Gold Strike Resort, Tunica is a 24-hour casino hotel in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, south of Memphis. Its strongest draw is combining a substantial casino, a DraftKings-powered sportsbook, restaurants, and a room upstairs. I’d shortlist it for an adult gambling getaway, especially an overnight trip. The main limitation is scheduling: the buffet, steakhouse, spa, and entertainment do not all operate every day, and the hotel pool is reserved for guests 21 and older.
Gold Strike quick facts
| Address | 1010 Casino Center Dr., Tunica Resorts, MS 38664 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Casino resort with an attached hotel |
| Operator | Cherokee Nation Entertainment |
| Casino hours | 24 hours daily; individual outlets have separate schedules |
| Minimum gaming-floor age | 21 |
| Gaming floor | 50,000 square feet, according to the property |
| Gaming machines | Nearly 1,200, including slots and video poker |
| Table games | More than 50 tables advertised; availability varies |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | Gold Strike Sportsbook Powered by DraftKings |
| Hotel | Rooms and suites; check-in begins at 4 p.m. |
| Parking | Free self-parking, including a five-floor garage; valet available |
| Pool | Hotel guests 21+ only |
| Rewards program | Status+ Rewards |
| General phone | 662-357-1111 |
| Hotel reservations | 888-245-7829 |
| Official website | Gold Strike Casino Resort |
| Information date | October 16, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Gold Strike?
Gold Strike is a casino-centered resort, not simply a gambling floor with a hotel nearby. Its appeal is having dinner, playing several different games, catching scheduled entertainment, and taking an elevator to bed instead of arranging another drive.
The property is in Tunica Resorts, the casino area north of the town of Tunica. Think drive-in gambling getaway rather than downtown vacation. If most of your plans involve Memphis sightseeing and restaurants, I would compare a Memphis hotel before choosing a casino base.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment operates Gold Strike. MGM completed the sale of its operations in February 2023, so returning visitors should use the current reservations and rewards arrangements rather than assuming former MGM benefits still apply.
Comparing destinations? See our guide to Mississippi casinos.
Casino floor and games
The official casino page advertises 50,000 square feet of gaming, nearly 1,200 machines, and more than 50 table games. These property figures describe the overall selection, not guaranteed availability at every hour.
Variety is the useful distinction. Gold Strike makes sense for a group whose interests do not line up perfectly: slots for one person, craps for another, and a sports ticket for someone else. A 24-hour casino does not mean every pit game or betting counter is staffed around the clock.
Slots and video poker
The selection includes reel slots, video slots, progressives, and video poker, plus a high-limit room. The nearly 1,200-machine figure covers these categories together, not 1,200 slots plus a separate video poker inventory.
My advice is to check the wager on the screen, not just the cabinet’s denomination. A penny game can still make a noticeable dent in a small bankroll when its minimum spin involves many credits.
For video poker, inspect the actual paytable. Two machines with the same game name can pay differently, and jackpot stories are not evidence of a machine’s expected return.
Table games
Gold Strike lists blackjack, craps, crapless craps, roulette, baccarat, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Face Up Pai Gow, and Blackjack Match progressive offerings.
That is a useful spread beyond blackjack and roulette. Similar names do not mean identical rules: crapless craps differs from traditional craps, and progressive side bets are separate wagers worth understanding before placing them.
Check posted minimums and rules when you arrive. I would not build a trip around an assumed low-limit table, particularly if you need a specific game at a specific hour.
Poker room
Gold Strike has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room. Video poker, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em are different offerings, not cash-game poker against other players.
DraftKings sportsbook
Gold Strike Sportsbook Powered by DraftKings offers on-property retail sports betting. The property advertises 10 kiosks and four over-the-counter betting positions throughout the casino.
Drafts Bar & Grill provides a place to eat and watch games. Check betting-counter hours and ticket-redemption procedures separately from casino hours, especially if your game finishes late.
The retail sportsbook does not mean a mobile betting account you use elsewhere will work from your room or throughout Mississippi. Ask about current on-property options rather than assuming.
Hotel rooms and upgrade value
The attached hotel is one of Gold Strike’s strongest practical advantages. After dinner, drinks, or a show, having your room upstairs can matter more than a long amenities list.
The hotel’s room descriptions and booking policies list Deluxe King, Deluxe 2 Queens, Deluxe ADA King, Natchez Deluxe, Hawthorne Suite, and Stay Well options. Deluxe King and Deluxe 2 Queens rooms each list 352 square feet, with maximum occupancies of two and four guests, respectively.
The Hawthorne Suite lists 873 square feet, a king bed, and an oversized jetted hot tub. That buys 521 additional square feet compared with a Deluxe King, but the same published two-person maximum. I’d view it as a couples’ splurge for space, not a way to accommodate more people.
Stay Well king and two-queen rooms also list 352 square feet. Compare their features and price premium rather than assuming the name means a larger room. The listed accommodations are nonsmoking; that does not establish casino-floor smoking rules.
For a multi-night stay, ask how housekeeping and towel replacement work. In a June 26, 2026, Trip.com review, Woody reported receiving neither during a two-night visit and being told at checkout that service required a request. That is one guest’s experience, not confirmation of a hotel-wide policy, but it is an easy question to settle at check-in.
Check-in and the $50 incidental hold
- Check-in: Begins at 4 p.m. The primary reservation guest must be at least 21.
- Payment and ID: Bring a valid credit card and current government-issued photo ID. Prepaid cards are not accepted at check-in.
- Incidental authorization: The hotel lists a $50 hold per stay, which can restrict access to those funds for up to seven days. This is not a stated $50 resort fee.
- Accessible rooms: Available. Reserve the specific bathroom, bed, and other features you need.
Packages and discounts: compare the final total
One-night dining packages advertise credits of $100 for Drafts, $200 for Chicago Steakhouse with alcohol excluded, or $50 for Collective Kitchen(s). A credit is useful only if you intend to eat there, the restaurant is open, and the package premium makes sense.
AAA and military offers advertise 10% hotel-rate discounts. For illustration, 10% of an eligible $150 room-only rate is $15, before taxes and other charges. That is not a quoted Gold Strike rate, and it does not establish that discounts can be combined with packages. Compare final totals and cancellation terms, not just the first nightly rate displayed.
Restaurants and bars
The main dining question is whether the restaurant you want will be open. Check the dining listings before settling on travel dates.
- Chicago Steakhouse: The special-occasion dinner choice, closed Tuesday. I would reserve ahead if dinner needs to fit around a show.
- Buffet Americana: Brunch, dinner, and Thursday BBQ, with separate schedules and prices below.
- Drafts Bar & Grill: Pub fare, drinks, and sports screens. Listed hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
- Collective Kitchen(s): Casual American food, listed as open 24/7, with some menus limited after 11 p.m.
- RISE Coffee & Bakery: Starbucks coffee and baked goods, listed as open 24/7.
- Jade Noodle Co.: Vietnamese-inspired dishes and drinks, including bánh mì, ramen, milk tea, and matcha. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Bars also include Stage2 and a High Limit bar. Round-the-clock casual food is a genuine convenience, but it is not the same as having every restaurant available all night.
Buffet Americana prices and schedule
Buffet Americana is closed Monday through Wednesday. Thursday BBQ runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday offers dinner, while Saturday and Sunday have separate brunch and dinner services.
| Meal | Listed price per person | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Regular dinner | $34.99 dine-in; $29.99 takeout | Specialty promotions have separate pricing |
| Weekend brunch | $24.99 dine-in; $19.99 takeout | Saturday and Sunday |
| Thursday BBQ | $27.99 | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; excludes holidays |
| October crab promotion | $57.99 | Advertised for Fridays and Saturdays in October; confirm your date |
Weekend brunch costs $10 less per person than regular dinner, although the menus need not be identical. An illustrative two-person food budget is $49.98 for brunch versus $69.98 for regular dinner, before applicable taxes and gratuity.
Dinner takeout is $5 below the dine-in price. Ask about portion and selection rules before treating it as an equivalent buffet experience.
The October all-you-can-eat crab promotion is $23 above the listed regular dinner price. Do not expect crab to be included in a $34.99 meal; confirm which service and price apply to your visit.
Adults-only pool, spa, and entertainment
The pool and hot tub are exclusively for hotel guests age 21 and older, with published pool hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. This is an adult-stay amenity, not a family swimming option.
The amenities page lists spa hours as Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Monday through Thursday closed. Reserve a treatment rather than assuming walk-in availability. Nearby golf courses offer another outing, but should not be mistaken for an on-property course.
Gold Strike Theatre hosts ticketed shows, while Stage2 offers free live entertainment Thursday through Sunday, according to the property FAQ. Choose your date around the calendar. The property recommends buying theatre tickets through its own entertainment page and warns that third-party tickets may not be valid.
Here is the trade-off I would weigh: midweek still delivers gambling, a room, and casual food, but weekends align better with buffet, spa, and Stage2 schedules. That means more available activities, not guaranteed room value or better service.
For a gambling break, the Gateway to the Blues Museum & Visitors Center on Highway 61 provides an off-property option. The Tunica tourism bureau’s guide identifies it as a starting point for exploring local Mississippi Blues Trail markers.
Directions, parking, and practical policies
Gold Strike describes itself as just over 40 minutes from Memphis, although your starting point and traffic affect the drive. Use the full Tunica Resorts address rather than routing simply to the town of Tunica. The contact page provides directions and department contacts.
Self-parking is free, including in the five-floor garage. Valet is available at the hotel entrance, but do not assume it is free. If arriving without a car, arrange both legs of your transportation before relying on this location.
For reunions or meetings, the catering guide says group transfers can be arranged through a catering coordinator. Ask for current availability and pricing. This is a group arrangement, not an advertised scheduled airport shuttle for individual guests.
- Children: Minors may stay in the hotel and use dining areas. Gaming-floor and pool access require age 21 or older.
- Smoking: Listed hotel rooms are nonsmoking. If smoke exposure affects your decision, ask specifically about casino-floor rules and routes to restaurants.
- Pets: Pets are not allowed in the hotel; service animals are allowed.
- Cancellations: Follow your reservation’s terms. Direct and third-party bookings have different cancellation channels; do not assume a universal refund deadline.
Status+ Rewards
Status+ Rewards is Gold Strike’s current player rewards program. Enroll before playing if you want eligible gambling activity tracked, use your card at machines, and present it at table games.
I would treat rewards as an extra, not the purpose of the trip. Compare room offers using the complete booking total, and never increase your gambling budget merely to earn a meal or promotion.
Who Gold Strike suits best
Gold Strike suits adults who want a casino-centered Tunica getaway with varied games, a room upstairs, and dining from quick food to a steakhouse dinner. I particularly like the practical combination of free self-parking, late-night food, and free scheduled Stage2 entertainment. The trade-off is timing: midweek buffet closures and weekend-only spa service make your dates matter. Families wanting shared pool time, or travelers primarily exploring Memphis, should choose a different base.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gold Strike have a poker room?
No. Gold Strike has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room. It offers video poker and poker-based casino table games.
Does Gold Strike have a sportsbook?
Yes. Gold Strike Sportsbook Powered by DraftKings offers retail sports betting through kiosks and over-the-counter betting positions.
Is Gold Strike open 24 hours?
The casino is open 24 hours daily. Restaurants, spa services, entertainment, and sportsbook services have separate schedules.
Is parking free at Gold Strike?
Self-parking is free, including in the garage. Valet is available; ask about its current charge.
Can children stay at Gold Strike?
Yes. Children may stay in the hotel and use dining areas, but the gaming floor and pool are restricted to guests 21 and older. The primary hotel reservation guest must also be at least 21.
Is the $50 hotel hold a resort fee?
No. The hotel describes it as an incidental credit-card preauthorization per stay, potentially restricting access to those funds for up to seven days. Check your reservation separately for the complete room price and mandatory charges.
Is the Gold Strike buffet open every day?
No. Buffet Americana is closed Monday through Wednesday. Thursday BBQ, weekend brunch, dinner, and specialty promotions have different schedules and prices.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room.