Updated by Ziv Chen
Writer
Fact Checked by Lee James Gwilliam
Senior Vice-President
Southland Casino Hotel Review for April 2026
Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis, Arkansas occupies a curious geographic position: it is, for all practical purposes, part of the Memphis metropolitan area. It sits just across the Mississippi River from one of America's most storied music cities, seven minutes from downtown Memphis by road and immediately accessible from the I-40 and I-55 interchange.
That location explains everything about what Southland is and who it serves. It draws visitors from Memphis and its surrounding region, from Tunica's diminished casino cluster to the south, and from as far as Nashville, Little Rock, and northern Alabama, all of whom find a large, fully operational casino resort without having to cross into Tennessee where the casino options are far thinner.
Southland's history is as long and complicated as any casino property in the South. It opened in 1956 as a greyhound racing track. At its peak it drew 20,000 people on a Saturday night and operated as one of the most-attended dog tracks in the country.
The arrival of riverboat casinos in nearby Tunica, Mississippi in 1992 gutted attendance overnight, dropping daily visitors from thousands to hundreds. Delaware North, which had bought the track in the early 1970s, fought to keep it relevant through electronic games, facility improvements, and eventually the 2018 Arkansas constitutional amendment that legalized full casino operations in the state.
What followed was a $320 million transformation completed in December 2022: a 113,000 square foot casino floor, a 20-story blue-glass hotel tower, a complete new dining programme, and the end of live greyhound racing after 66 years.
Getting There
The property sits at the junction of Interstates 40 and 55, arguably the most significant highway intersection in the mid-South. From downtown Memphis it is seven minutes by car across the Hernando de Soto Bridge. From Little Rock it is roughly two hours west on I-40. From Nashville it is around three and a half hours southwest. From Jackson, Mississippi it is around two hours north. Memphis International Airport is also very close, being just 15 minutes from the casino.
Free self-parking is extensive across a dedicated parking garage with over 1,000 covered spaces and a valet service is available. The West Memphis location is functionally within the Memphis metro area's orbit, which means Southland benefits from proximity to Graceland, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the broader Memphis attractions ecosystem, even though the casino itself sits across the state line in Arkansas.
Casino Review
Arkansas's 2018 constitutional amendment allowed full Class III gaming, which is a big deal. For those unaware of the distinction, Class III gaming is the ‘full Vegas style’ with conventional slots, real dice craps, roulette, blackjack and poker. It’s the complete range, the full shebang.
The Southland casino floor here is big - around two and a half football fields in length. Sadly, smoking is permitted on the casino floor, which is worth knowing for visitors who prefer a smoke-free environment. If you prefer a non-smoking casino, Oaklawn is definitely your best option in Arkansas.
Table Games
Southland Casino Hotel has 50 live tables covering the full range of games you would expect to find. That includes:
The Bad Beat Poker jackpot, triggered when a strong hand such as Aces full of Kings or better loses, is a particularly active draw for regular poker players.
Elsewhere, the Betly Sportsbook handles sports wagering on college and professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, auto racing, MMA, soccer, and more via teller windows and 24/7 self-service kiosks located at multiple points through the casino.
Simulcast wagering on greyhound and thoroughbred racing is available seven days a week, which at least preserves Southland's racing identity in the post-live-racing era.
Slots
The 2,400 slot machines make Southland's floor the most slot-dense of Arkansas's three casinos. I like slots, ergo I like Southland. The range covers a wide variety of popular manufacturers and games too, and it is continuously refreshed with the latest releases.
After visiting and reviewing so many casinos, I have generally come to appreciate that a slots area in a casino is largely much of a muchness nowadays. Sure, there is the odd older property with a cramped layout and older machines, but generally the industry has found a uniformed system that works. Southland Casino Hotel is very much a part of that too.
For those who enjoy it, bar-top gaming is available at the Shine Bar on the casino floor around the clock.
Rewards Club
The Southland Rewards programme is free to join and earns points on all tracked slot and table game play. New members receive $20 in freeplay on sign-up. For me, $20 is probably just about the start of the ‘worth it’ freeplay sign-up money, so I did.
Like other rewards programmes, points convert toward freeplay and can unlock dining, entertainment, and hotel benefits.
Hotel Review
The 20-story glass tower completed in 2022 has become a bit of a visual landmark on the West Memphis skyline. Its blue-glass façade is very visible from the Memphis side of the Mississippi River bridge on approach. Again, I like that. If I am visiting a casino, I expect to see it hulking over me from a long distance like some kind of palace of possibility. A bit like Oz, if you like.
The 300 rooms include 216 standard ones, 72 corner suites, and 12 penthouse suites on the upper floors.
Rooms
All 300 rooms are individually decorated with premium bedding, laptop-friendly workspaces, and free WiFi. Corner suites provide additional living space and angled views across the West Memphis and Memphis landscape.
Penthouse suites on the upper floors command the best views, looking across the Mississippi River toward downtown Memphis and its bridges, which is a genuinely striking urban panorama at night when the city lights across the river are at their most dramatic.
Aside from that, there isn’t really much to say about the rooms. They are nice and do the job without wowing you, but who really travels to be wowed by the hotel room anyway?
Where to Eat
Southland's dining selection serves the full range from destination dining through casual and quick-service options.
| Restaurant | Type | General Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ignite Steakhouse and Bar | Upscale, charcoal-grilled steaks, Faroe Islands salmon, grass-fed short rib, crème brûlée, craft cocktails | $$$ |
| The Kitchens | 400-foot buffet, 100-plus daily dishes, seafood, Asian, BBQ, American, Mexican, Italian, salad bar | $$ |
| Sports Bar and Grill | Casual American, live sports on multiple screens, Betly kiosks | $ |
| The Fry House | Quick-service fried favourites, casual floor dining | $ |
| The Grind | Specialty coffee bar, pastries, grab-and-go, late-night express menu | $ |
| Charred Oak Bar | Bourbon-focused bar, casino floor | $ |
| Chairman's Bar | Casino floor bar, drinks and food service | $ |
| Shine Bar | 24-hour floor bar, bar-top gaming, moonshine cocktails including the Shiner and the Moon Me Rita | $ |
Ignite Steakhouse is the fine dining attraction, with a menu that goes beyond the standard casino steakhouse format to include interesting preparations. They include: Faroe Islands salmon with crispy okra and bourbon pecan reduction, grass-fed charred short rib, and a crème brûlée that seems to have developed a following of its own on social media.
The Kitchens buffet is one of the most extensive in Arkansas, with a 400-foot line serving more than 100 dishes daily across multiple cuisine categories. The crab legs have become a signature draw for regular buffet visitors. I have said it before and I will again, but the casino-goers obsession with crab legs is a curiosity worthy of some serious study.
The Shine Bar's moonshine-based cocktail programme, with its house creations like the Shiner and the Moon Me Rita, adds a bit of regional personality to what could otherwise be a generic casino bar.
Pool and Spa
Southland Casino Hotel does not have an on-site spa or outdoor pool. The 24-hour fitness center is available to hotel guests, though. Visitors looking for spa services should plan for options elsewhere in the Memphis area.
Entertainment
Southland does not have a dedicated concert venue or showroom. The Sports Bar and Grill serves as the primary entertainment hub for sports viewing and live game-day atmosphere.
The proximity to Memphis is the most significant entertainment asset the property can offer. Beale Street is seven minutes away and Graceland is accessible in about 20 minutes. The National Civil Rights Museum, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studio, and the Orpheum Theater are all within easy reach too.
Verdict
Southland Casino Hotel is the most straightforwardly urban of Arkansas's three casinos and the one most comfortable with what it is: a large, modern, fully-equipped casino hotel positioned to serve the Memphis metropolitan area.
The 113,000 square foot floor, 2,400 slots, 50 live table games, 300-room glass tower, and Betly sportsbook give it a comprehensive gaming package that the Mid-South was genuinely lacking before the 2022 completion.
What it lacks is Oaklawn's racing heritage and setting, or Saracen's cultural depth and civic significance in Pine Bluff. It is not trying to be either of those things, though. It is a well-run, modern casino hotel at one of the most convenient interstate interchanges in the South, seven minutes from one of the most visited cities in America, and it executes that proposition with confidence.
Meet The Author
Experience
Ziv Chen has been working in the online gambling industry for over two decades in senior marketing and business development roles. Ziv writes about a wide range of topics including slot and table games, casino and sportsbook reviews, American sports news, betting odds and game predictions. Leading a life full of conflict, Ziv constantly struggles between his two greatest loves: American football and US soccer.
Read Full BioDisclosure
Test Your Luck
Not Your Spam Filter
Sign up to receive emails and promotions from Casinos.com
