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| Resorts Casino Tunica |
New look for Resorts Casino
By David Grisham
TUNICA RESORTS — Resorts Casino Tunica got a new beginning
when the Foundation Gaming Group assumed operation of the casino here last
November. Now, six months later, Resorts has been transformed as a result of a
renovation project undertaken by the ownership group.
The exterior features a new paint scheme, and inside, the
hotel lobby, the casino floor and the entrance to the casino from the atrium
have been updated. Public areas benefit from new carpeting, furniture, color
schemes, a new large video screen and the latest and most popular slot
machines.
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| Casino floor |
In the atrium, guests can see theater-style curtains framing
the entrance to the casino. The big screen faces guests as they step onto the
gaming floor, and the message delivered when one passes by the curtains: “You
are about to be entertained.”
“We focused on areas that customers see and experience,”
said Greg Guida, principal and chief executive officer of Foundation Gaming
Group. “We’ve updated Resorts with a current color palate and current textures
and designs.”
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| Playboy Playmate Party |
The changes are evident from floor to ceiling. Richer yet
softer color tones have been incorporated as a part of the renovation, and gone
are the mirrored walls, older carpeting and blue ceiling.
Guests will notice the layout of casino floor is different
as are many of the games. “We have 100 new Bally’s games on the floor and have
also added games from Williams and IGT,” said Les McMackin, Foundation Gaming’s
chief operations and marketing officer. “We’ve reorganized the entire layout to
highlight our new games, make it easier to get around and make it more
appealing for everyone.”
McMackin said when selecting the new slots, Foundation
Gaming Group looked at some of the newest games available as well as what games
are popular in the market. “We’ve got some exclusives, like the new Big Vegas
and Easy Cash Eddy games, and popular titles like Blazing 7s, with a new
platform and new cabinetry.”
Scanning the floor, one can see such games as Playboy
Playmate Party, Betty Boop’s Love Meter, Ol’e Jalapenos!, Monte Carlo, Mayan
Treasures, Sea Goddess, Pirate Battle and more.
Daniel Russell, director of slot operations, said guest
response to the new games has been fantastic. Some of the more popular games,
he said, have been the new Playboy games, as well as Quick Hits and Lightning
7s.
While the new slots are a hit at Resorts, so is the casino’s
renovated hotel lobby. Rich wood tones and wood-plank inspired tile flooring
update the look of the space. Stylish carpeting incorporates natural colors and
classically styled leather furniture and modern art complete the appealing and
inviting atmosphere.
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| Hotel lobby |
Upstairs, TJ’s Steakhouse benefited from a lot of attention,
too. New furniture, carpeting and softer colors and lighting set the perfect
mood for fine dining. “It is an entirely new feel,” Guida explained. “The look
is more like what you would expect a fine dining restaurant at the casino to
be.”
McMackin said while the look of the restaurant has changed,
the menu is staying the same. “We let our customers tell us what they want and
they like the current menu. The lobster and steak special is the most popular.
Likewise, our One Buck Buffet has become a staple at the properties and we will
continue to offer it in the buffet.”
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| New seating area in hotel lobby |
In addition to the dining area, the kitchen has been updated
with new equipment. The steps taken here are all about function and utility.
Executive Chef Joe Steward, who has been with Resorts for 10 years, said the
moves made over the past few months have spawned plenty of excitement. “We’ve
been really happy about the changes,” Steward said. “They have given us
everything we need in the kitchen, and having the tools to work with really
makes a difference. The guests are impressed with the changes in the
steakhouse, too. I’ve always liked the way it looked and now it’s even better.”
The excitement of Steward and the F&B staff is shared
with employees throughout the property. “The employee response has been great,”
Guida said. “There is a great staff at both properties (Resorts and its sister
property, Bally’s) and when we came in last November, they viewed this as a
fresh start for the properties and for them. It’s a phenomenal workforce.”
Guida is equally impressed with customer reception to the
changes. “There hasn’t been a lot of renovation of a significant scale to the
property in quite some time, so I think customers have been really pleased to
see the improvement at the properties, especially when it comes to putting new
games on the floor. That’s what really topped it off for them. It’s one thing
to put new color and paint on the floor, but new games are something the
customer can really experience on the floor.”
If you haven’t visited Resorts lately, you’ll see and
experience the difference when you stop by and walk through the curtains.
Expect to be entertained.
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