Iowa Riverboat Casino Not Really a Boat But Still on the River

It is illegal to gamble in Iowa, unless you are gambling on a riverboat casino, well, you at least have to be on the Mississippi River to gamble legally. Let us explain...

Dan Kehl has just opened up a massive river casino in order to follow the Iowa law which states gambling is legal if it takes place on the Mississippi river, however Kehl's casino won't take you anywhere and you can leave at anytime.

Kehl's parents opened the first riverboat casino in Iowa, it was the first floating casino ever and it was opened in the early 1990's. When his parents got into the business, riverboat casinos were required to take passengers on a leisurely cruise. The law and the times have changed.

Now, obeying the letter of that law in Iowa meant spending $1 million on a series of 23 massive water bladders hidden under the casino?s floor. Kehl compares them with "50,000 waterbed mattresses."

"This is Iowa?s first destination resort," Kehl said.

Kehl expects the Riverside resort to draw some customers from nearby gambling markets. The casino?s proximity to Iowa City could attract thousands of University of Iowa Hawkeyes football fans who will be able to ride shuttle buses to and from Kinnick Stadium.

September 2, 2006
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!