Millions of dollars are being spent on MS Coast casino improvements. See what’s new

New and improved restaurants, updated hotel rooms and more entertainment is on the way as South Mississippi casinos spend millions on upgrades..

Here are the improvements:

▪ Mignon’s Steaks & Seafood and Mignon’s Lounge at Palace Casino in Biloxi closed right after the busy New Year’s Eve celebration and reopens Friday, Jan. 12 with a makeover.

“The popular, award winning restaurant was redecorated with a fresh new look, new booths, new tables and chairs.,” said Keith Crosby, Palace general manager. “Same great food and friendly service,” he said remain in the $300,000 makeover.

Those who appreciate fine dining at Mignon’s already sold out the five-course dinner later this month, paired with wines from Cakebread Cellars. A Ridge Wine Dinner follows on Feb. 22.

▪ Construction is under way at Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast Bay St. Louis to create an upscale lobby bar, said Kyle Widdows, vice president of marketing.

“A brand new look is coming soon,” he said, complete with new tile, walls and modern decor.

A new front desk just opened and the area where the old desk was will be transformed into the yet unnamed lobby bar.

This is the continuation of improvements at the resort. Three new amenities were added last spring — a noodle restaurant, a baccarat pit and a spa, and Widdos said more upgrades are on the way this year.

Poker continues to draw players to the Beau Rivage, which is hosting the Heater Poker Tournament through Jan. 15, with more than $3 million in guaranteed prize pools.

In the space at the back of the casino that was a poker room, a new seafood restaurant is under construction.

A $4.9 million building permit was issued to Yates Construction in Biloxi for the build-out of the restaurant. Additional money will be spent to furnish and equip the space that is expected to open in the summer, said spokeswoman Mary Cracchiolo.

▪ IP Casino Resort is launching the refresh of 48 suites, with a $3.6 million building permit issued to Yates Construction.

“It will be all the suites on the property,” said Kim Goetz, regional vice president of marketing for IP Casino and Boyd Gaming,

The suites are one and two bedrooms and six different layouts.

“They are spread throughout the hotel,” she said, and will be completely renovated by early summer.

IP also is expanding its entertainment lineup this spring after being limited since the pandemic. On the schedule are:

▪ Rock Band Styx Jan. 20 (tickets start at $79)

▪ Rock legends Great White & Slaughter Jan. 27 (tickets start at $49)

▪ Comedian Ms. Pat Feb. 17 (tickets start at $34)

▪ Country music singer Ashley McBryde Feb. 24 (tickets start at $59)

▪ Comedian Matt Mathews March 16 (tickets start at $34)

▪ Rock and Mexican folk band Los Lobos March 22 (tickets start at $34)

▪ Little River Band March 30 (tickets start at $49)

▪ All-vocal country entertainers Home Free April 6 (tickets start at $39)

Several other casinos continue to update their facilities. Harrah’s Gulf Coast recently debuted new restaurants in what was the former buffet, a new poker room and an expanded the non-smoking portion of the casino.

Boomtown Biloxi was another of several casinos that didn’t bring back the buffet after the Covid pandemic. A portion of the buffet space was repurposed into a second floor event center.