The second deck features laser-etched glass panels on the walls with Las Vegas scenes. In Iowa, bands, movie stars, and fireworks welcomed riverboat gambling to the Midwest in April.įifty-seven other slots are spaced through the two other casino decks, among the table games.
He predicted the Alton Belle would bring $3.5 million a year in taxes and tourist spending while creating 537 jobs.įive riverboats are currently operating in Iowa on the Mississippi between Ft. now believes it will generate important revenue for the city. Once an opponent of riverboat gambling, Alton Mayor Ed Voumerd Jr. But John Reichert, the Alton Belle`s marketing director, said customers also would be brought in from the Chicago area by bus, train and plane. Louis area, a 20-minute drive from Alton. Most of the gamblers for the Alton Belle are expected to come from the St. Wisconsin legislators also are considering permitting gambling on Lake Michigan.
Licenses have been awarded for the Des Plaines River in downtown Joliet, a site 3 miles downstream near Channahon, and on the Fox River in Aurora.Ĭasino boat gambling is barred on Lake Michigan, but some state legislators and suburban politicians would like to change that and allow the gaming dollars to flow even farther north. Illinois` second gambling boat is expected to open for business on the Illinois River in Peoria in November.Ī year from now, the state hopes to have three more boats operating in the Chicago area.
