<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-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                           9,321                  11,529
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    1,985                   1,741
<ALLOWANCES>                                       622                     313
<INVENTORY>                                        672                     883
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                13,163                  15,033
<PP&E>                                         115,068                  80,473
<DEPRECIATION>                                  22,275                  12,178
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 116,620                 122,240
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           12,276                  13,482
<BONDS>                                         85,134                  85,244
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,210                  23,426
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   116,620                 122,240
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                94,524                  94,416
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   72,063                  63,393
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                16,913                  16,572
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   539                     449
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,225                  10,155
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (4,216)                  3,847
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                   (694)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (4,216)                  4,541
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                 (9,614)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (4,216)                (5,073)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0




</TABLE>