<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF HWCC - TUNICA,
                     INC. AND SUBSIDIARY AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
                     REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                    0000927801
<NAME>                   HWCC - TUNICA, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>             1,000
       
<S>                                 <C>                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       YEAR                                        YEAR                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1997                       DEC-31-1996      
<PERIOD-START>                                            JAN-01-1997                       JAN-01-1996      
<PERIOD-END>                                              DEC-31-1997                       DEC-31-1996      
<CASH>                                                         11,851                             9,321  
<SECURITIES>                                                        0                                 0  
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   2,215                             1,985  
<ALLOWANCES>                                                      705                               622  
<INVENTORY>                                                       660                               672  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               20,658                            13,163  
<PP&E>                                                        117,678                           115,068  
<DEPRECIATION>                                                 31,760                            22,275  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                118,727                           116,620  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                           9,647                            12,276  
<BONDS>                                                        85,198                            85,134  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0                                 0  
<PREFERRED>                                                         0                                 0  
<COMMON>                                                            0                                 0  
<OTHER-SE>                                                     23,882                            19,210  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                  118,727                           116,620  
<SALES>                                                             0                                 0  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              107,263                            94,524   
<CGS>                                                               0                                 0  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                  76,560                            72,063  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                               15,679                            16,913  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  498                               539  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             10,699                             9,225  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                 3,827                            (4,216) 
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     (845)                                0  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                             4,672                            (4,216) 
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      0                                 0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0                                 0  
<CHANGES>                                                           0                                 0  
<NET-INCOME>                                                    4,672                            (4,216) 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                       0                                 0  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                       0                                 0  
                                    

</TABLE>