Gambling Boat Mississippi River
Three gambling paddlewheelers - the President in Davenport, the Diamond Lady in Bettendorf and the Casino Belle in Dubuque - made their maiden cruises this month on the Mississippi River. Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in towns along the Mississippi River, local legislators also realized the revenue advantage of legalizing gambling. Mississippi Senator Tommy Gollott, a Democrat from the 50th Senate District in Harrison County, spearheaded legislation for dockside gambling to help the slumping state economy. The Big 'M' Casino sails 365 days a year from Little River, SC. Check out our pricing and cruise schedules for both gambling ships here.
A riverboat casino is a type of casino on a riverboat found in several states in the United States with frontage on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, or along the Gulf Coast. Several states authorized this type of casino in order to enable gambling but limit the areas where casinos could be constructed; it was a type of legal fiction as the riverboats were seldom if ever taken away from the dock.
History[edit]
Paddlewheel riverboats had long been used on the Mississippi River and its tributaries to transport passengers and freight. After railroads largely superseded them, in the 20th century, they were more frequently used for entertainment excursions, sometimes for several hours, than for passage among riverfront towns. They were often a way for people to escape the heat of the town, as well as to enjoy live music and dancing. Gambling was also common on the riverboats, in card games and via slot machines.
When riverboat casinos were first approved in the late 20th century by the states, which generally prohibited gaming on land, these casinos were required to be located on ships that could sail away from the dock. In some areas, gambling was allowed only when the ship was sailing, as in the traditional excursions. They were approved in states with frontage along the Mississippi and its tributaries, including Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri. Illinois also allowed limited riverboat casinos in the Chicago metropolitan area, which has a Mississippi River connection through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, while Northwest Indiana has three 'riverboat' casinos in harbors along Lake Michigan.
As an example, in 1994 Missouri voters approved amending the state constitution to allow 'games of chance' on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. By 1998, 'according to the state Gaming Commission, just three of the 16 operations comprising Missouri's $652-million riverboat gambling industry [were] clearly on the main river channel.' The state supreme court had ruled that boats had to be 'solely over and in contact with the surface' of the rivers.[1] Several casinos had been located on riverboats located in a moat or an area with water adjacent to a navigable waterway, leading them to be referred to as 'boats in moats.'[1] The state legislatures were unwilling to give up the revenues generated by gambling. Over time, they allowed gaming casinos to be built on stilts, though with the requirement they had to be over navigable water.
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which destroyed most riverboat casinos and their associated facilities of hotels, restaurants, etc., in states along the Gulf Coast, several states changed their enabling legislation or amended constitutions. They permitted such casinos to be built on land within certain geographic limits from a navigable waterway. Most of Mississippi's Gulf Coast riverboat casinos have been rebuilt on beachfronts with solid foundation systems since the hurricane.
References[edit]
- ^ abSloca, Paul (18 January 1998). 'Missouri's 'Boats in Moats' Get That Sinking Feeling'. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
External links[edit]
- Partial listing of permanently moored casinos, DeJong and Lebet, Inc., Naval Architects and Marine Designers
Introduction to Mississippi Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Mississippi slot machine casino gambling consists of 27 riverboat casinos and three American Indian tribal casinos. International cruise ships with onboard casinos also depart from ports in Biloxi and Gulfport.
Minimum and maximum payout return limits have been legally set by the state. Further, comprehensive actual payout return statistics are available by gaming machine type and state region.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Mississippi*
The minimum legal gambling age in Mississippi depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: Not available
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: Not available
Gambling in Mississippi has aided to the economy of the state and breathed new life into its tourism industry. In 1990, the Mississippi state legislature was the third U.S. state to legalize riverboat gambling.
By law, Mississippi’s riverboat casinos must be located on coastal waters, the Mississippi River, and in navigable waters of counties bordering the Mississippi River.
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Mississippi legislature allowed the state’s gulf coast casinos to rebuild on land within 800 feet of the shoreline.
Winning a jackpot of $1,200 or more in Mississippi results in a nonrefundable 3% tax of those winnings paid to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. This limit also applies to any cash prizes won in casino drawings and tournaments.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Mississippi
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Mississippi if it is at least 25 years old.
Gaming Control Board in Mississippi
The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) is responsible for non-tribal, commercial casinos. The gaming regulations used are from MGC but also from state law, specifically the Gaming Control Act.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians also has its Choctaw Gaming Commission for Mississippi’s three tribal casinos. The gaming compacts which authorized tribal gaming in Mississippi established this gaming commission.
Casinos in Mississippi
Mississippi has 27 commercial casinos, three American Indian tribal casinos, and cruise ships sailing out of the ports of Biloxi and Gulfport to international destinations.
The largest casino in Mississippi is Island View Casino Resort with 2,700 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Silver Star Casino at Pearl River with 2,500 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Mississippi
Mississippi’s 27 riverboat casinos are:
- Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Boomtown Casino – Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- 1st Jackpot Casino Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- Fitz Casino Hotel in Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- Gold Strike in Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- Golden Nugget – Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Harlow’s Casino Resort in Greenville within the Northern Region located 119 miles northwest of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
- Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis within the Coastal Region located 91 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Hollywood Casino Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport within the Coastal Region located 75 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lula within the Northern Region located 59 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
- Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel in Natchez within the Central Region located 103 miles southwest of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
- Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Riverwalk Casino Hotel in Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
- Sam’s Town Tunica within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis within the Coastal Region located 91 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel in Biloxi within the Coastal Region located 63 miles west of Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
- Trop Casino Greenville within the Northern Region located 119 miles northwest of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
- Tunica Roadhouse Casino and Hotel within the Northern Region located 41 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River.
- WaterView Casino & Hotel in Vicksburg within the Central Region located 44 miles west of Jackson on the Mississippi River.
Tribal Casinos in Mississippi
Mississippi’s three tribal casinos are each a property of Pearl River Casinos and Resorts, owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, including:
- Bok Homa Casino in Sandersville located 93 miles southeast of Jackson.
- Golden Moon Hotel & Casino in Philadelphia located 75 miles northeast of Jackson.
- Silver Star Hotel & Casino in Philadelphia located 75 miles northeast of Jackson.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Mississippi slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Mississippi is:
- North: Tennessee Slots
- East: Alabama Slots
- South: The Gulf of Mexico
- West: Arkansas Slots and Louisiana Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Mississippi.
Our Mississippi Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Mississippi? If so, join our new Mississippi slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Mississippi. Join us!
Payout Returns in Mississippi
The Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) offers monthly return statistics for commercial casinos by region of the state:
- Central Region, including the cities of Vicksburg and Natchez
- Northern Region, including the cities of Tunica, Greenville, and Lula
- Coastal Region, including the cities of Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis
The minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits are 80% and 100% according to MGC’s Regulations, Part 3: Operations, Rule 12.5: Minimum Standards for Gaming Devices.
These limits apply for each wager of a gaming device. If the gaming device played is a skill-based, competition-style machine, these limits apply when playing it with optimal strategy or perfect play.
MGC’s Monthly Revenue Reports offer the most recent month Slots Player Win Percent. Their Monthly Archives offer return statistics reports from prior months over the last twenty years.
The revenue reports offer the Win% for machine denominations for all casinos within a state region: Central, Northern, and Coastal. Further, progressive machines have separate entries by denomination. Gaming machines include:
- Slot machines
- Video poker machines
- Video keno machines
Another useful monthly report is Gaming Devices Report, which offers how many machines of each denomination are in each commercial casino. Once again, progressive versus non-progressive machines are separate.
Relative to other U.S. gaming jurisdictions, the payout statistics provided by Mississippi are the most thorough treatment I’ve seen for payout returns.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has not established theoretical payout limits in their gaming compact or by its Choctaw Gaming Commission. Further, as is often the case, no actual return statistics are publicly available.
Summary of Mississippi Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Mississippi Casino Guide And Map
Mississippi slot machine casino gambling consists of 28 commercial casinos, three tribal casinos, and cruise ships sailing out of the ports of Biloxi and Gulfport on the Gulf Coast to international destinations.
Minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits at commercial casinos are 80% and 100%. Possibly the best return statistics in the U.S. are available from Mississippi, available by three state regions and machine denominations as well as whether they are progressive machines.
The Mississippi Gambler (1953) - IMDb
Annual Progress in Mississippi Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, one commercial casino has closed, the Resorts Casino Tunica.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
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By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC