riverboat gambler meaning

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The History of Riverboat Gambling

There are various areas of the world that just seem synonymous with gambling. When people hear the name Las Vegas they picture gambling of a flashy, mass entertainment proportion. Macau ’ s gambling culture brings a real Asian flavour to gambling, with many inevitably comparing it to Vegas. Monte Carlo delivers gambling connotations of wealth and prestige. Obviously, it is not just physical areas where gambling has a strong presence, with the web and mobile space being  dominated by PartyCasino  and other big names in the industry.

Another, yet somewhat less spectacular, sight that can only be associated with gambling is the steam propelled riverboat of certain states in the USA. How did these iconic vessels come to be known for hosting casinos, and what is the current status of riverboat casinos today?

On Water, But Not Land

There is a network of rivers that penetrate inland from the Gulf of Mexico up through the United States,  most famously the Mississippi River . In the 19 th  Century the rivers provided a fantastic way to transport goods from town to town up and down the bodies of water. This in turn became a popular method of passenger transport, with travellers using the boat to socialise. One of the most popular forms of entertainment at the time was gambling, and therefore this pastime became highly popular aboard the vessels.

There were also, and still are today, laws that prohibited gambling on land. However, the proprietor s  of these boats took advantage of the loophole not extending these laws to establishments on water. Even today,  riverboats are still to be found on the Mississippi  and is still considered one of the best for cruises. Certain rivers acted as state lines, so it was sometimes argued that the gamblers could not be classified as being in one state or another while steaming down a river.

Railroads and War

As mentioned, the riverboats were first and foremost a means of transportation and enjoyed such success due to it being the quickest and most reliable means of travel and delivery of goods. However, when railroads started to spread across the country, they opened up new routes that got people around in a more direct manner. The trains also cut days off travel and therefore started to overtake the riverboats in popularity.

Around the same time the  American Civil War  broke out, a period where much of the fighting was done in the Southern States which defied the laws laid out by the North. This meant that riverboat entertainment almost came to a complete end.

The Riverboats of Today

Unlike the boats of old, which used to set off on long journeys to various destinations, the vessels of now mostly remain docked and very seldom actually take to the open waters. However, one will still be able to undergo the traditional experience that thousands enjoyed before casinos became what we are familiar with today.

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Riverboat Gambling In The US – The Best Riverboat Casinos

We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert . Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

If you were to close your eyes and imagine a riverboat casino, your mind will probably conjure up an image that would look like something straight out of a Mark Twain novel. Riverboats are represented in pop culture as paddlewheel steamboats that float around languidly, while the cacophony of laughter and excited hoots make their way through the air.

However, riverboat casinos are far more advanced than once thought out to be, offering a unique experience to tourists and seasoned gamblers. In this guide, we’ll take a trip down the river and explore the origins, history and current state of the best riverboat casinos in the USA. All aboard!

Riverboat Gambling In The US – The Rise of the Riverboat Casinos

If only it was easy to point out a go-to destination for the best riverboat casinos. Riverboat gambling goes back a long way through American history. To see a complete picture of riverboat gambling today, we need to first ride down the cruise ship of history to discover the origins of riverboat gambling . Meanwhile, if you are located in any state with legal online gambling, you can play at any of the best online casinos in the US . Read on till the end of this guide to take your pick on the best riverboat casino locations.

• 📖 History of riverboat gambling
• ⛵ Riverboat gambling economies
• 🧐 Fun Facts
• 💰 Riverboat Casinos Today

History of Riverboat Gambling in the USA

When riverboat gaming first took the USA by storm, paddlewheel riverboats had long been used on the Mississippi River as a means of passenger and freight transportation. With the advent of the railways, riverboats saw their utility decline and started to be viewed as entertainment and leisure vessels by the public.

Boat cruises were popular for their live music and dancing, but also as a way to escape the crowded cities across the US. As these boats became entertainment hubs, gambling gained popularity on board . Initially, gambling was limited to card and table games, but slot machines were eventually added to most riverboats. Nowadays, players in states with legal online gambling can enjoy the best real money online casinos . For example, if they are within the state of New Jersey, they can enjoy the best online casinos in NJ without leaving the comfort of their own homes.

As the Mississippi River served as the border of several states, it created the perfect legal gray area. In 1903, several states simultaneously softened their stance on gambling due to the economic potential that it offered. Thus began the golden era of riverboat gambling . The first casinos were required to be located on ships that would have to sail away from the dock. In some parts, gambling was only allowed once the ship was sailing.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Era

The administration under Lyndon. B Johnson placed significant restrictions on what riverboat casinos could legally do. In 1951, the Transportation of Gambling Devices Act was passed, which made the transportation of gambling devices across state borders illegal. This placed limitations on how riverboats could operate.

Riverboat casinos were first approved by state lawmakers in the late 20th century by those states which prohibited gambling on land. In the 1980s, lawmakers had the vision to revive the golden era of riverboat gambling. Several states simultaneously introduced laws that permitted gambling on water vessels, creating the framework under which they still operate today. Iowa was the first state to fully legalize riverboat gambling . Apart from Iowa, Riverboat gambling is legal in Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Missouri too.

Riverboat Casino Economies

In 2010, there were 10 operational riverboat casinos. This number might pale in comparison to the number of land casinos in the United States, but riverboat gambling saw a massive boom during the 2010s. In 2018, there were 63 riverboat casinos in operation across the legal states. This spike in growth suggests that riverboat casinos have a distinct appeal, separate from that of land-based casinos.

Riverboats make massive contributions to local economies, as all winnings are taxed by the state. Before you start playing, make sure to acquaint yourself with the gambling commission of the state in which you are planning on playing. In Iowa, if you win over $1,200, you’ll be paying an eye-watering 15% as tax to the state and 5% to the local community, whereas in Iowa, the tax rate stands at a little over 5%.

Proponents of riverboat casinos frequently argue that these floating casinos increase employment rates in the communities where the boats are docked. To support the requirements of large floating casinos, communities are engaged in the development of restaurants, shopping, accommodation, recreation, and other hospitality facilities to capitalize on the spending power of visiting tourists .

Since state legislatures were never willing to give up on the revenues generated by casinos. In a unique ruling in 1998, courts had stated that boats had to be “solely over and in contact with the surface” of rivers, thereby eliminating the need for actual floating vessels. Over time, the rules were amended to allow the construction of casinos on stilts , with the caveat that they had to be located in navigable water.

Fun Facts About Riverboat Casinos

Before we get into the list of top riverboat gambling destinations, we would like to share a few fun historical facts and trivia that you might find interesting. These facts might even make good conversation starters should you get down to maritime gaming.

When riverboat gambling was legalized for the first time in the late 1980s, different states put forward varying cosmetic requirements . In an inconvenience to casino owners, all Louisiana riverboat casinos were required to be constructed exactly like the 19th-century paddlewheel steamboats, for reasons unknown. To run a legal riverboat casino in Indiana, vessels had to have a minimum length of 150 feet and a minimum carrying capacity of 500 passengers.

There have also been violent incidents associated with riverboat gambling. As riverboat casinos operated on the water, it was often thought that they were somehow exempt from the laws of the land. Historians have discovered several instances of individuals punishing cheaters and thieves by taking the law into their own hands. in 1835, five gamblers were lynched in Vicksburg Mississippi when they were caught cheating.

Some of the biggest reforms to riverboat gambling were brought on – unfortunately – by Hurricane Katrina. Before 2005, most riverboat casinos only allowed gambling when the vessel was sailing. However, this was not realistic all year round, as boats could not leave their docks in unpredictable weather . After Katrina, most state laws dictate that riverboat casinos need to be docked for safety.

Riverboat Casinos Today

The Mississippi River region is still the hotbed of all riverboat gambling in the United States. Today, there are over 20 riverboat casinos that gamblers can choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the best riverboat casinos today. In order to make this list, the casinos that we evaluated have had to meet stringent requirements of variety, novelty, hospitality, and service.

The Amelia Belle, Louisiana

One of the best riverboat casinos in Louisiana that we recommend are owned by Boyd Gaming, the casino giant from Paradise Nevada. The Amelia Belle is located in Amelia Louisiana , between Houma and Morgan City, built on the edge of the water in the Avoca Island Cutoff waterway.

The Amelia Belle could easily be considered one of the beautiful casinos in this guide. Spread out over four stories, it sports a turn-of-the-century look and appears stunning when illuminated at night. The Amelia Belle has over 800 slot machines and 15 table games .

The Amelia Belle recently added dining options to feed the hunger of visiting gamblers. If you are visiting, drop by the Bayou Cafe on the first floor to grab a quick bite. The Amelia Belle is open 24×7 on the weekends and you can expect games like Blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em, Three Card Poker, and Electronic Roulette.

Grand Victoria Casino, Illinois

The El Dorado Resorts-owned Grand Victoria Casino is located on the Fox River in Elgin, Illinois. The Grand Victoria stands out from the other top riverboat casinos in this guide as it has an abundance of restaurants on board . Before we look into their gastronomical offerings, let’s examine gambling aboard the Grand Victoria.

The Grand Victoria offers a gambling experience unmatched by others in the area. With a casino floor that covers 29850 square feet , you could spend hours at the Grand Victoria without going through everything that’s on offer. The casino even has a High Limit Room for big bettors.

Within the casino, you’ll find 1000 of the most popular slot machines and video poker games. You can also try your hand at 29 Vegas-style table games, a poker room, a lounge, and seasonal entertainment venues . There are also several well-established hotels near Grand Victoria, in case you want to make your excursion a multi-day affair.

While most riverboat casinos were slow to catch up to fine dining experiences, the Grand Victoria is ahead of the curve. You can indulge yourself at four restaurants on board named Buckinghams Steakhouse and Lounge, Indulge Show Kitchen Buffer, Crave Deli and Prime Burger house.

Casino Queen Marquette

Casino Queen Marquette is a smaller riverboat casino owned by CQ Holdings. Thanks to its small size and limited capacity, Queen Marquette offers a more exclusive and personalized experience in comparison to other top riverboat casinos. Located next to a 31-acre site, the casino has a marina, an enclosed dining pavilion on the first floor, and an entertainment center on the second floor.

Since it is a small and quaint casino, you will only find 8 live tables at Queen Marquette. This is balanced out with the provision of 566 slot machines and video poker games . Some of the games you can look forward to playing at Queen Marquette are Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em, Blackjack and Fusion Roulette.

Ameristar Casino MIssissippi

The Ameristar Casino is located on the banks of the famed Mississippi River. It is conveniently located on the Mississippi-Louisiana border just off Interstate 20. The casino is part of a much larger complex featuring a hotel, three restaurants, a blues bar, a cabaret, and a full-service RV Park.

The Ameristar Casino has 70,000 square feet of the casino floor. You can enjoy games at 27 tables or 1571 gaming machines. There are also 10 live-action poker tables. The casino has been designed to retain the atmosphere of a 19th-century gambling boat .

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve had your eyes glued to the screen till the end of this guide, you know exactly where to go to find an authentic riverboat gambling experience in the USA>. Apart from the casino boats mentioned in this guide, there are several others that are worth looking into. However, we can guarantee that you will have a fabulous experience playing at the casinos that we have covered in this guide.

Is riverboat gambling legal in the USA?

How many riverboat casinos are operational in the usa, which is the best riverboat gambling facility in america, what games are available at the best riverboat casinos, what additional facilities are available at riverboat casinos.

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Legends of America

Traveling through american history, destinations & legends since 2003., gambling in the old west.

Depiction of Faro in Tonopah, Nevada, in 1905

Whether on a riverboat atop the Mighty Mississippi River or in the smoky dimness of a mining camp saloon , a lucky draw could turn a broken man into a winner. In the days of the frontier  west , poker was king with the mustachioed likes of Wild Bill Hickok , Doc Holliday , “ Canada” Bill Jones , Wyatt Earp , Bat Masterson , and hundreds of others.

In the old west towns of Deadwood , Dodge City , Tombstone , and Virginia City , gamblers played with their back to the wall and their guns at their sides, as dealers dealt games with names such as Chuck-A-Luck, Three Card Monte, High Dice, and Faro , by far the favorite in the wild west saloons.

The exact origin of poker is unknown, but many have speculated that it originated from the 16th-century Persian card game called As Nas. Played with a 25-card deck containing five suits, the rules were similar to today’s Five Card Stud. Others are of the opinion that it was invented by the Chinese in 900 A.D. In all likelihood, the game derived from elements of various gambling diversions that have been around from the beginning of time.

Poker in the United States was first widely played in New Orleans by French settlers playing a card game that involved bluffing and betting called Poque in the early 1800s. This old poker game was similar to the “draw poker” game today. New Orleans evolved as America’s first gambling city as riverboat men, plantation owners, and farmers avidly pursued the betting sport.

John Davis opened the first American gambling casino in New Orleans around 1822. The club, open 24 hours a day, provided gourmet food, liquor, roulette wheels, Faro tables, poker, and other games. Davis also made certain that painted ladies were never far away. Dozens of imitators soon followed, making the gaming dens the primary attraction of New Orleans. The city’s status as an international port and its thriving gambling industry created a new profession called the card “sharper.”

Professional gamblers and cheats gathered in a waterfront area known as “the swamp,” an area even the police were afraid to frequent, and any gambler lucky enough to win stood a good chance of losing his earnings to thieves outside of the gambling rooms and saloons.

Gambling was outlawed in the rest of the huge Louisiana territory in 1811, but New Orleans continued to enjoy the prosperity brought by gambling for more than 100 years. Though the law was passed for the entire Louisiana Purchase, it was obviously not enforced, and casinos and gambling began to spread.

As commerce developed on the waterways, gambling traveled up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, then westward via covered wagons, and later on the railroad. The first written reference in the United States came from Jonathan H. Greer in 1834 when he referred to the amusement as the “cheating game.”

Some of the first gambling dens outside of New Orleans were started in river towns that were popular with both travelers and professional gamblers. It was here that many “sharpers” preyed on these transient people, with their pockets filled with their life savings, on the way to the new frontier. The dishonest gamblers also often ran confidence games and other con artist businesses in order to gaff the unwary pioneers. A host of companies specialized in manufacturing and selling card cheating devices. One riverboat gambler named George Devol was so proud of his ability to slip a stacked deck into a game that he once used four of them in one poker hand, dealing four aces to each of his four opponents.

It was professional gamblers who were largely responsible for the poker boom. Considering themselves as entrepreneurs, they took advantage of America’s growing obsession with gambling. Though they had a high opinion of themselves, the public viewed them with disdain, considering them as contributing nothing to society. This viewpoint was often warranted in many cases, as a large number of professional gamblers often cheated in order to win. To be successful, professional gamblers had to have irresistible personalities in order to attract men to play with them. Often dressing in dandy clothes, their success depended partly on chance and partly on skill, sometimes on sleight of hand, and in the Old West , their shooting abilities. By the 1830s, citizens began to blame professional gamblers for any and every crime in the area, and gambling itself began to be attacked.

James Bowie

It was during these riverboat gambling heydays that an interesting story occurred in 1832. On a Mississippi steamboat, four men were playing poker, three of which were professional gamblers, and the fourth, a hapless traveler from Natchez. Soon, the young, naïve man had lost all his money to the rigged game. Devastated, the Natchez man planned to throw himself into the river; however, an observer prevented his suicide attempt and then joined the card game with the “sharps.” In the middle of a high-stakes hand, the stranger caught one of the professionals cheating and pulled a knife on the gambler, yelling, “Show your hand! If it contains more than five cards, I shall kill you!” Six cards fell to the table when he twisted the cheater’s wrist. Immediately, the stranger took the $70,000 pot, returning $50,000 to the Natchez man and keeping $20,000 for his trouble. Shocked, the Natchez man stuttered, “Who the devil are you, anyway?” to which the stranger responded, “I am James Bowie .”

Anxious citizens of these river port towns grew increasingly wary of the confidence men that were multiplying so quickly. In Vicksburg, Mississippi , the citizens’ rage had become so increased by 1835 that a vigilante group lynched five cardsharps. Soon after this, many of the gamblers moved onto the riverboats, benefiting from the transient riverboat lifestyle.

After the Civil War , America pushed its boundaries West , where the frontier was born of speculators, travelers, and miners. These hardy pioneers had high risk-taking characteristics, making any gambling situation a popular pastime for these rough-and-tumble men of the frontier. In virtually every mining camp and prairie town, a poker table could soon be found in each saloon, surrounded by prospectors, lawmen , cowboys , railroad workers, soldiers , and outlaws for a chance to tempt fortune and fate.

During the California Gold Rush of 1849, gambling houses sprouted up all over northern California , offering a wide array of gaming tables, musicians, and pretty women to entertain the gamblers as they played. At this time, dance halls began to appear and spread throughout later settlements. While these saloons usually offered games of chance, their chief attraction was dancing. The customer generally paid 75¢ to $1.00 for a ticket to dance, with the proceeds being split between the dance hall girl and the saloon owner. After the dance, the girl would steer the gentleman to the bar, where she would make an additional commission from selling a drink.

A popular girl would average 50 dances a night, sometimes making more a night than a working man could make in a month. Dance hall girls made enough money that it was very rare for them to double as a prostitute. In fact, many former “ soiled doves ” found they could make more money as a dance hall girl.

As the Gold Rush gained momentum, San Francisco replaced New Orleans as the United States’ gambling center. Over 100 thriving saloons and brothels met the sailors and fortune-seeking travelers as they disembarked at the San Francisco harbor and stumbled into the infamous Barbary Coast Waterfront District.

Playing Poker

Faro was by far the most popular and prolific game played in Old West saloons, followed by Brag, Three-card-monte, and dice games such as High-low, Chuck-a-luck, and Grand hazard. During this time, gambling also began inviting more diversity, including Hispanics, blacks, Chinese, and women in the games. Three of this time’s more famous women gamblers were Calamity Jane , Poker Alice , and Madame Mustache .

Before long, many of the Old West mining camps, such as Deadwood , Leadville , and Tombstone , became as well known for gunfights over card games than they did for their wealth of gold and silver ore. Professional gamblers such as Doc Holliday and Wild Bill Hickok learned early to hone their six-shooter skills at the same pace as their gambling abilities. Taking swift action upon the green cloth became part of the gamblers’ code – shoot first and ask questions later.

One such occasion that clearly showed the quick and violent code was when Doc Holliday was dealing Faro to a local bully named Ed Bailey in Fort Griffin , Texas . Bailey was unimpressed with Doc’s reputation, and in an attempt to irritate him, he kept picking up the discards and looking at them. Peeking at the discards was strictly prohibited by the rules of Western Poker, a violation that could force the player to forfeit the pot.

Though Holliday warned Bailey twice, the bully ignored him and picked up the discards again. This time, Doc raked in the pot without showing his hand or saying a word. Bailey immediately brought out his pistol from under the table, but Doc’s lethal knife slashed the man across the stomach before the man could pull the trigger. With blood spilled everywhere, Bailey lay sprawled out dead across the table.

Inevitably, there were liquored-up miners and cowboys who would shoot up the saloons and sometimes the poker winner when they were angered by their losses. Even Wild Bill Hickok, mostly known for his heroics and prowess with a six-shooter, took advantage of those abilities when faced with a loss in Deadwood, South Dakota . Shortly before midnight, after a night of drinking and gambling, Hickok was playing a two-handed game with a man named McDonald when the stakes began to increase with every card dealt.

When the hand was complete and the middle of the table piled high with money, McDonald showed his hand, displaying three jacks. To this, Hickok responded, “I have a full house – aces over sixes,” then threw his hand face down upon the table. However, when McDonald picked up Hickok’s hand, he exclaimed, “I see only two aces and one six.” Wasting no time, Wild Bill drew his six-shooter with his right hand and replied, “Here’s my other six.” Then he flashed a bowie knife with his left hand, stating, “And here’s my one spot.” McDonald immediately backed down, saying coolly, “That hand is good. Take the pot.”

By the end of the 19th century, gambling had spread like wildfire through the many mining camps, multiplying as the gold and silver hunters spread across the West, searching for new strikes. At this time, states and cities started to take advantage of these growing ventures by taxing gambling dens and raising money for their communities.

During the late 1800s, many towns and states across the western frontier began to enact new laws against gambling. Attempting to gain new levels of respectability, the laws primarily targeted the “professional gambler” more than gaming in general. Some types of gambling were made illegal, while limits were established on others. Initially, anti-gaming laws were weak and had little real effect on gambling, as they were difficult to enforce, establishments simply introduced new variants, and penalties were light.

Faro gambling card game about 1900.

However, the laws were gradually strengthened,; ironically, Nevada was one of the first states in the West to make gambling illegal in 1909. Other states soon followed suit, and true to the worst fears of the Puritans, gangsters combined liquor and gambling in the cities of New York, Cleveland, and Chicago during the 1920s.

By the time the Hoover Dam was constructed in 1931, Nevada relaxed its gambling laws, and casinos once more began to flourish. By 1939, there were six casinos and 16 saloons in Las Vegas . As automobile traffic increased and people began to travel more for leisure, Las Vegas began to boom into the gambling Mecca it is today.

Over the years, poker has evolved through legitimate casinos and backroom games to its many present variations. Over the last decades, several states have reintroduced gambling in limited formats, and the fastest-growing gambling opportunity today doesn’t even require you to leave your home as you log onto your computer to tempt the fates. Carefully regulated by gaming laws, poker is now the most popular card game in the world.

© Kathy Alexander / Legends of America , updated October 2023.

“If you’re playing a poker game and you look around the table and can’t tell who the sucker is, it’s you.” – – Paul Newman

Playing Faro

Faro or “Bucking the Tiger”

Frontier Gambler

George Devol – Card Sharp of the Old West

Saloons of the Wild West

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riverboat gambling noun

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What does the noun riverboat gambling mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun riverboat gambling . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun riverboat gambling ?

Where does the noun riverboat gambling come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun riverboat gambling is in the 1950s.

OED's earliest evidence for riverboat gambling is from 1953, in the Times (London).

riverboat gambling is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: riverboat n. , gambling n.

Nearby entries

• riverbed, n. 1781–
• river birch, n. 1846–
• river black-oak, n. 1886–98
• river-blanched, adj. 1788
• river blindness, n. 1952–
• river boar, n. 1601
• river board, n. 1823–
• riverboat, n. 1565–
• riverboat casino, n. 1958–
• riverboat gambler, n. 1920–
• riverboat gambling, n. 1953–
• river bottom, n. 1662–
• river-boy, n. 1791–
• River Brethren, n. 1849–
• river bull, n. 1639–1709
• river bullhead, n. 1763–
• river bus, n. 1929–
• river capture, n. 1890–
• river carp, n. 1653–
• river cat, n. 1770–
• river channel, n. 1629–

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Meaning & use

Entry history for riverboat gambling, n..

Originally published as part of the entry for riverboat, n.

riverboat gambling, n. was first published in 2009.

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Citation details

Factsheet for riverboat gambling, n., browse entry.

History of Riverboat Gambling on the Mississippi

The South has always been at least somewhat friendly to gambling due to the rise of the riverboat in the early 1900s. Games of chance were kept on the water so that anti-gambling laws wouldn’t apply. Games like poker and roulette took place on grand riverboats, even if the ship never left the dock.

This tradition was greatly reduced when the railroad became the main way to transport both goods and people, but some riverboats remain in the South today. In Mississippi and Louisiana, especially, retired steamboats are now used for river cruising and for gambling in places like Vicksburg.

Online casinos are one of the latest innovations in the casino industry. Since the rise of technological advancements, they are solid competitors to U.S.-based land-based casinos. Many gambling restrictions still remain in the South and across the ocean. For example, every casino in the UK gets licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

The regulations of the U.S. online casino market have led to developers existing who only get associated with U.S. casinos and are not available at UK-based gaming sites. Some famous developers for the U.S. market are RealTime Gaming, Relax Gaming, Rival Gaming, Elk Studios and Betsoft.

But for those players who want the old-time experience of dressing up and boarding a grand steamboat, the South has plenty for them. Just look along the Mississippi River from Missouri to Louisiana. According to Visit Mississippi , the first steamboat to travel the Mississippi River was the New Orleans, whose October 1811 maiden voyage began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The New Orleans stopped in Natchez in December 1811 before continuing to its final port in New Orleans.

Wealthy Southerners could afford to travel by steamboat, and some were ornately decorated in the Victorian style. The riverboat casinos that remain today continue that grand tradition, with music playing onboard, restaurants available to players and even live entertainment offered regularly.

So, if you want to step back in time and experience the old South by river—without all the outlaws and pirates —consider a riverboat cruise or evening of gaming.

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Riverboat gamble

Posted by ESC on January 15, 2007

In Reply to: Riverboat gamble posted by ESC on January 15, 2007

: : Does anyone know the origin of the phrase 'riverboat gamble'? It was mentioned on Channel 4 news last week and I can't seem to trace it back any further than a political discussion on Reaganomics.

: : Cheers, : : Gareth.

: "It's more than a risk, it's a riverboat gamble," said Leon E. Panetta, a Democratic member of the Iraq Study Group and former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton. : www.ndnblog.org

: "Tom Daschle has made a riverboat gamble, and he stands to lose his political shirt." www.nationalreview.com/ kudlow/kudlow010902.shtml Accessed January 15, 2007.

: I can't find it in my reference books. But I am guessing that it means the odds are stacked against you. And that in the past riverboat gambling was fixed so the house won most of the time.

Or maybe a gamble on a riverboat was risky because: "Rich and poor ships also carried the notorious 'Mississippi river gamblers' or 'river gamblers' (both terms common by the late 1840s), ranging from the professional poker players who fleeced plantation owners of their year's profits to sleight-of-hand artists and con men who preyed on the poorer innocents." From I Hear America Talking: An Illustrated History of American Words and Phrases by Stuart Berg Flexner (Von Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1976). Page 347.

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Riverboat Gambler contains 65 casino games. All of these games can be found in a casino somewhere in the World, but no casino in the World has all of these games! Climb aboard The Riverboat Gambler and enjoy some of the hottest casino games around! This app serves up 65 different games and there are more planned. You will be amazed at the realism of your experience. Players are saying that they are becoming more proficient at the live games by practicing with Riverboat Gambler. Please read the reviews from loyal Players and professional casino Dealers who are using RBG for training purposes! Games Include: 1. Mississippi Stud 2. Three Card Poker 3. Ultimate Texas Hold’em 4. Criss Cross 5. Double Draw Poker 6. Let It Ride 7. Blackjack 8. Crazy 4 Poker 9. High Card Flush* 10. Pai Gow (tiles) 11. Pai Gow Poker 12. Asia Poker 13. Caribbean Stud Poker 14. Texas Hold’em BONUS 15. Baccarat 16. DJ Wild Poker 17. Tequila Poker 18. Red Dog Bonus! 19. Casino War 20. Keno 21. Roulette (American) 22. Craps 23. Lunar Poker 24. Cajun Poker 25. Four Card Poker 26. Heads Up Hold'em 27. Omaha Hold'em 28. Texas Shootout 29. Farobank 30. Face Up Pai Gow 31. Face Up Blackjack (Double Exposure Blackjack) 32. Jackpot Hold'em 33. Down Under Blackjack 34. Zombie Blackjack 35. Three Card Blitz 36. Casino Over/Under 37. Money Wheel 38. Three Card Fury 39. Four Card Frenzy 40. Big Raise Stud Poker 41. Single Deck Blackjack 42. Three Card Blackjack 43. Three Card Draw Poker 44. Deuces Wild 45. Bonus Six Stud Poker 46. 3-5-7 Poker 47. Chase the Flush 48. Fish, Prawn, Crab 49. Boule 50. Spanish 21* 51. Wild Five Poker (Poker with a Joker) 52. Boston 5 Poker 53. Deuces Wild Bonus! (Deuces Wild Hold'em Fold'em) 54. Sic Bo - IPad only 55. Six Card Poker 56. Rabbit Hunter 57. Cali Lowball 58. Deuces Wild (Video Poker) 59. Jacks or Better (Video Poker) 60. Joker Poker (Video Poker) 61. Royal Flush (Video Poker) 62. Double Double Bonus (Video Poker) 63. Triple Double Bonus (Video Poker) 64. Three Card Sabotage 65. Wild Card Stud Poker * These games are not currently available on the smaller legacy SE devices. The limited screen real estate makes it difficult to display the large number of cards that are required to play the game. These games were designed & developed by an ardent casino player who plays 3-4 times every week. No worries if you do not know how to play. Each game includes detailed instructions and rules as well as descriptions of the possible poker hands and the related payouts. Already a player? You're going to love being able to "sit at the table" and practice your technique. Each game includes its own separate set of achievements for you to tackle as you are building up your bankroll and you will periodically be rewarded with bonus chips throughout the day. You are sure to have hours of fun improving your understanding of the games! To top it off, the developer personally reviews ALL feedback and acts upon it. If you have suggestions, submit them! Many of the current games were introduced in response to Player feedback. Note: some games may not be available on devices with smaller screens because you would need a microscope to view your cards!

Version 61.0.3

This release is focused on some requested enhancement, library upgrades related to the pesky ads that pay the bills, and some bug fixes. 1. Roulette bug: the space for a split 24/27 wager was not properly recorded so if that wager was made and a 24 or 27 was spun, the wager didn't get paid. Many thanks to Danny (not me!) for using "Send Feedback" to reach out and alert me to the issue. With 280+ spaces to wager on that board, Roulette can be a bit gnarly! 2. Red Dog Bonus bug: another user reached out using "Send Feedback" to let me know that the "Win Achievements" did not appear to be getting tracked correctly. They were absolutely correct and I have fixed the issue in this release. So, if you're a Red Dog (a.k.a. "Acey-Deucey" Player), you have some additional achievement chips that you can still earn! 3. Craps enhancement: Several folks have reached out to request a feature that would show how much gets won (or lost) in Craps while a Shooter is rolling. I've added that as an enhancement in this release. Now, Craps will track the impact to the Player's bankroll while the Player is rolling the dice. The net impact will be reported any time the Shooter "make his point" or rolls a 7. Keep in mind when you're verifying the message that it's possible for some chips to remain on the board after a roll is paid; especially if you are using the "Dealer Assist" features that can be found in Preferences. So, you will have to take the bankroll amount into account with whatever is reported as "In Play". As to Craps: I feel like I am getting extremely close to isolating the issue associated with the final dice images not matching the roll results. I have still not reproduced the issue but I am getting fewer and fewer reports of this issue. Of course, that could also be an indication that folks are ignoring the problem and creating a false sense of accomplishment on my part. If you experience the issue, please reach out with screenshots. The roll result message is the correct number and it should match what shows in the "Roll History" that is available from the game's menu. More enhancements are coming; and some more games! Please keep sending me your suggestions and requests. Everything gets added to the backlog and I re-prioritize after each release. Thank you for your continued support and please stay safe! ~Danny

Ratings and Reviews

1.9K Ratings

Completely satisfied

Admittedly, I’m a dinosaur. I’m never going to be a gamer, on my phone or computer. But I do want to play plain ol’ video poker on my kinda old iPhone, to kill time. I don’t want to buy an app (period), especially without knowing that it’s good. I don’t want to have to pay real dinero to get fake money to keep playing a game that only pays back an occasional endorphin hit. I don’t want to get blasted with ads every minute, and I HATE those ads that ignore my mute settings and wake up my spouse. Lastly, I surely would rather somehow support a fellow human rather than any MegaCorp. This completely free River Boat Gambler(RBG) ticks all my boxes. Danny, the talented developer, is super responsive, obviously committed to providing the best app and service that he can, and refreshingly honest about the need to show an occasional ad to generate some modest revenue for his efforts, while working hard to make them as benign as possible. Via regular (every few hours) “loyalty bonuses”, RBG keeps you supplied with free chips when your luck inevitably runs out. RBG offers every casino card game you’ve ever heard of (and fun variants thereof. The app is aid out effectively and everything functions perfectly (if anything doesn’t work as it should, send feedback and Danny will fix it ASAP). I couldn’t be happier. Get it - you’ll be happy too!

Developer Response ,

Wow! I'm feeling a bit like a donkey right now! I apologize for not having responded to this review that you posted over three months ago! 😮 I honestly only noticed it tonight because I filtered my dashboard to see reviews I'd missed - I wasn't expecting to see any! 🤷‍♂️ Thank you for posting it, for the kind words, and for the 5 Stars! I feel really bad given that you emphasized my responsiveness; something I try to be very good about and I quite obviously failed on miserably here. I'm so glad you found RBG and I'm happy that you like it! I've developed the app to my standards; meaning I personally don't like a lot of ads, a lot of noise, and I have no patience for special effects that add no value. Personally, I just want to play the games and practice my strategies. Please don't hesitate to let me know if there is something I can do that will improve it for you. Again, I'm very sorry it took so long to reply; there's no excuse for that! I hope you're doing well! ~Danny

Just scroll, people!

Tl;dr at the bottom. I recently reached out to the game designer (Danny, who is ridiculously responsive) because I wasn’t able to access all the games. I was convinced of this because of a pop-up telling me my display was zoomed and so some games may not be accessible. I was further convinced of this because I had a strong recollection of trying (and failing) to scroll past the few games I could see on my screen. But it was a lie. It’s all a lie! [insert unnecessary maniacal laughter here] The pop-up is a minor algorithm oopsie and easily ignored. The real issue is I’m occasionally vexed by simple things. There’s a very good chance I didn’t scroll at all or tried to in the wrong direction. 🤦‍♀️ The good news is that being “limited” to just the few games I could immediately see, I discovered a fondness for Boston Five Poker - a game I didn’t know existed. And now I’m off to play the 50 or so games I didn’t know I could actually get to. tl;dr Really solid app, fun games, really responsive gamer designer, I’m an idiot.

😘🥳🤣 I loved our text chat; you totally made my day! And thank you very much for posting a review! I respond to every review and every support text and you may be right; I may be ridiculously responsive 🙃 Your chat came at a particularly low point during my day and I am even more grateful for that than am I for the 5 Stars. You're a gem! Thank you! ~Danny

One of a kind

Riverboat Gambler is as real as it gets. I’m not familiar with all of the games offered but every game that I’ve played in any casino that I’ve been to is in here. The rules and the payouts are exactly what you find when playing in a casino. If you are a new player and are intimidated by being a beginner at a live table, Riverboat Gambler is a great way to learn a game, practice it and gain the confidence needed to be comfortable playing in a live game. If you are an experienced player, you’ll enjoy this app for the sheer reality of the games. All of this said, what really makes this app unique is the responsiveness of it’s developer. He is more than willing to accept suggestions, even engage in dialog to gain understanding and make changes that enhance the app and increase our enjoyment of it. One such encounter and you will see that this one was created with passion for the games. Congrats, Danny. Note that every review gives 5 stars! Thanks for putting this out there. This truly is One Of A Kind

Hey 40! Thanks for the updated review and for your kind words. I definitely try to do my best and it's nice when a Player recognizes that for others to read. I hope you have a great new year! ~Danny

App Privacy

The developer, Riverboat Gambler, LLC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• 1,200 Chips $1.99
• 8,000 Chips $9.99
• 4,000 Chips $5.99
• 8,000 Chips (Bonus Add-On) $4.99
• 15,000 Chips $11.99
• 500 Chips $0.99
• 1,200 Chips (Bonus Add-On) $0.99
• 4,000 Chips (Bonus Add-On) $2.99
• 20,000 Chips $24.99
• 20,000 Chips (Bonus Add-On) $12.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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The Riverboat Gamblers' Something to Crow About Turns 20

The album that made austin's apex punks earns anniversary vinyl remaster, by tim stegall , fri., aug. 11, 2023.

"That's the one that put the band on the map," says Riverboat Gamblers guitarist Ian MacDougall of Something to Crow About , the second full-length release from Austin's apex punk outfit. Long out of print, Crow relaunches in a special 20th anniversary edition , pressed in three different colors of vinyl, on August 18 via the band's own GFFG Records. Local genius engineer Jack Control of Enormous Door Mastering breathes new life into the Tim Kerr-produced album.

Crow was released June 3, 2003, by Gearhead Records . The A-list garage/punk indie label run by former Maximum Rocknroll contributors Mike Lavella and Michelle Haunold previously broke the Hives' motorik garage hit "Hate to Say I Told You So." Big Boys/Poison 13 legend Kerr successfully transferred the Gamblers' incendiary live sound – 1969 Detroit protopunk invested with the ballistic energy of Japan's Teengenerate – to 1-inch tape at the late Sweatbox Studio in 2002.

Meanwhile, the still-Denton-based band's buzz grew steadily . Frequent visitors to town since a late-Nineties Blue Flamingo appearance, they made Beerland their de facto Austin HQ. Then- Rolling Stone writer David Fricke became an early champion, reviewing a typically explosive Emo's South by Southwest showcase in 2003, before declaring them one of the "Top 5 bands to break out at this year's SXSW" in 2006.

"That was way outside of what we thought was possible, or what we were capable of," says guitarist Fadi El-Assad, who started the Riverboat Gamblers in Denton when he was 18 with bassist Patrick Lillard and singer/spectacle Mike Wiebe . "That's when we started getting a little bit of juice, and it started building and it felt really exciting at that time.

"None of us had stars in our eyes. There was nothing like, 'Oh yeah, we're going to make it now.' It was more of a confused flattery. Like, 'Are they really into this? All right, cool.' It was more of that kind of attitude than anything else. But we were young and ready to do it, so we were like, 'Let's give it a shot.'"

A few years earlier, Lillard, El-Assad, and Wiebe were enthralled with what the singer calls "the Gilman Gold Rush, when all the Lookout and Epitaph stuff was blowing the fuck up." Denton was alive with young bands playing an active house show circuit, everyone playing in everyone else's bands several times over. Lillard approached El-Assad about doing something "more big rock/rock & roll/garage rock." El-Assad played with Wiebe in two other bands, both desiring to rock harder. Wiebe says they bonded over discovering the source of Nineties group Teengenerate's name was a song by NYC punk pioneers the Dictators – which led them to the latter act's 1978 Bloodbrothers album and the path ultimately chosen.

Kerr produced the Gamblers' first two albums. "I have always thought that band was great," he writes via text message. "[ Crow ] was recorded how I/we did all the recordings [at Sweatbox]: Basic tracks live, no headphones."

El-Assad recalls one song during the Crow sessions not going well. Kerr told them to take a break, drink some beer, then come back and try again. They finally got it, but the guitarist remained skeptical.

"I said, 'That's not how it's supposed to go.' His reply always stuck in my head, and I think about this – about life events, about music, anything: 'What do you mean that's not the way it's supposed to go? That's the way it went.'"

Crow was the first widely distributed evidence of the band's flamethrower superiority. They still play nearly half of its 13 songs live: "What's What," "Rattle Me Bones," "Ice Water," "Save You," "Lottie Mae," "Last to Know." According to El-Assad, "Sparks & Shots" returned during recent gigs. The album also transformed them, per Wiebe, into "road dogs extraordinaire.

"I think we'd done one tour beforehand," says the lead vocalist, speaking on a break from writing new material for the Gamblers and his other project, Drakulas. "But that was the record that opened us up to really kind of living on the road for a while there."

The 2003-2005 Crow tours also brought an 18-year-old MacDougall to the band, shoving him into the tour van shortly after his high school graduation, upon guitarist Colin "Ambulance" O'Donnell's exit. Previously in '77-style punk band the Kicks, then-tour manager Bryan McClellan advised him: "No creepers, no skinny ties, no neon shirts, any of that shit." MacDougall has remained in the band's core since, alongside Wiebe, El-Assad, and bassist Rob Marchant, who replaced Lillard in 2007. Drummer Sam Keir came aboard in 2010, leaving after three years to become a firefighter, but returning in 2021. He's remained drumming since.

All that touring made a machine out of the Gamblers by the summer of 2006, the year Alternative Press magazine declared them one of the "100 Bands You Need to Know." Their van rode behind tour buses holding X and Rollins Band, as they traversed America with the L.A. punk legends in support of To the Confusion of Our Enemies , the Gamblers' first LP under their new contract with skateboard manufacturer Volcom's short-lived record label. That July, they were the first live act I got to see upon returning to town after several years away.

I honestly had no idea how either X or Henry Rollins would be able to follow them at Stubb's that night. The Gamblers clearly absorbed everything MC5 and the Clash taught them, but with more demonic energy than either in their prime. And Wiebe put life and limb on the line every night.

"I was on a real mission, back then," he acknowledges. "It had to be a more intense show than everybody else. Sometimes that was more like, 'How can I physically hurt myself rather than sing alright.' I had a lot of injuries. I was constantly in and out of the ER with some kind of new break or laceration or something."

"It was like that onstage, and honestly it was like that offstage," chuckles El-Assad. "Recklessness was sort of the engine that was powering the band at that time."

After Stubb's, it wasn't their new LP I purchased as my first Riverboat Gamblers LP. It was Crow . Such is that record's power: It defined them, even then. It led to their Austin relocation, MacDougall's membership, their road seasoning – virtually everything.

After a long absence, it's back. Control's remaster, only available on the new vinyl issue, sounds like it's had a shower, a shave, and two cups of coffee. The Riverboat Gamblers support their ultimate creation's rebirth with a to-be-announced series of shows presenting Crow live, in full, in sequence, plus other select tunes. Their first studio album since 2012's The Wolf You Feed is forthcoming, as well as a live album. But for now, the Riverboat Gamblers celebrate the album that made them.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

Richard Whittaker, Aug. 17, 2012

Dec. 8, 2023

June 20, 2023

The Riverboat Gamblers , Ian MacDougall , Jack Control , Tim Kerr , Gearhead Records , David Fricke , Fadi El-Assad , Patrick Lillard , Mike Wiebe

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle  

Meaning of Blue Ghosts by Riverboat Gamblers

"Blue Ghosts" by Riverboat Gamblers explores the theme of emotional baggage and the struggle to let go of past traumas and regrets. The song reflects on the protagonist's persistent battle in their mind against the memories of people who are no longer present in their life, symbolized as "blue ghosts."

The lyrics emphasize the frustration and futility of trying to forget and move on from these haunting thoughts. The line "Still trying to forget a mother and a father that I never met" suggests a deeper emotional struggle stemming from the lack of a connection with their parents. This unresolved emotional pain becomes part of their identity, and they question the validity of these regrets.

The repetition of the phrase "And I try to win a game that has no end, and these dots never fill me up" highlights the futile pursuit of finding closure or resolution. It expresses the feeling of constantly yearning for something that remains elusive, much like the ever-elusive ghosts in a video game.

The chorus further emphasizes the detrimental impact of holding onto these memories. The protagonist experiences headaches and heartaches from repeatedly running into walls and missing out on opportunities due to their fixation on these "little blue ghosts." Despite not wanting to be trapped in this cycle, they still find themselves unable to break free.

The song concludes with the line "Time to leave it alone," suggesting a realization or acceptance that letting go of these haunting memories is necessary for personal growth and emotional well-being. However, it is clear that this realization is not an easy feat, as the repetition of "Leave them alone" serves as a reminder of the constant struggle to overcome the grip of the past.

Overall, "Blue Ghosts" delves into the complexities of carrying emotional baggage and the difficulty of moving on from past traumas. It conveys a sense of longing for closure and the realization that one must confront and release these haunting memories in order to find peace.

This meaning interpretation was written by AI. Help improve it with your feedback

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