Riverboat Casino Gambling

Riverboat Casino gambling is a thing. If you’ve seen the 1994 movie “Maverick” then you’ll have some idea about riverboat gambling. Directed by Richard Donner, the film stars Mel Gibson as Bret Maverick, a card player and con artist who collects money in order to enter a high-stakes poker game. The action takes place on the “Lauren Belle” a converted tug made to resemble a Mississippi-style riverboat casino.

Introduction: Riverboat Casino Gambling

Historically, the Mississippi river has provided an efficient method for moving goods and so gradually became a center for trade and traders. Since the early 1900’s the river has attracted professional gamblers who are following the tradesmen and, more importantly,  their money. In the US, many States had laws prohibiting most types of gambling on dry land. So, not surprisingly, the idea of riverboat casino gambling was born. These riverboat casinos were huge, and many had paddle wheels because the law at the time said that they had to move away from land before the gambling could start. Others in different States could remain in the dock. It all depended on the legislation of each particular state.

You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat

The 20th century saw the beginnings of serious legalization of riverboat casino gambling. The first state to take up the mantle was Iowa in 1989. Illinois and Louisiana were next. According to online casino news in the US,  the actual gambling laws were very different between the two states. In Louisiana the ships needs to be capable of holding 600 passengers and must be of a historical appearance. Oh, and the boat needs to make regular river runs. For the State of Illinois, players have to wait until the ship is fully away from the dock before gambling can commence.

You’re Gonna need A Bigger River

Today riverboat casinos operate across a number of states. These include, Louisiana, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri. Of course you’ll be needing a sizable river for these massive boats. That’s why we can find so many on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The games on offer are the same as you’ll find online with Slotland Casino, the usual fare of Slots and table games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Craps.

Those Pesky Gambling Laws

Having said that, the laws have many variations depending on the State laws. For example, Missouri law saw a change in 2000 as to allow continuous boarding, along with the fact that the riverboat casino doesn’t need to cruise on the river. In this State, casino games such as Blackjack and Poker are good, because they are games of skill and not just chance. Yet casino games such as slot machines and other table games are not possible.

Online Riverboat Casino Gambling

Looking for an answer, online casino news in the US says the reason as to why a water based location is necessary is two fold. Firstly it limits the number of gamblers thanks to location. Also there is a limited number of passengers that can safely fit on the boat. And secondly, because many of the cruises last for around two hours, it limits the possibility of gambling addiction. Or you could just buy another ticket.
With the ever popular tradition of riverboat casino gambling, it’s not surprising that many online casinos like Slotland Casino, have a riverboat theme for many of the games.