US Online Gambling

Boats have been around for 100s of years. The first efficient steamboats were made in 1807 by a man called Robert Fulton, an American inverter. It wasn’t till 1989 when modern casino boats were established in Iowa. US Casino riverboats were a great alternative to land-based casinos and were a great attraction for many people.

When these boats were first legalized for gambling some states required the ships to set sail before gambling commenced, to be in line with the gambling laws set in place. In today’s age, most USA casino boats don’t move from the docks they’re shipped at and simply act as a vessel for gambling and many other uses. The boats come in all shapes and sizes, from the grand ships to much smaller yachts. 

More recently, they have seen a new surge in interest prompted by the Netflix series, Ozark. In this very exciting series, the protagonist opens such a casino in order to launder money for a crime boss making the riverboat casino the focal point of the show.

While, naturally, this show is fictitious, these boat casinos are a real and popular fixture in the US and are one of the more unconventional ways for US players to enjoy legal gaming. Of course, with the further legislation of USA online casinos, this has becoming easier and the need for them has waned slightly.

So, how do boat managers run their business? What do they need to think about when starting up their casino? How do you start a casino boat business? These are some things we’ll give you information on in this article. 

What is a Casino Boat?

A casino boat is the river-based version of a land-based casino. These boats were originally made to provide people with an alternative option to gamble as land-based gambling was not legalized at the time. All the popular games are involved such as blackjack, roulette, video slots, and many more. There are currently 6 states that allow casino riverboats those being: 

• Illinois 
• Indiana 
• Louisiana 
• Lowa
• Mississippi 
• Missouri

So if you live a bit far out from one of these states, you’ll need to drive or fly over to the state to check out some hot spots for casino boats. Most of the boats are located in Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri.

Top Casino Boats USA

There are several boats to choose from in quite a few states. But which ones do you decide to go to? It’s all down to convenience and personal preference as most boat casinos will offer similar gambling experiences and a good variety of games. Here are a few amazing boat casinos in the USA for you to check out. 

Mississippi Belle II — This is a luxurious riverboat located in the state of Mississippi. Games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and Caribbean stud are available at this casino. If you’re looking for great food you’ll find a nice deli onboard.

Amelia Belle — Boyd Gambling operates this boat, and supports games such as blackjack, roulette, Mississippi stud, Texas hold ‘em, 3 card poker and several slot machines. The defining feature of Amelia Belle is the all-you-can-eat buffet. This boat is located in Louisiana. 

River City Casino — This is a monster-sized boat, serving a 90,000 square foot of space where players can walk around and play games. Located in Lemay, Missouri, in the St. Louis area, this casino has over 2000 slot machines and 55 table games to choose from. 

Casino Azar — This riverboat is known as the best attraction in Evansville, Indiana. It’s a replica of another boat that ships across the rivers of Ohio. If you’re ever in Evansville this is a great place to check out and have some fun playing at. 

How to Open a Riverboat Casino 

Starting up a riverboat casino business can be quite challenging for even the best business minds. There are several things aspiring business owners need to think about, from regulations to location and even health and safety. If you’re thinking about opening a riverboat casino here are some simple guidelines to follow:

• You’ll need to begin with getting a consensus of the area. Do some market research and find out about what the community likes and if the riverboat casinos are one of those options. Use this information in your business plan you create to give you the best chances of success. 
• Contact the gambling regulatory boards for the state. Obtain information on the level of gambling allowed on riverboats in the state you’ve chosen. It’s best to choose a location within the 6 states mentioned above. Ensure to obtain a gambling license as this is required to act as a casino. 
• Hire the staff to run the casino, such as dealers, bar staff, and kitchen staff if you’d like to have a restaurant. Hire a few supervisors to overlook the staff. If you want to be a silent owner it’s good to hire a boat manager to run the business for you organizing day-to-day operations. 
• Buy the riverboat and the equipment to run the games. Pick a boat that’s in good condition, big enough to host the games and guests, and follows the right regulations given by the governing authorities. 
• You’ll need to hire an accountant and attorney to sort out your taxes and assist you in any law matters and setting up an employer identification number which is provided by the IRS.

Things Owners Experience and Need 

Let’s say you’ve finally set up everything to open the riverboat casino for its 1st day of business. What can you expect to happen? There will be good days and bad days as there always challenges when running any business. However, owning a riverboat casino is similar to owning a land-based casino, and it’s also very different in other areas. There are a few interesting things owners experience and need to think about when running their business. 

Competent Driving Crew — If the boats are going to set off on sail down the river, the crew will need to be effective at getting the ship from A to B without having a titanic situation. Always a good idea to have a random drug and alcohol test on the crew to ensure no one’s under the influence while driving. 

Health and safety — If you’re on a boat there are a little health and safety regulations that need to look at. For instance, if you’re setting sail you’d need staff trained in first aid to help people who may need it.

Food Regulations — The food needs to be met to a servable standard. People can get sick from eating food that’s not cooked properly or old. This is how many restaurants get caught out when the people who eat there get sick from the food made. Hiring competent chefs is essential. 

Security — Fitting security cameras and having security staff is essential to stop people cheating on games and trying to steal money from the casino. There will also be the odd person who is drunk too much and starts getting rowdy when they are losing. Owners usually have their security staff sort this out.

Regular Income of Players — Smaller less known casino boats may find that it’s difficult to get people into their casinos to play. These days everything is online and casino boat owners need to think of ways to get people into their boat, through events and special offers. 

Final Thoughts 

Casino boats are a great place to spend the evening playing traditional casino games and eat exceptional food. Running the business can be tricky but is extremely rewarding as we all know the odds are with the house.

Opening a casino boat is a challenge, however, if you get it right and follow all the necessary steps and regulations it can be done. If you are looking for a simpler way to play casino games, then an online casino USA should be the answer,

Visit our page here to find one that works for you!