Why is Poker in Tunica, Mississippi So
Fun? Because A River Runs Through It.
We get out of the
rental car and walk through the cold morning rain
toward the three casino/hotels, our wallets fat with hundreds. The
neon milieu - a cluster of flashing lights and valet stations set
against the calm
Mississippi River and deep gray clouds - gives us
a familiar thrill.
The Raccoon, a member of our entourage with baggy black eyes and
nocturnal habits, stops, turns, smiles, and spreads his arms
wide.
"Just like Vegas, boys!" he says.
He's exaggerating. A writer, The Raccoon is prone to that. In fact,
we are in Tunica, Mississippi, which is quite different from Las
Vegas. For starters: lots of undeveloped land, few cabs, no pirate
ships. But it does have nine very nice casinos, two of which (the
Horseshoe Casino Hotel and Gold Strike Casino Resort) are hosting
the sixth annual Jack Binion World Poker Open, for which we have
made this visit. For those of us in our weekly poker group - which
began about four years ago, well before the current Texas Hold 'em
craze took, thank you - it's a perfect place to test our tournament
poker skills. A trip to Vegas Mid-South, if you will.
"Let's not get too excited," I say, pointing toward the front
entrance. "There are a lot of good poker players in there."
I turn and realize my admonition comes too late. Señor Cowboy,
complete with black Resistol hat and boots, is doing his happy
dance in the parking lot. It's patterned after
Jon Lovitz's similar
sashay in Big - tongue out, fists clenched, thumbs up, hips
gyrating. To all who would come to Tunica to gamble, he is saying,
"Let's dance."
Day 1: High Rollin'