Countdown is on for Scarlet Pearl Casino's December 9 opening

A ribbon cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. Dec. 9, said Briana Dubaz, advertising assistant, after contractors at Roy Anderson Corp. turn over the casino, restaurants, hotel rooms and miniature golf course for the public debut.

Customers will park under the casino or in nearby parking lots beyond the Lava Links miniature golf course.

A circular theme is carried throughout the resort, beginning with the porte cochere with its tall columns.

"Wow," was the first impression of those Dubaz led on a tour of the property east of I-110 near the end of Central Avenue in D'Iberville. All public spaces are on one floor and the casino is a wide open room, with restaurants and a poker room along the sides.

Many of the chandeliers are circles of crystal and color, and the floor changes from marble to carpet in shades of scarlet and oranges, each pattern playing on the circle theme.

But the focus of the long room is a metal ceiling that reflects the light and color of the casino, with undulating trim like waves, drawing people past a sea of slot machines and table games.

At the far end are The Strand events center, PRL bar with a stage for entertainment, and Waterfront Buffet with a wall of windows overlooking the Back Bay and Biloxi casinos. The buffet is a semi-circle of stations for soup and salad, Italian, Asian, grilled and comfort foods.

In addition to the buffet, customers can choose from Scarlet Grill, the resort's fine dining restaurant; Chop Stx for a grab-and-go Asian cuisine; and Under the Oak Cafe, where diners eat beneath the leaves of a manufactured tree.

All the latest and greatest slot machines are on the floor, said Dubaz, and there are surprises like and red, blue and green lights as slot handles. The Buffalo is expected to be one of the top games, although customers may prefer to sit down with Brittany Spears, Elvis, Duck Dynasty, the Flintstones and dozens of other themed games.

People can sign up for a players' club card before the casino opens and pick it up at the office at 10598 D'Iberville Blvd.
Scarlet Pearl is independently owned, so on opening day, "Nobody coming in is going to have a Pearl Rewards card," said Dubaz. The large, curved players' reward desk will have extra staff for the opening and she said mobile ambassadors will be on the floor for sign-ups.

Many of the more than 1,500 employees are in training or at the casino preparing the 300 hotel rooms for guests. The 10 penthouse suites and 56 other suites have amazing views of the Back Bay and all the rooms have a wall of windows that overlook the water or city. A swimming pool is located near the entrance to the casino.

One of the most talked-about amenities for residents of South Mississippi is Lava Links miniature golf course -- a 36-hole lighted course just north of the casino.

Near the center is a walk-through volcano where players will collect their golf club and ball and as they play either 18 or 36 holes. The volcano will "erupt" with lava flowing down the sides. An outside circle around the course lets those with disabilities play.

At one point it didn't look like the golf course would be complete in time for the ribbon cutting but crews are putting down the greens and Dubaz said, "Everything opens Dec. 9."