riverboat casino jacksonville fl

Jacksonville Casino Cruise

The Jacks or Better Casino Boat offers casino cruises from Jacksonville. It leaves from historic Mayport on day cruises.

Games available on casino cruises include 181 slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and more. There's a sports book too. Food and drinks are available onboard. Enjoy separate smoking and non-smoking decks.

There is also a casino on Carnival cruises from Jacksonville . Their short cruises out of this port are affordable and gambling is a popular activity on the ship.

• 321.441.3030
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• 433 N. Palmetto Ave. Sanford, Florida 32771

St. Johns Rivership Co.

See the Real Florida!

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Weekly Schedule

Three and four-hour sternwheeler cruises

River Visit Luncheon Cruise : Wednesday, 11am ‐ 2 pm

River Escape Luncheon Cruise : Thursday, 11am ‐ 3pm

“Rockin’ on the River” : Friday: 6:30pm ‐ 9:30 pm

River Visit Luncheon Cruise : Saturday, 11am ‐ 2pm

Saturday Dinner on the River : Saturday, 5:00pm ‐ 8:00pm **NEW TIME IN 2024!!!**

River Visit Luncheon Cruise : Sunday, 12pm ‐ 3pm

Additional special events booked throughout the year!

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More than a cruise.

Family-owned and operated, the St. Johns Rivership Co. is the latest in a long line of sternwheelers that have been serving and sailing the St. Johns River for centuries.

The Barbara-lee

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RiverCityJville

River City Jacksonville

River cruises.

Embark on a journey of tranquility and scenic splendor with River City Jville’s River Cruises page. Discover the allure of Jacksonville’s waterways through our curated articles, each unveiling the enchanting experiences aboard various river cruises.

From sunset sails to informative tours, our page is your portal to the diverse world of nautical adventures that unfold along the banks of River City.

Join us in celebrating the charm and serenity of Jacksonville’s waterborne escapades. Let River City Jville be your guide to selecting the perfect river cruise, as we navigate the currents of relaxation, exploration, and breathtaking views that make each journey along the waterways a memorable experience.

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Florida Casino Boats You Must Gamble At

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Gambling ships in Florida have been a fixture of the gambling scene since the 1990s. As gambling laws prohibit land-based casinos aside from on tribal grounds, a Florida casino cruise makes sense for many gamblers.

Despite the popularity of casino cruises, Florida casino sites cater to a similar audience with a keen interest in high-quality gambling. While the thrill of winning big on a casino cruise in Florida is difficult to beat, there are steps you can take for a similar experience at home.

Are Casino Boats Legal in Florida?

According to Florida Gaming, gambling on ships in Florida is prohibited while the boat is in state waters. However, when the boat is outside of Florida’s jurisdiction and in international waters, the law does not apply 1 .

In short, Florida casino cruise companies do not allow customers to gamble before the vessel has exited state territory. Fortunately, the trip beyond Florida’s jurisdiction only takes a few nautical miles.

It’s a simple, yet effective way to workaround Florida’s gambling laws.

Tropical Breeze Casino

• Address : 7917 Bayview St, Port Richey, FL 34668
• Phone Number : (727) 848-3423
• Official Website

For a personalized and intimate experience, we suggest checking out the Tropical Breeze Casino. Sailing out of Port Richey, FL, this Florida casino cruise operates five days per week. The small gambling cruise boat does not sail on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Despite its small footprint, Tropical Breeze Casino has a lot to offer gamblers. With over 100 real money slots and video poker machines to choose from, there are enough games for everyone to play at Tropical Breeze Casino.

This quaint casino offers a variety of table games including:

• Let It Ride

Guests of the Tropical Breeze Casino can also dine on the ship. Food choices include hot and cold sandwiches, appetizers, and more.

Sailing on the Tropical Breeze Casino gets even better if you are with a group. This Florida casino boat offers discounts to groups of 15 or more. You will also be able to enjoy special discounts and amenities, including priority boarding.

Tropical Breeze Casino is also home to regular promotions and giveaways. Every sailing day typically has a special promotion to scoop up at Tropical Breeze Casino.

Tropical Breeze Casino Online Alternative – Wild Casino

Wild Casino builds on the Florida casino cruise experience and turns it up several notches. If you cannot make it to Port Richey and you still want to play casino games, give this highly-rated online casino a try next time.

Offering over 430 games based in a jungle-themed online casino, there is no shortage of gaming options to get gamblers busy. In addition to over 300 online slots , Wild Casino specializes in table casino gaming.

Currently, you can play up to 20 variations of online blackjack games at Wild Casino!

Tropical Breeze Casino is well-known for its action-packed calendar of promotions. Wild Casino has a similar blueprint, with daily giveaways and free tournaments.

Get started at Wild Casino with an exclusive match bonus of up to $5,000 in free play. Additionally, new deposits are eligible for up to 125 free spins on a minimum deposit of just $75.

Holland America Line

• Address : 2200 Eller Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
• Phone Number : +1 (877) 932-4259

If you are seeking a more traditional multi-day cruise line experience with a full list of amenities, Holland America Line is one of our top picks for gambling ships in Florida.

This cruise line has regularly scheduled trips that depart from Fort Lauderdale, FL, year-round. Your gaming options, trip length, and destination will vary depending on which cruise you book.

Regardless of your preference, we guarantee that the casinos on board offer great gambling games for everyone:

• Craps (Varies)
• Paradise Lotto

Our favorite feature of the Holland America Line casino is their poker and bingo games. Unavailable on many of the other Florida casino cruise boats, you can play Texas Hold’em and bingo cards on Holland America Line ships.

Dining options and other onboard amenities will also vary depending on which ship you travel on. Restaurants include casual to fine dining. All the casino boats on this Florida cruise liner have awesome suites and staterooms available to rest your head.

Holland America Line Online Alternative – Bovada

If you want the Holland America Line casino experience at home, you will need to play at an online betting site with real money bingo and real money poker games.

In addition to Bovada’s more than 300 traditional casino games like slots and table games, the poker room is always active with lucrative daily tournaments and cash games.

Furthermore, Bovada has seven bingo games to dive into for big cash rewards. Among traditional bingo, they offer specialty titles including Bingo Goal!, Go-Go Bingo, and Pesca Bingo.

Holland America Line offers comps and casino free play to certain gamblers who reach a certain threshold. At Bovada, you can play all the games in demo mode and grab a generous casino bonus just for signing up.

Currently, Bovada is offering new customers a whopping 100% match bonus of up to $3000. For cryptocurrency deposits, earn $1,250 in free credits on your first three deposits for a total of $3,750 in bonus cash!

Victory Casino Cruise

• Address : 180 Christopher Columbus Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
• Phone Numbe r: (855) 468-4286

The Victory Casino Cruise is a great option for gamblers seeking a more personalized gaming experience, similar to the Tropical Breeze Casino. There are two cruises conveniently scheduled per day for departures in the morning and evening.

This casino cruise departs from Cape Canaveral and sails out to the Atlantic Ocean daily. Victory Casino Cruise operates one of the largest selections of casino games that you will find on any cruise in the Sunshine State.

In addition to popular casino games such as slots and blackjack, the Victory Casino Cruise has a variety of fan favorites:

• EZ Baccarat
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• Mississippi Stud
• Three Card Poker
• Sports Betting

Despite the absence of sports betting on many other Florida casino cruises, the Victory Casino Cruise has a full-service sportsbook onboard! Bet on your favorite teams while cruising around the Atlantic Ocean.

Victory Casino Cruise Online Alternative – BetUS

For the best Victory Casino Cruise experience in the palm of your hand, we recommend checking out sites that include online sportsbooks . Also, you will want a betting site that provides a wide range of casino games.

At BetUS , you can get the best of both sides of the coin. With a five-star sportsbook and casino, you can play all your favorite games from the Victory Casino Cruise online at BetUS. What’s more, BetUS provides bettors with a wide selection of superior sports betting odds.

Through the Victory Card loyalty program, you get access to a variety of free goodies and rewards aboard the Victory Casino Cruise. Additionally, new weekly giveaways are added to the calendar regularly.

The only requirement to gain access to free bonuses at BetUS is to register for an account and make a deposit. For a limited time, BetUS is serving up huge deposit bonuses in the online sportsbook and casino.

The sports betting bonus includes a 100% match bonus of up to $2,500 on your first three deposits. As an extra, BetUS will give all new customers a 25% casino bonus of up to $625. If you prefer casino gaming, choose the 200% casino match bonus for up to $5,000 of free play!

Carnival Cruise Casino

• Address : Multiple
• Phone Numbe r: 1-(800) 764-7419

As with the Holland America Line cruises, Carnival Cruise offers long excursions rather than day trips outside of Florida’s jurisdiction. The Carnival Cruise Casino has the most well-known gambling ships in Florida.

Since 1972, Carnival Cruise has been a mainstay of the Florida cruise industry. Dedicated to offering world-class entertainment, an exhilarating casino is included on most of their cruise ships.

Carnival Cruises depart from multiple cities in the Sunshine State, including Miami, Port Canaveral, and Tampa.

The casinos available on Carnival boats offer a diverse selection of games, such as:

Additionally, daily slot tournaments are common while setting sail on a Carnival Cruise. Through the Carnival Players Club, gamblers can start earning points to receive great benefits and comps.

There are a variety of cruise lengths, ranging from two days to over 10 days. Guests can enjoy a great selection of non-gambling amenities as well, including great restaurants and live entertainment .

Carnival Cruise Casino Online Alternative – DuckyLuck

While you are waiting for your Carnival Cruise, get started online with safe online casino games at DuckyLuck .

If you want the real in-person experience without setting foot on a Florida casino cruise, then play live dealer tables to win big in the virtual casino at DuckyLuck. As well as live blackjack, DuckyLuck has exciting tables with roulette , baccarat , and more.

Climb up the ranks from Lucky Duckling, Minted Mallard, Swanky Swan, and to the exclusive invite-only Golden Goose Club while earning daily free spins, cashback, and comp points in the DuckyBucks Rewards program.

Every new customer at DuckyLucky is eligible to claim a 500% match bonus of up to $2,500. Register today to get 150 free slot spins included in your bonus offer!

Which Florida Casino Boats Will You Gamble At?

Florida is home to some of the best gambling ships in the world. With each boat accommodating a variety of different tastes, there isn’t a wrong choice from our recommendations. Discover what suits your needs and then hit the open sea for exciting gambling action!

In the meantime, you can prepare for your casino cruise in Florida by playing on our top casino apps and betting sites.

1 Frequently Asked Questions | Florida Gaming. Retrieved From “https://flgaming.gov/faq/”

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‘Big Easy’ Riverboat Casino

First acquired in 2004 by the now-defunct Palm Beach Casino Line, the “Big Easy” was sent to Jacksonville for a $12 million facelift. The 238-foot New Orleans-themed ship was painted with hues of purple and green and featured a 30,000 square-foot casino with 23 gaming tables.

Not long after leaving dry-dock in April 2005, it was delayed for months, waiting for the Coast Guard to approve its modifications. By the time the vessel was cleared to sail, Hurricane Wilma was bearing down on South Florida, causing further delays and financial problems for the owners. At the start of the 2006 hurricane season, the Port of Palm Beach forced the ship to vacate as a precautionary measure.

Arriving at the Port of St. Petersburg, city officials said it was only a temporary stop for ship. Soon after it’s arrival though, the owners filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The “Big Easy” remained at port until November 2009, city officials and the ship’s owner claimed the ship would soon depart. Soon after that announcement, the Palm Beach Casino Line filed again for Chapter 11, indicating continuing financial troubles. At this point, the ship wasn’t going anywhere and with port space paid until June 2010, the Palm Beach Casino Line was cutting it short on time.

In April 2010, the cruise line’s single ship, the Palm Beach Princess, was ordered to vacate the Port of Palm Beach by a federal bankruptcy judge. With a crew of 19 and with the help of three tugboats, the Princess was pushed out to sea.

In July 2010, the “Big Easy” was moved from St. Petersburg to a dry dock in Tampa. At the time, the plan was to renovate the ship into a functioning casino ship. The ship had a temporary purpose; to generate revenue to build a hotel and casino, making the whole operation land-based. Even though the vessel underwent a $40 million renovation, the ship remained dry docked. As of 2012, to recoup the costs of renovating it, the “Big Easy” has been demolished to be sold as scrap metal.

UPDATE(10/11/2013) : The only remaining evidence of the gambling ship “The Big Easy”. Hendry Corporation removed the top canopy and placed it on the ground to create a roof for their welding operations. As you can see, they attached it to containers and made them storage, tool shed, and snack bar areas. It is interesting that they left the sign, “The Quarter” and many of the speaker and light connections in the rigging. It is not easy to see this since you have to have a port pass to get past the 24 hour guard.

The canopy has been set up on the slab (footprint) of the old and demolished Hookers Point Power Plant.

On the ship the stage was nearly directly behind the sign. A huge bar was in the foreground, which would be just in front of the forklift. When I toured the boat, before they demolished it, behind the backdrop of the stage were a line of queen sized beds that had draw curtains around each one. Wonder what the show girls used those for? – Mike Woodfin

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David Bulit is a photographer, author, and historian from Miami, Florida. He has published a number of books on abandoned and forgotten locales throughout the United States and continues to advocate for preserving these historic landmarks. His work has been featured throughout the world in news outlets such as the Miami New Times, the Florida Times-Union, the Orlando Sentinel, NPR, Yahoo News, MSN, the Daily Mail, UK Sun, and many others. You can find more of his work at davidbulit.com as well as amazon.com/author/davidbulit.

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Victory Casino Cruises

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Multimillion-dollar casino proposal could come to Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Las Vegas Sands, a casino company in Nevada, poured $17 million into a Jacksonville-based political committee.

Florida Voters in Charge has submitted two pitches for the ballot on casino development.

TRENDING: Appeals court overturns sentence for ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic

Jacksonville fits the bill for both propositions, but Las Vegas Sands stated it did not have any specifics to share at this time.

The first proposed initiative would allow for a casino at existing cardroom license holders, such as bestbet. They would be allowed to offer full casino games, including roulette, craps, and card games.

Under the initiative, the development would have to be at least 130 miles away from tribal land in South Florida. Developers would also have to spend at least $250 million on the casino.

Action News Jax reached out to bestbet for a statement. We will update this article when we hear back.

The second proposition would allow up to three new casino permits or locations at least 100 miles from tribal land. Developers would have to spend at least $500 million on the casino.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has control of gambling across the state, including at its seven casinos in South Florida.

In a statement to Action News Jax, a representative for Florida Voters in Charge said, “This 100-mile radius provision is very important because staying outside of the 100-mile plus radius does not impact the revenue-sharing agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.”

STORY: New documents unveil dark details into accused teenage killer Aiden Fucci

The political committee confirmed both amendments will include an area anywhere from Pensacola to Jacksonville.

Both proposals have been submitted for approval from the secretary of state. If a proposal is approved, it will move on to the signature-gathering process to be placed on the ballot.

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