river casinos
Riverside casinos were first legalized in Iowa in 1991 and their popularity has increased dramatically since then. Initially, gambling at riverside casinos was limited to $5.00 bets and a maximum loss of $200.00 for each cruise passenger. Riverside casinos gradually moved to Illinois and Mississippi, where there were no limits and casinos were open 24 hours a day. In 1994, riverside casinos were introduced in Missouri, the last state to legalize riverside casinos.
Riverside casinos are legal in six states, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri. They resemble the great river boats of the past; however, they rarely leave the shore and remain at the dock. Mississippi riverside casinos must be permanently docked, with walkways from the shore to the casino. Some river casinos, “moat boats”, are large barges with casinos on deck, designed to float in pools adjacent to the river. Most riverside casinos operate on the Missouri, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers, with the exception of Illinois, which also allows them on the Des Plaines, Ohio, and Illinois rivers. Each state has its own gambling restrictions for riverboat casinos, including the amount allowed, the types of games, admission charges, the number of hours spent on the cruise, and the amount of gaming time allowed.
There are a variety of games at the riverside casinos, including blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, slots, and video poker, as well as frequent shows, featured artists, dinners, and dancing. Some popular riverside casinos include the Argosy VI in Indiana, with 2,300 slot machines and 80 table games for over 4,000 passengers; the Grand Victoria Casino in Illinois; the Ameristar Casino in Missouri, with the world’s largest floating casino floor; and the Mississippi Belle II in Iowa. The Tunica Queen, a 3-deck riverside casino that offers afternoon and evening gambling cruises, is very popular in Mississippi. One of the newer riverside casinos is L’Auberge du Lac in Louisiana, a single-level deck, with 30,000 square feet of gaming space, 60 table games, and 1,600 slot machines. Another well-known riverside casino in Louisiana is the Treasure Chest, which has 1,000 slot machines and several types of poker games.
Riverside casinos add millions of dollars in revenue to each state’s economy, in addition to providing employment for thousands. Although natural disasters strike riverside casinos every year, game developers and individuals contribute to the speedy rebuilding and reopening. There continues to be a bright future for riverside casinos due to their convenience, reasonable prices, and cheap entertainment.