. Guests of Grand Casino also have exclusive access to one of the South's most spectacular golf courses, Grand Bear, designed by Jack Nicklaus. And when it comes to entertainment, Grand Casino Biloxi is a leader, bringing big-name stars to the Gulf Coast year after year.

Grand Casino Gulfport is a truly unique beachfront resort nestled away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, yet close to all the action. Situated on a 26-mile stretch of white sand beaches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, this resort features 71 table games and more than 2,100 slots.

Grand Casino Gulfport's 15-table poker room features a stunning view, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Poker Room Manager Ted Vaughn, who has been with Grand Casino for eight years, makes sure Southern hospitality is abundant. The poker room features a free snack bar and friendly dealers and staff.

Games spread include seven-card stud, Texas hold'em, half Omaha/half hold'em, and Omaha eight-or-better.

Special events include double jackpots on the first $10,000 every Monday and Friday night. A hand-of-the-day promotion also runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On tournament days, a post-tournament high-hand promotion runs, along with a spin-the-wheel promotion. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, everyone at the lucky table is a winner.

Tournaments are held every Sunday (seven-card stud), Monday (half hold'em/half Omaha), Wednesday and Thursday (hold'em), with a special-event tournament each month. An Omaha eight-or-better tournament is held on Saturday evenings.

In addition to great poker action, Grand Casino Gulfport boasts two luxury hotels, many restaurant choices, a three-acre tropical pool area and lazy river, the Bellissimo Spa & Salon, the Voodoo Groove Nightclub, and spectacular entertainment in the Gulfport Grand Event Center. Hotel guests also have access to the Grand Bear golf course.

One of the largest casinos between Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Grand Casino Tunica is located 20 minutes south of Memphis in the Mississippi Delta. This sprawling resort features nonstop action and unparalleled beauty.

Always a leader in gaming action, Grand Casino Tunica offers more than 100 table games, more than 2,500 slots, and a 14-table poker room. The room was recently voted "Best Poker Room" by readers of Casino Player magazine.

Games spread daily in the poker room include $1-$5 stud, $2-$10 stud, $3-$6 Omaha high-low split, $7.50-$15 Omaha high-low split, and $3-$6, $5-$10, and $10-$20 Texas hold'em. On weekends, the room also spreads $15-$30 Texas hold'em and pot-limit Texas hold'em with $2-$5 blinds and a $100 buy-in.

Weekly tournaments include hold'em every day except Thursday (Omaha high-low) and Sunday. Buy-ins range from $5 to $50 with rebuys and add-ons available.

The poker room is known for being liberal with food comps. For example, with three hours of play, players can receive a comp for the Grand Buffet or Grand Replays bar & grill.

In an effort to provide even better guest service, Dale Carden, the new poker room manager, has established the Poker Room Players Council, a program that allows players to share ideas and suggestions with management.

Upcoming events include The Seniors World Championship of Poker tournament (Oct. 9-18) and the Tunica Classic poker tournament (Jan. 8-24, 2004).

Grand Casino Tunica also features three luxurious hotels; an assortment of great restaurants; the world-class Bellissimo Spa & Salon; big-name entertainment; Willows Trap, Skeet & Sporting Clays Center; and a beautiful Hale Irwin-designed golf course – Cottonwoods.

All in all, Grand Casinos offers a "grand" array of gaming action and amenities at its three Mississippi resorts.