Creek Entertainment Gretna is a poker and simulcast wagering venue in Gretna, Florida, west of Tallahassee. Its strongest appeal is a focused cardroom-and-racing outing, with an on-site restaurant and hours stretching well past midnight. The trade-off is breadth: this is not a casino-resort getaway with a hotel, pool, and several restaurants. I would put it on the list for regional poker players and racing bettors, rather than travelers looking for a full weekend under one roof.
Creek Entertainment Gretna at a glance
| Address | 501 Racetrack Drive, Gretna, FL 32332 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Poker room and simulcast wagering facility |
| Operating status | Open, according to the official website |
| Hours | Sunday through Thursday: noon to 4 a.m.; Friday and Saturday: noon to 6 a.m. Closing times are the following morning. |
| Holiday exception | Closed Christmas Day |
| Minimum gambling age | 18 |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Other wagering | Daily simulcast greyhound racing, horse racing, and jai alai |
| Hotel | No on-site hotel |
| Dining | On-site restaurant serving American fare |
| Official website | Creek Entertainment Gretna |
A cardroom outing, not a casino-resort vacation
Gretna’s advertising centers on poker and simulcast wagering, not a sprawling machine floor or a resort tower. That distinction matters because “casino” can mean very different things in Florida.
A perfectly suitable place for a poker session can be the wrong choice for someone whose ideal evening involves slots, a steakhouse, and an elevator ride back to a hotel room. Our Florida casinos guide provides a broader starting point for those comparisons.
Poker room and gaming expectations
Creek Entertainment Gretna has a poker room. Poker is one of the property’s defining offerings, rather than a side attraction within a larger resort.
The official poker-room page lists a $40 minimum buy-in for $1/$2 no-limit Texas hold’em. That is the published minimum to enter the game, not a suggested session budget or a guarantee that a table will be running when you arrive.
For a worthwhile poker trip, the important question is whether your game is running. Before making a special drive, ask about active cash games, blinds, buy-in limits, waiting lists, and the tournament calendar. Do not assume that a particular variant or tournament will be available simply because the property advertises poker.
My advice is to choose the session first and build the trip around it. Long opening hours are useful, but they do not guarantee opponents at your preferred stakes throughout the night.
Slots, video poker, and casino table games
Do not choose Gretna expecting a conventional slot-machine casino. Its advertised attraction is poker and racing wagering, not a broad selection of machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, or craps.
Live poker also should not be confused with video poker or poker-themed casino table games. If one specific game is the reason you are traveling, ask for its exact name and availability before leaving home.
Simulcast wagering, not a sportsbook
Creek Entertainment Gretna has no on-property retail sportsbook. It does advertise daily simulcast wagering on greyhound racing, horse racing, and jai alai.
These are events transmitted from elsewhere, not live races held at the Gretna property. Simulcast wagering is also different from a counter taking football or basketball bets; sports televisions and mobile betting apps are separate things, too.
Hotel and restaurant
There is no on-site hotel. Overnight visitors need separate accommodation and a plan for getting back after playing. Compare Quincy and Tallahassee lodging according to the rest of your itinerary, rather than assuming the closest room is automatically the best choice.
The on-site restaurant serves classic American fare. I would treat it as a useful convenience during a session rather than make this a dining-led trip.
For a concrete food-budget reference, the posted restaurant menu lists chicken tenders with honey mustard and French fries for $10. Confirm the price before ordering.
Check kitchen hours separately from gaming hours, especially if you plan to stay late. A 6 a.m. property closing is not a promise that dinner service continues until then.
Gretna versus Pensacola and Atmore
The Wind Creek Hospitality locations directory illustrates the difference between these outings. They are not interchangeable versions of the same casino trip.
| Property | Advertised emphasis | Best reason to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Creek Entertainment Gretna | Poker, simulcast wagering, and an American restaurant | A focused Gretna-area cardroom or racing outing |
| Pensacola Greyhound Park | Poker, simulcast greyhound racing, and Center Bar food | A comparable gambling format if Pensacola fits your itinerary better |
| Wind Creek Atmore | Resort lodging, a spa, a pool, a movie theater, and multiple restaurants | A resort stay with substantial activities beyond gambling |
I would compare Gretna with Pensacola primarily on location and the game you want to play. Atmore belongs in a different conversation: whether you want a resort getaway rather than a cardroom visit. This is an offering-based comparison, not a ranking of prices, food quality, or service.
Hours, costs, and practical trip planning
The noon opening makes Gretna an afternoon, evening, or late-night option, not an early-morning stop. Friday and Saturday close two hours later than Sunday through Thursday, with the same noon opening. Check that your preferred game will still be running before planning around that extra time.
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 |
|---|---|
| Published operating status | The property’s website states that it is open to the public seven days a week. |
| Sunday through Thursday hours | Advertised hours are noon until 4 a.m. the following morning. |
| Friday and Saturday hours | Advertised hours are noon until 6 a.m. the following morning, offering a later closing than Sunday through Thursday. |
| Christmas Day exception | The posted holiday schedule lists Christmas Day as closed, an exception to the general seven-day schedule. |
| Advertised gaming activities | The property explicitly promotes poker and live simulcast viewing. |
| Simulcast wagering frequency and categories | The website advertises daily simulcast wagering on greyhound racing, horse racing, and jai alai. |
| Advertised meal service | The website promotes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but this passage supplies neither prices nor separate kitchen hours. |
| Operator-directory gaming and dining description | Wind Creek’s directory describes Gretna as a poker-and-racing destination with a restaurant serving classic American fare. |
| Pensacola Greyhound Park compared with Creek Entertainment Gretna: Published gaming and dining alternative | The same operator directory promotes Pensacola for poker, simulcast greyhound racing, and Center Bar food, making it a relevant offering-based comparison rather than a documented price comparison. |
| Wind Creek Atmore compared with Creek Entertainment Gretna: Published resort-amenity alternative | Atmore’s directory entry advertises a luxury resort, spa, pool, movie theatre, RV park, and multiple restaurants, in contrast to Gretna’s poker, racing, and restaurant description. |
| Historical cardroom-license period | The supplied state cardroom license covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026; it does not establish licensing after that period. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Friday and Saturday closing-time extension compared with Sunday through Thursday | 2 hours later after midnight | Friday and Saturday have a later advertised closing time with the same noon opening; confirm that your preferred poker game will remain available before planning a late session. |
Research references: creekentertainment.com, windcreek.com, flgaming.gov.
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.
Use 501 Racetrack Drive, Gretna, for navigation. If you are not driving, arrange the return journey before sitting down to play rather than counting on a car being available when you finish.
- Bring identification: The minimum gambling age is 18. Carry valid government-issued photo identification.
- Ask about poker charges: Get the rake, promotional deductions, buy-in range, and tournament entry terms before committing your bankroll.
- Look beyond a tournament’s entry price: Ask how much goes into the prize pool and whether reentries or add-ons are available.
- Keep trip money separate: Food, transportation, tips, and lodging belong outside the amount you are prepared to lose.
- Check practical needs: Ask about parking arrangements, accessible entrances, and the smoking policy if those affect your visit.
- Confirm holiday hours: Christmas Day is listed as closed despite the general seven-day schedule.
For rewards, ask what applies specifically at Gretna rather than assuming every benefit advertised elsewhere in the Wind Creek portfolio carries over.
Who Creek Entertainment Gretna is best for
I would choose Creek Entertainment Gretna for a focused poker or simulcast outing, particularly when its location makes more sense than a longer trip to a resort. The restaurant and late closing times help keep that visit straightforward, but the noon opening and separate overnight lodging require planning. Visitors wanting several dining choices, a pool, and activities for non-gambling companions should choose a fuller-service property; Gretna’s appeal is the gambling session itself, not a resort itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Creek Entertainment Gretna open?
Yes. Its official website states that it is open seven days a week, with Christmas Day listed as an exception. Confirm the schedule before a holiday visit.
What time does Creek Entertainment Gretna close?
Posted hours are noon to 4 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Closing is the following morning.
Does it have a poker room?
Yes. Poker is a central offering. Ask which games and stakes are running before making a special trip.
Does it have a sportsbook?
No. There is no on-property retail sportsbook. The advertised simulcast wagering is a separate offering.
Does it have a hotel?
No. Overnight visitors need separate accommodation and transportation.
How old do you have to be to gamble?
The minimum gambling age is 18. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Sources
Official property and operator pages are linked alongside the relevant gaming, dining, and comparison details above. The Florida Gaming Control Commission’s 2025–2026 cardroom license identifies Gretna Racing, LLC and the Racetrack Drive address. That license covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and does not establish licensing for a later period.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.