Overview
Out online poker readers
will be happy to learn
that the first phase of
Treasure Bay’s
rebuilding effort is
actually finished and
the casino is now open
for business. This comes
just in time for some
summer travel planning.
It isn’t the whole deal
yet, but travelers and
local residents alike
are happy to see
something up and
running.
The first section of the
restoration process is
located on the first
floor of the hotel.
Known as The Den, it has
81 slots and video poker
machines. There is a bar
and a 24 hour
restaurant. You can find
plenty of parking in
front of the casino and
shuttles are even
available here for your
convenience. For those
of you online poker
players out there that
want to head to this
establishment for a
summer break understand
that this part of the
rebuilding phase limits
patrons to 21 years old
and older. This is only
temporary and is caused
by the fact that the
casino is very small and
the area is condensed
until full services are
back up and running.
Alas, there are other
areas in the hotel where
minors will be just
fine.
All in all, this section
is sleekly designed and
offers a subtle, not
overwhelming environment
for visitors. We realize
the devastation of
Katrina caused a huge
nightmare for several
thousands of people and
the local economy, but
on the positive side,
things are all new
again.
Casino patrons and
employees are excited
about the reopening, but
this just a small taste
of what is to come soon.
The big push is now on
for the Grand Opening
this fall. With a fresh
new modern look, the
second phase of the
Treasure Bay rebuilding
process will contain a
remodeled hotel with 250
rooms and a casino
expansion to more than
750 slot machines and 22
table games. You will
find many new and
updated amenities that
are planned for the
hotel, including a
spectacular new
restaurant overlooking
the pool area, a new
casino resort gift shop
as well as convention
and meeting space.
Casino
Inside the casino, you
will find a good
selection of your
favorite
multi-denomination games
along with an updated
slot system that
features a new instant
reward program for
Players Club members.
Points earned by
gamblers using their
Treasure Seekers card
can be simply converted
to InstantCredit
right at their machine.
The sheer simplicity of
this new system will be
no doubt adopted (in
some similar form) by
mast all of the Gulf
area casinos. At
Treasure Bay, this
incentive program
eliminates waiting in
lines and the need for
coupons. The credits
also go wherever the
player goes. If you move
to a new machine, so do
your credits. The
program is safe and
secure. Members get a
Personal Identification
Number (PIN) that they
use when accessing their
points. The set up is
completed at the very
entrance to the casino,
so it is easy to find
and quick to do. We
can’t wait for the rest
of the casino to open.
Restaurants
Currently, the open
section of the resort
has a restaurant that
offers a large selection
of food items. Think of
this restaurant as an
abbreviation of many
restaurants compiled
into one temporary fix.
There is a great feel to
this place. It is cozy
and casual.
While we agree that this
fall will pose a whole
new world for the casino
resort. Players need not
stay away until then.
