Floating Casinos Moving Into Industry Mainstream

Once confined to the backwaters of the gaming industry, floating casinos are moving into the mainstream as major gambling operators seek to tap a fast-growing niche market.

A major sign that the age of floating casinos has arrived is the Caesars' new Glory of Rome, which is billed as the world's biggest gaming vessel. The 19th century-style vessel, located in Harrison County, Indiana just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Ky., is more than 400 feet long and has 93,000 square feet of casino space.

Escalators and elevators transport guests among the ship's four decks housing seven casinos based around such themes as music, movies and sports. With its 140 gaming tables and more than 2,800 slot machines on board, the Glory of Rome is a true casino in every sense of the word.

"The Glory of Rome is a defining moment in the history of the gaming industry," said Michael Walsh, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Caesars Indiana. "Our vessel is the first to transcend the land-based gaming experience in the riverboat market niche."

The massive ship is the starting point of the $275 million Caesars Indiana Casino/Hotel Resort, which will include a 500-bay hotel, a championship golf course and a 170,000-square-foot pavilion with roughly 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

"We are center stage to some 16 million people who live within a 200-mile radius," Walsh said. "Having a franchise location like this combined with the destination element is the kind of entity that gaming operators need to ensure their future success."

In established destinations such as Kansas City, St. Louis and Miami, riverboats and sea-going day trips are providing another amenity that keep attendees happily occupied the day's sessions.

That certainly doesn't mean they are the deciding factor, particularly for city-wide events, noted Bill Bohde, vice president of convention and trade sales for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"Planners tell us that casinos are a nice amenity, but they aren't booking St. Louis on account of riverboat gaming," Bohde said. "Casinos do, however, add to our ability to bring business back. There also is a segment of the market that likes gaming destinations."

St. Louis' biggest gaming draw is Casino Center, 20 minutes west of downtown, with a total of 60,000 square feet of casino space split between Harrah's Casino and Hotel and the Players Island casino. Harrah's also has facilities for small groups with a 291-room hotel, ballroom and special events center.

For groups wanting to stay within the confines of downtown there's the President Casino on the Admiral, which has five casino