Riverboat Casino – Where Gambling and Travel Unites

If you have no idea what a riverboat casino is, then our article is the right light read for you. Here, you can learn what is a casino on a river boat, where they sail, and what games they offer. We will even add some tips on how to pick the perfect riverboat cruise for your next vacation.

Photo: Pixabay Images. CC0. 2021

There are many types of riverboat casino cruises, but what is equally applicable for all of them is the necessity to deliver a top gambling experience. Once the base is covered, the riverboats add extra entertainment, fine food, and drinks. Our article will tell you about the top US riverboat casinos and how they spoil their guests.

What is a Riverboat Casino?

Photo: Pixabay Images. CC0. 2021

In short, the riverboat casinos are gambling ships sailing on rivers. Their main goal is to provide a gambling location for players while travelling up and down the calm rivers. This way of gambling often is combined with entertainment, tasty local food, and comfy hotel rooms. That is why one of the most frequently browsed vacation destinations often holds the words “riverboat casino near me”.

Legal Riverboat Casinos and Gambling Laws in the USA

The US gambling laws cover the vast area of gambling on land and online gaming. There are also special sections regulating cruise ship and riverboat casinos. In addition to this, the laws define which games are legal, who monitors and regulates them.

In the 1830s casinos on riverboats began “stealing” players from the land-based gambling dens and saloons. The news of the latest fashion spread all around the Southern states and brought many professional gamblers to Mississippi riverboats. These new crowds of people with pockets full of money joined the standard travellers’ flow and helped the word spread even further.

Riverboat gambling was first legalized by the state of Iowa in 1989. As the years went by, more and more states recognized the amazing opportunities created by this occupation line. After the 1990s, riverboats gambling became legal in Missouri, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.

The main regulatory organs of all gambling activities in the US are the federal gambling laws and the state authorities. Every state has the right to independently decide which games are legal. Each state has appointed a commission or authority that monitors and regulates the activity of the casinos, gaming, and gambling locations. For example, the St Louis riverboat casino is regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission.

Who Owns Riverboat Casinos?

Today, almost anyone can own and operate a riverboat casino. Most of the casinos on riverboats in the USA can be owned by companies, organizations, and individuals. This is a serious venture because the gambling location must meet the legal, health, employment, and gaming requirements before opening doors. After that, the operator must constantly improve and advance to meet the demands of the players.

The multiple requirements and incredible investments make owning a casino a tough job. What makes the riverboat gambling even more fund consuming is that the gambling location has to be on a well maintained, sailing, and safe boat. Some investors don’t see the point in such a great investment, so they avoid this type of business or keep the ships at the docks.

Despite the difficulties, many players are fond of the thrill to gamble on water. As you may know, riverboat gaming is now a memory from the past when gambling was not legal on land. Preserving tradition is what the Native American tribes do, and that is why there are many riverboat casinos owned and operated by tribes on tribal land. As a result, we have the best Native American casinos.

Top Riverboat Casinos in the USA

Photo: Pixabay Images. CC0. 2021

The riverboat casino cruises are not just about spending your time on the slot machines or the gaming tables. They are an amazing way to get in touch with the past, enjoy good food, and see the lovely nature along the river. If you are fond of movies, you may even recreate the sensation of a scene from old movies where the characters spent time on riverboats. An excellent example is Maverick (1994) and its poker tournament scene, or Red and Scarlet’s honeymoon in Gone with the Wind (1939).

There are many stories about the great locations they visited and the excellent experience delivered by the boat’s employees. Some travellers and players are proud to say that they have been on some of the largest or most luxurious riverboats. Undoubtedly, there will be many stories when the world’s largest riverboat casino (so far) opens. The riverboat is 408-foot (125m), four-passenger decks, accommodates 4,400 passengers and crew, and has casino space of 6,317 square meters.

Size, comfort, excellent customer service, and top gambling experience are mandatory for every resort, hotel with casino, and gaming location. When it comes to riverboats entertainment, we picked the top US riverboat casinos you can visit.

As you can see, all options offer great food and trips around the cities. We will tell you that many travellers who had tasted the riverboat cruises once book many more after that. The tourists have a wide range of companies and boats to choose from. If you have already tried the trips a riverboat casino Indiana offers, explore another boat trip in Louisiana, Iowa, Missouri, or any other state. This way, you will taste a different state’s hospitality, see new places, and gamble in different environments.

Recognize the Great Riverboat Casinos

Photo: Pixabay Images. CC0. 2021

Today, any riverboat casino aims to deliver the excellent gaming experience and visitor satisfaction offered by the best casinos in the USA. You can even deposit with an e-wallet and enjoy a fantastic riverboat casino experience. The journey is just about the same when you play online. Read this article about the best PayPal casino for US players if you want to learn more about the widest used option to pay with an e-wallet. The wide variety of services expected and demanded by the passengers pushes some operators to specialize in one area. For example, there are adults-only casinos that offer gambling, alcohol, and adult entertainment.

People look at the riverboat casinos as great entertainment and a way to feel closer to the days of the Wild West. The tourists and players can pick from a long list of excellent gambling boats. The riverboat casino Indiana, Illinois, Florida, and many other states offer cruises full of exciting games and beautiful nature. Travelling down the Mississippi River is still one of the incredible thrills that even the top gambling cities can’t deliver.

Many riverboats are family oriented and expand the range of services to match the passengers’ list. If you book one of those trips, you can find services like day trips, family games, childcare, music, movies, and more entertainment types.

It is guaranteed that you will see amazing sites while travelling down the river. That is why the riverboat casinos always pick the best parts of the rivers to sail over. When you select a boat for your next vacation, think about what you want to see outside of your window. The trips over Mississippi and Missouri rivers can give you a different experience than sailing near New Orleans or the Gulf Coast.

The boat needs to be in good condition. The passengers often miss this detail while being dazzled with excitement for the trip. Some vessels reach high speed, while others are more suitable for shallow waters. Those specifics can add extra spice to your journey in the wilderness.

All riverboat casinos offer classic table games like craps, poker, blackjack, and other card games. The new technologies brought the slots to the travellers. Many of the biggest boats are stable enough to offer a few versions of roulette.

After a long day of travel and gambling, it is always good to have a good night’s rest. Most of the riverboats have comfortable accommodations that offer overnight, weekend, week-long, or even longer trips. Some boats take the gamblers on a day ride and bring them back to dock a few hours later.

Tasty cuisine in the boat buffet, restaurant, and land-based locations are standard for the riverboat casinos. The boats with hotels that offer overnight and longer trips always have a kitchen and restaurant to try the unique local cuisine.

You can ease your search for booking a riverboat cruise by writing “riverboat cruise near me” into the search bar of your browser. Picking a trip is difficult, especially if you have never been on a boat before. You can start your research at popular gambling and tourist destinations. For example, any St Louis riverboat casino will take you on a trip where you can see the lovely St. Louis and the vicinity. Decide where you wish to go and book a trip.

If you feel adventurous or wish to visit strange places, expand your search and try to learn all, there is for the best riverboats with casinos. If you intend to gamble, make sure that the boat offers games like slots, craps, Classic Roulette, poker and blackjack versions. Don’t forget to check the commodities, food, and entertainment offered to the passengers outside of the gambling room.

Top International Riverboat Casinos

Photo: Sunborn Casino Images. All rights reserved. 2021

There are riverboat casino cruises all around the world. You can find ships offering trips up and down the rivers like the Amazon, the Nile, the Danube, and the rest of the largest rivers on all continents. Some of the boats have wonderful gambling rooms and even full casinos. We will give you just a couple of suggestions, but you can find more boats with casinos once you pick a location for your trip.

The Star of Fortune is one of the preferred choices when visiting Buenos Aires. This riverboat is part of the Casino Buenos Aires in Puerto Madero and was modelled after the Mississippi riverboats. There are 700+ slots, blackjack, roulette, and other games on 150+ play tables. You can enjoy bars, restaurants, and other amenities and entertainment. The casino is opened 24/7 and allows you to get off at any time because it is docked. This way, you can switch between the riverboat casino and the land-based Casino Buenos Aires, a few hundred metres away.

Searching for a “riverboat casino near me” in Europe can lead you to the Casino Sunborn. This boat travels around Gibraltar, Spain, and it is known as the world’s first superyacht casino. The hotel is 5-stars, and there are SPA, gym, restaurants, and bars. The Sunborn Casino admiral offers 35+ progressive jackpot slots, blackjack, roulette, 3 Card Poker, 5 Card Stud Poker, Punto Banco, and more table casino games.

Wherever you wish to travel, make sure you are using licensed and trusted companies. The professional gamblers and fond players should check the laws of the country where the boat sails. Having extra activities like short land trips, games, and on-board entertainment can make your trip unforgettable.

Riverboat Casino Frequently Asked Questions

Our article covered the riverboat casino definition and gave you information about these gambling locations’ legal matters. You learned which are the top riverboats and how to choose the best trip for you. We will now answer the most frequently asked questions regarding casinos on riverboats.

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