“I am a river gambler. I make a living dealing cards.” That is the start of Waylon Jennings’ verse, the pioneer of the country music outlaw movement, in the Highwaymen song titled American Remains, one of the super group’s most famous tracks.
Anyone who has watched movies about the Wild West (in the 1800s) or read novels set in this era of American history is likely familiar with riverboat casinos. These vessels featured table games similar to the ones found at many sites whose online casino reviews we highlight.
The establishments were 19th-century mainstays on the Mississippi River, predominantly because of the popularity of steamboats in The Hospitality State at that time. Such ships quickly attained a reputation for efficient state-to-state transportation and as a relaxing means of transport. After their commercial viability became evident, their operators saw an opportunity to enhance their travels’ enjoyment by supplying gambling fun, hinging on the argument that gamblers could not get classified as being in a specific state while steaming down a river mid-transit. So, real money casino gaming became an option on riverboats.
