Sam’s Town Tunica Casino closes amid market decline
ROBINSONVILLE, Miss. — Sam’s Town Tunica Casino, a longtime fixture in Mississippi’s gaming industry, permanently closed its doors Sunday, Nov. 9, after more than three decades of operation. The closure marks another chapter in the region’s ongoing decline in casino demand.
Boyd Gaming, the Las Vegas-based company that owns Sam’s Town, cited sustained market challenges as the reason for shutting down the Western-themed casino and hotel. “Demand throughout the northwest Mississippi market has declined significantly over the past 20 years,” the company said in a statement. “Our decision to close Sam’s Town is a result of these market conditions.”
Casino operations ceased at 10 p.m. Sunday, while the hotel portion closed earlier on Nov. 2. The closure affects between 175 and 200 employees, many of whom had long tenures at the property.
Opened in 1994, Sam’s Town was part of Tunica County’s rise as a regional gaming destination. At its peak, the area boasted more than a dozen casinos. With Sam’s Town’s exit, only five remain in operation.
The shutdown delivers another economic blow to Robinsonville and surrounding communities, which have seen a steady decline in tourism and gaming revenue. No plans have been announced for the property’s future use.
