National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C.            Vol. 31, No. 12 * June 21, 1999

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Video poker on a riverboat? Yes!

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Who hasn’t dreamed of going to the Midwest and sampling the glittering nightlife of riverboat gambling? The flashing slot machines. The blackjack tables. Video poker. Video Keno. Peel ’n’ eat shrimp dinners. St. Louis has it all.

Missouri voters changed the state’s constitution in 1994 to allow gambling on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Since then the casinos have become a popular attraction. The industry generates $652 million a year, employs 12,000 and pays $190 million in state and local taxes.

Although they are technically on boats, most of the casinos don’t leave the docks. Some don’t even have engines. Many do have set boarding schedules, however. Here’s a sampling of places to try out your Mark Twain impersonation.

Alton Belle Casino
219 Piasa, Alton, Ill.
800/336-7568
Gambling casino 20 miles north of the Arch and airport. Cruise every two hours from 7 a.m. - 3 a.m. Sun. - Thur.; until 5 a.m. Fri. & Sat. No loss limits. Free admission.

Casino Queen
200 S. Front St., E. St. Louis, Ill.
800/777-0777
Across from the Arch, with slots, video poker, keno, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and dining. Eleven cruises daily from 9 a.m. - 7 a.m. $2 admission.

Harrah's Casino at Riverport Casino Center
777 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights
800/HARRAHS
Harrah’s has two casinos and a 291-room hotel in St. Louis.

Players Island Casino at Riverport Casino Center
Riverport Casino Center, Maryland Heights
800/599-6378
Opened in early 1997 with four casinos, a hotel, restaurants, shops, ballrooms, meeting space and an entertainment lounge.

The President Casino on the Admiral
St. Louis Levee, below Gateway Arch
800/772-3647
Dockside casino with slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, live poker, restaurants. Free downtown shuttle, parking. Daily, 8 a.m. - 4 a.m. $2 admission.

Station Casino St. Charles
I-70 at the Missouri River
800/325-7777
Slots, video poker, craps, blackjack, roulette, live poker, video keno and dining. Free parking and admission all day, every day.