Riverboat gambling is a common form of wagering for many people across the country. Here is some information about this under-the-radar industry.
The Beginning of Riverboat Gambling
For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, paddlewheel riverboats had been used to transport freight and passengers up major river systems and their tributaries. When railroads overtook them in usefulness and popularity, a shift occurred.
Riverboats became more frequently used for entertainment excursions. These excursions would last for several hours as riverboats had been largely replaced for transportation purposes. People loved them because it was a great way to not only beat the heat but enjoy live music and dancing.
As it turns out, gambling was also quite common on these riverboats. Slot machines and card games became a popular form of gambling. As such, riverboat casinos eventually were approved in the latter part of the 20th century.
Riverboat gambling has a long and storied history.
Riverboat Gambling Today
Times have changed and there are many states that allow casino gaming. Riverboat casinos have largely gone the way of the dodo, but Louisiana and Mississippi do still have them. That being said, they are not required to sail and largely remain docked.
Riverboat gambling created a unique yet legal situation for gamblers to enjoy their favorite games. It created one of the most interesting and entertaining forms of gambling that the United States has ever seen.
