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How Riverboat Gambling Became Riverboat Gaming

Kevin has been involved in the gambling industry since the ‘80s. From winning tournaments to casino management, he’s ultimately done it all. Throughout the years, he’s written for various iGaming publications on topics such as the legal landscape of online casinos and strategies behind winning. His favorite game is blackjack.

Cash-strapped states across the South and Midwest in the late eighties and early nineties were desperate for a new source of cash revenue that didn’t raise taxes. Gambling seemed like an easy way out, but it was going to be a hard sell to dubious voters.

But what if they used the allure of the old riverboat gambling myths and the promise of using the riverboat casinos to keep the gambling scourge at arm’s length from impacted communities? Could they sell this new, sanitized riverboat gaming to their constituents?

The Evolution of Gaming on America’s Rivers

We will explore the history of riverboat gaming in America from the early 19th century right into the 21st. We will discuss how it morphed and was delicately managed to become a product that a broad number of people could support a few decades ago, before starting another slow decline, and we take a closer look at some of its few bright remaining stars.

• ⛴ The History of Riverboat Gambling
• ⛴ The Beginnings of Riverboat Gaming
• ⛴ A Few of the Best Riverboat Casinos Remaining
• ⛴ Conclusion

The History of Riverboat Gambling

The first steamboat to make the trip down the Ohio and then the Mississippi was aptly named New Orleans, and she made her inaugural trip in 1811. For the next 100 years, these boats would define commerce along the nation’s mighty rivers. And with commerce comes con men.

The huge sums of money that came from moving much of the fledgling nation’s goods up and down the rivers would prove to be a powerful temptation. While much of the gambling that soon developed on these long, slow trips along the river was legal, many of the men who came to play were on the wrong side of the law .

Not even two decades into the new steamboat trade and there were articles in the Eastern papers about the con men, card sharps, and confidence scams being run on every bumpkin that set foot on a boat. In 1835, the townsfolk in Vicksburg had had enough; they lynched 5 of the “professional gamblers” and burned every Faro table in town, which was stated to be in the dozens.

Much like the frontiersman who preceded them and the Wild West lawmen who would come later, these sharply dressed, supremely confident riverboat gamblers who plied their way on the steamboats of the Mississippi using only their luck and some “skills” they’d picked up along the way were the subject of many salacious headlines and stories in their day. Despite their many obvious flaws, an almost reverence was bestowed on them as archetypical American heroes.

The Beginnings Of Riverboat Gaming

The hay day of the Riverboat gambler started to fade in the 1860s during the Civil War, and then with the advent of railroads, they were soon all but forgotten. But in the early 1990s, states desperate for tax revenue and looking at the success of Las Vegas and Atlantic City decided to retest the waters of riverboat gambling.

This time, it was a way of introducing limited casino operations only along the waterways of the State’s rivers, selling it to their constituents as a diversion and pastime. Thus, the term riverboat gaming was needed . This was to be entertainment and frivolity, none of those card sharps and hustlers from the good ole days. So, a new term was coined.

Iowa led the riverboat race with the Diamond Lady in Bettendorf in April 1991. But riverboat gaming would soon come to Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana , and other states along the Mississippi and other large rivers like the Missouri and Ohio and even the Fox and Red Rivers.

Used mainly as a stalking horse for the eventual opening of land-based casinos in most of these states, many gamblers found the cramped quarters, the limited selection of slots and tables, and most egregious of all, the ability to only embark or disembark while the boat was at the pier, to be a let down from the Las Vegas style experience that they had been promised.

In Iowa, the first land-based casinos made an appearance in just three years. In every State, some accommodations were made , from no longer having to cruise the dangerous rivers to being allowed to move on to barges over the river to being able to move to land as long as you were adjacent to the river. This was a push generally called dock-side gaming, which meant that the actual return of elegant paddle wheelers with blackjack, roulette, and slot machines prowling the Mississippi again lasted less than a decade.

Dock-side gaming was far safer and allowed gamblers to come and go as they pleased , which drove casino revenues much higher. Also, the ability in some states to move either onto barges or land-based casinos adjacent to piers saw some spectacular casinos get built that could finally meet the promise of a Las Vegas experience.

A Few Of The Best Riverboat Casinos Remaining

If you are going to visit one of the grand old ladies of the river, we think that you should start with the actual riverboats that once traveled the Mississippi, and of these, the Amelia Belle is one of the most iconic .

Situated about an hour and a half outside New Orleans, deep in Cajun Country, this beautiful riverboat gambling hall has over 30,000 square feet of gaming space , 800 slots, and a dozen table games. Before she was damaged during Hurricane Katrina, she sailed up the river from the port of New Orleans several times a day in the mid-90s, but she now sits permanently in Bayou Bouef, her expedition days behind her.

Since Louisiana has kept its premise of at least gambling on a boat, even if its moored in a giant pool or cemented to the dock, longer than most other of the original riverboat casino states, it’s no wonder we can find most of the truly breathtaking and best riverboat casinos there.

Another of the must-see gambling boats sits on the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana. Chosen for its 20-minute proximity to the Texas border and only two and a half hours drive from Dallas, Shreveport was once a thriving riverboat gambling town and one of the country’s premier riverboat casino locations. But the Indian tribes in Oklahoma, which sit only an hour outside of Dallas to the North, have taken some of their business.

Still, there are several other riverboats operating in Shreveport, but what we think makes the Sam’s Town Property, one of the best riverboat casinos in Louisiana , is that they’ve turned a 30,000-square-foot gaming boat into a destination resort. They have a 500+ room hotel directly adjacent and tied into the property with four restaurants including a really nice steak house and lots of other amenities. The boat itself has over 1000 slots and more than 27 table games.

One of the best riverboat casinos outside of Louisiana is the Grand Victoria in Elgin, Illinois. Built back in 1995, she was spared the dangers of cruising the Fox River in 1999, when Illinois was one of the last states to end their riverboat gaming rules that required the boats to leave their docks. Today, this 30,000-foot boat has room for 1100 slots and almost 30 tables and even sports an onboard buffet and three other restaurants. She is one of the prettier examples of the early 1990s boats that you will see as well, and it is well worth your time to get a good vantage point and take in her lines.

While both the age of riverboat gamblers and its more recent short-lived renaissance of riverboat gaming are now a thing of the past, the allure of cruising the mighty Mississippi while making your living playing cards and shooting dice will probably live on into the distant future. There is something about the water flowing past and the land slipping by out the window that just seems to call for a quick hand of poker or a spin on the roulette wheel.

It’s a call back to a time when the men and women who traveled these waterways were used to risking everything in order to follow their dreams. Get out there and check out some of those boats, wander the decks, play a hand or two of blackjack, and contemplate that river streaming by while you still have a chance to see a dying American breed , the last of the riverboat casinos.

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Riverboat Gamblers

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Riverboat Gambler 17+

66 casino table games, riverboat gambler, llc, designed for ipad.

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Riverboat Gambler contains 66 casino games. All of these games can be found in a casino somewhere in the World, but no casino in the World has all of these games! Climb aboard The Riverboat Gambler and enjoy some of the hottest casino games around! This app serves up 66 different games and there are more planned. You will be amazed at the realism of your experience. Players are saying that they are becoming more proficient at the live games by practicing with Riverboat Gambler. Please read the reviews from loyal Players and professional casino Dealers who are using RBG for training purposes! Games Include: 1. Mississippi Stud 2. Three Card Poker 3. Ultimate Texas Hold’em 4. Criss Cross 5. Double Draw Poker 6. Let It Ride 7. Blackjack 8. Crazy 4 Poker 9. High Card Flush* 10. Pai Gow (tiles) 11. Pai Gow Poker 12. Asia Poker 13. Caribbean Stud Poker 14. Texas Hold’em BONUS 15. Baccarat 16. DJ Wild Poker 17. Tequila Poker 18. Red Dog Bonus! 19. Casino War 20. Keno 21. Roulette (American) 22. Craps 23. Lunar Poker 24. Cajun Poker 25. Four Card Poker 26. Heads Up Hold'em 27. Omaha Hold'em 28. Texas Shootout 29. Farobank 30. Face Up Pai Gow 31. Face Up Blackjack (Double Exposure Blackjack) 32. Jackpot Hold'em 33. Down Under Blackjack 34. Zombie Blackjack 35. Three Card Blitz 36. Casino Over/Under 37. Money Wheel 38. Three Card Fury 39. Four Card Frenzy 40. Big Raise Stud Poker 41. Single Deck Blackjack 42. Three Card Blackjack 43. Three Card Draw Poker 44. Deuces Wild 45. Bonus Six Stud Poker 46. 3-5-7 Poker 47. Chase the Flush 48. Fish, Prawn, Crab 49. Boule 50. Spanish 21* 51. Wild Five Poker (Poker with a Joker) 52. Boston 5 Poker 53. Deuces Wild Bonus! (Deuces Wild Hold'em Fold'em) 54. Sic Bo - IPad only 55. Six Card Poker 56. Rabbit Hunter 57. Cali Lowball 58. Deuces Wild (Video Poker) 59. Jacks or Better (Video Poker) 60. Joker Poker (Video Poker) 61. Royal Flush (Video Poker) 62. Double Double Bonus (Video Poker) 63. Triple Double Bonus (Video Poker) 64. Three Card Sabotage 65. Wild Card Stud Poker 66. Three Shot Poker * These games are not currently available on the smaller legacy SE devices. The limited screen real estate makes it difficult to display the large number of cards that are required to play the game. These games were designed & developed by an ardent casino player who plays 3-4 times every week. No worries if you do not know how to play. Each game includes detailed instructions and rules as well as descriptions of the possible poker hands and the related payouts. Already a player? You're going to love being able to "sit at the table" and practice your technique. Each game includes its own separate set of achievements for you to tackle as you are building up your bankroll and you will periodically be rewarded with bonus chips throughout the day. You are sure to have hours of fun improving your understanding of the games! To top it off, the developer personally reviews ALL feedback and acts upon it. If you have suggestions, submit them! Many of the current games were introduced in response to Player feedback. Note: some games may not be available on devices with smaller screens because you would need a microscope to view your cards!

Version 62.6.3

What a small world we live in! Recently, I was contacted by an actual inventor of one of the games contained in RBG. How cool is that?!? Mike Akley is a three card poker fan who conceived of the brilliant three card poker variant that is known as "Three Card Sabotage". In that game, the Dealer is dealt four cards while the Player only receives three cards. However, the game also involves dealing out two "sabotage cards". As the name implies, these cards are used to sabotage the Dealer's hand. Any Dealer card that matches a sabotage card gets discarded before the Dealer can form his best three card hand. This means the Dealer may end up with a hand that has fewer than three cards and that the Dealer's final hand may not be the best possible hand. A friend had mentioned to Mike that his game was in RBG and he wrote to compliment the app and to point out an problem with how the rules were being enforced. The rules I used to pattern the game were based on a casino that hosts the game. Apparently, that casino has its own rules or a misunderstanding of the original rules. Regardless, in keeping with my commitment to ensure that RBG is a realistic simulator to allow folks to learn and practice casino carnival games, I immediately took that game offline so the rules could be adjusted. Now, the Player has the option to bet 1x OR 2x the initial Ante wager if (s)he feels the hand is strong enough to challenge the Dealer. I hope you'll check out the game. It really is a lot of fun. Coming from a Mississippi Stud guy, that's saying a lot! As I always do, I want to thank everyone for your continued support. The collaboration with you, the Player Community, really make maintaining and improving Riverboat Gambler time well spent. ~Danny

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Legends of America

Traveling through american history, destinations & legends since 2003., george devol – old west card sharp.

George Devol

“I don’t know just how thick my old skull is, but I do know that it is pretty thick, or it would have been cracked many years ago, for I have been struck some terrible blows on my head with iron dray-pins, pokers, clubs, stone-coal, and bowlders, which would have split any man’s skull wide open unless it was pretty thick. Doctors have often told me that my skull was nearly an inch in thickness over my forehead.”

– George Devol, Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi

George H. Devol was the greatest riverboat gambler in the history of the Mississippi River. He was also a con artist, a fighter, and a master at manipulating men and their money.

Born on August 1, 1829, in Marietta, Ohio, George Devol was the youngest of six children. His father was a ship carpenter and was often away from home. Though Devol had good opportunities for early education, he didn’t like school and spent most of his time playing hooky. The unmanageable boy was also prone to fighting, coming home almost daily with scratches and bruises from his numerous scuffles. When a teacher attempted to discipline him with a hardy whipping, he would turn on them, hitting them with stones that he carried in his pocket. While his father was away building boats much of the time, his mother would be forced to call in a neighbor or passerby to help with his punishment.

Devol ran away at the age of ten, serving as a cabin boy on a riverboat steamer called the Wacousta .  Evidently, Devol did a good job in this capacity as he soon took a better-paying job on a boat called Walnut Hills .

Another boat came soon after – the Cicero , where Devol learned to play “Seven-Up” and the art of bluffing. Seeing the high lifestyle of the professional gamblers on the boat, Devol was determined to follow in their footsteps, and by the time he was in his teens, he could deal seconds, palm cards, and recover the cut.

Fighting would continue to be a natural part of his life, and he soon developed skills with a gun, never hesitating to pull it.

By the time the Mexican War broke out, he was on a boat called the Tiago . Soon, Devol thought it a good idea to go to war and got a job as a barkeeper on the Corvette , bound for the Rio Grande and Mexico.

While aboard the Corvette, he met a man who taught him how to “stock a deck.” Upon reaching the Rio Grande and joining the forces, he quickly utilized his newly learned skills to swindle the other soldiers. But he grew bored with soldiering, and with his pockets filled with his ill-earned gains, he returned to New Orleans, although not for long.

At the tender age of 17, Devol’s pockets were filled with almost three thousand dollars as he headed back home to Ohio, laden with gifts for his family.

While back in Ohio, he mastered the games of Faro and Rondo.  Devol continued to hone his skills and made hundreds of thousands of dollars in the years before the Civil War .  Working the steamboats of the South, he joined in with other card sharps, including Canada Bill Jones , Bill Rollins, Big Alexander, and many others over the years.

Playing Faro

One trick that Devol liked to play was betting against ministers, who inevitably lost their meager wages to the professional gambler. However, Devol would always return their money, along with this advice: “Go and sin no more.” But to the many soldiers, paymasters, farmers, thieves, and businessmen, he was not so kind.

When the war was over, the railroads began to head west, with settlements sprouting up all along the way.  Many of these burgeoning towns, often filled with railroad workers, miners, and cowboys provided all manner of vices, including prostitution , numerous saloons , and the ever-present gambling halls. Supplying perfect opportunities for Devol’s operation, he followed the railroad expansion between Kansas City and Cheyenne in the early 1870s.

According to his account, Devol was working the Gold Room Saloon in Cheyenne when he encountered Wild Bill Hickok .  Devol tells the story that when Hickok placed a $50 bet, he lost.  He then placed another $50 bet, winning the hand that time; however, the dealer handed him back only $25.  When Wild Bill protested, the dealer stated that the house limit was $25. “But you took 50 when I lost,” said Hickok, to which the dealer responded, “Fifty goes when you lose.” The quick-tempered Hickok wasn’t about to accept those terms “sitting down” and quickly whacked the dealer on the head with his walking stick, turned over the table, and stuffed his pockets with the till.

On another occasion, when Devol was working the railroad route, he beat a railroad director out of $1,200.  This one-time winning game resulted in Devol’s profession being quickly curbed when the outraged official prohibited gambling on trains.  Further, the Pinkerton agency was hired to be on the lookout for the most notorious professional gamblers, including Devol.

In 1892, Devol published his autobiography, Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi , telling of his life and probably exaggerating much of it. Shortly after he published his book, the great days of railroad and riverboat gambling were over. At his new wife’s insistence, he retired from gambling for good in 1896 and spent the last years of his life selling his book.

It is estimated that Devol won over two million dollars in his forty years of gambling.  However, when he died in Hot Springs , Arkansas , in 1903, he was nearly penniless.

Reno, Nevada Gambling, 1910

©  Kathy Weiser-Alexander / Legends of America , updated November 2021.

Old West Poker

Saloons of the Wild West

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Functionality introduced in IOS version 60.3.5 to address EU country requirements related to ads broke the app for non-EU countries; all games are disabled. A fix is pending.

Bishop bryan ouellette of "vestiges after dark" & "ghost adventures", robin "binbin" aubin from ne time gambling, read release notes, all of these games can be found in a real casino somewhere, but no real casino anywhere has all of these games, table games:.

• 3-5-7 poker
• big raise stud poker
• bonus six stud poker
• boston 5 poker
• cali lowball
• caribbean stud
• casino over/under
• chase the flush
• crazy 4 poker
• criss cross poker
• deuces wild
• deuces wild bonus!
• dj wild poker
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• fish, prawn, crab
• four card frenzy
• four card poker
• heads up hold'em
• jackpot hold'em
• let it ride
• lunar poker
• mississippi stud
• money wheel
• omaha hold'em
• pai gow poker
• pai gow tiles
• rabbit hunter
• red dog bonus
• single deck blackjack
• six card poker
• tequila poker
• texas hold'em bonus
• texas shootout
• three card blackjack
• three card blitz
• three card draw poker
• three card fury
• three card poker
• three card sabotage
• three shot poker
• triple shot
• ultimate texas hold'em
• wild card stud poker
• wild five poker
• zombie blackjack

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Riverboat Casinos in the US – History of Riverboat Casino Gambling

Published on: 03/06/2021

History of Gambling on Riverboats

We can think of no better place to begin our journey than by painting a picture of the history and heritage of riverboats and gambling . Back in the 1800s, the situation for gambling in the USA was a bit different than today. The Mississippi Great River was the lifeblood of American industry and commerce. Thanks to advances in transportation technology, traders were no longer content to load up their horses and carts and instead took full advantage of the connections that river transport could offer.

If you’ve ever read anything about sailors, you’ll know that traveling over water can be a long and tedious endeavor, which is why boats and game of chance have a long illustrious history . In order to pass the time, passengers and merchants on these riverboats would gamble onboard to keep themselves entertained on long voyages.

The Big Muddy

Before you knew it, riverboats began to entice professional gamblers and those seeking to keep a low profile. This was in part due to states prohibiting gambling ashore, making the use of riverboats a clever means of sidestepping local gambling laws as the water freeways were largely unregulated.

As the Mississippi River bordered several different states, it was the perfect legal grey area . This led to riverboats becoming popular entertainment destinations that mixed live music, dancing, and gambling, if only for a few hours. However, the rise of the railroad and the American Civil War in the latter half of the 19th century saw the popularity of water transport and riverboat casinos decline significantly.

It wasn’t until 1904 when several states softened their hardline stance on riverside gambling. The first ‘legitimate’ riverboat casino, the City of Traverse, set sail on Lake Michigan which signaled the start of riverboat gambling becoming an organized commercial operation. As you may know, whenever there’s money to be made, it isn’t long until the government wants to get involved.

The Road to Regulation

Early riverboat casinos were quite restrictive in terms of what they were legally allowed to do. Gambling could only take place during a short cruise that lasted several hours. In 1951, Lyndon Johnson drafted the Transportation of Gambling Devices Act, which made the transportation of gambling devices illegal across state lines unless it was legal in the next state.

It wasn’t until the late 1980s that the idea of revitalizing this golden era of riverboat gambling re-emerged. As a result, several states introduced laws which allowed gambling on water vessels and set the legal framework with which they still operate in today. Iowa was the first state to legalize riverboat gambling in 1989. Nowadays you can gamble on riverboat in the following states:

• Mississippi

In many ways, it was a win-win situation, states could earn money from riverboat casino revenues through taxation without the pressure of offending the righteous by having the temptations of on-land casinos everywhere.

Riverboat Casinos and Local Economies

By 2010, there were a total of 17 riverboat casinos in operation. By 2018, there were a total of 63 riverboat casinos operating across these six states, suggesting the appeal of maritime gambling is continuing to grow according to this latest data. For the entire states of Illinois and Missouri, these riverboat casinos made $382.5 million and $152.million in state tax revenue alone.

A major way that a riverboat casino collects revenue for the state is through taxation of winnings , although be sure to consult the gambling legislation in the state you’re playing in. For example, in Iowa, if you win more at $1,200 there you must pay over 5% in taxes. Whereas in Illinois, a larger 15% of your winnings return to the state, and a further 5% to the local community.

Vocal supporters of riverboat casinos argue in their favor that they actually increase employment rates in the communities that host them, and this does indeed seem to be the case. Although the impact of the global Corona pandemic on riverboat casinos remains to be seen, we predict that this industry will continue to grow.

Interesting Trivia Surrounding Riverboat Casinos

Before we give you some riverboat recommendations, we’d like to give you some riverboat casino trivia and historical facts that you might find intriguing.

Firstly, when riverboat gambling was legalized in the early 1990s, different states demanded different cosmetic requirements . For instance, all Louisiana vessels were required by law to look exactly like the 19th-century paddlewheel steamboats. In Indiana, riverboat casinos legally had to be 150 feet long and able to accommodate at least 500 passengers.

Riverboat gambling also comes with a history of violence. Modern historians have found sources that report on individuals taking the law into their own hands to punish cheaters and thieves. The most famous incident occurred in Vicksburg, Mississippi when five gamblers were lynched in 1835 after they were discovered to be cheating.

Initially, in most states, players were only allowed to gamble when the riverboat casino was in motion. However, due to unpredictable and terrible weather, boats occasionally couldn’t leave the shore for safety reasons. After Hurricane Katrina, most states require riverboat casinos to stay docked to the barge to prevent damage and accidents.

Riverboat Casinos in the Modern Day

Today the Mississippi river retains its reputation for being the home to many extravagant riverboat casinos. This section will take a look at some our top three picks for the best riverboat casinos out there that we wholeheartedly recommend you visit.

Casino Queen Marquette – Iowa

Situated in the heart of Marquette, Iowa, the Casino Queen Marquette promises visitors an unforgettable experience of ”high rollin’ on the river”. This remarkable riverboat has plenty of floor space, 17,514 square feet to be exact! Gamblers can also enjoy over 566 slot machines and table games such as blackjack and Texas Hold’em. If you’d like to immerse yourself with the locals, you can enjoy a few rounds of Mississippi Stud poker too.

Treasure Chest Casino – Louisiana

Located in the cultural capital of Louisiana, New Orleans, the Treasure Chest Casino offers players a beautiful gaming experience alongside the breathtaking Lake Pontchartrain . It boats 24,000 square feet of floor space hosting classic table games, slots, and an exciting event showroom. Highly recommended for tourists traveling through the American South East, visitors can also experience traditional Southern hospitality and cuisine including Po’boys, crawfish, and gumbo.

Ameristar Casino – Mississippi

Found on banks of the famed Mississippi, the Ameristar Casino can be found in Vicksburg and contains a massive poker room, café, restaurant, and even a highly recommended hotel. It was designed to retain the appearance and atmosphere of the 19th-century traditional steam paddle riverboat. Visitors can enjoy this nostalgic character whilst simultaneously enjoying table games, over 1,400 slot machines, and even sports betting kiosks, meaning there’s something for everyone who visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

If this article has piqued your curiosity enough to set sail on a raft down the Mississippi to find the best riverboat casinos, we’re happy to hear it! However, if you should still have some unanswered questions about riverboat casinos, we’ve got you covered. Featured below are the most commonly asked questions by our readers.

If you’d like to enjoy the full experience of a riverboat casino without having to go near the water, then be sure to check out our extensive range of in-depth gaming guides that will give you all the insight and tips you’ll ever need when it comes to playing all of your favorite games online or at a live casino.

Are there still riverboat casinos?

Of course, modern riverboat casinos have been popular since the early 1990s . Iowa was the first state to legalize riverboat gambling, with several states bordering the Mississippi river like Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana jumping on the bandwagon shortly after.

Why are there riverboat casinos?

Riverboat casinos arose as a solution to legally grey areas regarding state gambling laws . They were seen as a way for the state to increase its revenue by taxation while also preventing illegal behaviors. Riverboat casinos offered a steady flow of income without citizens worrying about a flurry of on-land casinos popping up in their area. Today they are mostly docked to the harbors and offer entertainment, music, table games, and sports betting options.

How many riverboat casinos are there?

According to the latest figures provided in 2018, there are currently a total 63 riverboat casinos operating across the states of Iowa, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Missouri. All of these are packed with entertainment options and many classic casino games such as blackjack and roulette .

How much does a riverboat casino cost?

Riverboat casinos have been reported to cost anywhere between $7 million and $20 million . This is without even taking into consideration the additional cost of installing gambling equipment for its patrons. Typically installed by shipyards, additional gambling equipment such as slot machines can run up further bills of up to $6 million.

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There are various areas of the world that just seem synonymous with gambling. When people hear the name Las Vegas they picture gambling of a flashy, mass entertainment proportion. Macau ’ s gambling culture brings a real Asian flavour to gambling, with many inevitably comparing it to Vegas. Monte Carlo delivers gambling connotations of wealth and prestige. Obviously, it is not just physical areas where gambling has a strong presence, with the web and mobile space being  dominated by PartyCasino  and other big names in the industry.

Another, yet somewhat less spectacular, sight that can only be associated with gambling is the steam propelled riverboat of certain states in the USA. How did these iconic vessels come to be known for hosting casinos, and what is the current status of riverboat casinos today?

On Water, But Not Land

There is a network of rivers that penetrate inland from the Gulf of Mexico up through the United States,  most famously the Mississippi River . In the 19 th  Century the rivers provided a fantastic way to transport goods from town to town up and down the bodies of water. This in turn became a popular method of passenger transport, with travellers using the boat to socialise. One of the most popular forms of entertainment was  play at online Irish casino , and therefore this pastime became highly popular aboard the vessels. 

There were also, and still are today, laws that prohibited gambling on land. However, the proprietor s  of these boats took advantage of the loophole not extending these laws to establishments on water. Even today,  riverboats are still to be found on the Mississippi  and is still considered one of the best for cruises. Certain rivers acted as state lines, so it was sometimes argued that the gamblers could not be classified as being in one state or another while steaming down a river.

Railroads and War

As mentioned, the riverboats were first and foremost a means of transportation and enjoyed such success due to it being the quickest and most reliable means of travel and delivery of goods. However, when railroads started to spread across the country, they opened up new routes that got people around in a more direct manner. The trains also cut days off travel and therefore started to overtake the riverboats in popularity.

Around the same time the  American Civil War  broke out, a period where much of the fighting was done in the Southern States which defied the laws laid out by the North. This meant that riverboat entertainment almost came to a complete end.

The Riverboats of Today

Unlike the boats of old, which used to set off on long journeys to various destinations, the vessels of now mostly remain docked and very seldom actually take to the open waters. However, one will still be able to undergo the traditional experience that thousands enjoyed before casinos became what we are familiar with today.

• #RiverCruise

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