Casino review: Horseshoe Indianapolis vs. Four Winds South Bend

In my quest to find the ultimate Hoosierland casino, two new contenders rose to the challenge for the title of ultimate Indiana hot spot. These two casinos brought their unique brand of quality and flair to the table, but in this battle for top destination, there can only be one winner.

Let’s have a closer look at our latest contenders…

Shelby County’s Horseshoe

Indianapolis first opened in March 2009 as Indiana Live! and is currently owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. This commercial casino is home to a racetrack, 65 table games and 1,500 slot games, as well as a high-limit room, sportsbook and poker room. Its racetrack, formerly known as Indiana Downs, welcomed its first guests in 2002.

Horseshoe Indianapolis is one of two racinos in the Hoosier State. The other is Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, which is also owned and operated by Caesars.

Four Winds South Bend in St. Joseph County opened its doors in January 2018. Since its grand opening, it has added a hotel and expanded its gaming floor to include more than 1,800 slot machines in various denominations that range from a penny to $100, as well as 27 table games and 12 live poker tables, a high-limit area and a sportsbook.

There is something to be said about the personal touch and warm, inviting atmosphere this Tribal casino creates for its players and hotel guests

The casino hotel is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The Tribe currently runs three casinos in Michigan, which include Hartford, New Buffalo and Dowagiac. Its South Bend location is the Tribe’s only Indiana casino hotel. In this casino faceoff, both properties will receive points based on several categories, including cleanliness, dining, look and layout, variety of games and guest services. To keep it simple, we’ll score this contest like a tennis match. The winner will earn bragging rights and the coveted title of winner in this matchup.

Let the games begin!

Look and layout

It was a close contest when it came to visual appeal. Both casinos took great care in presenting clean, inviting and aesthetically pleasing landscaping. Upon walking into Horseshoe Indianapolis, the casino’s décor and aesthetic gave off a stunning first impression. I loved how the Horseshoe theme was present throughout the gaming floor, which sported horseshoe patterns on the carpet. A nice touch indeed! And a great decorative detail that added charm and personality to the casino.

The Horseshoe Indianapolis casino floor

However, Four Winds takes the point in this category. Its visual appeal did not disappoint, with pristine landscaping and an assortment of colorful flowers. Pulling into the parking lot at this casino hotel was a surreal experience. I’m reminded of how excited and elated the Griswold family looked when pulling into the parking lot of Wally World in their Wagon Queen Family Truckster. For me, arriving at Four Winds felt just as magical.

Its parking lot was a reasonable size, with plenty of spaces available for those with disabilities. The inside of the casino was gorgeous, with colorful carpeting and easy-to-read directional signage. So, this point goes to Four Winds South Bend.

Four Winds does allow smoking in designated and separate areas that are self-contained, a plus for those who like to gamble without being exposed to second-hand smoke. As with Casesars’ other Indiana casinos, Horseshoe Indianapolis allows its players to smoke indoors

Dining

Both casinos had great dining selections. In fact, it was hard to choose one place to try at each of these casinos because the variety of options was so good. During my trip to Horseshoe Indianapolis, I ate lunch at Brew Brothers, one of the four restaurants available on the casino floor. This restaurant served classic Hoosier staples like a breaded tenderloin sandwich, which I highly recommend to visitors stopping at this casino from out of state.

This casino gives patrons a total of four restaurant options, which include Brew Brothers, Jack Binion’s Steak, Clubhouse Dining and Sidewalk Café. Horseshoe Indianapolis offers great meal options at reasonable prices that can accommodate most budgets, while still providing opportunities for fine dining in celebration of a jackpot win.

The restaurants here had digital menus posted just outside of their entrances, giving guests a way to check meal prices when deciding where to eat. I thought this was a cool feature and as an expert penny pincher I appreciated that the prices were accessible before entering the restaurant, so I could see which place fit my food budget best.

Four Winds also has several dining choices, including a hotel restaurant, buffet and other grab-and-go food stations. Unfortunately, the buffet was closed during lunchtime. It did not open until 2pm the day I visited. But, I was able to have lunch at the hotel’s restaurant, which is on the third floor. The wait to be seated was not long, maybe a couple of minutes despite walking in during lunchtime. The restaurant’s staff was warm, friendly and conversational, a common thread throughout the entire property.

The food at Four Winds rivals top restaurant quality but is at a price point that does not break the bank. The menu featured several tasty meals, priced at less than $20 for an entrée. Plus, the hotel’s restaurant serves breakfast food all day, a major plus for those who love a good slice of bacon, a piece of sausage or an order of eggs no matter what time of day it is.

While both restaurants served me great-tasting food and had several complimentary drink stations available for guests, Horseshoe Indianapolis pulled ahead in this category for best dining experience.

And now our score is 15 serving 15.

The cleanliness category

Four Winds was not only visually appealing but was also spotless. However, this casino is not completely smoke-free. Four Winds does allow smoking in designated and separate areas that are self-contained, a plus for those who like to gamble without being exposed to second-hand smoke. As with Casesars’ other Indiana casinos, Horseshoe Indianapolis allows its players to smoke indoors.

Though smoking is permitted inside this Shelby County destination, Horseshoe was clean and well-kept. In fact, the presence of clean ashtrays and an occasional player lighting up was the only evidence that this was not a smoke-free casino. Restrooms in this casino were placed in easy-to-access locations throughout the facility, including just off the main casino entrance and close to the cashier’s station.

Four Winds had easy access to restrooms as well. Both casinos had pristine, spotless restrooms with plenty of soap and towels at the sinks.

However, there can only be one winner for the cleanliness point, which goes to… drumroll… Four Winds!

Our score now stands at 30 serving 15.

Variety of games

The casino floor at Four Winds had no shortage of variety and great games. The casino offers players access to a variety of known and loved titles that include Triple Blazing 7’s Double Quick Hits, Huff N’ Puff and Lock it Link Piggy Bankin’, which is one of my personal favorites. Poker gurus can play a variety of games at Four Winds, including $1 to $2 No Limit Hold’em, $2 to $5 No Limit Hold’em, $3 to $6 Limit Hold’em and $1 to $2 Pot Limit Omaha.

Gaming America’s Laura Mack tries out the slots at Four Winds South Bend 

The selection of slot machines and table games at Horseshoe Indianapolis did not disappoint either. Horseshoe Indianapolis had more than one version of player favorites but was not saturated with any specific game or brand. Another plus was that many slots had the option to select different denominations. I found several games that offer one, two and five-cent denominations at one station, a great way to maximize game time if you are looking for riskier play.

However, this was also true at Four Winds. And because this casino had many variations of go-to slot favorites that I have not been able to find at the other Indiana casinos I have visited, like Buffalo Grand Deluxe and Shark Lock, it claims the point for this category as well.

The score: 40 serving 15.

Guest services

Walking inside Four Winds only heightened the bubbling excitement I felt after pulling into the parking lot here. I was greeted by a friendly staff member who quickly checked my ID and wished me good luck. Attendants at Horseshoe Indianapolis were helpful and friendly here as well.

My cash voucher became jammed after I had cashed out after one of my slot machine sessions. An attendant was close by and ready to help so that I could collect my ticket and be on my way to the next game. However, the staff at Four Winds takes this category because of how friendly its team members were. I had a short conversation with an attendant on the casino floor, who kindly referred me to the hotel restaurant and let me know that it was open for lunch.

Great job, Four Winds South Bend. That is Game, Set, Match!

Four Winds South Bend casino floor

Final thoughts

Both Hoosier casinos are worth visiting in my book. Until checking out Four Winds South Bend, I had only visited commercial casinos. There is something to be said about the personal touch and warm, inviting atmosphere this Tribal casino creates for its players and hotel guests. If every Tribal casino in the US was as wonderful as Four Winds, the casino industry is in good hands!

Congratulations, Four Winds on winning this match-up. I would not be surprised if this destination could take the title for best casino in the Hoosier State. It is definitely my favorite casino so far!

When it comes to quality casinos in Indiana, Hoosiers can have their pick of some great gambling spots where they can kick back, relax and enjoy their game of choice. Indiana currently offers its residents access to 13 casinos within its borders.

Laura Mack

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