Gambling Has Raised Travel Stakes

It wasn’t long ago that a gambling vacation was pretty much limited to two U.S. destinations: Las Vegas or Atlantic City. But lately gambling fever has struck nationwide as state and city legislators scramble for ways to increase revenues without raising taxes.

Gaming establishments are springing up everywhere--on land and on water--in hopes of luring tourists and separating them from their dollars. And the tourists seem to be taking the bait.

Besides the limited-stakes gambling that began Oct. 1 in three historic Colorado mining towns--Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek--Iowa and Illinois now offer riverboat gambling, and Louisiana and Mississippi have approved measures to do the same. Among other states reported to be considering some form of gaming are Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

“This is the trend as legislators want to avoid raising taxes, build traffic and keep more locals from going to other states to gamble,” said William Schmitt, vice president of sales of the Alton Belle Riverboat Casino, which began gambling cruises up the Mississippi River last September. “Riverboat gambling is an easy way for the legislators to keep the gaming under control.”

Louisiana legalized riverboat gambling along the state’s waterways, including the Mississippi, with the stipulation that the ships are newly built and constructed in Louisiana. Two riverboat gambling ships, carrying 2,500 and 3,000 passengers, respectively, have already been earmarked for construction and operation out of New Orleans. They should be ready by 1994, according to Sharon Calcote, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Office of Tourism.

The move toward limited-stakes gambling was spurred by the phenomenal success of the small South Dakota town of Deadwood. Hoping to revitalize their down-at-the-heels town, Deadwood officials legalized gambling on Nov. 1, 1989, estimating that as much as $4 million a year might be wagered in the city.

Instead, by mid-August of this year, an incredible $565 million had been plunked down at 80 casinos offering blackjack, poker tables and slot machines. Of that total, $2.24 million has already been spent on the preservation of historic sites along Deadwood’s Main Street, according to Kristin Brost of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. And the number of visitors has increased from about 250,000 annually to more than 1 million.

Despite Deadwood’s overflowing coffers, many states have opted to restrict gambling to riverboats. Here are two examples of new riverboat gambling operations, both of which sail a few miles along the Mississippi before returning to their home ports:

--The President Riverboat Casino began operations April 1 out of Davenport, Iowa, with four-hour packages, including two on the river. The river portion is sandwiched between one hour of gambling before the vessel sails and another hour after it returns. Rates for the four hours start as low as $6.95.

The maximum bet aboard the riverboat is $5. In theory, you’re limited to losing no more than $200 since you can only buy scrip up to that amount. “We make a good-faith effort to monitor this, but people can find ways to buy more scrip,” said Ed Ellers, the casino’s president.

With a capacity of 3,000 passengers, the sprawling President Riverboat Casino is the world’s largest floating casino. Dating to 1924, the boat (which cost about $10 million to renovate) is also a registered National Historic Landmark. There are 680 slot machines and 34 gaming tables aboard, offering craps, roulette, blackjack and a big wheel of fortune.

The vessel also offers live entertainment, a restaurant, bar and recreation room for children. You have to be 18 to gamble.

“Once you are aboard ship, you wouldn’t know you weren’t in Las Vegas,” said Ellers.

--Last September, unlimited-stakes gambling was introduced aboard the three-story, 504-passenger Alton Belle Riverboat Casino, the first riverboat casino to get an operating license from the state of Illinois and the first to offer high-wager, Las Vegas-style gambling. The Alton Belle, which has more than 300 slot machines and blackjack machines, as well as blackjack tables and crap games, cruises the Mississippi starting in Alton, Ill., about 20 minutes from St. Louis. Prices for the 2 1/2-hour sailings start at $14.99. Some gambling is permitted dock-side both before and after the actual time on the river. Bar facilities are available, but there is no restaurant aboard the boat. You have to be 21 to gamble.

In addition, the four-deck, 700-passenger Par-A-Dice is expected to start service later this month with 2 1/2-hour cruises out of Peoria, Ill., along the Illinois River. Prices will start at $4.95.

All of the riverboats sail year-round. Bookings are reported to be strong, with advance reservations recommended.

Next April, the Casino Rock Island Riverboat is scheduled to begin three-hour sailings along the Mississippi out of Rock Island, Ill. Rates will start at $9.

And more gaming may be imminent on the high seas off U.S. coasts.

The House recently passed a bill that would allow gambling on U.S.-flag cruise ships sailing in international waters, similar to the kind offered by the many foreign-flag ships serving the U.S. market. A federal law currently prohibits U.S. citizens from operating sailings in international waters that are intended primarily for gambling.

Another bill currently pending in the House would permit U.S.-flag cruise ships to offer both interstate gambling and gambling between domestic and international ports.

For more information on riverboats mentioned above, contact the President Riverboat Casino at (800) 202-8711, Alton Belle Riverboat Casino at (800) 253-3423, Par-A-Dice Riverboat at (800) 438-6777 and Casino Rock Island Riverboat at (800) 477-7747.