Santa will return with a one-of-a-kind, bigger and better holiday season experience with the “Christmas Casino.” Rising Star Resort, in Rising Sun, Indiana, will transform its casino into a whimsical, winter wonderland again this holiday season, starting November 3, 2016 through January 2, 2017.

The Rising Star Resort again will offer popular table and slot games in the middle of a festive holiday environment, complete with holiday music, animatronic characters and complimentary eggnog.

New this year is the ice skating rink, open to the public from November 3 through January 2.  Admission is $4 per person and $2 skate rental. Rising Sun residents can skate for half off. The ice rink schedule is: Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 12 noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 12 noon to 8 p.m.

Also new, The Incredible Christmas Place from Pigeon Forge will open a store in the pavilion of Rising Star Casino Resort. Since opening in Pigeon Forge 25 years ago, they have grown into the South’s largest Christmas shopping village. The store at the Christmas Casino, exclusive to the area, will feature a wide selection of novelty and traditional Christmas lights, hundreds of personalized ornaments and gift ideas.

“Our Christmas Casino was such a big hit last year, we decided to make it bigger and better this year,” said Dan Lee, CEO of Full House Resorts, Inc., owner of Rising Star Casino Resort. “Santa, Mrs. Claus and their helpers had such a great time, it was easy to partner with them again for one of the most unique holiday experiences in our area.”

Santa added, “Mrs. Claus and I can’t wait to come back to Rising Star Casino. We love seeing everyone enjoying the decorations in the pavilion, but the adults have just as much fun with the holiday themed games and festive décor inside the casino.”

Visitors arriving to the Casino can visit Santa’s Stables near the entrance, where his eight live reindeer are back, getting ready for their round-the-world trip on Christmas Eve. Also,  reservations to see Santa can be made  in advance this year by visiting www.ChristmasCasino.com.

Within the casino, wonderful animated scenes come to life, withwhimsicalfairies preparing for Christmas, seemingly singing along with the holiday music. The scenes include dozens of customizedhandmade elves, bears, deer, squirrels, and raccoons, many of which are animated. Lit garlands swoop on all staircase railings to create a very grand, lush and festive environment. Please note that one must be 21 years of age to enter the casino.

Mrs. Claus was personally involved in designing the menus for the resort’s buffet, now named “Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen.” The buffet is outside of the casino and offers a reduced rate for children. “We’ll be offering all the holiday favorites, including roast beef, ham, and turkey with all the trimmings,” exclaimed Mrs. Claus, whose personal recipes are legendary. “My homemade mashed potatoes and stuffing are what keeps Santa jolly,” she noted, “and we finish it all off with seasonal favorites of chocolate mousse, figgy pudding, mincemeat and pumpkin pie.”

Meanwhile, next door at the Yuletide Inn, intimate dinners for groups and families ranging in size from two to twenty-two will be served family style. The Yuletide menu offers Roasted Goose with a honey citrus glaze, Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin, Wild Pacific Salmon roasted on a cedar plank with   orange cranberry compote, Pork Tenderloin Roulade with  apple cider sauce , in addition to the Christmas dinner staple of Herbs Rubbed Roast Turkey Breast with Riesling gravy and Mrs. Claus’ special stuffing.

Entrees will be accompanied by shared dishes of fresh home style potatoes, garden vegetables, and starters include a choice of Winter Salad with cranberries and candied pecan apple cider vinaigrette dressing or a rich Lobster Newberg Soup topped with a lobster claw and puffed pastry, and finishing with a choice of several decadent holiday desserts.  The Yuletide Inn will be open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights throughout the holiday season. This same venue and menu will also be available on other nights of the week for private functions and office holiday parties.

Holiday entertainment at The Christmas Casino this year is:

• November 12 : Holiday Hits Show with The Midtown Men – Four Stars From The Original Cast of Jersey Boys (Doors open at 7 p.m. with showtime at 8 p.m.)
• December 17:  Sawyer Brown’s Christmas Show (Doors open at 7 p.m. with showtime at 8 p.m.)
• December 31: Blood, Sweat & Tears with Bo Bice, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Guests can make it a seasonal getaway by also reserving a room at the Rising Star hotels, adjoining the Christmas Casino. Reservations can be made through the website at www.risingstarcasino.com, or by calling the reservation elves at 877-77-SANTA, Extension #1.

For more information on the Christmas Casino, visit: www.thechristmascasino.com.

About The Christmas Casino

The Christmas Casino is a seasonal transformation of the Rising Star Casino & Resort,which is owned by Full House Resorts. It features approximately 900 of the most popular slot machines plus a variety of table games, all in a highly decorated seasonal setting, with holiday music and free eggnog. Additional guest amenities include 294 hotel rooms, complete with an indoor pool and fitness center, and several restaurants, including Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen Buffet and the Yuletide Inn, which is a fine dining restaurant featuring Holiday favorites served family-style. While principally designed for adult merriment in the casino, The Christmas Casino also offers lavish Christmas décor throught out the property, eight live reindeer which can be enjoyed by guests of all ages and Frosty’s Ice Rink a traditional outdoor ice skating rink.Children are also welcome in the resort’s hotels and restaurants, but visitors to the casino must be at least 21 years of age. 

The Christmas Casino is located at 777 Rising Star Drive, Rising Sun, Indiana 47040. For more information, call the reservation elves at (877)-77-SANTA, Extension #1 or visit www.TheChristmasCasino.com.

About the Christmas Casino Restaurants

Mrs. Claus Kitchen Buffet is open seven days per week and provides a 50% discount for Children 11 years of age or younger. Breakfast is $14.99, lunch is $ 16.99, dinner Sunday thru Thursday is $23.99 and dinner Friday and Saturday with the seafood extravaganza added the cost is $30.99. Discounts are available for members of the Rising Star Rewards Players’ Club.

The Yuletide Inn offers a unique dinner experience, with a fixed price menu featuring Christmas specialties served family style. It is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the holidays from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Dinner is $45 for adults and $25 for children 11 years of age or younger. For reservations, call 877-77-SANTA Extension #7. The Yuletide Inn is also available for private functions and office Holiday parties throughout the holiday season.

The HO-HO-HO offers good food served quickly, including some Christmas specialties and American favorites.

About the Christmas Casino Design Team

The Christmas Casino Design Team was led by world-renowned mechanical genius Lou Nasti to create truly magical, one-of-a-kind displays, complete with the mechanized creations for which he is best known. Mr. Nasti has designed, manufactured and installed custom-animated characters, scenes, window displays and attractions for more than 40 years. His inimitable displays, which combine movement, sound, lighting and countless details, can be found all over the world, from Macy’s and Park Avenue Plaza in New York City to the castle for the King of Morocco. Lou also incorporated many of the fanciful creatures of The Mark Roberts Company, which specializes in hand-made fairies, elves and other Christmas collectibles.

About Full House Resorts, Inc.

Full House Resorts owns, develops and operates gaming facilities throughout the country. The Company’s properties include Rising Star Casino Resort in Rising Sun, Indiana; Silver Slipper Casino and Hotel in Hancock County, Mississippi; Bronco Billy’s in Cripple Creek, Colorado; and Stockman’s Casino in Fallon, Nevada. The Company also operates the Grand Lodge Casino at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino in Incline Village, Nevada on the north shore of Lake Tahoe under a lease agreement with the Hyatt organization. For more information, please visit www.fullhouseresorts.com.