7 Riverboat Casinos Worth Visiting

Visiting riverboat casinos conjures up memories of pork pie hat-wearing gamblers, the Mississippi River, and Mark Twain smoking corn cob pipes. These artifacts of Americana may still be found in places around the country, and they make for great vacation spots.

Real money casinos of this type are typically situated near the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast. Although not all, states famed for their riverboats generally border and include tributaries of the Mississippi.

With live music, dancing, and gambling, riverboats became entertainment attractions as railroads gained control in the early twentieth century. The riverboats took passengers on short excursions, leaving and docking every few hours.

Riverboats are considered a sort of legal fiction since they were built to restrict the regions where gambling businesses may be built and seldom leave the dock.

The Amelia Belle in Amelia, LA

Boyd Gaming, a casino and hotel firm located in Paradise, Nevada, has the first riverboat on the list. The Amelia Belle is located in Amelia, Louisiana, between Morgan City and Houma, on the Avoca Island Cutoff canal.

This four-story casino has a classic turn-of-the-century design and is breathtaking when lit up at night, making it one of the most attractive riverboats on my list. Three-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Mississippi Stud are among the unique table games available.

Aside from the usual food, the casino hosts a monthly $10,000 raffle and advertises a $777 slots jackpot. For genuine Louisiana fare, don’t miss their acclaimed Cajun Buffet.

The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois

Elgin, Illinois’s Grand Victoria is located on the Fox River. El Dorado Resorts, which owns the Tropicana and another riverboat casino on my list, the Isle of Capri, owns the destination.

The Grand Victoria, located 40 miles west of Chicago, has four restaurants:

1. Buckinghams Steakhouse and Lounge

2. Indulge Show Kitchen Buffet

3. Crave Deli

4. Prime Burgerhouse

There are over 1,100 video poker and slot machines in the casino, as well as 36 table games. It is the state’s highest-earning casino and is well-known for its community outreach programs. As a result, you can relax knowing that your enjoyment is helping local toy-collection programs and non-profit organizations.

Casino Queen Marquette in Marquette, Iowa

This is where you should go if you want a more personalized experience. The Queen Marquette is a modest riverboat casino in Marquette, Iowa, managed by CQ Holdings. The Queen Marquette, like the majority of the riverboats on this list, is located on the Mississippi River. Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, is a charming midwestern hamlet located across the river.

Despite having only eight table games, the Queen Marquette makes up for it with over 566 slot machines. Blackjack, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, 21+3, Fusion Roulette, Shoot to Win Craps, and Fusion Blackjack are among the table games available.

The riverboat is attached to a 31-acre complex that also has a covered pavilion with food and entertainment options.

Although most casinos have hosts whose goal is is to give individualized service to casino patrons, the Queen Marquette places a special focus on this group. They provide more concentrated attention and accommodation in organizing your vacation due to their smaller size.

Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Shreveport, Louisiana

Although the name Sams’s Town is synonymous with gambling in Las Vegas, this casino in Shreveport, Louisiana, offers Vegas’ elegance to the South.

All of Sam’s slots are progressive, which means that your chances of winning one of multiple jackpots increase with each play. A jackpot of over $90,000 may be won by spinning the triple double stars.

Craps no More, Baccarat, and Let it Ride are just a few of the types available at Sam’s Town Shreveport.

Stay in the 760-square-foot Magnolia Suite and dine at the magnificent William B’s Steakhouse if you want to be pampered. Massages, facials, body treatments, manicures, and pedicures are among the spa treatments available at Spa Blu. After a hard day of winning, unwind in their dry saunas and steam rooms. Sam’s Town Live, their entertainment facility, features amazing local and national performances.

Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

On the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Hollywood Casino is directly across the street from the state capitol building.

The Tier Credit scheme at Hollywood Casino is substantial. Personal host service, access to the exclusive Producer’s Lounge, and free sports tickets are all available to Executive Producer clients.

The conventional slots, video poker, and classic table games are all available at Hollywood Casino.

They also hold regular gambling events including as slot tournaments, lucky draw match games, a $64,000 Hi-Lo tournament, and a number of cash prizes for club members.

The Celebrity Grill, Epic Buffet, Take Two Deli, and others are among the eateries of the Hollywood. After that, you may hit the Copper Mill Golf Club’s links.

Copper Mill is a Scottish-style “links” course with a unique layout that includes three par 3 holes, three par 4 holes, and three par 5 holes on each nine. The Movie Tavern also shows the newest movies and serves restaurant-quality meals as you relax and enjoy the performance.

Isle of Capri in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The Isle of Capri Casino, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on the appropriately called Lake Charles, offers a typical casino experience with a variety of luxury suites.

There are 30 table games, 11 poker tables, and over 1,100 online slot at the casino. The distinctive game of Pai Gow, based on the ancient Chinese game of dominoes and adapted for a contemporary card deck, may be found at numerous casinos throughout southwest Louisiana.

The steakhouse Otis and Henry’s Bar & Grill, the Farmer’s Pick Buffet, and the diner-style Lone Wolf Express are among the restaurants. Listen to the distinctive sounds of Louisiana Swamp Pop, a version of traditional zydeco native to southwest Louisiana, on the live local entertainment schedule.

After dinner, unwind with a drink on the top deck while admiring the city lights and watching the residents promenade around the downtown waterfront.

Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner, Louisiana

Treasure Chest is a 24,000-square-foot dockside riverboat on Lake Pontchartrain, located in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner. Enjoy the magnificent cypress tree groves in the bayous around Kenner, as well as a distant perspective of the downtown New Orleans skyline.

One benefit of Boyd Gaming’s vast line of casinos is that club privileges typically cross over to other Boyd Gaming casinos, allowing you to take your rewards with you to other Boyd Gaming locations.

Mini Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow, Flop Poker, Three-Card Poker, and Four-Card Poker are all unique table games. The Vista Buffet and Cafe Pontchartrain are two restaurants that provide traditional Louisiana cuisine.

Take in the live entertainment in the Treasure Chests Caribbean Showroom after you’ve had your fill of boiled crawfish and steamed crab legs. National performers are fantastic, but local Cajun and zydeco bands will provide you with an unforgettable musical experience.

Conclusion

Riverboats may not have all of the bells and whistles of traditional casinos (although some do), but they make up for it with flair. Riverboat casinos are ideal for people who want to focus on the primary attraction, gaming, and do so in a unique setting.

Up and down the Mississippi River, there are several riverboat casinos. There are even a handful outside the “Mighty Mississippi’s” boundaries.

Next time you visit one of these distinctly American places, imagine yourself amid maverick gamblers and saloon-style showgirls around the turn of the century. Riverboat casinos are the stuff of movies and novels, yet the spirit of this early American institution may still be felt today.

Keep a look out on deck for Huck Finn, who may be drifting past on a wooden raft on his way to his next adventure.