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Missouri
General Note: This table is a quick reference, look at the footnotes, and read the report for more detailed information.
Footnotes (U1) Unofficially - from experience. Either I've parked there or a reader has, but we're not sure if it's officially allowed (U2) Unofficially - no reports from readers - we've just heard that it's OK ? Unknown
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Missouri Casino Camper Reports
Our friends Rick & Lucky Lucy report: "Proposition A passed during the recent election which lifts the $500 loss limit in Missouri casinos. Customers are longer required to have a slot card to enter a casino, just walk in anytime. The casinos are now open and accessible like most all other casinos in the US."
The Modern History of Gambling in Missouri by Rick & Lucky Lucy The history of gambling in Missouri is convoluted at best. The "do-gooders" have fought gambling in the state from the start -- still are -- and have saddled the industry with a myriad of rules and regulations, most of which don't make sense. The first gambling establishments could only be river boats that physically sailed on the rivers (Missouri or Mississippi). The river excursions were two hours in duration and each patron had to purchase a ticket. Only games of skill were offered -- VP for machines and black jack for table games. Each customer could only buy in for $500 each sailing -- must purchase tokens, no real money could be used for gambling. When the state realized they did not have rescue equipment to evacuate a boat in trouble, a real possibility on either of these two rivers, they lifted the sailing requirement. But the two hour "sailing" along with boarding times and $500 loss limit remained. The casinos quickly got rid of the boats and built "boat in a moat" -- land based barges near the rivers that rival many Las Vegas casinos. Station Kansas City (now Ameristar) built two barge casinos, mirror images of each other. One boarded at even hours and the other boarded at odd hours. Their patrons could now arrive any time and only have a short wait to enter one or the other casino. Over the years the restrictions have been gradually lifted and slots and other games of chance are now available. No more boarding restrictions, just walk in any time. However, the $500 loss limit "per 2-hour sailing" remains in effect. Sophisticated computer programs have taken over tracking player buy-ins, tokens have given way to coinless ticket machines which now accept real money. Tracking players' buy-in is done through a player's card -- everyone must have one to enter the casino. The players must insert the card into a machine (or present to the dealer at a table game) before they can insert money. Computers track how much money is used per account and when $500 is reached it will not accept any more until the next two hour "sailing". Using two cards won't work. As each patron enters the casino his/her card is swiped and coded to allow that account to gamble. Once credits are established (buy-in), the gambler does not have to use the card and may remove it from the machine. Efforts continue to lift the $500 restriction.
- Official, from Public Relations at Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., May 2008 RVs are welcome to park overnight, free of charge, in our
west parking lot.
- Official, from Public Relations at Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., May 2008
We offer 27 spaces for RV parking with full
hook-ups and 24 hour security; $20 per night with discounts available for
Good Sams Club members.
Laundry and shower area open 24 hours. Open year round; picnic grove and
pavilion; casino within walking distance. Reservations can be made by
calling (800) 679-4945 between the hours of 12 p.m. and 10 p.m. -report from John & Joie, October 2008 Very nice RV park with helpful and friendly staff. The casino (now called Lady Luck) is a river boat, so the size of the gambling area is limited. The river boat has a snack area, and there is a buffet up on the mainland (entrance.) Not much going on in the town of Caruthersville right now. It appears to have suffered from the river flooding so gambling is pretty much what you'll be doing. All in all, a very nice place to stay and play. They have a small laundry area next to the RV park which makes it handy to get things back in order to hit the road again. No pool or hot tub. The below posts pretty much tell the story, but here are a few pictures of Lady Luck RV Park and Casino.
- report from Wendy L., July 2007
27 nice, concrete sites with full hookups including cable TV (Direct TV) and free WiFi. $20 minus 10% Good Sam discount - $2 if you have a frequent players card (get it before you register with the campground) + tax.
Good view of Mississippi River, nice nature trail with interpretive signs, good dog walking areas, free drink coupons with campground registration.
Kansas City
- from Rick and Lucky Lucy, August, 2007 Although we live in the area, we have overnight parked at Ameristar on several occasions. We don't like to drive freeways at night so when we have some special program to attend -- drawing, shows, fireworks, etc. -- we take our motorhome and spend the night.
Ameristar has acres of parking lots plus a 4-story parking garage so plenty of parking space. They ask campers and trucks to park in one lot near the front entrance. You can't miss it, there are always semi trucks parked there and usually some campers. It is a pretty good hike to the casino and no shuttle service is provided. The lot is large enough campers can usually get away from the noise of the trucks.
Our motorhome is small so we normally park in a regular car parking lot closer to the casino then move to the big lot for overnight parking. Sometimes we have a note on our windshield when we come out of the casino telling us where we should park but nothing more serious (or threatening).
La Grange
-Report from Bruce and Michelle, November 2007 If you have a rig that drags the rear on steep grades and are coming in from the north take the second La Grange exit which is B road or business 61 rather than the north one which is C road. There is a very steep transition in the center of town. The casino is on the south edge of town. The park is located one block north of the casino and is on the west side of the highway. There is a large parking lot across the highway to the east of the casino. It was easy to pull into this large lot and walk across to the casino to register. Some of the pads have a rather steep grade to back onto, but are level from there. Lots 1 through 4 are not so steep. Number 2 has a reasonable transition and has fairly good concrete. The water outlet for the even number pads is on the passenger side and toward the front so a longer hose may be required. The pads have full hookups including 50 amp electric. We had one train at 4 A.M. The steaks and prime rib were good and the price is certainly fair.
-Report from Steve and Joy, October 2007 We stayed there last night. They have 8 full hookup sites about 1 block from the casino. About half of the sites have very nice concrete pads and the others are a little beat up (cracked, etc.). They are adjoined to an abandoned "trailer camp" that is for sale. The casino charges $5 a night plus $20 deposit returnable in the morning. The deposit covers the keys to open the water and electric hookups.
We thought the scenery would be nice since it's on the Mississippi river. Only problem was all the freight train traffic between the river and the casino. Also, the river front is quite industrial. The town only has around 900 people. After 10pm everything was very quiet. The trains didn't start up again until morning.
The casino was nice. We each got a free t-shirt for signing up and getting a player's card (free). They had the usual slots and table stuff. The restaurant was very good. There was a $7.99 lunch buffet with prime rib, clams and port loin. All the employees were very friendly and called us by our first names as we entered the casino.
St. Louis
Directions: Easy access from I-70 and I-270. Take I-70 exit 231, go South on Earth City Expressway and follow the signs. (We found it funny that "Earth City" is a land fill - LOL) About one mile from I-70 take a right on Casino Center Drive. There's a big sign overhead that says "Casino Only" so you can't miss it. You'll see the Harrah's complex ahead and notice RV's and trucks parked to the left. Get in the Left lane. There's a rotary (traffic circle, roundabout) and you'll enter it briefly. The route towards the RV parking lot will be obvious. -CasinoCamper
- report from Steve B., October 3, 2008 Harrahs St. Louis--we stayed there 1 night, October 3, 2008 on our way from Michigan to Branson, lots of parking and security, NO lines at casino for player cards, walked around casino, had some ice cream, very clean, nice and enjoyable. Will surely do again if travelling that way.
- report from reader Eric P., October 28. 2006 We stayed one night. There was no "free lunch/dinner" as previously reported. They had ended that promotion and were giving new members another promotion (too complicated to explain). Lots of eating choices in the casino. The signs directing you to the casino were abundant and easy to follow. Fully paved, level parking lot with lots of room. Lots of security. The price was right: $0
RV Parking Area - Harrah's St. Louis, MO
Casino Camper Review - Saturday, April 29, 2006 We stayed only one night. We were planning to drive on, but winds were high and gusty 20 to 35 mph and rain was forecast, so we had a convenient excuse to visit the casino.
We arrived around 3:00 PM on a Saturday and stood in line at least 30 minutes to get the required Total Rewards card (added Nov. 2008 -- having a card was a requirement in 2006, see the "History of Gambling in Missouri" if you want to know more). We also received a free buffet for 2 because it was our first visit to this property. Remember, ask for those comps! (Note that the 2 free buffets promo has ended based on report from reader Eric P. who visited Oct 28 2006)
RV Parking: Nice large lot for RV, bus, and truck parking. Fairly level, good lighting, security patrolled. It was previously a valet parking lot. Spots are marked and numbered for cars, so everyone parks across 2 spaces plus one Isle, so be careful how you park so you don't get blocked in.
Video Poker: We quickly found a bank of a dozen upright TITO machines with signage announcing various payback percentages of 99% to 99.6%. It was crowded, but there was one 8/5 Bonus Poker machine and Chris started playing. I had to go back to the RV to work on my "day job" but first I quickly walked around the casino to see what other games were available. To my disappointment (but not surprise -- after all this IS Harrah's) the 12 machines near the entrance seem to be the only "full pay" video poker in the whole place. I found lots of 6/5 BP, 8/5 JOB, 9/5 DB, and a lot of other short-pay.
Other Games: I checked out the poker room. Very nice. They were spreading Hold'em in $1/$2, $3/$6, $5/$10, $10/20 limit, and a couple of NL games. I would have played, but didn't have time today. Also glanced at the Crap tables. There was one $10 table with 2x odds, and one $5 table with 10x odds.
Food: We had the Buffet and it was very good. Attractive decor, lots of variety in the food, Italian, steak, seafood, Asian, etc. Everything at appropriate temperatures (hot food hot, cold food cold). Very nice dessert section, although Chris was disappointed with the Sugar Free banana cream pie "the texture was wrong" she said. Otherwise we were very pleased with the meal. Of course, we'd never paid full price for it, but it was a great comp -- 4 stars out of 5.
Report from Deb B. November 2007 We stayed at Bordertown Casino in Nov 2007. It is on the Oklahoma side of town of Seneca, MO. They have RV parking in a lot across the street from the front of the Casino. Registration is inside Casino. First night is $15 then next two nights are free. The fourth night is higher and there is a limit but I don't recall the amount of time but thinking a week but may be two. We also received a buy one get one free meal for the restaurant. We redeemed this at the evening buffet and it was terrible. Thinking they couldn't ruin a breakfast buffet, we went back on in the morning only to be proofed wrong. They did have menu's but we never ordered off menu. This is back-in FHU. Hook ups are in a strip down the center and units back up to them on both sides. The dump was too far back for us to hook up after we were parked without a lot of sewer hose. They did have very good shuttle service from door of unit but it wouldn't have been a long walk. The casino it's self was very busy and they had a large Bingo hall. |
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