Casino review: Big things come in small packages at Rising Star Casino Resort

The Indiana destination sits near the Ohio River and is the closest casino to Boone County.

During the recent holiday, I had a chance to pay a visit to Rising Star, one of the Hoosier State’s 13 commercial casinos.

And I was not disappointed.

Rising Sun, Indiana’s Rising Star Casino Resort is located near the banks of the Ohio River and offers guests both hotel and RV campground accommodations. The destination is operated by Full House Resorts.

Pulling into the resort’s parking lot, I was pleased to see gorgeous landscaping and a large fountain in front of the casino hotel. The view was breathtaking.

The resort and casino building had the charm and allure of the theme parks I used to visit during my childhood.

My favorite part of this destination was its pavilion. Upon walking inside, the space was decorated with a generous amount of Independence Day bling, which only added to the pavilion’s beauty.

Cornhole fans will feel right at home in this space and have the chance to play the game right near the main entrance.

The pavilion also had a gift shop, along with a restaurant called Ben’s Bistro. I highly recommend trying the pizza at this dining spot. Delicious does not begin to cover how good it was.

I was impressed not only with how tasty the food was at Rising Star but also with the prices.

Many items on the menu at Ben’s Bistro were reasonably priced and could be shared with someone else. Two people can easily enjoy a satisfying meal for less than $20 at this restaurant.

Unfortunately, Rising Star did not have complimentary drink stations on the gaming floor like I have seen in other Hoosierland casinos. But the drinks here were not too expensive, just a couple of bucks for a fountain drink.

Rising Star’s gaming floor is considerably smaller than other Indiana casinos I’ve visited. However, the casino has more than one level, complete with escalators that will quickly take you from the main level to the floor below.

Rising Star has more than 600 slot games and two dozen table games. However, this location does not have a sportsbook or poker room, a disadvantage for those who are looking for the full casino experience.

Down on the bottom level, I found an assortment of old-school slot games in various denominations. Considering the size of this casino, the game selection was still diverse. The main level had several newer games and slot player go-to favorites like Dragon Link, Lightning Link and Wicked Wheel.

However, finding an open seat at a slot game was a challenge. Rising Star brought in a steady flow of eager players, even during the holiday.

But this gave me a chance to try some games I had never played before, which made my experience at this Rising Sun hot spot enjoyable.

This resort offers its guests plenty of entertainment outside of gambling as well, an advantage for those who might not want to play but would rather enjoy the riverside scenery. The resort features a “true Scottish links-style” golf course, as well as live music on the weekends at the pavilion’s sports bar.

Rising Star’s resort also has a pool, along with two entertainment venues and several restaurants and bars. Those who want to take a cruise on the river can ride the resort’s ferry for a reasonable rate.

Well done, Rising Star!

Laura Mack

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