Illinois is home to riverboat casinos, and there are 10 major casinos in
Illinois. Illinois casinos have been limited by the government's
restrictions and are taxed at the highest rate in the nation. The laws
also limit the amount of gaming licenses that can be issued to 10, and
the state is now at the maximum for gaming licenses. Illinois casinos
do, however, offer a wide range of gaming options.
Illinois was the 5th state admitted to the union on December 3, 1818.
It covers an area of 57,918 square miles. It is a Great Lakes state,
and is nicknamed the "Prairie State". The population, as reported in
December 2000, is 12,419,293 and it is the 5th most populated state in
the U.S. With the introduction of the Alton Belle, Illinois became only
the second state to allow riverboat casinos.
All of the casinos offer great gaming from slots to blackjack to roulette and welcome all guests over the age of 21.
Argosy's Alton Belle Casino was the first riverboat casino in Illinois,
opening its doors in 1991. It is located at 1 Front Street in Alton.
There are three restaurants available for guests. The casino occupies
23,000 square feet and operates from 9am to 5pm every day. It features a
1,200-passenger yacht and a barge.
Argosy's Empress Casino is located at 2300 Empress Drive in Joliet.
There are 85 rooms and 17 suites available at the casino hotel. The
casino operates from 10am to 4am on Friday and from 10am to 4am on
Saturday. There are three restaurants on site. The casino occupies
50,000 square feet, and has special features like an 80-space RV park
and 2,500-passenger barge.
Casino Queen is located in East Saint Louis at 200 S. Front Street.
There are 150 rooms and 7 suites available at the casino as well. The
casino operates from 9am to 7am daily. It occupies 27,500 square feet
and offers many features. Besides gaming, Casino Queen offers a
2,500-passenger paddle wheeler, a 140-space RV park and easy access to
MetroLink light-rail station.
These are only three of the ten Illinois casinos. They all offer
special features that are worth taking a look at, like paddleboats and
barges. Most casinos also offer great dining on site. Illinois casinos
offer much more than gambling - they offer a great vacation experience.
