Christmas on the Coast is a tradition for many families throughout the Southeast. Mississippi Coast casinos are ready to welcome them with open arms and open restaurants.

Below are the casinos open for dining on Christmas Day, some with limited holiday fare. Reservations may be required for some restaurants.

875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, 228-386-7111.

BR Prime

Reservations required.

• Holiday Bouillabaisse, Icy Blue Mussels, Little Neck Clams, Gulf Shrimp, Seabass $15
• Prime Rib with Demi Glace, Thyme Horseradish Cream, Hasselback Potatoes, Heirloom Carrots, Roasted Brussels Sprouts $72
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cheesecake $15

Salt and Ivy

Reservations encouraged.

• Christmas Feature $38: Crab, Shrimp and Spinach-stuffed Flounder with Dill Bearnaise, Wild Mushroom Farro and White Wine-Garlic Broccolini

The Buffet

Holiday Brunch: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Adults, $32.99; Children, $19.99; Under 4, free.

Holiday Lunch/Dinner: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Adults, $49.99; Children $25.99; Under 4, free.Free Under 4

• Features include herb-crusted prime rib, spicy shrimp boil, NOLA BBQ shrimp and grilled sirloin

151 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, 228-435-5400.

Morton’s The Steakhouse

Reservations recommended. Restaurant hours: noon to 9 p.m.

• The Chateaubriand three-course menu for two includes Chateaubriand with Roasted Shallots, Red Wine Demi Reduction, Sauce Bearnaise and Au Jus; Winter Salad to share; choice of two sides; and choice of desserts for $179. Lobster tails or mini crab cakes are available at an extra cost.

Lillie’s Asian Cuisine

Restaurant hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saltgrass Steak House

Restaurant hours: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Restaurant hours: noon to 8 p.m.

Michael Patrick’s

Restaurant hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

777 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, 228-374-7625.

Christmas Day Buffet, $39.99 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Menu includes starters, a carving station, Satisfaction favorites such as Southern Fried Chicken and Stuffed Crabs, Asian Cuisine, sides and desserts.

711 Hollywood Blvd., Bay St. Louis, 228-469-2100.

Epic Buffet

Restaurant hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• The Epic Buffet features more than 80 dishes including Crab Legs, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Southern barbecue, Asian cuisine, Creole, Italian and fresh seafood.

3300 West Beach Blvd., Gulfport, 228-314-2100.

The Buffet

Christmas Day hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Low Country Crawfish Bisque; Creole Seafood Gumbo; Carrot Soufflé Casserole; Praline-Crusted Sweet Potatoes; Orange Chicken with Vegetables; Crispy Fried Shrimp; Carved Roast Turkey; Carved Strip Loin of Beef; Cornbread Dressing; Sliced Roast Turkey in Giblet Gravy; Carved Round of Beef, Smoked Ham and Cajun Fried Turkey; Cranberry Compote; Roasted Salmon Loin; Boiled Gulf Shrimp with Remoulade Sauce; Happy Family Shrimp and Vegetables; Smoked Pork with all the Trimmings; and more, $29.99.

C and G Grille

Christmas Day hours: 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., $26.

• Choice of Starter: Seafood Gumbo or House Salad
• Choice of Entrée: Roast Turkey and Dressing or Glazed Bone-In Ham Steak. Each served with Green Bean Casserole, Candied Sweet Potatoes and Cranberry Compote
• Dessert: Cookie Butter Banana Pie

The Diner

Christmas Day hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., $20.

• Choice of Starter: House Salad or Seafood Gumbo
• Entrée: Roast Turkey with Dressing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce and Green Beans
• Dessert: Sweet Potato Pie with Whipped Cream 

Dockside Deli

Christmas Day hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., $21.

• Starter: Crab and Corn Bisque or Seafood Gumbo
• Choice of Entrée: Debris-Style Turkey Dressing, Green Beans, Cranberry Compote and Carrot Soufflé Casserole or Sausage Sampler with pineapple jalapeno, knockwurst and green onion sausages. Served with red kraut and warm potato salad.
• Dessert: Spiced Applesauce Cake

Prime Cut Restaurant

Christmas Day hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., $45.

• Starter: Crab and Artichoke-Stuffed Mushrooms Drizzled with Hollandaise
• Choice of Entrée: Beef Tenderloin au Poivre or Pan-Seared Sea Bass with lemon beurre blanc. Each served with a side of choice
• Dessert: Pumpkin Swiss Cake Roll

158 Howard Ave., Biloxi, 228-432-8888

Restaurant hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., $40.

• Traditional Christmas menu plus Prime Rib, Smoked Baked Ham, Sliced Turkey Breast, Boiled Shrimp and dishes from the Grill, Comfort, Wok and Coastal stations.

9380 Central Ave., D’Iberville, 888-752-9772.

Under the Oak Cafe

Christmas Day hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Herb Dijon Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes Puree, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cranberries and an Herb Dijon Reduction, $25.
• Creamy Eggnog Bread Pudding, $14.

Scarlet’s Steaks and Seafood

Reservations recommended. Christmas Day hours: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Lobster Thermidor, Broiled Coldwater Stuffed Lobster topped with Mushroom Cognac Cream Sauce, Parmigiana Reggiano, Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs and Wilted Arugula Salad, $80.
• Beef Wellington, 8-ounce filet mignon, with Mushroom Duxelles, Prosciutto and baked in Puff Pastry, served with Bordelaise Sauce, $78.
• Creme de Mint Cheesecake, $13

5000 South Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, 228-469-2777.

Jubilee Buffet

Christmas Day hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Traditional holiday menu plus, all-you-can-eat Dungeness Crab and Jumbo Shrimp, $49.95.

Blue Bayou Bar and Grill

$58 per person.

• Salad: Baby Spinach with Candied Pecans, Dried Cranberries, Mandarin Orange, Goat Cheese, Roasted Cacao Nibs and a Citrus Vinaigrette.
• Entrée: Choice of Crispy Roasted Half Duck, Braised Red Cabbage, Port Wine Demi Glaze and Whipped Roasted Garlic Mash or Blackened Pork Loin, Pomegranate Glaze, Bacon Braised Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Gratin

1980 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, 228-385-6000.

Infinity Buffet

Christmas Day hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Carved ham, roasted turkey, roast brisket and more, $47.99 with crab, $25.49 without crab.

The Den

Christmas Day hours: 11 a.m. to midnight.

• Bacon-wrapped stuffed pork loin, $38; or prime rib, $45.

The following casinos will be open Christmas Day but restaurant options were not available:

280 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, 228-436-2946.

850 Bayview Ave, Biloxi, 228-436-3000.

Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X  @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

Someone could be in for a very merry Christmas. The Mega Millions jackpot for Christmas Eve is an estimated $944 million. Bringing home the better part of a billion dollars would make just about anyone’s day merry and bright.

The winning numbers will be drawn just after 10 p.m. Central, and the cash option is $429.4 million.

A $1.1 billion-winning ticket was sold in New Jersey earlier this year, and that prize hasn’t been claimed. Winners in New Jersey have up to a year to claim a jackpot.

In Mississippi, drawing winners must claim their prize within 180 days, and if you win, you can claim it anonymously.

Here’s what you need to know about top jackpots and how to play Mega Millions in Mississippi, including where you can buy tickets and how to claim the prize if you win.

More: Powerball winning numbers for Dec. 21 drawing: Jackpot rises to $88 million

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

How to play the Mega Millions

In order to buy a ticket, you’ll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store. In a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online, but Mississippi isn’t one of them.

To play, you will need to pick six numbers. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball is one number between 1 and 25. 

If you believe the odds are against you, ask for a ”Quick Pick” or an ”Easy Pick,” the computer will randomly generate the numbers for you. 

Players can add the ”Megaplier” for $1, which can increase non-grand prize winnings by two, three, four or five times. The Megaplier is drawn before the Mega Millions numbers on Tuesday and Friday.

There are 15 Megapiler balls in all:

• 2X, five balls.
• 3X, six balls.
• 4X, three balls.
• 5X, one ball.

More: Will it snow for the holidays? Mississippi winter weather forecast calls for rain, heat

What are the top Mega Millions jackpots?  

According to the lottery, the following jackpots are the Top 10 jackpots that have been won as of Oct. 4:  

1. $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023; a Florida player  
2. $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018; a South Carolina player  
3. $1.348 billion, Jan.13, 2023; a Maine player  
4. $1.337 billion, July 29, 2022; an Illinois player  
5. $1.128 billion, March 26, 2024; a New Jersey payer 
6. $1.050 billion, Jan. 22, 2021; a Michigan player 
7. $810 million, Sept. 10, 2024; a Texas player 
8. $656 million, March 30, 2012; a player from Illinois, Kansas and Maryland 
9. $648 million, Dec. 17,2013; a player from California and Georgia 
10. $552 million, June 4, 2024; an Illinois player  

I won the lottery in Mississippi! What next?

The Mississippi Lottery advises people to sign the back of their winning ticket immediately.

If your prize is less than $600, you can claim that at any place that sells Mississippi Lottery tickets.

If you win $600-$99,999, you can claim by mail or by going to the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters in Flowood.

All prizes more than $100,000 must be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters.