French Lick Casino — Attraction in French Lick

Terrible experience whilst visiting the casino on Kentucky Derby Day. We dressed for the occasion and sat in the casino, book area. The tables were arranged for TV viewing with adequate spacing to comply with COVID guidelines. The self service bar was appropriately set up for social distancing, yet masks were still required even though the appearance and signage suggested it was a designated area away from the casino proper.

We complied with the requirements for the most part, having to partially remove the mask for a sip of the beverage and promptly replace it. We were there for roughly four hours, predominately at our table, apart for the occasional restroom visit and meander through the gaming area.

We were occasionally reminded to refit our masks properly after sipping a drink and momentarily forgetting to do so. Herein lies the poor experience takeaway from our first visit to Indiana.. although we were social distancing, whilst sitting at the table, the seemingly abundant, mask hall monitors were prowling, like NFL referees dying to throw a flag. It was excessive, uncomfortable and about as accommodating as a Turkish prison. Every employee from janitor to dealer, security guard to cashier apparently welcomed their new found authority and went above and beyond in their mission to enforce the mask rule.

We were there for most of the afternoon, spent a lot of money on drinks and gambling and bought drinks for many strangers after mild successes. With 30 mins to the Derby itself, my daughter, who was dressed fit for a horse owner in the race itself, and her boyfriend were approached by a Security personnel and informed they had to leave for breach of the mask rule. Apparently they had overused their cautionary allowance. After the initial disbelief of their inflexibility to make an allowance, considering the little time left to the big race, things declined. My wife and I interjected, requested re consideration under the circumstances and were told we would need to leave with them.

Roughly five hours into our visit, we were told to pick up and be escorted out of the casino in a walk of Shame manner. We were surrounded by arm folded security people in a counter protest pose as if we presented some sort of immediate danger to the public if allowed to gather our belongings and leave with dignity. This was embarrassing, humiliating, unprofessional, unnecessary handling of the casino staff. Not to mention the ongoing mask police were reprimanding guests with apparent alarming alacrity. We felt singled out, targeted and discriminated against, perhaps being overdressed?

We were escorted to an adjacent sports bar, where ironically the dreaded virus has no effect. Nobody wearing masks, apart from servers and clusters of people enjoying boisterous celebrations.

Perhaps I sound like a rule breaker that does not want to accept their fate, but, under the circumstances of An experience that was rife with policing and lacking dearly in hospitality, I felt the piercing tension that society is temporarily experiencing. The lack of etiquette, diplomacy and training of the casino’s employee’s reflected the lack of concern and apathy from upper level management. My disgust of the pettiness of a temporary Barney Fife empowered security enforcer with a juvenile sherif badge, has been duly reinforced by the lack of response from the Casino after submitting a similar letter outlining our experience. No response, which indicates they are of the same attitude as the glorified hall monitors, who possess zero guest relations.

Disappointed...

A Rookie's Delight: French Lick Casino

I recently visited the French Lick Casino for the first time, and I must say, it was an exciting and overwhelming experience! As a casino newbie, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere quickly put me at ease.

Ambiance: 4.5/5

The casino's interior is sleek and modern, with a spacious gaming floor that's easy to navigate. The décor is elegant, with a touch of rustic charm that nods to the resort's historic roots. The only drawback was the occasional waft of cigarette smoke, which might be a concern for non-smokers.

Gaming Options: 4.5/5

French Lick Casino offers a wide range of games, including slots, table games, and poker. I was impressed by the variety of slot machines, which catered to different themes and betting limits. The table games, such as blackjack and roulette, were also plentiful, with friendly dealers who patiently explained the rules to this rookie.

Dining and Entertainment: 4/5

The casino has several dining options, including a buffet, a steakhouse, and a casual café. I enjoyed a satisfying meal at the buffet, which offered a diverse selection of dishes. However, the entertainment options were somewhat limited, with only a few live music performances during my visit.

Service: 5/5.

The staff at French Lick Casino were exceptional, from the warm welcome at the entrance to the helpful attendants on the gaming floor. Everyone was friendly, courteous, and eager to assist this newbie with any questions or concerns.

Overall Experience: 4.5/5

My first casino experience at French Lick was a resounding success. The casino's welcoming atmosphere, diverse gaming options, and excellent service made me feel comfortable and entertained. While there's always room for improvement, I would highly recommend French Lick Casino to anyone looking for a fun and exciting gaming experience.

Tips for Newbies: Start with slots: Slot machines are easy to understand and require minimal interaction. Ask for help: Don't be afraid to ask staff for assistance or explanations. Set a budget: Decide on a budget and stick to it to avoid overspending. Take breaks: Take regular breaks to rest and recharge.

Will I return? Absolutely! I'm already planning my next visit to French...

Loved my experience!! Beautiful place, friendly and accommodating staff, only thing I had a small problem with was, I asked for a mini fridge to be brought up to our room and it did not work, also the TV did not work, they sent maintenance up and he had to restart the tv box a couple times, still couldn't get it to work so he ended up getting a cable box from another room next to us and switched ours out, so 45mins later we had a working TV. Besides that, everything was awesome! It's a little different now with covid, so you have to wear a mask every where you go and in the casino you cant drink anywhere besides the bar, which sucks because sometimes you have to wait to get a seat, then you have to sit there the entire time until your finished with your drink. I miss being able to walk around with my drink and not feeling rushed because other people are waiting for you to get up so they can have a drink.. Then if you smoke you have to walk all the way to the other end of the casino to go out on the patio to smoke, that area is nice, they have tables and chairs with heaters and a fire pit, you just cant have any drinks out there, it would of been nice to have a bar out there! The casino its self is not really big but it's nice, every other slot machine is blocked off for social distancing, They still had lots of tables going... It was a nice experience, besides loosing!! Of course I did not walk away a winner, I lost some $ but in the end the experience was definitely worth it!! This place is absolutely beautiful!! The history of the hotel is transformed into the decor, which makes this place a one of a kind experience! There have been celebrities and old presidents that have stayed in the past.. There is a spa, a bowling alley, an indoor pool and hot tub, a 5 star steakhouse restaurant. The Casino, different restaurants and shops.. There is soo much more to comment but I've already made this too long, its definitely worth it!! A must see and stay in...