Mardi Gras Casino And Sportsbook
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort is the most convenient casino to West Virginia’s two largest towns and it features a sportsbook where anyone 21 and over can wager.
The property is located on the outskirts of the state capital, Charleston, and is about 13 miles from the town center. The largest town in the state, Huntington, is about 43 miles west.
However, this central location probably limits the appeal to out-of-state guests. The nearest large city to Mardi Gras is Columbus, Ohio, which is located just over 150 miles northwest of the casino.
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort is owned by Delaware North, a New York-based management company. Delaware North purchased the Mardi Gras in January 2018.
Delaware North also owns nine other casino properties in the United States. One of them is the Wheeling Island casino in northern West Virginia.
Mardi Gras Casino sports betting
On March 6, Mardi Gras Casino, along with its sister property, Wheeling Island Casino and mobile app, BetLucky Sportsbook abruptly ceased operations. Delaware North cites a dispute between its technology provider, Miomni and Entergaming for the shutdown.
Since then, Delaware North announced it was severing ties with Miomni. That announcement means the suspension of sports betting will be longer than originally thought. It also means it is unlikely BetLucky will return to the Mountain State.
Today, Delaware North and IGT partnered to bring sports betting back to its two casinos. The sportsbooks will be accepting bets through its new platform, betly. Online sports betting is expected to launch soon with the betly betting app.
Mardi Gras Casino gaming
Mardi Gras is the smallest of the four racinos in West Virginia. However, the casino hits all the marks that a good casino should hit. Its casino spreads across 90,000 square feet of gaming space.
Slots
There are over 900 slot machines available for play at Mardi Gras. There are more than 250 different varieties of game that players can choose, including both reel and video-style games.
Machines are located throughout the casino floor, in the high-limit area, and even outdoors alongside the Mardi Gras dogtrack. There are several progressive jackpot options that can turn a small bet into a giant win. Some of the games available are:
- Dancing Drums
- Wonder Woman
- Heidi’s Bierhaus
- Concerto SeleXion
- Hot Roulette
- Wheel of Fortune
- Lightning Link
- Buffalo Gold
- Harley Davidson
Players can choose machines that range in denomination from $25 all the way down to a penny. Like most casinos, all slots at Mardi Gras operate using a ticket system, which makes moving from machine to machine much easier.
Table games
For non-slots players, Mardi Gras has 30 table games available for play. These games range from the familiar blackjack to regional favorites like Mississippi Stud.
In fact, there are eight different games on tables at Mardi Gras. They are:
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Roulette
- Three Card Poker
- Big 6
- Mississippi Stud
- Fusion Hybrid Roulette
- Criss Cross Poker
Six of those games are somewhat well-known. However, the last two on the list warrant a brief description.
Fusion Hybrid Roulette
Fusion Hybrid Roulette is a product of game provider Scientific Games. In this version of roulette, players compete at electronic terminals.
All the terminals are linked with one or more central games. All betting and game action occurs on the terminal.
Fusion Hybrid Roulette allows far more people to play than at a traditional roulette table, making it appealing for casinos with the floor space. However, the game may also allow for more interactivity with other players nearby.
Criss Cross Poker
Criss Cross Poker is a spin on a traditional game of Texas hold’em. Like hold’em, players receive two hole cards and five community cards to make the best five-card hand.
Unlike hold’em, the community cards are dealt in a cross pattern, similar to a plus sign. In effect, players now have two flops to bet that their hands will qualify for a payout.
Essentially, a pair of jacks or better is required to receive any kind of win, although a pair of sixes or above results in a push. Anything lower, and the player loses their bet.
Players can wager on the Down board, the Across board and make a bet on the Middle card. Middle bets pay if the player wins on one of the boards.
Poker
If Criss Cross Poker seems too gimmicky, players can play the real thing in the Big Easy Poker Room. Card players will find 24 tables waiting for them, ready to host a variety of games and limits.
For hold’em players, there are both limit and no-limit varieties to try. The limit games start at $3/$6, and no-limit games at Mardi Gras can reach as high as $10/$25 blinds.
The poker room also spreads pot-limit Omaha, Omaha Eight or Better (also known as High-Low), and Seven Card Stud. All three games (Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud) have bad beat jackpots available. At last check, the hold’em jackpot stood at $25,000.
The Big Easy Poker Room also hosts poker tournaments every day except Fridays. These tournaments range in size and style, but are usually no more than $80 to enter.
However, one tournament each month is a marquee event. The buy-in for this tournament is $275, and it is a rebuy tournament, meaning that there could be a large payout for somebody in West Virginia.
Racing
Like the other four commercial casinos in West Virginia, Mardi Gras offers live racing to patrons. Like its sister property, Wheeling Island, Cross Lanes is a greyhound racing track.
The track hosts live racing five nights a week. From Wednesday through Sunday, you can wager on the outcome of a slew of races from the comfort of Mardi Gras’ state-of-the-art facility.
The track also features the Grill at First Turn, a restaurant that overlooks the entire track. Patrons can bet on races from the comfort of their tables.
There is also simulcast horseracing at Cross Lanes, with live coverage from tracks around the country. Players can also join the Racer’s Edge Club and accrue points with every wager.
Hotel, dining and amenities
Hotel
Mardi Gras’s central location in West Virginia puts the property within easy driving distance for residents in the state’s two main metro areas. However, for travelers, there is a fine hotel onsite that offers rest for the weary.
The hotel maintains 150 rooms for patrons to stay. The rooms range from the standard double queen or king all the way up to the lavish presidential suite.
Regardless of the room’s place in the hierarchy, all come equipped with at least one of the following:
- HD flat-screen television
- iPod docking radio and clock
- In-room safe
- Free wifi
- Complementary breakfast buffet
- In-room climate control
- Hairdryer, ironing board, and iron
Dining and Entertainment
There are several options onsite at Mardi Gras Casino. The selections range from quick snacks and grill items to fine dining.
There are three main food locations on the property:
- The French Quarter Restaurant: Fine food establishment serving steaks, seafood, cocktails, wine, and champagne.
- Cafe Orleans: Relaxed restaurant serving burgers and other grilled items, along with a selection of drinks and beer.
- The Grill at First Turn: Despite the name, serves fare that straddles between fine dining and pub food.
The hotel at Mardi Gras also features the Jackson Square Bar. Hotel guests can unwind at this location on the hotel’s ground floor.
You can also get a drink at the bar at Louie’s. Louie’s is an entertainment venue and dancehall onsite, playing a wide variety of music for different tastes.
Fitness
For exercise-minded guests, Mardi Gras Casino also offers an excellent fitness center. The center’s exercise equipment includes a selection of treadmills, stairclimbers, stationary bikes, and yoga mats.
Flat-screen television are all over the facility. There is also a fitness pool for patrons who prefer to swim for exercise.
After the workout, patrons can relieve their soreness using the facility’s hot tub. Towels and water are complimentary at the fitness center.
Mardi Gras Casino FAQ
Delaware North, a New York-based hospitality company, owns Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island Hotel.
Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio city is about 150 miles north-northwest of Mardi Gras. However, Mardi Gras’ location means that it is perhaps the most local-centric casino in West Virginia.
Yes. The Mardi Gras Players Club offers members a wide array of perks, including:
- Points redeemable for food, beverage, merchandise, or hotel stays
- Participation in prize drawings
- Invitations to members-only events
- Reduced hotel rates and offers
- Exclusive coupons and offers
If you’re in central West Virginia, there are definitely options for your gaming needs. Mardi Gras is certainly one of them.