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For anyone who likes choice, the Majestic Star in Gary, Indiana may be just the place for gambling. It’s almost like the Matrix movie where Neo was faced with taking the blue or red pill…it was a great way to sybolize the choices everyone has in life. The Majestic Star offers just that– a choice. When you visit the Majestic Star’s restaurants, lounge and gift show, you’ll also see the turnstiles. If you go right, you’ll be entering the Majestic Star and if you go left, you’ll be going to the Majestic Star II.

Both casinos are housed on boats, so you’ll have a good time boarding and gambling on the waters. It’s an exotic option still and is reminiscent of the old days of riverboat gambling. Both casinos are on boats, though the gaming has always been dockside since northwest Indiana casinos started to open in 1996. The two-boat setup, unique in the Chicago area, is a historical location that holds a lot of respect in the industry of gambling. Gary was given out two casino licenses, one for Majestic Star, one for the former Trump casino.  The dual-pavilion was built on Buffington Harbor, and opened their gambling boats with entrances across the hallway from each other. Majestic Star bought the Trump casino in 2005. Players can pick what kind of gaming time they want. There are poker tournaments and give-a-ways to enjoy at each location.

Majestic Star houses the main table games boat, with 59 tables as opposed to 33 at the Majestic Star II. This is one of the largest selections of table games among casinos that are an easy drive from Chicago, with blackjack, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, Caribbean Draw, Let It Ride, Spanish 21, Fortune Pai-Gow Poker and Texas Hold’Em Bonus Poker. The Majestic Star II has fewer tables, but the boat also has a 21-table poker room. That’s huge and it also hosts some of the biggest poker events around. With limit and no-limit Hold’Em, limit and pot limit Omaha, and limit H.O.S.E, the poker room is a Chicago area favorite dating back to Trump days. If you are in the Indiana area and enjoy gambling, be sure to check out the two riverboats: Majestic Star and Majestic Star II. You won’t be disappointed by the amount of gambling options they each have to offer.

One of the most stable and well-known casinos alive today is the Harrah’s brand of gaming venues. The company is known throughout the gaming world for their multi-tiered Total Rewards players club, purple décor, outstanding staff and the Union Station Buffet. One of their locations is their riverboat casino on the Desplaines River in Illinois. Though cruising is no longer a requirement for gambling, the riverboat still offers a great locale for catching beautiful scenery of the state. There are two cruise lines that are homebase for Harrah’s casino, the North Star and the Southern Star II. The casinos are all connected and any gamer can enjoy moving from one to another for the best gaming experience possible.

Of course gambling is their main objective, but like most casinos in the market Harrah’s knows that offering more than just gambling is key to bringing in new customers and keeping old ones. At the casinos, you will find outstanding entertainment on their Stage 151 every weekend. It’s not only a great venue to listen to your favorite bands, but it’s also highly affordable. For a taste of Vegas-like entertainment, Stage 151 offers some great pastimes. For anyone who wants to have a full Vegas-experience without heading out to Nevada, this is one of the best places in the midwest to be. Many gamblers still don’t have the funds to plan a full vacation and visit Las Vegas. They are looking for a closer alternative. Harrah’s in Joliet, Illinois may be the answer they need. Not only is it closer, but it also offers one of the best overall Vegas-like atmospheres in the US.

Harrah’s Joliet is a slots-oriented casino with a total of 1,172 electronic games and about 8% of these are video poker.  The slots machines accept low denominations and award free spins and large bonus events.  You will not find the big money progressive slots here such as Megabucks.  There are 26 gaming tables of which fourteen are Blackjack.  The additional 12 tables play Craps, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker and Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker.There is also the Union Buffet to enjoy while you visit the casino. If you don’t want a buffet there is the Reserve Steakhouse, the Mosaic and Ace’s Diner to enjoy. 

Riverboat casinos are a staple of Illinois. Illinois was the 5^th state admitted to the union in 1818.  At 12,910,409 residents Illinois is the 5th most populated state as reported in 2008 by the U.S. Census Bureau.  The state covers a sprawling area of 57,918 square miles.  Illinois in nicknamed the “Prairie State” for its commitment to preserving and reestablishing its natural prairies.  Also one four states that borders Lake Michigan, as well as Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. It’s no wonder due to its popularity and vast area that it moved into the world of gambling. The state started its gambling riverboat industry and hasn’t looked back in terms of popularity and fun.

Illinois was the second state to allow riverboat casinos with the opening of the Alton Belle Casino in 1991.  Still operating today as the Empress Casino and Hotel located in Joliet, IL.  Anyone looking for riverboat fun will find nine total riverboat casinos in the state. Despite having the hightest tax rates in the nation, the casinos prove to be resilient. There are a lot of governmental restrictions on them and the state of Illinois currently is maxing out its limit for riverboat casino licenses. Although the rules are stiff, the state has managed to overcome. Casino operators work within the limits, but still create highly lucrative pastimes for millions of gamblers in any given month. Despite the recession, riverboat casinos have managed to survive. They did experience an overall decline in revenue due to the economic downturn, but now that things are turning around, there are signs that the riverboat casino industry too is on the rise. 

The minimum age for entrance to Illinois riverboat casinos is 21 and casinos are a great place to celebrate. Many provide specials for anniversaries and birthdays. In particular it can be lucrative to join the VIP programs as soon as possible to enjoy more savings. For anyone looking to enjoy gambling at its finest, Illinois riverboat casinos are some of the most enjoyable pastimes. Whether you are a fan of poker, slots, backgammon or any other table game, most likely the riverboat casinos have it. Plus the specials are usually excellent ways of giving yourself a chance to win more money. Check back with the riverboats frequently and see how much fun and how lucky you can get at a riverboat!

In Indiana gambling laws state that casinos can only operate on riverboats. It’s a law that has served the state well over the years. Patrons from the state and neighboring states travel to visit the riverboats and enjoy gambling in a novel way. There are changes to the state laws coming though. Lawmakers are looking to discuss the possibility of changing the state law tying gambling and riverboats together. They are now looking to allow a new land-based casino to be built in downtown South Bend.

There are several groups pushing for the move to build the new casino. They are citing its possibility of reinvigorating the economy and bringing millions into the state’s budgets. Another repercussion of the move would be to create jobs for the local economy. Many people are unemployed in the state and this is one of the biggest advantages legislators are advertising and promoting. Gaming analyst Steve Schwartz said, “Right now, there are several different groups who want to bring land-based casinos to Indiana. If the state laws change, these groups had better move quickly or they are going to lose out on licensing.” 

Despite a strong push for the move, like with other states there is an opposing side that sees the new land-based casino as a bad move. One of their biggest arguments is that South Bend is a financially risky area for a casino. Analysts are citing that there are more financially sound areas of the state where it would make more fiscal sense to build in.

At this time Indiana has eleven riverboat casinos but more than a few are citing bad location as their number one problem. Some are even petitioning the state to allow them to relocate to inland areas. Though legislators have thus far denied the requests, they still are working to build up their case for the moves. Another issue that is weighing heavily on the state is building a land-based casino that could potentially infringe on the daily routines of locals. Many are worried that having a land-based casino in the area would congest roads, bring in crime and bring in more need for addiction services.