Riverboat Casinos and Casino Cruises-Then and Now
Long before the online gambling revolution and even before the boost of tribal casinos
a casino cruise was the only legal way to gamble in the US besides Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos. Nowadays
gambling on a riverboat casino is only one of the many options that the recreational gambler faces when he feels like shooting dice.
The history of casino cruises and riverboat casinos in the United States goes back to the beginning of the 19th century when the Mississippi River was a major trade center for farmers and merchants. The river towns became major attraction for professional gamblers
also known as cardsharps
who were hunting the travelers who used to carry large amounts of cash with them.
When five cardsharps were lynched in Mississippi in 1835
the professional gamblers drove away from the south. The fashion of riverboat gambling remained as an informal routine between travelers. The two decades before the Civil War saw the pick of luxurious riverboat casino gambling.
The public image of the average riverboat gambler has changed a lot in the last century. If during the 19th century riverboat gambling was part of the frontier lifestyle
nowadays
a casino cruise is something you would buy for your grandparents anniversary.
The first State to legalize casino riverboats was Iowa in 1989. Now
riverboat casinos are legalized in Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
South Carolina and Texas. In some states
the casino riverboats actually sail along the sea
while others are anchored permanently and never leave the dock. The second type of riverboat casinos enable recreational gamblers to simply hop on a nearby casino and play their favorite casino game for a few hours.
The types of casino games available in riverboat casinos vary from one state to another. You can usually play slot machines and classic table games such as blackjack
roulette
craps
baccarat
etc. Some of the riverboat casinos also have poker rooms where passengers can play Texas Holdem against each other. Most of the casino cruises are family oriented and offer other activities besides gambling such as live entertainment for children.
If you are planning to take part in a casino cruise
you do not have to worry about cardsharps or a tough competition around the poker table. Most of the people who join a casino cruise are recreational gamblers who appreciate a good game of craps in between fine dining and sun tanning on the dock. In addition
you would enjoy a much nicer and patient service from the casino dealers and employees than in an average Las Vegas casino.
If spending a weekend on a riverboat casino is too much for you
you can try some of Florida daily casino cruises. If you take Sterling Casino Lines cruise
for example
you can leave at 11 am and be back by 18 pm. Sterling Casino Lines cruises take place on a 75
000 square feet gambling area with more than 1
000 slot machines and 50 table games.
Sterling Casino Line cruise is only one example from numerous options available around the states for those of you who want to gamble at the country rivers
lakes and seas. The variety of casino cruises and dockside riverboat casinos includes the most luxurious Las Vegas styles casinos and simpler alternatives. If you enjoy gambling just for fun and you tend to get sea sick
joining a casino cruise can be an enjoyable distraction for one day or for a whole weekend.
Why Online Gambling Continues to Grow
Gambling has been with us since ancient times. Gambling online is a relatively new phenomenon and one that seems to be growing in popularity on a daily basis. Take a look at these facts:
* The first online gambling site was launched in August 1995. It is currently estimated that there are well over 2
000 Internet gambling Web sites offering various wagering options
including sports betting
casino games
lotteries and bingo.
* Internet gambling revenue in 2005 was estimated at $11.9 billion and is projected to double by 2010
according to Christiansen Capital Advisors (CCA).
So what is it about the online casino phenomenon that has so enticed gamblers? Perhaps it is the virtue of it simply being online. There are so many attractions to not having to attend a casino to gamble. The most prominent of these is the intimidation. Online gambling opens up a whole host of games to players who previously never had the courage or interest in observing tables in a land based casino.
Then it is the choice of games. The number of games and their varieties online are astounding. Poker
blackjack
roulette or sports gambling
online casinos offer them all. Lets take a look at a few of them:
Online poker has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide. For the year of 2005
revenues from online poker were estimated at US$200 million per month.
Blackjack
also known as twenty-one or Pontoon
is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. Much of blackjack’s popularity is due to the mix of chance with elements of skill
and the publicity that surrounds card counting The slot machine typically pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept.
The freedom of time and money are added attractions. The online casinos are relatively inexpensive to operate in terms of staff being paid
so they are able to offer players free games. Entering a blackjack room in an online casino is very different to approaching a blackjack table in a land based casino. The speed and intimidation can be high when playing in a ritzy casino. Crucial decisions are made quickly and on the spot. At home
the player is able to slow down and play only when they are ready.
Sadly
with such a growth in popularity has come many online gambling hoaxes. Illegitimate and cheating websites are present on the net and can be deceiving. The most important things to remember when gambling online are the three elements of consideration
prize and chance. All three should be present.
The problem with online gambling is that it is far harder to control. The industry that has to protect itself from the dangers of compulsive gamblers. In the virtual world
this is hard to enforce. A customer is able to sit in their own living room
in whatever state they choose to be in and at whatever age and gamble as much as they desire.
Caution seems to be the only key. Gambling has always been a controversial subject; gambling on the internet is simply an extension of this controversy.
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