Mississippi: Sam’s Town Casino to close in November after 31-year run in Tunica

Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, the largest casino still operating in Tunica, Mississippi, will permanently close its doors on November 9, 2025, ending a 31-year run in the once-thriving casino corridor. The closure was announced by owner Boyd Gaming in a message to employees on Thursday, attributing the decision to continued market decline in the region.

“This was a difficult decision,” the company said in a statement, pointing to long-term economic challenges in the Tunica area. With the closure, the number of casinos operating in the region will shrink to five.

For residents and former employees, the news, though unsurprising, has stirred fresh concerns about job losses and the broader economic implications for the community. Bennie Williams, a local resident, expressed fears about the impact on employment in a conversation with FOX13. “It employs so many people,” he said.

Eric Marable, who worked as a security guard at Sam’s Town two decades ago, echoed those sentiments. “It’s never a good thing, you know, when people lose their jobs, so never a good thing,” he said, noting that the casino’s reach extends far beyond its customers.

The uncertain future of the property has also added to community anxiety. Many point to other casinos and hotels in Tunica that shut down over the past decade, only to remain vacant, leaving behind empty lots and deteriorating buildings. “We've got too many abandoned casinos down here already,” Marable added.

Williams cited the example of Harrah’s Tunica, once a major player in the area before closing in 2014. “When Harrah's closed down, did nothing ever come there either,” he said.

The decline of Tunica’s casino industry has been gradual but steady, with increasing competition from neighboring states and changing gambling habits contributing to reduced foot traffic. Once one of the top gaming destinations in the United States outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Tunica has seen multiple casinos close over the years as the regional market contracted.