River casinos were first legalized in Iowa in 1991 and their popularity has increased dramatically ever since. In the beginning, river casino gambling was limited to $5.00 bets and a maximum loss of $200.00 per cruise passenger. River casinos gradually moved to Illinois and Mississippi, where there were no limits and the casinos were open 24 hours a day. In 1994, river casinos were introduced in Missouri, the last state to legalize river casinos.
River casinos are legal in six states, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri. They resemble the great river ships of the past; however, they rarely leave the shore and remain on the dock. Mississippi river casinos must be permanently docked, with walkways from the shore to the casino. Some river casinos, “pit boats”, are large barges with deck casinos, designed to float in pools adjacent to the river. Most river 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 gaming restrictions for river casinos, including the amount allowed, types of games, admission charges, number of hours spent cruising, and 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 performers, dinners, and dances. Some popular riverside casinos include the Argosy VI in Indiana, with 2,300 slots and 80 table games for more than 4,000 guests; 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 river casino that offers afternoon and evening gaming cruises, is very popular in Mississippi. One of the newer river 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 various types of poker games.
River casinos add millions of dollars in revenue to each state’s economy, as well as provide employment for thousands. Although natural disasters affect river casinos every year, game developers and individuals contribute to the rapid reconstruction and reopening. There remains a bright future for river casinos due to their convenience, reasonable prices and inexpensive entertainment.
