The Golden Age of Riverboat Gambling

How Mississippi steamboats became floating casinos.

Locals and tourists both are quite familiar with the incredible ships that sail one of America’s most iconic rivers. The Mississippi divides the country in two like a mighty knife digging into an opulent cake. It is the river that gave rise to an untold number of indigenous tribes, and also the body of water that is still responsible for a huge chunk of American trade and industry to this day.

Such a grand river will naturally play a large role in tourism and entertainment. There are few who are unfamiliar with the luxury cruises that sail down the Mississippi River today, but the river as a main attraction is nothing new.

The Steamboat Era outfitted massive ships with the finest furniture—and some of the greatest sailors of the time. Most people today prefer to play their roulette games online, but during the 19th century, it was the riverboat casinos that dominated the minds of gamblers and risk-takers. The history of steamboats is endlessly fascinating.

The Genesis of Riverboat Gambling

American industry achieved success first in the early 19th century. This was the era of industrial revolution in the United States, which had been excluded from attaining certain technological advancements due to trading embargos imposed on them by European nations. A traveler today might be astonished by the vastness of the Mississippi river. But one must imagine just how daunting that powerful entity was to the average person two centuries ago. Yet, these men conquered their fears and took to the river in mighty steamboats.

The steamboats that dominated the Mississippi in that period were integral to the unification of the United States. They connected the North and South in such a way that it greatly reduced travel time and cost. But pretty soon, the steamboat market would grow so successful that better and better machines hit the waters of the grandiose river. Some were designed specifically for luxury, rather than necessity. It was in these steamboats built to entertain that gambling thrived.

To call these ships riverboat casinos would not be exactly true. It is more accurate to say that they were built to ferry rich gentlemen and their lovely wives along the river. But the dames and the gents required some sort of entertainment during their downtime. Many of the ships offered card-based table games, like poker and blackjack. Wealthy passengers could afford to make high-stakes wagers and, thus, Mississippi steamboats got a reputation as floating casinos.

A Golden Age of Gambling on the River

By the middle of the century, riverboats had already gotten their reputation among the American social elite. The wealthy would often make plans around a steamboat’s schedule only to experience the thrill of a poker hand. The steamboat market had become so intertwined with the gambling industry that even passenger ships began hosting poker tables, though likely not for as high of stakes. The floating casinos had become an attraction for every American, from the wealthy industrialist to the local farmhand.

This golden age of river gambling was not without its main stars. One of the most famous riverboat gamblers is a man who would go down in American history and pop culture as the pre-eminent western hero. Doc Holliday may be best known for his iconic confrontation at the O.K. Corral. But any true fan of the wild west knows that the heroic figure was a vagabond and iconoclast, who made a living not just through his work as a dentist, but also as a gambler. It is easy to imagine the American rebel kicking his feet up on the poker table, while the river wind blows through his hair, making a bet he can’t possibly win and coming out on top regardless.

Another star from the golden age of riverboat gambling is George Devol, whose skills as a card player might have even given Doc Holliday a run for his money (if the two would have been able to meet). Devol’s adventures on the floating casinos may have been greatly exaggerated by the man himself. But any good gambler understands that storytelling is just as much a betting man’s skill as reading your opponent’s face or calling their bluffs.

Unfortunately, the era of steamboats was not to last, yet their legacy continues in the modern era.

Casino Cruises on the Mississippi Today

The American gambling industry is just as mysterious as the great Mississippi River itself. Casinos in the country have survived Prohibition, regulation and deregulation. The U.S. today is home to two of the biggest gambling spots in the world, and operates the biggest iGaming sector on the planet. But where does that leave the long tradition of riverboat gambling that contributed so much to Mississippi tourism ?

It is not hard to find a cruise on the Mississippi in the new millennium. Luxurious ships sail from one end of the river to the other, taking people from all walks of life on an unforgettable journey. Just as their steam-based predecessors, many of these ships operate casinos and table games. Poker and blackjack seem to be the games of choice of those who sail on this great American river. The tradition of riverboat gambling lives on.

The Mississippi is not just a river integral to American life and industry. It is also a pop cultural icon that rouses stories of adventure and intrigue. The river plays a role in award-winning films, novels and so much more. Its importance to the history and zeitgeist of the nation is unmatched.

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