American Notes

In Mark Twain's day, riverboat gambling brought romance and roguery to the Mississippi River. Now Iowans are betting that it will bring tax revenues and jobs. Last week legalized floating casinos returned to the river for the first time in nearly a century. Three ships, the Diamond Lady, the President and the Casino Belle, left from separate Iowa port cities. They were loaded with slot machines, blackjack tables and roulette wheels as well as bettors who pay from $7.95 for a breakfast cruise to $40 for a weekend jaunt.

Iowa lawmakers approved riverboat gambling three years ago in the hope of creating jobs in shoreside communities hurt by the declining fortunes of local farm-equipment manufacturers. The state will get 20% of gross receipts and expects to take in $11 million annually. To head off criticism that the government is tempting people to bet the rent check, state lawmakers put limits of $5 on bets and $200 on any gambler's losses in a single day. Iowa will lose its monopoly on floating crap games this summer, when gambling boats start leaving from the Illinois side of the river.