Ringing in the Resolutions: Stay on Track in 2025
With the new year upon us it is the perfect time for gamblers to set resolutions that will elevate their gaming experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an enthusiastic newcomer, making a few well-chosen commitments can lead to a more enjoyable, strategic, and profitable gambling year.
Here are some great gambling resolutions to kickstart your year and keep you on track for success.
2024 Readers’ Choice Awards Results – Top Casinos Revealed!
Get ready to celebrate the best of the best! We’re thrilled to unveil the winners of this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards honoring the top casino properties that have wowed gaming enthusiasts across the region. These casino resorts are world-class destinations, offering unforgettable experiences and setting the gold standard for excellence and the awards are a heartfelt thank-you from both you, the passionate gamers, and all of us at Gaming and Destinations.
Our annual Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the finest gaming options across various regions, helping players of all skill level discover hidden gems and plan their next unforgettable casino adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned high-roller or new to the scene, these winners are sure to inspire your next getaway.
A huge thank-you to everyone who cast their votes and shared their favorites. Dive into this year’s awards and get ready to add some incredible new spots to your must-visit list! Let the gaming adventures begin!
(Check out the awards from each region below.)
Gulf Coast Tunica Mid-South Louisiana Missouri
S. Indiana N. Indiana Iowa Michigan Minnesota Wisconsin
Executive Spotlight: LuAnn Pappas: CEO of Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort
When it comes to delivering a great casino guest experience, many factors come into play well before the guest ever steps foot onto the property. From the moment they go to the website or call for a reservation, there are perceptions and opinions that will go into determining if their visit was positive or not. When it comes to determining what makes guests happy, it takes a full team from player development and guest services to food and beverage and entertainment to make everything flow smooth and keep the guests smiling, all orchestrated by the management at the property. Many of the leaders in the industry have earned their way to the top through years of various roles and responsibilities that helped them sharpen their skills to be qualified to get the most from their team and deliver the ultimate experience for their guests.
One of the icons of the industry who always seems to work with her team to deliver the best for her guests is LuAnn Pappas, CEO of Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, Mississippi. She has blazed her trail for 39 years and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
We recently caught up with her to hear more about her career, management philosophy and some of the trends in the industry over the years.
Listen to the full-interview below:
G&D Executive Spotlight: Ryan O’Brien – Grand Casino Hinckley & Mille Lacs
If you haven’t been to Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley in Minnesota recently, now is a great time for a return visit. Both offer vibrant gaming experiences, upscale accommodations, delectable dining options, awesome amenities, world-class entertainment, luxurious spas great golf and more. So when we heard about a recent multi-million dollar renovation to enhance the guest rooms and other property amenities, we had to get the scoop on what’s new, what’s the same and why players will love it. We caught up with Guest Experience Director, Ryan O’Brien, who shares some insight on how he ensures great player experiences and looks forward to welcoming guests.
Listen to the interview:
Chef Superstar Aarón Sánchez Opens Johnny Sanchez Restaurant at L’auberge Casino in Lake Charles
Chef Aarón Sánchez has earned his way to the top of the culinary world from his early years learning from his grandmother who was a home chef who published her knowledge in a cookbook in 1987. He also learned his way around the kitchen by working at his mother’s restaurant in New York and really getting to know the ins and outs of the business.
After years of hard work and dedication working for others in the industry, today Chef Sanchez stays busy running his New Orleans restaurant, Johnny Sánchez, appearing on top cooking shows such as MasterChef and Chopped as both a judge and a chef. He is also driven to celebrate the Latin lifestyle through culinary expression and guests can see and taste that influence in every meal.
Listen to the full interview below:
L’Auberge Casino Resort Receives Two National Awards for Excellence
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana) L’Auberge Casino and Resort Baton Rouge has once again earned the coveted AAA Four Diamond rating, meaning it is ranked among the nation’s elite hotels with the highest standards of service and world-class amenities. Four Diamond hotels account for just 6% of the more than 26,000 hotels reviewed by AAA eaAAA uses professional inspectors to conduct unannounced, rigorous in-person property inspections, visiting more than 53,000 hotels and restaurants annually in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. For more than 11 years, L’Auberge has consistently appeared on AAA’s list of elite hotels. Out of 26 local hotels to receive the Diamond designation in 2024, L’Auberge is the sole recipient of the prestigious Four Diamond designation.
Churchill Downs Racetrack Unveils Plans for $80-$90 Million Grandstand Club and Pavilion Renovation
Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky announced an $80-$90 million renovation to the existing grandstand that will update ticketed seating options while significantly improving and adding to the amenities available for all guests in the grandstand area at the famed racetrack.
Construction on the Grandstand Club and Pavilion is scheduled to begin in August with completion planned in time for the 151st Kentucky Derby in May 2025.
Southland Casino Hotel Announces Free Summer Concerts May 18 & May 25
(West Memphis, Arkansas) Southland Casino Hotel, located in West Memphis, Arkansas, offers an exhilarating experience for both casual visitors and avid gamblers with 2,000 slot machines and numerous live table games. Guests can enjoy top-notch dining at several on-site restaurants, and the luxurious hotel features modern amenities and comfortable accommodations.
Betting the Exotics in the Triple Crown: The Player’s Guide to Wagering and Winning on America’s Biggest Race Days
The year was 1993 and I had the pleasure of watching the 119th running of the Kentucky Derby from my parent’s living room at the Jersey shore. It wasn’t exactly the prestigious scenery and vibrant atmosphere of historic Churchill Downs, but it was the next best thing at the time for a single guy in his early 20s. When Jerry Bailey guided Rokeby Stables Sea Hero to a flawless ground-saving trip to the winner’s circle, I’m not sure who was more excited or startled that day. It could have been my father who was bellowing in delight after 11 Miller Lights and a $400 win bet, or our ex-racing Florida Greyhound Turbo who scurried to safe hiding in an empty bedroom when the chants of “Come on Jerry!” “Get Through Jerry!” echoed through the living room during the stretch run. Sea Hero returned a healthy price that afternoon of $27.80 to win, $12.80 place and $8.00 to show. It was enough to make any fan holding a winning ticket happy, and all was well that spring afternoon at the shore.
Triple Crown Trivia: Celebrating the Sport of Kings
As we embark on a monumental Triple Crown trail kicked off by the 150th Kentucky Derby, we are excited to celebrate the season with some facts and fun stuff to share with your horseracing friends.
