Riverboat Casinos
Riverboat casinos were first legalized in Iowa in 1991 and their
popularity has increased dramatically since that time. At first,
gambling on riverboat casinos was limited to $5.00 bets and a
maximum loss of $200.00 for each cruise passenger. Riverboat
casinos gradually moved to Illinois and Mississippi, where there
were no limits and casinos were open 24 hours a day. In 1994,
riverboat casinos were introduced to Missouri, the last state to
legalize riverboat casinos.
Riverboat casinos are legal in six states, Illinois, Iowa,
Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri. They resemble the
grand riverboats of the past; however, they seldom leave the
shore and remain at dockside. The Mississippi riverboat casinos
must be permanently docked, with gangplanks from the shore to
the casino. Some riverboat casinos, "boats on moats," are large
barges with casinos on deck, designed to float on pools adjacent
to the river. The majority of the riverboat casinos operate on
the Missouri, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers, with the exception
of Illinois, which allows them on the Des Plaines, Ohio, and
Illinois rivers, as well. Each state has its own gambling
restrictions for riverboat casinos, including number allowed,
types of games, admission charges, number of hours spent in
cruising, and amount of gambling time allowed.
There are a variety of games on riverboat casinos, including
blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, slots, and video poker, as
well as frequent shows, featured performers, dinner, and
dancing. Some popular riverboat casinos include the Argosy VI in
Indiana, with 2,300 slots and 80 table games for over 4,000
passengers; the Grand Victoria Casino in Illinois; the Ameristar
Casino in Missouri, with the largest floating casino floor in
the world; and the Mississippi Belle II in Iowa. The Tunica
Queen, a 3-deck riverboat casino featuring afternoon and evening
gambling cruises, is very popular in Mississippi. One of the
newest riverboat casinos is L'Auberge du Lac in Louisiana, a
single-level deck, with 30,000 square feet of gambling space, 60
table games, and 1,600 slot machines. Another well-known
riverboat casino in Louisiana is the Treasure Chest, featuring
1,000 slot machines and several types of poker games.
Riverboat casinos add millions of dollars in revenue to the
economy of each state, as well as providing employment for
thousands. Although natural disasters affect the riverboat
casinos each year, gaming developers and individuals contribute
to rapid reconstruction and reopening. There remains a bright
future for riverboat casinos because of their convenience,
reasonable prices, and inexpensive entertainment.