Casino Entertainment and Shows on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is one of the few places in the country where you can combine white-sand beaches, first-class casino resorts, great food, and big-name entertainment all within a short drive. From Biloxi to Bay St. Louis and Gulfport to D’Iberville, twelve casinos line the Coast, each with its own mix of gaming, restaurants, lounges, and shows.

Casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are regulated by the State of Mississippi. All casino operations, gaming devices, and payouts are overseen by state regulators, and jackpots are subject to Mississippi and federal tax rules (see the detailed tax section at the end of this article). A major difference between Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos and many casinos in other states is that these properties still have servers offering complimentary adult beverages at slot machines and table games.

Most of the Coast’s casinos are part of larger brands based in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, which means your player’s club card may work at multiple properties. For example, the Beau Rivage is an MGM Resorts property, and Harrah’s Gulf Coast is part of the Caesars Rewards network.

11 of the 12 Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos have attached hotels. The exception is Boomtown Casino Biloxi, which is a locals-friendly casino without its own hotel. At least two additional casinos are planned for the future, so check back for updates as new projects move forward through the approval and construction process.

At a Glance: 12 Casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

1. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – Biloxi
2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi – Biloxi
3. Golden Nugget Biloxi – Biloxi
4. Harrah’s Gulf Coast – Biloxi
5. IP Casino Resort Spa – Biloxi
6. Palace Casino Resort – Biloxi
7. Treasure Bay Casino & Hotel – Biloxi
8. Boomtown Casino Biloxi – Biloxi
9. Island View Casino & Beach View Casino – Gulfport
10. Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast – Bay St. Louis
11. Silver Slipper Casino Hotel – Bay St. Louis/Waveland
12. Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort – D’Iberville

Understanding Slots Before You Go

If you plan to spend time at the slot machines, it pays to understand how they really work. Before your trip, you may want to read these in-depth guides on RetireCoast:

• Best Tips to Win More on Casino Slot Machines
• Older vs. New Slot Machines Payout Guide
• How Do Slot Machines Work – Can I Actually Win?

1. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – Biloxi

Beau Rivage is the Coast’s flagship resort: a large waterfront casino hotel on Beach Boulevard with a classic Las Vegas–style feel. As an MGM Resorts property, it’s plugged into the MGM Rewards system, which is helpful if you also visit Las Vegas or other MGM casinos.

Entertainment & Shows

The Beau Rivage Theatre regularly hosts touring headliners, national music acts, comedians, and seasonal production shows. You’ll see everything from country concerts to tribute shows and limited-engagement residencies. The property also offers lounge entertainment, casino-floor music, and special holiday events.

Dining Highlights

Beau Rivage has one of the strongest dining line-ups on the Coast, including:

• BR Prime – upscale American steakhouse with prime cuts and a deep wine list.
• Jia – award-winning Asian restaurant serving sushi, noodles, and signature dishes.
• Stalla – Italian restaurant inspired by New York’s Little Italy.
• Coraline’s and Terrace Café – more casual options for seafood and all-day meals.

2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi – Biloxi

Hard Rock Biloxi combines a rock-themed casino with a waterfront hotel, music memorabilia on every wall, and a steady stream of live entertainment. It’s especially popular with younger guests and weekend visitors looking for a high-energy atmosphere.

Entertainment & Shows

Hard Rock features concerts in its main entertainment venue, along with DJs and live bands in bars and lounges. The property often hosts touring rock, country, and pop acts, plus themed parties around holidays and big sporting events.

Dining Highlights

On-site, you’ll find a full mix of casual and upscale dining, including:

• Ruth’s Chris Steak House – classic high-end steakhouse inside the casino.
• Half Shell Oyster House – Hard Rock location – Gulf seafood and oysters with New Orleans flair.
• Hard Rock Cafe, Macau Kitchen, Sugar Factory and quick-service spots like Pie Five Pizza Co.

3. Golden Nugget Biloxi – Biloxi

Golden Nugget Biloxi sits near the Biloxi Bay Bridge and is known for its marina views, lively pool area, and strong restaurant options. It’s part of the Golden Nugget family of casinos.

Entertainment & Shows

The property offers live music at Rush Lounge and around the pool in season, plus special event nights. While it doesn’t always have a large dedicated theatre like Beau Rivage, its bars and lounges make up for it with regular bands and a fun, casual vibe.

Dining Highlights

• Morton’s The Steakhouse – classic Chicago-style steakhouse located inside Golden Nugget.
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. – family-friendly restaurant themed to the movie “Forrest Gump,” with shrimp and Southern comfort food.
• Starbucks and other casual venues for quick meals and coffee between casino sessions.

4. Harrah’s Gulf Coast – Biloxi

Harrah’s Gulf Coast is a waterfront Caesars property just down the road from Beau Rivage and Hard Rock. Guests earn and use Caesars Rewards here and at other Caesars casinos nationwide.

Entertainment & Shows

Harrah’s hosts pool-side concerts in season, special weekend events, and live music in bars and lounges. It’s a good option if you like a more intimate vibe than the largest resorts but still want branded rewards and entertainment.

Dining Highlights

• Magnolia House – upscale Southern-inspired dining by chef Kelly English.
• Steak ’n Shake – 24-hour American diner classics, burgers, and shakes.
• The Blind Tiger Biloxi Beach and Starbucks for casual bites and coffee.

5. IP Casino Resort Spa – Biloxi

IP Casino Resort Spa sits on the Back Bay of Biloxi and offers a full casino, hotel, spa, and multiple restaurants. It’s popular with both locals and visitors looking for a self-contained resort a bit removed from the beach highway traffic.

Entertainment & Shows

IP’s Studio A showroom brings in touring acts, tribute bands, comedians, and special events. Lounges like Chill Ultra Lounge and other bars feature live music, DJs, and themed nights.

Dining Highlights

The resort typically offers a buffet or multi-station dining option, casual cafés, and at least one higher-end restaurant for steak and seafood. Menus change over time, so check the latest line-up on the IP website before your trip.

6. Palace Casino Resort – Biloxi

Palace Casino Resort is known as Biloxi’s fully smoke-free casino resort (on the gaming floor and in the hotel). For many visitors, especially non-smokers, this is a major selling point.

Entertainment & Shows

Palace focuses more on comfortable, lower-key entertainment than massive headliner concerts. Expect live music in bars or lounges, football and sports watch parties, and special promotions rather than huge arena-style shows.

Dining Highlights

Dining usually includes a buffet or multi-station restaurant, a café for breakfast and lunch, and a more upscale steak or seafood house. Palace also sometimes runs food specials tied to game days and promotions.

7. Treasure Bay Casino & Hotel – Biloxi

Treasure Bay sits directly across from the beach and is recognizable by its ship-themed architecture. It’s somewhat smaller and more intimate than the giant resorts, but that’s part of its appeal.

Entertainment & Shows

Treasure Bay features live music in bars and lounges, special promotional events, and seasonal parties. It’s a good choice for guests who prefer a laid-back atmosphere but still want entertainment on-site.

Dining Highlights

Guests typically have access to a steak or fine-dining restaurant, a casual café, and a bar or grill. Because this is a smaller property, it’s easy to move between the casino floor and restaurants without a lot of walking.

8. Boomtown Casino Biloxi – Biloxi

Boomtown Casino Biloxi is a locals-friendly casino on Bayview Avenue. Unlike the other properties on this list, Boomtown does not have its own hotel — many guests stay at nearby properties or drive in for the day or evening.

Entertainment & Shows

Boomtown focuses on gaming, promotions, and casual fun rather than large theatre productions. You may find live music and events on selected weekends, particularly around holidays and big sporting events.

Dining Highlights

Boomtown typically offers a combination of café-style dining and buffet or multi-station options along with bar food and quick snacks. It’s a practical choice if you want to eat without leaving the property, but the main draw here is value-oriented gaming.

9. Island View Casino & Beach View Casino – Gulfport

Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport is actually a two-part complex split by U.S. 90:

• Island View Casino on the north side of U.S. 90.
• Beach View Casino directly on the beach, on the south side of U.S. 90.

The two properties are connected by an enclosed bridge over U.S. 90. Each side has its own casino floor, hotel tower, and dining options, but they function as one integrated resort.

The Beach View Casino is entirely non-smoking, which makes it very popular with guests who prefer a smoke-free environment. Both casinos offer free self-service soft drink machines, a nice perk if you’re playing for several hours.

Entertainment & Shows

• Sunset Bar (near Carter Green Steakhouse) on the Island View side typically features live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
• The Beach View side has a Stage Bar with live entertainment on weekend evenings – a casual way to enjoy bands and cocktails steps from the gaming floor.

Rather than giant arena shows, Island View and Beach View focus on steady live music, bar entertainment, and special promotional events.

Dining Highlights

The Island View / Beach View complex has one of the broadest restaurant line-ups on the Coast, including:

• The Buffet – large buffet open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, with Southern specialties, Italian and Asian dishes, and a dessert “creamery.”
• C&G Grille – casual restaurant just off the casino floor, open for lunch, dinner, and late-night dining.
• The Diner – classic diner with burgers, sandwiches, shakes, and all-day breakfast.
• Beach Blvd Steamer – Gulfport favorite for steamed seafood, pecan-wood-grilled entrées, and homemade desserts.
• Carter Green Steakhouse – traditional American steakhouse rated as one of Gulfport’s top choices.
• Prime Cut Restaurant & Bar (Beach View tower) – prime rib, steak, and seafood with beach views.

All of the resort’s restaurants are smoke-free. The higher-end dinner houses (Carter Green, Beach Blvd Steamer, Prime Cut) often require or strongly recommend reservations, especially on weekends or during special events.

10. Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast – Bay St. Louis

Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast sits on the water in Bay St. Louis, a charming small coastal town with a vibrant arts district. The resort includes a casino, hotel, and a golf course nearby.

Entertainment & Shows

Hollywood Casino features live music and bands in its bars and lounges, plus special events and promotions on weekends. The atmosphere here is a bit more relaxed than the Biloxi strip but still offers plenty of activity.

Dining Highlights

Dining options usually include a steak or fine-dining restaurant, a buffet or multi-station restaurant, and a casual grill or café. Before your visit, check the current restaurant list and hours on the Hollywood Gulf Coast website, as line-ups can change.

11. Silver Slipper Casino Hotel – Bay St. Louis / Waveland

Silver Slipper Casino Hotel is located west of Bay St. Louis near Waveland, right on the water. It’s known for its beach views, RV park, and welcoming atmosphere.

Entertainment & Shows

Silver Slipper hosts live music in bars and lounges, plus seasonal outdoor events and parties. It’s a great choice if you want a more “small-town” feel with the Gulf of Mexico just steps away.

Dining Highlights

Typical offerings include a main restaurant for seafood and steaks, a buffet or multi-station dining room, and a bar or grill for lighter fare and drinks. As always, verify current hours and reservations before planning a big evening out.

12. Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort – D’Iberville

Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort sits across the Back Bay from Biloxi in D’Iberville. It’s one of the newer properties on the Coast, with a sleek modern design and an attached hotel tower.

Entertainment & Shows

Scarlet Pearl leans into a modern vibe with bar entertainment, occasional live music, and special promotions. It also features an impressive on-site miniature golf attraction, which is popular with families and groups.

Dining Highlights

You’ll find a range of options from quick-service cafés to more upscale dining, including steak and seafood. As with other casinos, check their official website for the most up-to-date restaurant list and hours.

Casinos and Great Food Choices on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

All casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have on-site restaurants, and some of the best restaurants on the Coast are located inside these resorts. Whether you want an all-you-can-eat buffet, a quick burger, or a fine-dining steakhouse, you’ll find it on or near the casino floor.

Every casino offers multiple options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The higher-end “dinner houses” often require reservations, especially on weekends, holidays, and during major events like Cruisin’ the Coast or Mardi Gras.

Some standouts include:

• BR Prime, Jia, and Stalla at Beau Rivage.
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Half Shell Oyster House at Hard Rock Biloxi.
• Morton’s The Steakhouse and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at Golden Nugget Biloxi.
• Magnolia House and Steak ’n Shake at Harrah’s Gulf Coast.
• Carter Green Steakhouse, Prime Cut, C&G Grille, The Buffet, and Beach Blvd Steamer at Island View / Beach View in Gulfport.

If dining is a major part of your trip, consider planning one “splurge” dinner at a steak or seafood house and then using buffets and cafés for more casual meals. For the most popular restaurants, make reservations as early as possible.

Mississippi Casino Tax Rules (State & Federal)

Important: This section is informational only and is not tax or legal advice. Always confirm current rules with a qualified tax professional, the Mississippi Department of Revenue, or the IRS.

Mississippi casinos are required to withhold a non-refundable 3% state tax on all gambling winnings that meet the federal reporting thresholds (detailed below). This amount is withheld by the casino at the time of payout, and the winner generally has no further Mississippi state income tax filing requirement for those specific winnings, because the W-2G or other information return effectively serves as the state filing for that income.

Federal Tax Reporting and Withholding

Casinos must issue a Form W-2G (Certain Gambling Winnings) to the winner and the IRS if the winnings meet or exceed certain federal thresholds, depending on the type of game. Key current thresholds include:

• Slot Machines and Bingo: $1,200 or more in winnings from a single jackpot currently requires a W-2G.
• Keno: $1,500 or more in winnings (reduced by the wager).
• Poker Tournaments: More than $5,000 in net winnings (reduced by the buy-in).
• Other Wagers (horse races, sweepstakes, etc.): $600 or more if the winnings are at least 300 times the amount of the wager.

Federal income tax withholding of 24% is generally required if the winnings (minus the wager) exceed $5,000 and the payout is at least 300 times the wager, or if the winner does not provide a correct taxpayer identification number (backup withholding).

Mississippi’s 3% state gaming tax on W-2G/1099 gambling winnings is non-refundable. The casino withholds it at payout; those winnings are not included in Mississippi taxable income and you do not receive a Mississippi tax credit or refund for that 3%.

Important Note: All gambling winnings, regardless of the amount or whether a Form W-2G is issued, must be reported as income on your federal tax return. You can find more details in IRS publications such as Publication 525 (Taxable and Nontaxable Income) and related guidance on IRS.gov.

Tax laws can change, including federal reporting thresholds and how new federal legislation is implemented, so it’s wise to confirm current rules before assuming a specific dollar limit or withholding rate.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mississippi Gulf Coast Casinos

Conclusion: More Than Just Casinos

The Mississippi Gulf Coast casino corridor is about much more than gaming. You can wake up to Gulf views, spend a lazy afternoon on the beach, enjoy a steak or seafood dinner in a resort restaurant, and finish the night with live music, a comedy show, or a few hours at the tables or slots.

For retirees, frequent visitors, and families, the Coast offers an appealing blend of entertainment, food, affordability, and year-round mild weather. Whether you stay in a casino hotel or a private vacation rental, you’re never far from the action.

However you choose to visit — for a quick weekend or an extended stay — the Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos and surrounding communities offer an experience that’s hard to match anywhere else in the country.