Island View Casino Resort & smoke-free Beach View Casino

So recently, I took two days and drove down to Gulfport from Michigan to visit my Grandparents who are snowbirding. I honestly loved it down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and I can't wait for my next visit. Loved the food, the hospitality, and the various activities around town. I feel like I might have missed some things though. I visited the Mississippi Aquarium, and other smaller coastal towns but not much else apart from going to New Orleans. I'm only 19 so the casinos were out of the question. What are some other fun things I could do on my next visit?

• Gambling addiction has been shown to have the same pharmacological effects as opiates.
• Casinos are designed to disorient and confuse patrons, from the lighting and carpeting to the key of machine sounds.
• Nevada had the highest suicide rate in the nation from 1990-1994, according to statistics from the CDC.
• In Gulfport, Mississippi, suicides increased by 213 percent in the first two years after casinos arrived. In neighboring Biloxi, suicide attempts jumped by 1,000 percent in the first year alone.
• The National Council on Problem Gambling, citing various studies, reports that one in five pathological gamblers attempts suicide, a rate higher than for any other addictive disorder.
• In the UK more than 2 million households are affected by problem gambling including 50,000 addicted minors. Suicide deaths every day increasingly include young, healthy males with good careers from stable families. This is worth reading.
• Asia is even worse, with Macau generating about 8 times the revenue of Las Vegas, but Thailand, Korea, and India are also in very severe condition. Japan began the process of legalizing casino gambling in 2018, with a new agency established in 2020.
• 1 in 5 habitual gamblers attempts suicide
• 1 in 5 suicides is related to gambling (usually with no other health or psychological problems)

That's JUST the suicides. Not the drugs, prostitution, organized crime, alcohol, cigarettes, job problems, domestic problems, credit card interest, or whatever else people could be doing with their lives. It's just the suicides.
Gambling was illegal in 48 states for over 100 years, but in the last ten years has risen almost perpendicularly. Ask anyone who works at a gas station or convenience store, daily lottery drawings and scratch-off tickets are almost a $100B industry - with some states legalizing lotteries as recently as January of 2020. Sports betting is almost as large, formally estimated at $85B.
Casinos, together with strip clubs and the other forms of gambling listed above, are open and operating right now in states that continue to (illegally) force churches and businesses to shut down. By the way.

Forewarning - this is not the all-too-common "where should I go?" post.
The gf and I will be taking a train to NewOrleans where we will be visiting for a few days.
I'm planning on proposing to her on the beach - possibly after a candle-lit picnic at sunset.
She has only seen the ocean from a littered beach when we were doing Katrina cleanup, so I want to find a beach that better represents their beauty.
Do any of you natives have suggestions as to where I should be looking?
I'll be renting a car, so transportation isn't an issue.
The only suggestion I've gotten so far is a beach in Pass Christian, MS (around a 1hr. drive.) right around here
Please! give me your suggestions, I'm counting on you, reddit!

So i live in gulfport Mississippi and people think this state is very poor but when i go downtown in gulfport its a beautiful place with restaurants and a aquarium being built and many more stuff that i cant talk about
How come the town i live in is probably one of the best towns in mississisppi
And yes theres another town right next to us that is known to have casinos by the water.

Flag: Flag of the State of Mississippi
Map: Mississippi County Map
Nickname: The Magnolia State, The Hospitality State
Demonym: Mississippian
Abbreviation: MS
Territory (prior to statehood): Mississippi Territory
Admission to the Union: December 10, 1817 (20th)
Population: 2,992,333 (32nd)
Electoral College Votes: 6
Area: 48,430 mi² (32nd)
Population Density: 63.8/mi² (32nd)
Countries Similar in Size: North Korea (46,540 mi^2), Nicaragua (50,337 mi^2), Greece (50,960 mi²⁾
State Capital: Jackson
Largest Cities (by population)

Rank	City	County	Population
1	Jackson	Hinds County	173,514
2	Gulfport	Harrison County	67,793
3	Southaven	DeSoto County	48,982
4	Hattiesburg	Forrest County	46,805
5	Biloxi	Harrison County	44,054

Borders: Tennessee (N), Alabama (E), Arkansas (NW), Louisiana (SW), Gulf of Mexico (S)
Subreddit: /mississippi

Government

Governor: Phil Bryant
Lieutenant Governor: Tate Reeves
U.S. Senators: Thad Cochran (R), Roger Wicker (R)
U.S. House Delegation: 4 Representatives (3 Republicans, 1 Democrat)
Mississippi Legislature
Senators: 52 (32 Republican, 20 Democrat)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Terry C. Burton (R)
Representatives: 122 (74 Republican, 48 Democrat)
Speaker of the House: Philip Gunn (R)

Presidential Election Results (since 1980, most recent first)

Year	Democratic Nominee	Republican Nominee	State Winner (%)	Election Winner	Notes
2012	Barack Obama	Mitt Romney	Mitt Romney (55.29%)	Barack Obama	One of only six states where Obama improved from 2008
2008	Barack Obama	John McCain	John McCain (56.17%)	Barack Obama
2004	John Kerry	George W. Bush	George W. Bush (59.4%)	George W. Bush
2000	Al Gore	George W. Bush	George W. Bush (57.6%)	George W. Bush
1996	Bill Clinton	Bob Dole	Bob Dole (49.21%)	Bill Clinton	Reform Party Candidate Ross Perot won 5.8% of the Mississippi vote
1992	Bill Clinton	George H.W. Bush	George H.W. Bush (49.68%)	Bill Clinton	Independent Candidate Ross Perot won 8.72% of the Mississippi vote
1988	Michael Dukakis	George H.W. Bush	George H.W. Bush (59.89%)	George H.W. Bush	Ron Paul ran as the Libertarian Party presidential nominee, his first bid for the Presidency
1984	Walter Mondale	Ronald Reagan	Ronald Reagan (61.85%)	Ronald Reagan
1980	Jimmy Carter	Ronald Reagan	Ronald Reagan (49.4%)	Ronald Reagan	Jimmy Carter had won the state in 1976, the last Democrat to do so. This election began Mississippi's shift to a safe Republican stronghold

Demographics

Racial Composition:

• 59.5% non-Hispanic White
• 37.6% Black
• 3.1% Hispanic/Latino (of any race)
• 1.2% Mixed race, multicultural or biracial
• 1.1% Asian
• 0.7% Native American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Ancestry Groups

• African American (28.3%)
• American¹ (14%)
• Irish (6.9%)
• English (6.1%)
• German (4.5%) ^{1: American often refers to those of English descent whose family has resided in the Americas since the colonial period.}

Second Languages – Most Non-English Languages Spoken at Home

• Spanish (incl. Spanish Creole)
• French (incl. Patois, Cajun, Creole)
• Other Native North American languages
• German
• Vietnamese

Religion

• Christian (83%)
  • Evangelical Protestant (41%)
  • Black Protestant (24%)
  • Mainline Protestant (12%)
  • Catholic (4%)
  • Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, or Orthodox (2.5%)
• Unaffiliated, Atheist or Refused to Answer (14%)
• Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic or Hindu (2%)

Education

Mississippi's Constitution, which was drafted after a convention in 1868 by a biracial committee, provided free public education for all people between the ages of 5 and 21 years. The state had little tax money to fund the school system, however, due to a heavily agricultural economy. Many black communities matched money raised by Julius Rosenwald to build schools and develop the educational systems in their communities.
Public schools were heavily segregated until the late 1960's (despite the 1954 Brown v Board of Education ruling which declared "separate but equal" schools to be unconstitutional). While a small minority of white students were withdrawn from public schooling following integration, 91% of the state's students remain publicly educated.
Mississippi has the ignoble distinction of ranking last or near-last in many measures of educational achievement, including in spending per student (45th), math scores (50th), science scores (50th) and in ACT scores (50th); it ranks well-above average in SAT scores. However, only 3% of students take the SAT.
Colleges and Universities in Mississippi include (shown are four-year schools with enrollment over 9,500):

School	City	Enrollment	NCAA (Nickname)
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)	Oxford	23,838	Division I (Rebels)
Mississippi State University	Starkville	20,873	Division I (Bulldogs)
University of Southern Mississippi	Hattiesburg	14,845	Division I (Golden/Lady Eagles)
Jackson State University	Jackson	9,802	Division I (Tigers)

Economy

State Minimum Wage: $7.25/hour
Minimum Tipped Wage: $2.13/hour
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
Largest Employers, excluding Wal-Mart and state/federal government

Employer	Industry	Location	Employees
University of Mississippi Medical Center	Medical Center	Jackson	9,000+
Nissan North America Inc.	Automobile Manufacturing	Canton	6,300+
Baptist Health Systems	Healthcare	Jackson	6,000+
North Mississippi Medical Center	Medical Center	Tupelo (HQ)	5,000+
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino	Entertainment	Biloxi	4,000+

Sports in Mississippi

With no professional franchises in the state, Mississippi's sports scene is dominated by college and minor-league athletics. Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Mississippi State all have successful NCAA programs and have significant following throughout the state.
Several developmental baseball franchises, soccer and hockey teams call Mississippi home, including franchises for the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fun Facts^*

1. Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon pitched for Mississippi State University. This is widely regarded as the worst thing to come from Mississippi in the last 25 years.
2. The Teddy bear can trace its origins to a hunting trip Teddy Roosevelt took to Mississippi in 1902, when he refused to shoot a bear that had been captured and tied to a tree.
3. The international Checkers Hall of Fame is in Petal, Mississippi. If you are standing next to another patron at an exhibit, you may only move by attempting to jump over that person.
4. The world's first lung and heart transplants were performed in Mississippi in 1963 and 1964, respectively.
5. Free slaves from many states, including Mississippi, would go on to found the nation of Liberia, which became an independent nation in 1862.
6. Jackson (along with Moscow, Helsinki and Varna) is one of only four cities of the world sanctioned by The International Theater-Dance Committee to host the International Ballet Competition.
7. Coca Cola was first bottled in 1894 in Vicksburg (it was previously only available as a fountain drink). Barq's Root Beer was invented in the state four years later in 1898.

^{* Facts may not actually be entirely factual.}

List of Famous People

Previous States:

1. Delaware
2. Pennsylvania
3. New Jersey
4. Georgia
5. Connecticut
6. Massachusetts
7. Maryland
8. South Carolina
9. New Hampshire
10. Virginia
11. New York
12. North Carolina
13. Rhode Island
14. Vermont
15. Kentucky
16. Tennessee
17. Ohio
18. Louisiana
19. Indiana

https://i.imgur.com/KIa1K08.png
This is my second day doing Lyft (and rideshare driving overall). I'm in a HORRIBLE area for it. Gulfport-Biloxi region of Mississippi. Only things we have going for us are a small expensive local airport (mostly used by high rollers) and about 4 "major" casinos. I think the problem is most people are taking Ubers?
I was at the airport que for THREE HOURS, three flights came in that time, the first 2 everyone on the flight either had a ride or took all the Ubers from the rideshare lot (some of those Uber drivers returned for flight #2). I was pretty depressed by 3rd flight.
I got an awesome guy. He was super friendly, just came in from Portland to take care of his mom that just had surgery. He's from the area, which same as me I moved back here from Los Angeles, so we joked about how horrible of an area we're both from in comparison.
I mentioned my horrible time at the airport rideshare line and he agreed Uber is probably more popular around here, but that he likes Lyft because the drivers are generally nicer and that it lets him tip in the app.
Now when he mentioned that he likes tipping in app, I just decided not to talk about tips that much. I just joked about how it's probably the safer option, cash could be dangerous to carry around while lyfting if someone mugged a driver.
Dropped him off, helped him get his luggage out, wished his mother the best in recovery. Before I even pulled away he had already input a tip. And not the default 2$ one. I mean it's not a great fare, considering I could have gotten 25-30 if he was going to a casino, but the fact he was so nice and gave a tip kinda made my night.
(PS, before the comments on mileage to minutes, I get 9 cents a minute, he knew that. I wasn't milking time, we had flash floods recently and I was driving safely 5mph below speed limit and sometimes 10 below.)

My folks want to retire down in the Biloxi area so I figured I go down with them so I'm not left in New York by myself with no support system. I'm only 23 and from what I've seen Biloxi looks more for old retired folks than any younger generation so I'm pretty skeptical.
Is there any sort of shopping or shows or just well, anything for younger peeps to do? Anything other than casinos or country concerts or stuff like that? I'm not into clubs or partying, but conventions or other geek events is more up my alley.
How's the internet down in the Biloxi or Gulfport areas? Most of my social life is online so it's pivotal that I try and get as good a speed as I can. Also does anyone know how easy it would be to afford a one bedroom apartment? I'd prefer living on my own, working as a nursing aide, though I've read that Mississippi is one of the lowest paying states for my job, though that might be because the cost of living is overall lower? I'm not too sure. I have five years experience so that should count for something right?
How liberal is the area? Are there any LGBTQ friendly areas?
Thanks in advanced; we're driving down next month to scope out the state a bit but I figured it'd be a good idea to try and get a feel for what I'm in for for my first visit.

I was recently asked by someone from out of town for places to eat around the Coast. I realized I had developed something of a list of reasonably-priced restaurants across South Mississippi, that are awesome.
Here's the rules: These are places people wouldn't usually think of to recommend to a visitor (like The Shed, or Mary Mahoney's). Also, these aren't places you are going to spend a fortune on a meal for two people. Between 20 and 30 bucks at the worst. These are also not casino restaurants or chain restaurants. Most importantly, I'm going to tell you what to order, because I hate going to places people recommend, not liking it, and being told by my friend that I ordered the wrong thing.
Thought I'd post my list here to see if anyone else has a good one.
1.)Country Gentleman in Gautier on Gautier-Vancleave Road. Order the Gyros or Super-Gyros I moved out of Jackson County last year, so I hope this place is still open. It sounds like a joint that does "Chicken-fried whatever", and they do make that. But it's run by this Greek family, and there's a little section in the menu that is Greek food. And it blows Mr. Greek in Biloxi out of the water.
2.)Cafe New Orleans in D'iberville on Lamey Bridge Road. Order literally anything. Just order whatever the special is. This is a place that does 'soul food' or 'comfort food' or whatever it's called. It's a place where you can order a pork chop and hush puppies. The food is good. It's not amazing, but it's good. The draw is that you get like a pound of whatever you order. Way too much. If you eat at this place for lunch, I guarantee you, you will be eating the leftovers for dinner.
3.) Zeppelins in Biloxi on Howard Avenue. Order the Pizza This isn't a pizzeria. I don't know if they bill themselves as a pizzeria, but it's not a pizzeria. It's a bar. It looks like a bar, smells like a bar, and is lit like a bar. It is also the best place for gourmet pizza I've found on the coast. I have tried a handful of the pizzas they have on the menu and every one has been great. Extra Credit: their kitchen is open until like 2am. That's how I found this place. I work nights.
4.) Brooklyn Pizza in Gulfport on Courthouse Rd. Order the Steak and Cheese Sandwich Every time someone new comes to town, this is the FIRST place I send them. The pizza is fine. Everything else is also fine, I'm sure. But don't order it. Order the Steak and Cheese sandwich. If they ask you what you want on it, tell them "Whatever comes on it." This is the best sandwich, not just on the Coast, but that I have ever eaten in my life. It takes like 10 minutes to make, which should give you plenty of time to call your loved ones and tell them the person they knew is about to die, and a new, better, person is about to be born unto this world.
5.)Mockingbird Cafe in Bay St. Louis on 2nd Street. Order a burger I went to this place once, a few years back. I don't get into Hancock County very often. If something has changed since then, this might not still be the case. The place looks like an artsy coffee house hidden inside some historic home. Don't worry about that. You don't have to talk to any of the hippies. Just order a burger. They do something weird where the bun is a little sweet, like there is a bit of sugar in it. Not a lot, but just enough that you notice. It's a memorable burger. I'm still thinking about it, and I've seen my share of burgers since then.
That's my list. I'm not really a seafood guy, so none of the seafood places were on it.
Anybody else got one? Preferably one that fits the rules. Also, I'd love to hear about places that are open past 11 (again, I work late). Most importantly, wherever it is, TELL ME WHAT TO ORDER.

Since it seems every time I load it, it asks me to login now, I'm going to start quoting the articles completely and throw a link in at the bottom. Take that, paywall.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/10/26/5061759/south-mississippi-gay-bars-have.html
By JUSTIN MITCHELL
In South Mississippi, where Lynn Koval has seen five gay bars fail in the past decade, three such clubs have found success by becoming part of the community by giving back to it.
Imgur album of photos with this article
Koval and her sister, Lysa Broussard, own Just Us Lounge on Division Street in Biloxi and say it's more than just a gay bar.
For the past 13 Christmases, Just Us Lounge has adopted every South Mississippi Angel Tree child with HIV or AIDS.
"We buy them everything on their wish list," Koval said.
From donating turkeys to the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi to hosting benefit nights at the lounge, Koval and Broussard rarely ever use the word 'no' when asked to give back to the community.
On Sept. 18, Just Us hosted a benefit night for Walk for Down Syndrome. The money from the cover charge was donated to the organization. Broussard said the benefit will become an annual fundraiser.
"We are a viable resource, not just for the LGBT community but the entire community -- period," Koval said. "As long as we can meet overhead, our goal is to give back to our community."
Just Us has been open on Division Street since 1998. Broussard and Koval opened a separate bar, Sanctuary, in 1996. The two bars merged in 1999.
Just Us opened its doors to provide a safe social outing spot for the South Mississippi gay community, but Koval said she used to have a sign that welcomed both gay and straight patrons to the bar.
However, the bar has seen fierce opposition.
When Just Us first opened, Koval said she was greeted by three hanging nooses on the door one day when she arrived to open up. Koval said the bar was also protested by white supremacists.
"I told my staff that if a Molotov cocktail didn't come through our doors the first year, we would be open for 20 years-plus," Koval said.
Fourteen years later, Just Us still keeps its doors open to the entire community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
"We only close if a hurricane is coming and they knock on the door and make us leave," Broussard said.
Broussard and Koval agreed that all walks of life are represented at Just Us.
Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway spent a day at Just Us
for a benefit event, and military servicemen and women frequent the bar because it is close to Keesler Air Force Base.
"We get busy in the early morning hours because casino workers and service industry workers come in for a free shift drink," Koval said.
Broussard said that Just Us has been kept alive for so long because of the unique Coast community.
"The Coast is a melting pot," she said. "Our entire community is more accepting."
Koval said that she has seen many gay bars open and close their doors over the years, but she is committed to keeping Just Us open.
'Other' fun in Gulfport
Wednesday night bingo at The Other Bar in Gulfport isn't your grandmother's bingo. There are no markers, fanny packs or troll dolls, but instead beer bottle tops, cocktails and Jayda White, house drag queen and show manager.
White starts the night with a song performance and stand-up comedy set before she takes her seat to call out bingo markers.
"We're starting the night with B-9," White said on a recent Wednesday. "For the first round of Drag Bingo, you can get bingo anyway you can, whether it's horizontal, vertical or diagonal."
At bingo, there is no cover, and the cards are free.
"It's basically a two-hour drag show," said Ellis Pickle, manager at The Other Bar.
Pickle said prizes at bingo come from local businesses who support the gay community.
The Other Bar is on 25th Avenue near downtown Gulfport.
"There are no other gay bars in Gulfport," Pickle said. "The owners are straight, and we work hard to cater to the gay community."
The bar has an open-concept floorplan with a bar illuminated by bubbles that change colors. In the left-hand corner of the bar, there is a sitting area with leather couches, tables and a wall of framed photos of iconic figures who are gay or support the gay community. Dancers perform in an illuminated cage on Saturday nights.
Pickle said since he took over as manager nearly four months ago, business has been increasing.
"We're packing it out every single weekend," he said. "We have gay and straight clientele."
The Other Bar prides itself on offering a safe place to go out and have fun.
"We have an inviting atmosphere," Pickle said. "If you offer a safe, comfortable environment with great entertainment and great drinks, the people will come."
The Other Bar holds events or shows every day it is open.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, there are drink specials and on weekends, there are almost always drag shows.
Pickle said that the shows draw gay and straight people alike.
"It's all about the atmosphere," he said.
Veaux in the Vieux
Since February 2011, Club Veaux in the Vieux Marche in downtown Biloxi has had its doors open to serve the gay community. "We are primarily a gay bar, but certainly we cater to the straight community as well," said head bartender Suzie Moore.
Located less than two miles from Just Us, Moore said that business at the bars feed off each other.
"The idea for the bar was based on location," Moore said. "We share a lot of business with Just Us."
On Friday nights, Club Veaux offers a $10 cover charge with free draft beer and liquor from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Various happy hours and drink specials are offered nightly.
"Fridays are insane here," Moore said.
Moore said the bar will never close before 3 a.m. to cater to the late-shift crowd.
Moore said it's important for South Mississippi residents to support the three gay bars in the area.
"The Coast doesn't have much else to offer to the gay community other than what we bring," Moore said.
Club Veaux is planning to remodel over the next six to eight months to include a gaming area and new decor, but their doors will remain open.

(It's ok, I asked someone who works at the sun herald and he said they probably won't mind.)

My cousin is based out of the Gulfport, MS Naval base so myself and his two older brothers went to hang with him before he gets deployed in July. We stayed at IP Casino. First off it was a nice hotel/casino for the money. $169 for the night before tax/resort fees etc. was the best deal in town for a nice hotel on a Friday night. They had low limit Craps, blackjack, let it ride, and Mississippi Stud tables running all time. There was a $5 Craps table that runs 24/7 but as expected was very crowded. I started the day playing some $5 Let it Ride. I bought in for $100 and hit trip 9's in my hand so that put me up to start the day (30-1 odds on the $5 3 card bet and 3-1 on all of the 5 card bets so about $200) Ended up leaving up $160. Played blackjack that night on a $10 table. Bought in for $250 walked off with $245 after 30 min or so. Walked over to one of the half dozen or so $10 Craps tables with my $245. Had a couple great rollers on my side. After an hour or so my cousins left the table down but I was up about $100 or so and stayed on. I hit a 15 min heater and ended up killing it on the 5, 6, and 8 bets while hitting a few points. I hit a few hardways. I'm up to $900 or so in chips. Table went cold over the next few rollers (including me) and I walked off with $675. So for the day/night I was up $575. It was a great time, the dealers and pit bosses were very helpful, and the staff was great. I would definitely recommend the IP Casino if you're in the Biloxi area.