In November, 1992 Missouri voters approved a state-wide referendum to allow riverboat gambling. That made Missouri the fifth state to approve this form of gambling.

There is no limit to the number of licenses that may be issued by the state's gaming commission and all boats remain dockside. Since the boats are not required to cruise, almost all casinos are built on a barge which gives them the appearance of a land-based building, rather than a riverboat.

When Missouri's riverboat casinos first began operating they were required to cruise and they  all conducted two-hour gaming sessions with a $500 loss-limit on each session. In early 2000 the law was changed to allow continuous boardings and cruising was no longer required.  However, the state's loss limit provision is still in force and you are not allowed to lose more than $500 within a two-hour period. All casinos base that two-hour period beginning on even hour times: 12-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12.

When you first enter a casino you must present an ID to receive a slot club card which will be used to track your chip and/or slot token purchases. Once you have purchased $500 worth of chips or tokens you will not be able to buy anymore until the beginning of the next even hour. There is no limit on winnings.

Admission is free to all Missouri  casinos except for the President and Aztar. However, if you're a rated player from another casino you may get free admission to those casinos. Call ahead to ask them about their requirements.

Unlike dockside gaming in Mississippi, most Missouri casinos are not open 24 hours and the hours of operation are listed for each casino.

Here's information from the Missouri Gaming Commission regarding the payback percentages for each casino's electronic machines for the 12-month period from June 1, 2008 through May 31, 2004:

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines including slot machines, video poker, video keno, etc. As you can see, Argosy Casino returned the most to its slot machine players, while Casino Aztar returned the least.

Unless otherwise noted, all casinos offer: slots, video poker, craps, blackjack, roulette and Caribbean stud poker. Optional games include: baccarat (B), mini-baccarat (MB), poker (P), pai gow poker (PGP), let it ride (LIR), Spanish 21 (S21) and three-card poker (TCP). If you want to order a drink while playing, be aware that Missouri gaming regulations do not allow casinos to provide free alcoholic beverages. The minimum gambling age is 21.

NOTE: If you happen to win a jackpot of $1,200 or more in Missouri, the casino will withhold 4% of your winnings for the Missouri Department of Revenue. If you want to try and get that money refunded, you will be required to file a state income tax return and, depending on the details of your return, you may get some of the money returned to you. The $1,200 threshold would also apply to any cash prizes won in casino drawings or tournaments.

For more information on visiting Missouri call the state's Travel Center at (800) 877-1234 or go to: www.visitmo.com

Boonville Casinos
Map: #5 (100 miles E. of Kansas City)

Isle of Capri Casino - Boonville
100 Isle of Capri Boulevard
Boonville, Missouri 65233
(660) 882-1200
Website: www.isleofcapricasino.com

Toll-Free Number:  (800) 843-4753
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: B-$6.99/$10.99 (Sun)  L-$8.99  
D-$11.99/$14.99(Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat)
Hours: 8am-5am/24 hours (Fri-Sat)
Valet Parking: Free
Casino Size: 28,000 Square Feet
Other Games: S21, LIR, TCP, No CSP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: Various on Tue/Thu if 50+
Special Features: 600-passenger barge on the Missouri River.

Caruthersville Casinos
Map: #4 (200 miles S. of St. Louis)

Casino Aztar
777 East Third Street
Caruthersville, Missouri 63830
(573) 333-6000
Website: www.casinoaztarmo.com

Toll-Free Number (800) 679-4945
Restaurants: 1
Buffets: D-$9.99 (Fri-Sat)
Hours: 10am-2am/4am (Fri/Sat)
Admission: $3     Valet Parking: $2
Senior Discount: Free admission/valet if 55+
Casino Size: 20,800 Square Feet
Other Games: LIR, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free (must check first with security department)/RV Dump: No
Special Features: 875-passenger sternwheeler  on the Mississippi River. 27-space RV park.Gift shop.

Kansas City Casinos
Map: #1

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City
3200 North Ameristar Drive
Kansas City, Missouri 64161
(816) 414-7000
Website: www.ameristarcasinos.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 499-4961
Rooms: 142  Price Range: $79-$219
Suites: 42  Price Range: $99-$349
Restaurants: 14 (1 open 24 hours)
Buffets: L-$8.99/$12.99 (Sat/Sun)  D-$15.99(Sat)/$19.99 (Thu)
D-$12.99 (Sun/Mon)/$17.99 (Tue/Wed/Fri)
Hours: 8am-5am/24hrs (Fri/Sat)
Valet Parking: $5
Casino Size: 140,000 Square Feet
Other Games: MB, P, PGP, LIR, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Special Features: 4,000-passenger barge adjacent to the Missouri River. 41-screen Sports Pub. 18 theater movie complex. Burger King. $2 buffet discount for slot club members.

Argosy Casino
777 N.W. Argosy Parkway
Riverside, Missouri 64150
(816) 746-3100
Website: www.argosycasinos.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 270-7711
Restaurants: 5
Buffets: B-$6.99  L-$8.99 
D-$12.99/$17.99 (Fri/Sat)/$18.99 (Wed-Thu)
Hours: 8am-5am/24 hours (Fri/Sat)
Valet Parking: $4
Casino Size: 62,000 Square Feet
Other Games: S21, MB, PGP, LIR, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Special Features: 4,600-passenger single-deck Mediterranean-themed barge adjacent to the Missouri River.

Harrah's North Kansas City
One Riverboat Drive
N. Kansas City, Missouri 64116
(816) 472-7777
Website: www.harrahs.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) HARRAHS
Rooms: 200  Price Range: $99-$150
Suites: 15  Price Range: $139-$190
Restaurants: 5
Buffets: B-$7.99  L-$8.99/$12.99 (Sat/Sun)
D-$12.99/$15.99 (Thu/Sun)  D-$17.99 (Wed/Fri/Sat)
Hours: 8am-5am/24 hours (Fri/Sat)
Casino Size: 60,100 Square Feet
Valet Parking: $5
Other Games: S21, MB, LIR, PGP, TCP
Senior Discount: Various if 50 or older
Special Features: 1,700-passenger two-deck barge adjacent to the Missouri River. $2 buffet discount with Harrah's card.

Isle of Capri Casino - Kansas City
1800 E. Front Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64120
(816) 855-7777
Website: www.isleofcapricasino.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 843-4753
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: B-$5.95  L-$8.95/$11.95 (Sun)  D-$13.95/$15.95 (Fri/Sat)
Hours: 8am-5am/24 hours (Fri/Sat)
Valet Parking: Free
Casino Size: 30,000 Square Feet
Other Games: LIR, PGP, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: Various on Thu if 50+
Special Features: 2,000-passenger two-deck Caribbean-themed barge docked in a man-made lake fed by the Missouri River.

La Grange Casinos
Map: #6 (150 miles N.W. of St. Louis)

Mark Twain Casino
104 Pierce Street
La Grange, Missouri 63348
(573) 655-4770
Website: www.casinomarktwain.com

Toll-Free Number: (866) 454-5825
Restaurants: 2
Hours: 8am-2am/4am (Fri/Sat)
Casino Size: 18,000 Square Feet
Other Games: TCP, No CSP
Overnight RV Parking: Must use RV park
Senior Discount: 10% off food Mon-Wed if 55+
Special Features: 600-passenger barge on the Mississippi River. 7-space RV park ($5 per night). Gift shop.

St. Joseph Casinos
Map: #3 (55 miles N. of Kansas City)

St. Jo Frontier Casino
77 Francis Street
St. Joseph, Missouri 64501
(816) 279-5514
Website: www.stjocasino.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 888-2946
Restaurants: 4
Buffets: B-$4.99/$10.95 (Sun)
L-$6.49  D-$12.95
Hours: 8am-2am/4am (Fri/Sat)
Valet Parking: Not Offered
Casino Size: 18,000 Square Feet
Other Games: S21, LIR, TCP, No CSP
Casino Marketing: (800) WIN-STJO
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount:  2-for-1 breakfast Tue if 55+
Special Features: 1,146-passenger  paddlewheel boat adjacent to the Missouri River. Gift shop.

St. Louis Casinos
Map: #2

In addition to the three St. Louis-area casinos shown below, the Casino Queen in E. St. Louis, Illinois is also a nearby casino. It is located  on the other side of the Mississippi river from  downtown St. Louis. Additionally, the Alton Belle in Alton, Illinois is about 25 miles north of St. Louis. Both Illinois casinos are not restricted by the $500 loss limit (per two-hours) that is in effect in Missouri casinos.

Ameristar Casino St. Charles
P.O. Box 720
St. Charles, Missouri 63302
(314) 949-4300
Website: www.ameristarcasinos.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 325-7777
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: L-$8.99/$12.99 (Sat/Sun)
D-$13.99/$16.99 (Tue/Fri/Sat)
Hours: 8am-5am/24hrs (Fri-Sat)
Valet Parking: $5
Casino Size: 130,000 Square Feet
Other Games: MB, LIR, P, PGP, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: Various Sun-Thu 8am-6pm if 55 or older and slot club member
Special Features: 2,000-passenger barge on the Missouri River.

Harrah's St. Louis
777 Casino Center Drive
Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043
(314) 770-8100
Website: www.harrahs.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) HARRAHS
Rooms: 455  Price Range: $69-$169
Suites: 47  Price Range: $169-$299
Restaurants: 6
Buffets: B-$6.99  L-$8.99/$12.99 (Sat/Sun)
D-$13.99/$16.99 (Tue/Thu-Sat)
Hours:
Island: 11am-5am/24 hours (Fri/Sat)
Mardi Gras: 8am-5am/24 hours (Fri/Sat)
Valet Parking: $5 (Free for Diamond + above)
Casino Size: 120,000 Square Feet Total
Other Games: S21, MB, LIR, P, PGP, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: Various Tue/Fri if 50 or older and slot club member
Special Features: Two 3,200-passenger barges  on the Missouri River.

President Casino - St. Louis
800 North First Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102
(314) 622-3000
Website: www.presidentcasino.com

Toll-Free Number: (800) 772-3647
Restaurants: 2
Buffets: L-$8.99  D-$11.99
Hours: 8am-4am/24 hours (Fri/Sat)
Admission: $2 (First-time only)
Parking: Free with casino validation
Valet Parking: $5
Casino Size: 58,000 Square Feet
Other Games: S21, P, PGP, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: Various on Thu if 50 or older
Special Features: 2,500-passenger, art deco riverboat on the Mississippi River near the Gateway Arch. Free shuttle service to and from all downtown hotels. One block from Laclede's Landing Metro Link Light Rail Station.