The first ‘legitimate’ riverboat casino, the City of Traverse, set sail on Lake Michigan which signaled the start of riverboat gambling becoming an organized commercial operation.

It wasn’t until 1904 when several states softened their hardline stance on riverside gambling. However, the rise of the railroad and the American Civil War in the latter half of the 19th century saw the popularity of water transport and riverboat casinos decline significantly.

This led to riverboats becoming popular entertainment destinations that mixed live music, dancing, and gambling, if only for a few hours. This was in part due to states prohibiting gambling ashore, making the use of riverboats a clever means of sidestepping local gambling laws as the water freeways were largely unregulated.Īs the Mississippi River bordered several different states, it was the perfect legal grey area. The Big Muddyīefore you knew it, riverboats began to entice professional gamblers and those seeking to keep a low profile. In order to pass the time, passengers and merchants on these riverboats would gamble onboard to keep themselves entertained on long voyages. If you’ve ever read anything about sailors, you’ll know that traveling over water can be a long and tedious endeavor, which is why boats and game of chance have a long illustrious history. Thanks to advances in transportation technology, traders were no longer content to load up their horses and carts and instead took full advantage of the connections that river transport could offer. The Mississippi Great River was the lifeblood of American industry and commerce. Back in the 1800s, the situation for gambling in the USA was a bit different than today. We can think of no better place to begin our journey than by painting a picture of the history and heritage of riverboats and gambling. Published on: 3 June 2021 History of Gambling on Riverboats

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