CASINOS

U.S. Casinos
In the United States of America, after a brief attempt to legalize gambling on the riverboats of Louisiana in 1890, the end of the Prohibition in 1932 led to the extensive development of illegal gambling "joints" controlled by the mob.

The gambling casinos of today have come a long way since their early beginnings.  When America became an independent country in 1776, the newly formed, needy government used gambling as a way to cultivate large sums of money for its early activities.  When it got out of control in the raucous days of the western frontier, Nevada actually made it illegal from 1850 to 1910.  However, it was re-sanctioned in 1931, and Las Vegas began its rise as the greatest gambling phenomenon of the world.

Two decades ago, commercialized gambling existed in two states. Today, forty-eight out of the 50 states have some form of legalized gambling -- bingo, poker, horse racing, dog racing, jai-ala and lotteries, casino games (slots, craps, roulette, card games, sports betting). Only Hawaii and Utah remain free of gambling.

Las Vegas Casinos
The Las Vegas strip, no place like it in the world.  With more than 15,000 miles of neon lit tubing


Cruise Ships
The type of gaming allowed on riverboat casinos varies by jurisdiction. Generally, the states allow the playing of traditional casino games such as blackjack, roulette, and slots. In addition to the riverboat and tribal casinos, some states have begun allowing "cruises to nowhere" that take passengers out beyond the three-mile limit for one night or weekend gambling cruises. Cruise lines continue to build bigger and more elaborate onboard casinos as many passengers consider them an essential feature of the cruise experience.