USA

A “Deep Dive” into Boat Casinos in the USA

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Boats have been around for 100s of years. The first efficient steamboats were made in 1807 by a man called Robert Fulton, an American inverter. It wasn’t till 1989 when modern casino boats were established in Iowa. US Casino riverboats were a great alternative to land-based casinos and were a great attraction for many people.

When these boats were first legalized for gambling some states required the ships to set sail before gambling commenced, to be in line with the gambling laws set in place. In today’s age, most USA casino boats don’t move from the docks they’re shipped at and simply act as a vessel for gambling and many other uses. The boats come in all shapes and sizes, from the grand ships to much smaller yachts.

More recently, they have seen a new surge in interest prompted by the Netflix series, Ozark. In this very exciting series, the protagonist opens such a casino in order to launder money for a crime boss making the riverboat casino the focal point of the show.

While, naturally, this show is fictitious, these boat casinos are a real and popular fixture in the US and are one of the more unconventional ways for US players to enjoy legal gaming. Of course, with the further legislation of USA online casinos, this has becoming easier and the need for them has waned slightly.

So, how do boat managers run their business? What do they need to think about when starting up their casino? How do you start a casino boat business? These are some things we’ll give you information on in this article.

What is a Casino Boat?

A casino boat is the river-based version of a land-based casino. These boats were originally made to provide people with an alternative option to gamble as land-based gambling was not legalized at the time. All the popular games are involved such as blackjack, roulette, video slots, and many more. There are currently 6 states that allow casino riverboats those being:

Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana
Lowa
Mississippi
Missouri

So if you live a bit far out from one of these states, you’ll need to drive or fly over to the state to check out some hot spots for casino boats. Most of the boats are located in Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri.

Top Casino Boats USA

There are several boats to choose from in quite a few states. But which ones do you decide to go to? It’s all down to convenience and personal preference as most boat casinos will offer similar gambling experiences and a good variety of games. Here are a few amazing boat casinos in the USA for you to check out.

Mississippi Belle II — This is a luxurious riverboat located in the state of Mississippi. Games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and Caribbean stud are available at this casino. If you’re looking for great food you’ll find a nice deli onboard.

Amelia Belle — Boyd Gambling operates this boat, and supports games such as blackjack, roulette, Mississippi stud, Texas hold ‘em, 3 card poker and several slot machines. The defining feature of Amelia Belle is the all-you-can-eat buffet. This boat is located in Louisiana.

River City Casino — This is a monster-sized boat, serving a 90,000 square foot of space where players can walk around and play games. Located in Lemay, Missouri, in the St. Louis area, this casino has over 2000 slot machines and 55 table games to choose from.

Casino Azar — This riverboat is known as the best attraction in Evansville, Indiana. It’s a replica of another boat that ships across the rivers of Ohio. If you’re ever in Evansville this is a great place to check out and have some fun playing at.

How to Open a Riverboat Casino

Starting up a riverboat casino business can be quite challenging for even the best business minds. There are several things aspiring business owners need to think about, from regulations to location and even health and safety. If you’re thinking about opening a riverboat casino here are some simple guidelines to follow:

You’ll need to begin with getting a consensus of the area. Do some market research and find out about what the community likes and if the riverboat casinos are one of those options. Use this information in your business plan you create to give you the best chances of success.
Contact the gambling regulatory boards for the state. Obtain information on the level of gambling allowed on riverboats in the state you’ve chosen. It’s best to choose a location within the 6 states mentioned above. Ensure to obtain a gambling license as this is required to act as a casino.
Hire the staff to run the casino, such as dealers, bar staff, and kitchen staff if you’d like to have a restaurant. Hire a few supervisors to overlook the staff. If you want to be a silent owner it’s good to hire a boat manager to run the business for you organizing day-to-day operations.
Buy the riverboat and the equipment to run the games. Pick a boat that’s in good condition, big enough to host the games and guests, and follows the right regulations given by the governing authorities.
You’ll need to hire an accountant and attorney to sort out your taxes and assist you in any law matters and setting up an employer identification number which is provided by the IRS.

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Things Owners Experience and Need

Let’s say you’ve finally set up everything to open the riverboat casino for its 1st day of business. What can you expect to happen? There will be good days and bad days as there always challenges when running any business. However, owning a riverboat casino is similar to owning a land-based casino, and it’s also very different in other areas. There are a few interesting things owners experience and need to think about when running their business.

Competent Driving Crew — If the boats are going to set off on sail down the river, the crew will need to be effective at getting the ship from A to B without having a titanic situation. Always a good idea to have a random drug and alcohol test on the crew to ensure no one’s under the influence while driving.

Health and safety — If you’re on a boat there are a little health and safety regulations that need to look at. For instance, if you’re setting sail you’d need staff trained in first aid to help people who may need it.

Food Regulations — The food needs to be met to a servable standard. People can get sick from eating food that’s not cooked properly or old. This is how many restaurants get caught out when the people who eat there get sick from the food made. Hiring competent chefs is essential.

Security — Fitting security cameras and having security staff is essential to stop people cheating on games and trying to steal money from the casino. There will also be the odd person who is drunk too much and starts getting rowdy when they are losing. Owners usually have their security staff sort this out.

Regular Income of Players — Smaller less known casino boats may find that it’s difficult to get people into their casinos to play. These days everything is online and casino boat owners need to think of ways to get people into their boat, through events and special offers.

Final Thoughts

Casino boats are a great place to spend the evening playing traditional casino games and eat exceptional food. Running the business can be tricky but is extremely rewarding as we all know the odds are with the house.

Opening a casino boat is a challenge, however, if you get it right and follow all the necessary steps and regulations it can be done. If you are looking for a simpler way to play casino games, then an online casino USA should be the answer,

Visit our page here to find one that works for you!

Man Wins Lottery for the Sixth Time, with $250,000 Jackpot Prize in Idaho

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Bryan Moss, an Idaho resident from Meridian, won a lottery for the sixth time on Thursday, January 28, 2021. It was his first jackpot win and was worth a whopping $250,000. Bryan’s lucky streak began with a $1,000 win, followed by an impressive $10,000. Since then, all his winnings never exceeded that amount until Thursday, when he hit the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

According to the press release announcing the news by the Idaho Lottery, “Bryan Moss is someone who has a positive outlook toward life and today, he has an additional 250,000 reasons to be happy”. The businessman who owns the Newko Sport and Nutrition health store located in Meridian, Idaho, plays the Idaho Lottery often, and the real reason, according to him, is for humanitarian purposes.

“I’m proud to help support Idaho public schools; that is why I play,” he said. The Idaho Lottery was played first over three decades ago, on July 19, 2021. It offers various entertaining games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, Wild Card, and Hot Lotto. There is also a daily game called the Idaho Pick 3, with nightly drawings.

PullTabs and Scratch GamesTM are part of their games library as well, the latter being what earned Bryan a quarter of a million dollars. The Gem State has done well on the lottery scene in America. It was the first to introduce VIP club promotions to its lottery players in North America. It allowed players to earn reward points from playing, which they could use to purchase lottery merch such as bicycles, watches, and even iPods.

Idaho and Gambling

Idaho, however, has not always been gambling-friendly. In 1953, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that all forms of casino games in the state, especially slot machines, were illegal. Decades after the ban, in 1983, a proposal for the creation of state lotteries was created, but it died a quick death as the legislature did not approve it. Nevertheless, six years later, in 1989, the Idaho Lottery began. This was a record-breaking moment for the lottery industry at the time, given the preceding controversies on the subject in the region.

Today, pari-mutuel wagering, tribal casinos, bingo, and lotteries have been legalized in the state. More modern gambling forms like online casinos, online sports betting, and poker are still not regulated within the state’s borders. There are no clear laws prohibiting residents from wagering at offshore gambling sites, but most people seem content playing within safe boundaries.

Idaho Lottery players are required to be 18 years old or older. The same applies to residents who want to participate in pari-mutuel and bingo. However, tribal casinos in the state require that you be at least 21 years before you are permitted to play in them.

It is known in the state of Idaho that the lottery is run by the state government. Half of the net funds gotten from the lottery goes back into the state’s public school system. The other half goes to the Permanent Building Fund, from which colleges and universities in the state obtain financial privileges. Having this knowledge, Bryan decided to play the lottery regularly as a means of giving back to the community.

According to the lottery website, between 1989 when the lottery began and now, the Idaho Lottery has sold more than $4.2 billion worth of products. This revenue has been split such that over $2.6 billion was awarded to the lottery’s players and $249 million returned in retail commissions. Idaho public schools and buildings have gotten $961.5 million from this too.

According to the lottery officials, Bryan Moss purchased his winning lottery ticket at ExtraMile, a store on Eagle Road and E. Goldstone Drive in Meridian, located in the same city as his health store. He claimed his winnings at the Idaho Lottery headquarters in Boise and posed for pictures with the huge check that bore the record of his cash prize.

Big Plans for the Big Win

When asked what he planned to do with the money, Bryan said he planned to set it aside for his daughter’s education in the future. ExtraMile, the store that sold the winning ticket, was also rewarded with $20,000 as a bonus from the state lottery.

Seeing as it appears that Bryan Moss seems to have a lucky lottery charm, it is expected that other players would want him to play for them. However, it doesn’t seem like Bryan will be accepting any of such invitations. We know this based on a Facebook post where he announced his big win.

“I’ve tried playing for others, but it does not work”, he said. Although they may not get the lucky man’s help, it is expected that more Idaho residents will try to secure a spot with Bryan as one of the lottery’s star winners. New players are expected to roll in in the weeks that follow, and experienced players should have the inspiration to keep trying.

This is good news for the Idaho Lottery, but more importantly for the public schools in the Gem State and beneficiaries of the Permanent Building Fund. Brian re-emphasized his primary reason for playing the lottery when he put up a picture on Facebook to celebrate his win with the caption:

“I’m proud to help support Idaho schools! #6 decent lotto win. #lucky.”

Draftkings to Advertise on Super Bowl for the First Time While Big Brands Sit Out

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Sunday’s Super Bowl LV game in Tampa will see DraftKings join several first-time advertisers as some other top brands miss out. The Super Bowl is the most wagered-on sporting game across all US sports, so it is perhaps fitting that the daily fantasy sports giant and internet sportsbook operator are throwing their hat into the advertising mix.

The past few years have seen an indication that the NFL is becoming increasingly inclined towards regulated sports betting. Several marketing deals have been signed between teams across the league and sports wagering companies and, with the Las Vegas Raiders, we now even have an NFL franchise in the betting capital of the country. But despite all that, DraftKings’s advertising spots will not exactly publicize the operator’s sportsbook wagers.

Instead, the idea is to help accustom users to the DraftKings platform and then, in the long run, keep them as customers. Building a customer base via daily fantasy sport and free games, and then eventually converting those clients into sports bettors is a move that the company is not unfamiliar with. According to Jeannine Poggi, reporting for AdAge, “DraftKings will air two 15-second commercials in the second and third quarters of Super Bowl LV, offering viewers a chance to enter a free pool to make predictions on fourth-quarter action.”

Sporting Backstory

The Super Bowl will take place for the 55th time come Sunday, February 7th, 2021, at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. From an entirely sporting perspective, the biggest subplot surrounding Super Bowl LV is the fascinating matchup between the quarterbacks on both football teams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be able to call on legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

Widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time, the 43-year-old will be making an appearance in the 10th Super Bowl of his astonishing career. He will be looking to pick up a record seventh ring, two years from winning his sixth. That one was a record, by the way.

As for Brady’s opponents on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will be lining up with ‘youngster’ superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a combo that is already being regarded widely as the league’s next dynasty in waiting. Mahomes won the NFL Most Valuable Player award, picking up the NFL Offensive Player of the Year gong and getting named to the Pro Bowl and the First-Team All-Pro in his first season.

The following year saw him lead the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV, their first Super Bowl appearance in five decades. In doing that, Mahomes became the reigning Super Bowl MVP and the first quarterback to make two Super Bowl appearances before turning 26. If he leads the Chiefs to victory in Sunday’s matchup, it’ll be the first time since 2003-2004 that an NFL team claims two consecutive titles. And the team which achieved that particular feat? You guessed it; Brady’s New England Patriots.

The two quarterbacks have already faced off four times, sharing the spoils a couple of times apiece. So, the game sees the player with the most remarkable NFL legacy of all time facing off against the new kid who has already begun racking up the records. It is no wonder Super Bowl LV is being tagged as ‘the GOAT’ V.s ‘the kid’. And it is no wonder that DraftKings is looking to tap into the vast customer base that this backstory is set to attract.

Big Game, Big Bucks

Initially, DraftKings was planning one ad for the Super Bowl scheduled for Feb 5. But, like the President and Co-founder of the gaming company, Matthew Kalish, told AdAge, ‘when it became obvious that the big game would feature the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the compelling Patrick Mahomes/Tom Brady quarterback battle, the firm opted for two spots and a bigger presence.

Kalish said another primary purpose of the ads would be to give bettors a taste of the DraftKings experience. Despite live sports getting shut down earlier on in the pandemic, DraftKings still saw its users come to the platform to engage around different content, such as e-sports. He said that once live sports returned, they noticed a spike in pent-up demand.

“There’s tremendous momentum in not just fantasy sports, but also sports betting, which is open in 12 states and rapidly expanding throughout the country,” Kalish said to AdAge. The ads are being created by the company and focused on urging viewers to participate in a free predictive game based on the fourth quarter. Betting situations might look something like predicting the scorer of the final touchdown and the length of the longest play in the final stanza of the game.

Matt Kalish revealed that all participants will get a prize and that payouts will range from $3 to $25,000. If it isn’t already evident that DraftKings is going all out with their ad slots for Super Bowl LV, then perhaps a look at their Super Bowl ad budget will convince you, with it being reported that a 30-second Super Bowl ad costs over 5 million dollars.

Debuts

However, the gaming company is not the only firm set to make its Super Bowl advertising debut in Sunday’s event. In total, 11 companies are having their first foray into the world of Super Bowl advertising, including Chipotle, DoorDash, Huggies, and WeatherTech.

On the reverse side, some big brands that have come to be known staples of Super Bowl advertising will be sitting out this year. Coca-Cola will be taking a one year break, while Hyundai’s absence will see it snap an 11-year stretch of ad slots. For the first time in a long time, we would also not be seeing a run out for the Budweiser brand.

BetRivers $200,000 Winter Wonderland Promo

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Winter is a gloomy time of the season once Christmas is over and the new year is upon us. We all create resolutions and work towards being better people. At Rush Affiliates their resolutions have been to give bigger and better promos, on their BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse websites.

The current weekly promo is the $200,000 winter wonderland challenge. This challenge consists of users wagering at online casino games to acquire iRush points. Players who get the highest amount of iRush points during the week are eligible to obtain 1X bonus money.

To opt-in for this amazing promotion, users need to simply start playing their favorite online casino games, at the respected websites. Every Monday at 3 pm ET the winners on the leaderboard will be awarded their 1X bonus money. However, what’s that amount of money you’ll get? Here’s a list of the entries:

Rank	Prize Money
1st	$2500 in 1x Bonus Money
2nd	$2500 in 1x Bonus Money
3rd	$1500 in 1x Bonus Money
4th	$1250 in 1x Bonus Money
5th	$1000 in 1x Bonus Money
6th — 10th	$750 in 1x Bonus Money
11th — 25th	$500 in 1x Bonus Money
26th — 50th	$250 in 1x Bonus Money
51st — 100th	$100 in 1x Bonus Money
101st — 250th	$50 in 1x Bonus Money
251st — 500th	$25 in 1x Bonus Money
501st — 1050th	$10 in 1x Bonus Money

If that’s not enough for you, then there are also parlay perks in sports betting if that interests you. You’ll be eligible to get $10 worth of bets if you wager a 5 parlay bet with odds of +100 and higher. Alternatively betting on 3 or more legs will also get you the free $10 worth of bets, and is awarded at 3 pm every Monday.

To qualify you’ll need to place a minimum bet of $10 during the week. All free bets will expire 7 days after the money is awarded. Don’t miss out on these amazing promotions, they won’t be around forever!

Sign up today to BetRivers and SugarSugarHouse today!

BetMGM Launch New Mobile App

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

BetMGM is one of the biggest sports and gaming entertainment companies in the United States and all around the world with its headquarters in New Jersey. They are casino giants among US online casinos. BetMGM is available in different states including New Jersey, Indiana, Colorado, Tennessee, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Iowa, West Virginia, Virginia, and Michigan.

MGM is a name that rings bells when speaking about land-based casinos as they own numerous casino properties worldwide. BetMGM is a partnership between MGM Resorts and Entertain Plc; which means BetMGM has access to physical casino locations as well as online gaming.

BetMGM app is one of the best innovations in the USA online casino apps community. BetMGM app has been available in three states (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) but was launched in Michigan on the 21st of January, 2021. Michigan online gambling community can now enjoy the privileges that come with being a customer at Bet MGM, they have access to the perks associated with MGM Grand Detroit and MGM Resorts’ casino-resorts nationwide.

BetMGM CEO, Adam Greenblatt in response to the warm welcome the app received said, “Reaction to the opening of MGM Grand Detroit’s BetMGM Sportsbook and Lounge has been incredible. We’re thrilled to complement our retail offering with the launch of the BetMGM mobile app in Michigan, ”

He also mentioned that “Michigan sports fans can access our interactive sports betting platform and exclusive line of casino games directly from their phone. The Wolverine State now has new ways to engage with the teams they love, while earning rewards from their gameplay.”

David Tsai, the President of the Midwest Group, MGM Resorts expressed his excitement in a statement, “Working with BetMGM to offer our customers a new, innovative way to engage with our brands is very exciting for us. This is yet another example of our continued commitment and investment in Detroit and Michigan and we are proud to be part of this historic launch.”

How to Download the Bet MGM App

Michigan players looking for the best Michigan online casino can sign up with BetMGM Michigan and enjoy all they have to offer. New and existing players can download the Bet MGM app and begin to enjoy what a great mobile casino is like. The app is available on both Android and iOS devices and players can maintain their BetMGM accounts across all platforms.

To download the app, create an account (if you do not have one yet) with BetMGM. You will find the download option in the main menu; you can either click on download for Android if you are using an android device or download for iPhone if you are using an iOS device.

Google play store does not allow gambling apps so you have to download the BetMGM app to access the app. The app is available on iTunes for iOS users.

Benefits of the BetMGM App

The app is user friendly and easy to navigate. It delivers the best gaming experience to players, giving Michigan bettors an avenue to bet on their favorite sports. Bets can be made pregame as odds are available before the game time using different bet types including futures, parlays, money lines, and others. Also, in-play bets are available on the app and since BetMGM ensures that odds are updated quickly, you should get the best deal while betting.

The app uses geolocation to ensure that players using it are well within the Michigan state line as not all states in the United States allow gambling. You have to confirm your location by turning it on using GPS in the location settings.

BetMGM app users are not only limited to the sportsbook, they can also play casino games and participate in tournaments. There are progressive jackpots especially for the Michigan areas that players can take advantage of. Other casino games like roulette, blackjack, poker are all available on the app.

Michigan players using the BetMGM app can retrieve their gameplay to enjoy awesome experiences at all MGM Resorts locations. This is because the BetMGM app works hand in hand with the MGM Resorts’ M life Rewards program. Players from Michigan can use these rewards at MGM Grand Detroit, MGM Grand, Bellagio and ARIA in Las Vegas, Borgata in New Jersey, and Beau Rivage in Mississippi.

Conclusion

Michigan is the ninth state BetMGM is operating and the fourth state with an online casino. BetMGM continues to ensure that they give players nothing but the best in all states they are established, and we expect them to do the same in the new states they will be breaking into so when you think of USA casinos online, you think BetMGM.

CHECK OUT BETMGM HERE AND START PLAYING ON THEIR APP!

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission – Who Are They and What Do They Do?

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Kahnawake Gaming Commission is the governing body for physical and online casinos located in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in southern Quebec. Kahnawake Mohawk Territory is a First Nations Reserve that is autonomous; they have their laws and regulations for different issues. They have regulations regarding company laws, corporate operations, taxation, and licensing.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission issues licenses to casinos in this region and also monitors these licenses. They have licensed about fifty casino operators running roughly 250 online casinos.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established in 1996 and three years after, they passed laws concerning online gambling. This makes them one of the oldest online gaming legislators worldwide. From the time of its establishment to the time it enacted online gaming laws, Kahnawake Gaming Commission worked on becoming an autonomous entity in Canada. They spent this time outlining the political and legal structure of the Mohawk Territory, therefore, obtaining the legal right to license casinos.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission Regulations

Following its regulation of online sites, the “Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming”, casino operators seeking licenses have to host their gaming site at the Mohawk Internet Technologies data center. The data center is managed by Continent 8 Technologies which works specifically for hosting eGaming platforms.

The Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming gives some key principles by which Kahnawake Gaming Commission casinos should operate under the Kahnawake gambling law. Some of these principles are:

Online gambling based in, from, or within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake is regulated and controlled based on the law.
Ensure that online gambling activities carried out under this license are fair, honest, and responsible.
To ensure that online gambling from the jurisdiction of Kahnawake is not associated with criminality and crime.
To ensure that players playing in casinos with the Kahnawake license are treated fairly. They ensure that players’ information and activities at the online casinos are kept confidential.
They protect minors (persons under 18 years) and other vulnerable persons from the dangers of online gambling

Kahnawake Gaming Commission casinos are checked from time to time to confirm fairness, transparency, and excellent customer service. Kahnawake gaming commission complaints are thoroughly investigated and recorded. The commission takes action in cases where a player claims to have been wronged. For instance, when a player is not paid his/her winnings, when a player’s account is suddenly closed, or when players complain about the fairness of games in the casino.

Operators with a Kahnawake casino license are expected to be open to these investigations. This gives both the casino operator and the player peace of mind.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission Licenses

The commission gives four types of licenses to casino operators, they are:

Interactive Gaming Licences
Client Provider Authorisation
Inter-Jurisdictional Authorisation
Key Person Permit

Responsible Gaming

Like we mentioned earlier, Kahnawake Gaming Commission cares for players in its jurisdiction hence the provision of a self-exclusion list. There is a detailed self-exclusion request form that players who need help with their gambling habits can fill to get the care they need. Players can request a 1- year, 5- year, or lifetime ban on gambling. This form is only functional in Kahnawake Gaming Commission casinos. This is something you will not find with most casino licensing bodies.

Approved Agents

Kahnawake Gaming Commission works with third-party organizations called the ‘Approved Agents’ to aid them. The approved agents are auditors and consultants who give professional assistance in licensing and controlling online casinos. The four third party organizations listed on the website are

eCOGRA
Gaming Associates
iTech Labs
Technical Systems Testing (TST)

These four organizations work in different capacities to ensure one end goal: that the casinos licensed by the Commission are fair, safe, and trustworthy. TST ensures that casino sites are not hacked by identity thieves, eCOGRA publishes the RTPs of the casinos monthly, iTech tests and certifies online gaming systems and games, and Gaming Associates also certifies online gaming systems.

Conclusion

Kahnawake Gaming Commission, one of the earliest online licensing organizations has proved itself trustworthy. They have provided a great interactive environment for online casinos and players. Look out for their logo when signing up on a North American casino.

FIND A PLACE TO PLAY AT A CASINO WITH THIS LICENSE HERE!