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Casinos Near Memphis, TN. with Map

The unofficial capitol of the Mid-South is home to Beale Street, Graceland, world famous barbecue, and nearly 700,000 people.

But it’s not home to a casino.

The state of Tennessee outlaws casino gambling, however a casino just 7 miles away across the river in Arkansas, along with a gambling mecca 30 miles to the south in Mississippi means there are a lot of casinos close to Memphis, TN.

Experience a level of gaming like no other! #SouthlandCasino has 2400 slots on its new #casino complex that is football fields long. Check out what's going on & plan your next trip today => https://t.co/Ma1Q3dSutD pic.twitter.com/08PG4CmzUc — Southland Casino Hotel (@SouthlandGaming) May 21, 2022

In fact, there are seven casinos within 40 miles of downtown Memphis, Tennessee.

The two main casino options in Memphis are: Southland Casino, and Tunica, Mississippi.

Southland Casino Racing is just a ten minute drive from downtown Memphis, whereas Tunica is anywhere between a 35 minute to one hour drive, (depending on when you leave).

The main difference is that Tunica is more of a destination casino town – with six casinos boasting the more restaurant, spa, golf and entertainment options you may be used to.

West Memphis Casino

The closest casino to Memphis is Southland Casino & Racing in West Memphis, Arkansas.

This combination greyhound dog racing track and casino sits seven miles due west of downtown Memphis off of the interstate, or about a ten minute drive.

Located across the Mississippi River in West Memphis, Arkansas, Southland completed part of its $320 million dollar expansion in May 2022. The expanded casino is open, along with a new 1,400 space parking structure. The new 300 room, twenty story hotel is expected to be done later this year.

The casinos in Tunica used to dominate the Memphis casino market, (and still do), however Southland has since taken a good slice out of their business.

In fact, each year, Southland sees over $2.7 billion wagered. That impressive figure has been helped by the fact Southland now has more traditional casino games, such as live blackjack and craps with dice, whereas a few years ago, state law only allowed electronic versions of those games.

(Southland Casino & Racing is the red star, while the brown, purple & black stars represent the three different casino areas in Tunica, MS.)

Southland Gaming and Racing

Originally opened in the 1950’s as dog race track only, legislation and voter-approved initiatives in the mid 2000’s resulted in the then named Southland Park embarking on a multi-million dollar expansion, adding slot machines, video poker machines, poker and table games, albeit digital versions.

After another 2018 vote to expand gambling, Southland began offering live blackjack, craps and other games in April of 2019.

(Related: Casinos near Nashville )

As a result, Southland is now a full-fledged casino. The new expansion brings the casino floor square footage to 113,000 square feet, on which you’ll find 2,400 slot machines, stadium gaming, a high-limit room, and 50 live table games like craps and roulette.

Southland also boasts Arkansas’ first legal sportsbook. The Betly Sportsbook betting windows are open from 10 AM to 10 PM weekdays, and from 9 AM to 10 PM on weekends. There is also the 24 hour a day sports betting kiosks.

The greyhound racetrack is one of the largest, and oldest in the nation. They run races all year round, with racing six days a week.

Southland Casino’s restaurant lineup includes a steakhouse, a sportsbar & grill, the Fry House, and the new Kitchens Buffet.

Address, Phone & Website

1550 N. Ingram Boulevard West Memphis, AR. 72301 (800) 467-6182

Website: Southlandcasino.com

Casinos Close to Memphis

The six casinos scattered around the Tunica area in northern Mississippi are all within a 37 mile drive of downtown Memphis.

The drive south on U.S. 61 is pretty straightforward, and usually takes between 35 minutes to an hour.

Once there, the casinos are situated in three different clusters. Two of which allow you to casino hop.

The casinos at the Brown star on the map above are the Horseshoe, the Gold Strike, and the 1st Jackpot. Their close proximity gives you the chance to walk to a different casino should you want to try your luck somewhere else.

Similarly, the casinos represented by the black star on the map, (Hollywood and Sam’s Town), are also all situated within walking distance.

Overall, these six Memphis-area casinos range from the modest-sized Sam’s Town, with 96,000 square feet of total space, to the modern and more upscale Gold Strike Casino Resort, which boasts of 1.4 million square feet of gaming and other space, along with a 1,133 room hotel.

(Related: Little Rock AR Casinos )

The six casinos are listed below, in order of size as determined by number of slot machines/video poker machines.

All have at least some table games, but only the Horseshoe and Hollywood Casinos have poker tables. With the exception of the 1st Jackpot Casino, all of them have hotels.

• Gold Strike Casino Resort
• Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino
• Hollywood Casino & Hotel Tunica
• 1st Jackpot Casino Tunica
• Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall Tunica
• Fitz Casino & Hotel

It’s only 28 miles to Tunica from Memphis International Airport. It’s 18 miles from the airport to Southland Casino Racing.

Distances from Memphis area towns to Southland Casino and the Tunica casinos respectively:

(By Steve Beauregard. Photos courtesy of Delaware North Gaming and the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau)

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Legends of America

Traveling through american history, destinations & legends since 2003., george devol – old west card sharp.

George Devol

“I don’t know just how thick my old skull is, but I do know that it is pretty thick, or it would have been cracked many years ago, for I have been struck some terrible blows on my head with iron dray-pins, pokers, clubs, stone-coal, and bowlders, which would have split any man’s skull wide open unless it was pretty thick. Doctors have often told me that my skull was nearly an inch in thickness over my forehead.”

– George Devol, Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi

George H. Devol was the greatest riverboat gambler in the history of the Mississippi River. He was also a con artist, a fighter, and a master at manipulating men and their money.

Born on August 1, 1829, in Marietta, Ohio, George Devol was the youngest of six children. His father was a ship carpenter and was often away from home. Though Devol had good opportunities for early education, he didn’t like school and spent most of his time playing hooky. The unmanageable boy was also prone to fighting, coming home almost daily with scratches and bruises from his numerous scuffles. When a teacher attempted to discipline him with a hardy whipping, he would turn on them, hitting them with stones that he carried in his pocket. While his father was away building boats much of the time, his mother would be forced to call in a neighbor or passerby to help with his punishment.

Devol ran away at the age of ten, serving as a cabin boy on a riverboat steamer called the Wacousta .  Evidently, Devol did a good job in this capacity as he soon took a better-paying job on a boat called Walnut Hills .

Another boat came soon after – the Cicero , where Devol learned to play “Seven-Up” and the art of bluffing. Seeing the high lifestyle of the professional gamblers on the boat, Devol was determined to follow in their footsteps, and by the time he was in his teens, he could deal seconds, palm cards, and recover the cut.

Fighting would continue to be a natural part of his life, and he soon developed skills with a gun, never hesitating to pull it.

By the time the Mexican War broke out, he was on a boat called the Tiago . Soon, Devol thought it a good idea to go to war and got a job as a barkeeper on the Corvette , bound for the Rio Grande and Mexico.

While aboard the Corvette, he met a man who taught him how to “stock a deck.” Upon reaching the Rio Grande and joining the forces, he quickly utilized his newly learned skills to swindle the other soldiers. But he grew bored with soldiering, and with his pockets filled with his ill-earned gains, he returned to New Orleans, although not for long.

At the tender age of 17, Devol’s pockets were filled with almost three thousand dollars as he headed back home to Ohio, laden with gifts for his family.

While back in Ohio, he mastered the games of Faro and Rondo.  Devol continued to hone his skills and made hundreds of thousands of dollars in the years before the Civil War .  Working the steamboats of the South, he joined in with other card sharps, including Canada Bill Jones , Bill Rollins, Big Alexander, and many others over the years.

Playing Faro

One trick that Devol liked to play was betting against ministers, who inevitably lost their meager wages to the professional gambler. However, Devol would always return their money, along with this advice: “Go and sin no more.” But to the many soldiers, paymasters, farmers, thieves, and businessmen, he was not so kind.

When the war was over, the railroads began to head west, with settlements sprouting up all along the way.  Many of these burgeoning towns, often filled with railroad workers, miners, and cowboys provided all manner of vices, including prostitution , numerous saloons , and the ever-present gambling halls. Supplying perfect opportunities for Devol’s operation, he followed the railroad expansion between Kansas City and Cheyenne in the early 1870s.

According to his account, Devol was working the Gold Room Saloon in Cheyenne when he encountered Wild Bill Hickok .  Devol tells the story that when Hickok placed a $50 bet, he lost.  He then placed another $50 bet, winning the hand that time; however, the dealer handed him back only $25.  When Wild Bill protested, the dealer stated that the house limit was $25. “But you took 50 when I lost,” said Hickok, to which the dealer responded, “Fifty goes when you lose.” The quick-tempered Hickok wasn’t about to accept those terms “sitting down” and quickly whacked the dealer on the head with his walking stick, turned over the table, and stuffed his pockets with the till.

On another occasion, when Devol was working the railroad route, he beat a railroad director out of $1,200.  This one-time winning game resulted in Devol’s profession being quickly curbed when the outraged official prohibited gambling on trains.  Further, the Pinkerton agency was hired to be on the lookout for the most notorious professional gamblers, including Devol.

In 1892, Devol published his autobiography, Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi , telling of his life and probably exaggerating much of it. Shortly after he published his book, the great days of railroad and riverboat gambling were over. At his new wife’s insistence, he retired from gambling for good in 1896 and spent the last years of his life selling his book.

It is estimated that Devol won over two million dollars in his forty years of gambling.  However, when he died in Hot Springs , Arkansas , in 1903, he was nearly penniless.

Reno, Nevada Gambling, 1910

©  Kathy Weiser-Alexander / Legends of America , updated November 2021.

Old West Poker

Saloons of the Wild West

Scoundrels of the Old West

The edge of your seat is all you need.

Extraordinary excitement awaits at the reimagined Southland Casino Hotel. Explore our sprawling casino floor, dine at inventive bars and restaurants, experience live entertainment, then spend the night in a stylish room or suite so you can do it all again the next day. There’s so much to do, you may never want to leave (and we won’t make you).

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50+ members can earn special Free Play bonuses from 10am to 10pm each week and enjoy $10 off food during lunch hours.

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Check in to extraordinary by choosing from 300 rooms at our gleaming high-rise hotel. With all the amenities you could need and our bustling casino floor just steps away, it’s the perfect balance of relaxation and excitement. Accessible versions available.

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Memphis Queen III

Memphis, Tennessee

The Memphis Queen III is a beautiful paddlewheeler on the Mississippi at Memphis.

Capt. Tom Meanley designed and built this boat in the backyard of his little farm in southwest Shelby County, the Memphis Queen Shipyard, in 1976 – 1979. The boat had to be moved over 12 miles of dry land. The Memphis Belle III was christened on May 8, 1979. She has a capacity of 400 passengers. She is 99.8 feet long and 27 feet wide. Her true paddle-wheel is powered by a diesel engine with additional twin screws.

The Memphis Queen III and her sisters, the sternwheeler Memphis Queen II built in 1955, the barge Memphis Showboat built in 1964, the sternwheeler Island Queen built in 1983 and the barge City of Memphis built in 2000, offer sightseeing, dinner and charter cruises.

The Memphis Queen Line Riverboats also have their own homepage .

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Riverboat casino that sank in Mississippi River resurfaces amid historic drought

The Diamond Lady, a once majestic riverboat, rests with smaller boats in mud at Riverside Park Marina in Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park along the Mississippi River on October 19, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Record-low water levels in the Mississippi River have unearthed a flurry of rare finds . The latest? The nation’s first riverboat casino that sunk during a storm last year.  

The Diamond Lady, America’s first riverboat casino, set sail in 1991 and operated for a few years before a bigger riverboat replaced it. Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White reportedly christened the paddlewheel boat before its maiden voyage took off from Bettendorf, Iowa 31 years ago.

It had been stored on the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee , since 2008, but the Diamond Lady sank in 2021 during a winter freeze, according to WPSD. It wasn’t seen again until the Mississippi River receded to its lowest levels in 10 years.

River levels are so low, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico is moving in, FOX Weather reports.

Drought drives Mississippi River to historic low levels, impacting agricultural exports

Drought has driven the Mississippi River to historic low levels, impacting the agricultural exports. The crisis has increased shipping prices, and that cost may fall on consumers and creating problems for barges.

According to the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, water levels are at or below the low-water threshold along a nearly 400-mile stretch of the river from near where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi River south to near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Other finds from a drought-stricken Mississippi River

Rare Civil War relics found lying in rocks along Mississippi River (Photo credit: Riley Bryant)

Also in Memphis, history lover and relics collector Riley Bryant made a fascinating discovery along the banks of the drought-stricken Mississippi River.

Bryant said the artifacts — a Civil War-era Union army cartridge box plate and bullets — were just sitting there among the rocks under the I-55 bridge waiting to be picked up.

Just weeks before Bryant made his discovery, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, resident was walking along the Mississippi River there and found a shipwreck that’s more than 100 years old, FOX Weather reports.

According to Louisiana state archeologist Chris McGimsey, it belongs to a ferryboat called the Brookhill, which started sailing in the late 1880s or early 1890s. It was originally 250 to 300 feet long.

FOX Weather contributed to this report. 

Authentic Riverboat Cruises

On the mississippi, our cruises, sunday blues.

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See the sights & sounds of the river

“Amazing and worth a visit. Took the Christmas dinner cruise and had two hours of fun. Nice meal from an attentive staff to excellent music from their in house band. Sights of the Mississippi at night against the lights of Memphis was awesome and highly recommended.” Luke F.

“This Place is just absolutely Beautiful, It is peaceful and calming and nothing was better then to have My First Cruise on this bus and dance with 2 little girls that I met there and they were really week and I would love to go back!” Nijah H.

“Spent my bday last year on the river and I really enjoyed myself. The food and music were both great. Any couples looking for something new to do in Memphis on a Friday or Saturday night give the dinner cruise a chance.” Omar D.

“We had a good time and the young man who was are first mate was very knowledgeable and did a great job, he was funny!” David C.

“Our group did the evening cruise and had a phenomenal time out on the river. The food was okay, the band was great, and the views out on the river were fantastic. Definitely a fun non-Beale Street option!” Robert L.

“Awesome time, band was great, food and drinks were great!! I highly recommend checking it out. We did the dinner cruise.” S.G.

“My Fiancé and I had a really great time on the Dinner Cruise. The employees were wonderful, the Music was great, and the food was also very good! We will definitely go on another cruise!!” Theresa R.

“Staff was outstanding and so friendly. The ambitious was great. Can't say enough about the entertainment, the kept the audience so involved it was the most fun my wife and I have had in years. Thank you!!” Jimmy H.

“Tour guide is so funny and knows a lot of the history. This is a fun tour where you learn why you Don't swim in the Mississippi!” ML A.

Enjoy Dinner and Music on the River

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Sunken casino riverboat exposed due to low Miss. River water levels

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Ever since the Mighty Mississippi River reduced to a trickle of its former self, it’s slowly revealed what lies beneath. The latest find — an old casino riverboat.

The Diamond Lady took its maiden voyage in the early 90′s, according to Captain William Lozier, President of Memphis Riverboats.

He says it operated as a floating casino a few years later but was taken out of commission in favor of a larger vessel around 1999.

Lozier said the vessel was moved to Riverside Park Marina, but winter storms proved too much for the riverboat and she succumbed to the Mighty Mississippi in 2021.

But receding waters has revived interest in the Diamond Lady, which can now be seen from hull to mast.

Claire and Lucy Smith, along with their brother, were only a few of the hoards who have made the muddy hike through the receded banks to pay respects to the old Lady.

“We just thought it’d be fun,” Claire said. “And it’s so, so cool.”

Lucy said that she’s on the hunt for some other treasures the Mississippi River might reveal as waters stay at record-low levels.

“Things like this might reveal bones... or maybe even unsolved murders,” Lucy said with a laugh. “But you really do get to look at all the rich history of the Mississippi.”

Water levels have risen over the weekend, but aren’t expected to get back to normal just yet.

As the levels continue to rise and fall, there’s no telling what other secrets will be revealed under the black, murky waters of the Mighty Mississippi River.

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Sunken casino riverboat revealed by low water levels of Mississippi River

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Ever since the Mighty Mississippi River reduced to a trickle of its former self, it’s revealed a plethora of lost wonders. The latest find is an old casino riverboat.

The Diamond Lady took its maiden voyage in the early 1990s, according to Captain William Lozier, President of Memphis Riverboats.

He told WMC it operated as a floating casino a few years later but was taken out of commission in favor of a larger vessel around 1999.

Lozier said the vessel was moved to Riverside Park Marina, but winter storms proved too much for the riverboat, and she succumbed to the Mighty Mississippi in 2021.

Receding waters have revived interest in the Diamond Lady, which can now be seen from hull to mast.

Claire and Lucy Smith, along with their brother, were only a few of the groups who have made the muddy hike through the receded banks to pay respects to the old Lady.

“We just thought it’d be fun,” Claire Smith said. “And it’s so, so cool.”

Lucy Smith said she’s on the hunt for some other treasures the Mississippi River might reveal as waters stay at record-low levels.

“Things like this might reveal bones ... or maybe even unsolved murders,” Lucy Smith said. “But you really do get to look at all the rich history of the Mississippi.”

The riverboat isn’t the only lost relic recovered during the river’s historic low water levels. In early October, a treasure hunter in Louisiana found a 100-year-old ferry boat while exploring the riverbanks .

Water levels have risen over the weekend, but aren’t expected to get back to normal just yet.

As the levels continue to rise and fall, there’s no telling what other secrets will be revealed under the black, murky waters of the Mississippi River.

Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Memphis Riverboats

Type: Sightseeing , Tours and Excursions

Last updated on June 29, 2015

10Best Says

45 S Riverside Dr Memphis, TN 38103

901-527-2628

EXPERT TIPS BY: Sally Walker Davies Memphis Local Expert

• Tours and Excursions : "Most cruises are offered seasonally, so be sure to check the website or call for the most updated schedule."
• Best for Tours and Excursions Because: We love the fact Memphis Riverboats offers a speedboat tour of the river - it's a great way to experience the Mississippi's power.

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• 8 Graceland
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Historic Drought Exposes Sunken Mississippi Riverboat Casino

By Nico DeMattia

Posted on Oct 30, 2022 3:50 PM EDT

Many parts of the Mississippi river are seeing record-low water levels. In McKellar Lake— a backwater of the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee—the water level is almost 11 feet below the historic average, which has fully exposed a previously sunken Mississippi riverboat casino, the Diamond Lady. From bow to stern, there’s no longer a single inch of the Diamond Lady that lies hidden by the waterline, and there’s something tragic and eerie about it.

The Diamond Lady was built in 1991 and was the first riverboat casino in Iowa’s section of the Mississippi river since the 19th century. It was designed to look like old paddlewheel boats from that bygone era, just with modern slot machines filling its multiple decks. In the ’90s, it was bright, vibrant, and full of passengers looking to feel as if they’d been transported back in time. But in 2008, after having been transported to Memphis, the Diamond Lady sank, due to freezing water.

After it sunk, it was just left in the backwaters of the Mississippi River, and you can see where the waterline used to sit. From the hull to about midway up the second deck, the Diamond Lady’s white and blue color scheme turned to a muted brown, waterlogged and rotten from having sat in the murky lake for over a decade. Above that brown water-stained line, you can still see its original colors and get an idea of what it used to look like when it was a vibrant gambling attraction.

The Diamond Lady, like the Rhythm City riverboat before it, is making an unscheduled encore appearance next to — not in — the Mississippi River in Memphis. https://t.co/eKyiKhaH7D pic.twitter.com/OAomZrpv5O — Local 4 WHBF (@WHBF) October 28, 2022

There’s no doubt locals are going to want to check out the now risen Diamond Lady in person and many will likely try and climb aboard. However, doing so is a terrible idea. Not only is the boat on unstable footing but there’s no safety equipment or even railings, and every part of its structure is weakened. Aside from some selfies to prove to your your bravery to your friends, you’ll find nothing aboard the previously sunken Diamond Lady but soggy wood, worthless furniture, and broken dreams.

Still, I don’t blame the sort of morbid curiosity of wanting to see it in person. Seeing what was once a popular, beloved tourist and vacation attraction, so still, quiet, and lonely has an eerie allure. Just don’t climb aboard.

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Water Around Tennessee Dam Receding After Heavy Rain From Helene

The authorities were evacuating people downstream from the Nolichucky Dam, warning that a breach could cause deadly flooding.

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By John Yoon

• Sept. 28, 2024

The Nolichucky Dam in eastern Tennessee remained intact late Saturday morning after extreme rainfall from Helene caused waters in the area to rise to record levels.

The authorities said that water levels in the Nolichucky River were receding by about one foot per hour, after reaching levels of an estimated eight feet over record elevation, but areas downstream were under a flash flood emergency until 4 p.m. Eastern, the National Weather Service of Morristown, Tenn., said on social media .

Residents in the flood zone were advised to immediately move to higher ground.

“Our dam safety teams are in the process of assessing the condition of the dam to determine next steps,” the Tennessee Valley Authority said on social media .

Earlier on Saturday, the dam was on the brink of failure and the authorities urged the residents of communities downstream to evacuate immediately after extreme rainfall from Helene caused waters in the area to rise to record levels.

“A breach could occur at any time,” Elisabeth Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Valley Authority , the dam’s operator, said earlier, adding that potentially life-threatening flooding could occur as far downstream as Douglas Lake.

By Friday night, water levels on the Nolichucky River were 17 feet above those recorded before the storm’s arrival, according to the U.S. Geological Survey .

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for parts of Cocke, Greene and Hamblen Counties until 4 p.m. Eastern. The area under the emergenc y is home to nearly 6,000 people and includes two schools.

A flash flood warning was issued for areas along the French Broad River in eastern Tennessee on Saturday because of a “continued release of water,” according to the Weather Service.

A complete failure of the Nolichucky Dam would cause a wave reaching bridges in as little as 20 minutes, followed by crests arriving at each location soon afterward, the Weather Service said.

Flash flooding concerns prompted evacuation orders in Tennessee for communities downstream from another dam on Friday. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency warned of a breach of the Waterville Dam, across the border in North Carolina, but officials later said that it had not failed .

Duke Energy , the Waterville Dam’s operator, said that it had all of the floodgates open and was passing water through the dam after “unprecedented flooding.”

Emmett Lindner contributed reporting.

John Yoon is a Times reporter based in Seoul who covers breaking and trending news. More about John Yoon