The Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, offers slots, a dedicated poker room, and simulcast racing on Federal Highway. Its strongest selling point is a straightforward gambling outing with continuous weekend casino hours. The main limitation is that there is no on-site hotel, so this is not a self-contained resort stay. I would put it on the list for visitors staying around Hallandale Beach or Hollywood who want to play, rather than build an entire vacation around one property.
The Big Easy Casino at a glance
| Address | 831 N Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Casino and poker room with simulcast racing |
| Casino hours | Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 a.m.; continuously from Friday at 9 a.m. until Monday at 4 a.m. |
| Poker hours | Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. |
| Simulcast opening | 11:30 a.m. |
| Published age notice | 18+. The website does not distinguish requirements by gaming activity; confirm eligibility for your intended game. |
| Poker room | Yes |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| On-site hotel | No |
| Phone | 954-924-3200 |
| Official website | The Big Easy Casino |
| Information date | October 17, 2026 |
What kind of casino is The Big Easy?
Think of The Big Easy as a place to fit gambling into a South Florida trip, not a place that supplies the whole trip. You can choose accommodations for the beach, price, or neighborhood, then visit the casino separately. That flexibility is useful, although it means arranging transportation instead of taking an elevator back to your room.
Hallandale Beach is the city, but the casino is on U.S. 1, not the oceanfront. Use the street address when navigating. If you encounter the Mardi Gras Casino name in older travel information, that is this property’s former name, as noted by Visit Lauderdale.
The casino is open. The closure notice on its homepage applies specifically to The Velvet Spell, not to the casino or poker room.
Casino floor and games
Slots, player-versus-player poker, and simulcast racing give The Big Easy three distinct reasons to visit. They also have different schedules. Decide which one brings you here before choosing an arrival time.
Slots and video poker
Slots are central to the property’s advertised gaming offering. If a particular title or denomination is the reason for your visit, call ahead rather than counting on a fixed machine lineup.
I would pay more attention to the total wager than the denomination printed on a cabinet. A low-denomination game can still require a substantial bet once all selected credits and features are included. Check the bet display before spinning, not after the first result.
If video poker is your priority, ask about current availability and inspect the actual paytable. A familiar game name does not guarantee a particular payout schedule.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission’s 2024–2025 annual report describes an 85% state minimum payout threshold for the slot activity it oversees. That is a regulatory threshold, not The Big Easy’s advertised return or a promise about what you will get back during an individual visit.
Table games: ask about the exact offering
I would not choose The Big Easy on the assumption that it has the traditional table-game lineup of a large tribal casino. If your evening depends on live blackjack, roulette, craps, or another particular game, ask about that exact offering and whether it is live or electronic.
A dedicated poker room is also different from video poker or a poker-themed casino table game. The opponents, rules, and costs differ, so a broad reference to “poker” does not establish that your preferred game is available.
Poker room
The Big Easy has a dedicated player-versus-player poker room, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. Florida’s current cardroom license listing identifies the operator as 831 Federal Highway Acquisition, LLC, doing business as The Big Easy Casino.
Before a cash-game visit, ask which games are running, the stakes, buy-in requirements, wait-list arrangements, and rake or promotional drop. For a tournament, check the schedule, entry cost, and structure. A room being open does not mean every game is running.
Casino hours versus poker and simulcast hours
The casino’s continuous weekend schedule does not extend to every activity inside the property.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Casino: Monday–Thursday casino hours | The casino publishes a weekday schedule rather than continuous weekday operation. |
| Casino: Weekend casino hours | The published continuous weekend window begins Friday morning and ends early Monday morning. |
| Casino poker room: Hours compared with the casino floor | Poker has its own daily opening and closing times, including on weekends when the casino advertises continuous operation. |
| Casino simulcast: Published starting time | Simulcast starts later in the morning than either the casino or poker room. |
| The Velvet Spell: Operating status | The casino homepage identifies this venue as currently closed; visitors should not plan around it being available. |
| Casino website: Published age notice | The official website footer displays an 18+ notice without distinguishing game-specific age requirements in this passage. |
| Casino: Visitor address and telephone | The official contact details place the casino on North Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach. |
| Casino cardroom: Published license status and expiration | The state listing identifies cardroom operating license CLI144 as current, with an expiration date of June 30, 2027. |
| Casino redevelopment: Existing site compared with proposed layout | The May 2026 presentation describes moving the casino onto the racetrack area and adding a parking garage to its west; this is a future layout, not a description of completed amenities. |
| Casino redevelopment: Proposed poker capacity and amenities | The redevelopment presentation proposes 45 poker tables, a dedicated bar, a lounge, and a cashier within the poker space; these should remain separate from current-room descriptions. |
| Casino redevelopment: Proposed dining compared with current visitor expectations | The presentation describes a future five-concept food hall rather than five confirmed operating dining outlets. |
| Casino redevelopment: Intention to maintain operations during redevelopment | Management expressed an intention to arrange temporary operations while redevelopment proceeds; the passage does not establish a finalized temporary location or uninterrupted service. |
| Casino redevelopment: October 2026 municipal planning status | The October planning-board record states that minutes were not finalized and action results were unavailable, so this meeting page does not establish approval. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday opening-time gap between the casino and poker room | 1 hours | An opening-time weekday casino visit starts before poker-room hours; poker players should plan around the room’s separate schedule. |
Research references: thebigeasycasino.com, myfloridalicense.com, flgaming.gov, hallandalebeach.legistar.com.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-17. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
Comparing the published opening times, poker opens one hour after the casino on Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. versus 9 a.m. Simulcast starts later, at 11:30 a.m. On weekends, poker still follows its daily 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. schedule while the casino advertises continuous operation.
The practical takeaway: an early casino arrival is not necessarily an early poker session, and an overnight weekend slot visit does not guarantee overnight poker.
Sportsbook and simulcast racing
The Big Easy Casino has no on-property retail sportsbook. It does offer simulcast racing, with a published starting time of 11:30 a.m.
Watching sports on television, wagering on races, and placing a sports bet at a retail counter are separate offerings. Racing bettors should ask about the day’s available tracks and wagering schedule before making a special trip.
Hotel, dining, and entertainment
There is no on-site hotel. That is a manageable trade-off for someone already staying nearby, but a meaningful inconvenience if you want a room, meals, and gambling under one roof.
The property advertises dining, but The Velvet Spell is currently listed as closed. Do not make it the centerpiece of a dinner-and-casino evening without a reopening announcement. Check which dining options will be operating during your visit, particularly if arriving late: overnight casino hours do not automatically mean overnight food service.
The Magnolia Room is an event venue, and the property advertises events and promotions. Check the calendar for your date rather than assuming there will be live entertainment every evening.
Directions, parking, and practical visit costs
The casino sits on North Federal Highway, also known as U.S. 1. Pembroke Road connects the area with I-95. Navigate to 831 N Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, and allow for local traffic rather than relying on an optimistic travel-time estimate.
- Parking: Ask about current arrangements and any parking or valet charges before budgeting around a free service.
- Identification: Bring valid government-issued photo identification. The official website displays an 18+ notice without explaining activity-specific requirements.
- Smoking and accessibility: Contact the property about its current smoking policy and any specific entrance, mobility, or seating needs.
- Transportation: Keep money for the return trip separate from your gambling bankroll, particularly if using rideshare.
- Other costs: Budget separately for food, drinks, cash-access fees, transportation, and any poker charges.
There is no useful all-in visit price without knowing how you will travel, eat, and play. My preference is to set the gambling budget first, then treat the rest as ordinary outing costs. A players-card offer should not become an excuse to spend the ride-home money.
Rewards and promotions
Before playing, ask whether an advertised offer requires enrollment, activation, or qualifying play, and whether poker and slots follow different rules. Check expiration dates and redemption conditions rather than judging an offer by its headline alone.
I would collect benefits on play already planned, not add another session merely to chase a reward.
Redevelopment plans are not current amenities
A replacement casino was described in the May 7, 2026, Florida Gaming Control Commission presentation. The proposal included a roughly 50,000-square-foot casino floor, a 45-table poker room, a parking garage, and expanded dining. These are proposed facilities, not current inventory.
The presentation targeted opening by the fourth quarter of 2027. Treat that as the developer’s stated goal, not a guaranteed opening date. An October 13, 2026, city planning-board record listed a related plat-waiver application, but did not publish finalized action results.
Judge a visit by what is operating now. A future food hall, poker lounge, or parking garage should not determine tonight’s plans.
Who The Big Easy Casino is best for
The Big Easy suits slot players, poker players, and racing bettors who want a straightforward Hallandale Beach stop rather than a resort vacation. I like the flexibility of its U.S. 1 location and continuous weekend casino hours, although poker keeps a separate daily schedule. Choose it for the gaming first; visitors who want an on-site room, a destination dinner, and a full evening of non-gambling entertainment should compare casino resorts, especially while The Velvet Spell remains closed.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Big Easy Casino open?
Yes. It publishes casino, poker, and simulcast operating hours. The homepage’s closure notice refers to The Velvet Spell, not the casino.
Is The Big Easy Casino open 24 hours?
The casino advertises continuous operation from Friday at 9 a.m. until Monday at 4 a.m. Monday through Thursday, its published hours are 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. Poker operates daily from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Does The Big Easy have a poker room?
Yes. It has a dedicated player-versus-player poker room. Ask about current games, stakes, tournaments, and waiting lists before traveling.
Does The Big Easy have a sportsbook?
No. There is no on-property retail sportsbook. Simulcast racing is a separate offering.
What is the minimum gambling age?
The official website displays an 18+ notice, but does not distinguish requirements by gaming activity. Confirm eligibility for your intended activity before traveling, and bring photo identification.
Does The Big Easy Casino have a hotel?
No. Book accommodations separately and include transportation to and from the casino in your plans.
Sources and schedule updates
Information date: October 17, 2026. Sources are linked at their relevant uses above. Operating hours, venue availability, and game schedules can change, so check directly before a special trip.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no on-site sportsbook.