Page 25 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Fall, 2026

MS casinos lauded on wine list
MISSISSIPPI — Wine Spectator recently
announced its award-winning restaurants
for 2026. In Mississippi, 17 restaurants
made the list. Of those, seven were casino
restaurants. Wine Spectator’s Restaurant
Awards recognize restaurants whose wine
lists offer interesting selections,
are appropriate to their cuisine
and appeal to a wide range of
wine lovers.
There were two Mississippi
casino restaurants that
received the coveted Best of
Award of Excellence. These
wine lists display excellent
breadth across multiple
wine-growing regions and/or
significant vertical depth of top
producers, along with superior
presentation. Typically offering
350 or more selections, these restaurants
are destinations for serious wine lovers,
showing a deep commitment to wine, both
in the cellar and through their service team.
Receiving a Best of Award of Excellence
designation were Phillip M’s at Pearl River
Resort and thirty-two at IP Casino Resort
Spa in Biloxi.
Five Mississippi casino restaurants were
awarded an Award of Excellence, and four
of them are located at one casino and
all of them are in Biloxi. These wine lists,
which should offer at least 90 selections,
feature a well-chosen assortment of quality
producers, along with a thematic match to
the menu in both price and style. Whether
compact or extensive, focused
or diverse, these lists deliver
sufficient choice to satisfy
discerning wine lovers.
Receiving an Award of
Excellence designation were BR
Prime Steakhouse, Coraline’s,
Jia, and Stalla Italian Kitchen at
Beau Rivage, and Morton’s, The
Steakhouse at Golden Nugget
Biloxi.
“To be recognized among the
most world’s most exceptional
beverage programs with the
Wine Spectator awards is an immense
honor,” said Beau Rivage Sommelier
Charlene Egan. “Beau Rivage’s wine
program brings some hard-to-find and truly
extraordinary wines to Coastal Mississippi.
Creating unforgettable dining experiences
and guest satisfaction remain a top
priority.”
A little over 4,000 restaurants worldwide
were recognized.
Island View
named as one
of the luckiest
casinos in U.S.
GULFPORT — Island View Casino
Resort has been recognized as one of
the 10 “Luckiest Casinos in the U.S.”
by the influential website Casinos.com.
No other casino on the Gulf Coast or in
Mississippi made it into the top 10.
“We want our players to have a
great time and strive to give them
more reasons to stay and play with us,”
said Lindsey Inman, CEO of Island View
Casino Resort.
This is the most recent national
recognition Island View Casino Resort
has received. Last year the Gulfport
casino was ranked No. 1 in the country
by Casinos.com when it comes to
rewarding players. The property was
also voted one of the “Ten Best Casinos
in the U.S.” by both Yahoo.com and
BestLife.com.
Island View’s culinary team has
garnered national attention, as well.
Team members have been recognized
during the World Food Championships.
Big Back Burger
At the third-annual Natchez
Cheeseburger Challenge held in
June, Magnolia Bluffs Casino won the
$1,000 grand prize with the Big Back
Burger, created by Chef Josh Cable
(center). The award-winning burger
was topped with mac-and-cheese,
crispy fried onion rings and brisket,
and featured a signature sauce. The
Natchez Cheeseburger Challenge was
organized and presented by New Vision
Broadcasting in partnership with the
City of Natchez.
Pearl River Resort honored
with national award nomination
CHOCTAW — Pearl River Resort, an
Representing the Mississippi Band of
enterprise of the Mississippi Band of
Choctaw Indians at the awards event in
Choctaw Indians, was recently nominated
Nashville, Tennessee were Tribal Chief
for the PLANSPONSOR Plan Sponsor of
Cyrus Ben, Krisan Williams, and Kelli
the Year award.
Jones. Pearl
This national
River Resort was
recognition honors
represented by
organizations
Chief Financial
that demonstrate
Officer Joseph
exceptional
Castillo.
commitment to
“This nomination
advancing the
reflects the strong
financial well-being
commitment our
and retirement
leadership and
readiness of their
employees.
Being named
Pictured at the PLANSPONSOR
Excellence in Retirement Awards were
Joseph Castillo, Kelli Jones, Chief
Cyrus Ben and Krisan Williams.
benefits teams
have made
to providing
among this year’s
meaningful
nominees places Pearl River Resort
resources and opportunities for our
alongside some of the nation’s most
employees,” said Castillo. “We are honored
forward-thinking plan sponsors and
to be recognized on a national stage and
reflects the Tribe’s continued dedication to
remain focused on empowering our team
supporting the long-term financial security
members to achieve long-term financial
of its workforce and affiliated enterprises.
success.”
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