Page 19 - Jackpot Magazine Tunica ~ March, 2022

New Southland Casino complex to open soon
Early April is the target date to open expanded casino with hotel to follow
By David Grisham
WEST MEMPHIS — Southland Casino
Racing executives offered a sneak peek at their $300 million expansion project recently. Southland’s new 113,000 square-foot casino complex is currently on track to be open in early April, with a 21-story hotel to follow later this year.
The casino complex will have 2,400 slot machines and up to 60 live table games. It will feature new expanded dining options, including a larger buffet and steakhouse restaurant as well as three new bars, a coffee shop, fry house and VIP player lounge. The expansive casino floor, which stretches the length of three football fields, can only be described as dazzling, even in its current unfinished state.
The hotel will feature 30 rooms with 60 to 70 suites and 12 executive-level presidential suites on the top floor. Connected to the hotel will be a 1,250-space parking garage.
David Wolf, Southland Casino Racing president and general manager, said the new casino and hotel will offer guests a Las Vegas-style experience. “We have the latest technology here, so it’s going to be a game changer.”
The expansive casino floor stretches for as far as the eye can see at Southland.
The new casino complex will require more employees, too, an estimated 400 to 500. Wolfe said the additional personnel will bring the total number employees at Southland to 1,400 to 1,500, making it the largest employer in Crittenden County.
“This is an excellent opportunity to begin your career and be a part of an exciting gaming and hospitality operation,” said Wolf. Hiring events are currently taking place every Wednesday through March 9 at Southland’s Kennel Club located on the 2nd floor mezzanine.
“It’s been in the works for a long time here, so this is a new era,” Wolfe said. “This is great for the state of Arkansas, great for West Memphis.
“There’s definitely going to be an impact for our city,” said West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon. “Southland has always been great for the city of West Memphis.” The West Memphis mayor said he sees the potential for new businesses locating in the city to surround the expanded Southland Casino Hotel and also a larger tax base that will be put toward city infrastructure and public services.
Wolfe said the massive casino project, which has been four years in the making, is the highlight of his long career. To be involved in the project from the beginning to end and to see the benefits to the community and the employees at Southland, he said, has been “very satisfying.”
Southland President and GM David Wolf speaks to regional news outlets on the progress of the ongoing $300 million expansion project and hiring events.
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March 2022 • JACKPOT! MAGAZINE 19