I remember visiting STL 15 years ago, when there were several restaurants built on barges at the STL riverfront: The Belle Angeline, McDonalds and Burger King. We ate dinner at the Belle, and I recall talking with the manager about the logistics of maintaining the floating restaurant. Dealing with sewage emission, inadequate parking, electrical feeds, high water, floating debris are just among the problems that the Belle, McDonalds and B.King dealt with, along with all the otherwise known restaurant-related operational issues.

The “landmark” status of the President is probably no longer an issue, since the boat facade barely resembles the original. I can’t imagine the boat has much of a future as a casino. And since we St. Louisans apparently do not support the President’s casino business (ie more than lip service based on sentimental feelings), we shouldn’t take offense if the boat is moved down-river.

The best hope for the President is to find a way to move it southward.

I don’t think that there are too many casinos I haven’t been in around the area. The President, or Admiral as I continue to call it is perhaps the dirtiest of them all. The only casino that I have ever had trouble in was the Admiral. I have only been there about 4 times that I can remember and once someone tried to get me to give them some money I had won on the way to my car. Once my car was broken into and stole some things out of the glove box. Needless to say I never went back. The boat is no longer a landmark due to that fact that it is in no way resembles the St. Louis tradition that it was. I think it was purchased by Pinnacle to close it anyway. It will end up in the bone yard. After my experience on the riverfront I stay out of that part of town for entertainment. Have not been to the new casino and probably won’t.

I remember the Admiral in its heyday.
It was a great boat and if it had been respected it still would be.

It would have been great as a casino that actually moved, but it was allowed to deterioate long before then. I agree it’s hard to see its original condition these days. I haven’t been to it in few years since it was moved north of the Eads. Haven’t been to the Lumiere and it sounds way to expensive since I don’t gamble much anyway.

I hope there is still a way to keep the old girl around but I guess it’s at the end of its life. I’ll toast to it later.

I say good riddance, and take the other casinos with you! Look at the millions lost ($) that otherwise would be spent on goods and services in and around the St. Louis area. Not to mention the taxes that were diverted from the original target. These places only serve to drain monies from people who could least afford to lose it in the first place. I believe it was 1993 when the voters of Missouri voted down the gambling proposal on the ballot, then the Democratic controlled Congress in Jefferson City changed the definition of gambling to a “game of skill” vs. a “game of chance”, and passed the law, circumventing the voters will. A thirst for more tax dollars was the sole reason.

It’s a goner. The only reason it hasn’t been floated somewhere else or scrapped is the owners want to know if the licenses will be capped. If the cap passes, the boat will still be gone, but at least there will be some part that can be sold for a profit – it’s license.

What? The president casino is still there?

Their best hope is that the boat sinks or catches fire so they can cash in on their insurance policy. Or more realistically, that the measure on the November ballot caps the gaming licenses at 13, so they can sell the license. Nobody wants to gamble in a cramped little tugboat when there’s a huge casino a few hundred yards away.

Sink it! We need that boat disguised as a casino on the river front like we need another flood. It’s time someone bring a little class to our river front and city. We have this great Arch over looking the city and river. Then you look at the river front and see the President casino. It’s time we become a city that people, conventions and most importantly businesses want to come back to and establish roots. We have become just a middle of road city with nothing to offer.

A. Patriot,
Stay on the topic. I get so sick of hearing people trying to control what we have to do for entertainment. If you don’t like the casinos, don’t go there. Simple as that. Its not going to do any good to turn this into weather gambling should be legal or not. You shouldn’t have a darn thing to day about what I like to do in my spare time and where I choose to spend my money. A man that can’t hear, can’t go to the show and some of us are not physically able to go bowling. I don’t care what you do with your time and money so don’t care what I or anyone else does. Don’t turn this one into politics.

I recommend either moving the President to another more lucrative location or putting it right next to the Lumiere and have access to the President and Lumiere at the same time. This way, you could consolidate the two operations into one and need less staff for upkeep and could put in different types of games in each casino.

By the way, I hope the loss limit is removed. Who am I to tell you what to do with your money or how much of it you can lose. You are responsible for your own actions.

how many casinos does the area really need?

Face facts, cassinos are the only method of taxing the poor, and others who are mathematically challenged. What’s wrong with that?

johnh,You may think I’m mathematically challenged but at least I can spell casino. Could you possibly be the pot calling the kettle black. I drive a Cherokee.

Is a Cherokee a luxury vehicle like a BMW,Lexus or Mercedes-Benz?

Will it survive?

Don’t know don’t care.

Johnh is 90% right. Most of the folks gambling at casino, shouldn’t even be there. They are the ones that choose gambling to waste their money all the while expecting someone else to pick up the tab on their food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, etc.

Cherokee….are they opening a casino around here too?

SSSHHHHHH….don’t give away the casino’s secrets. Take a look at the size/expense of the buildings…of course they can afford to build these cause they are in the business of giving money away to everyone who plays!!!!!!

steve665,
You don’t get the Cherokee thing. Some of us on here do. Now that you mention it though, I paid around $40,000 for it and only paid $32,000 for my BMW Z3. I guess you could call it a luxury vehicle. I never looked at it that way.

Just to set the record straight. I think there are too many casinos in the area. I go to one or the other around once a week. I’m not on welfare, pay $485.00 a month for my health insurance. Own my two year old home (payed in full), have more clothes than I will wear in a lifetime. My point is that you need to stop generalizing. There are people that frequent casinos that are fully capable people. Buying gas is killing more families than anything. Gambling is a choice. Putting gas in your car is not. I would rather spend $75.00 sitting with my wife having fun than watching it go up in the air. Bash me all you want, I won’t see it. I’m out of here.

First of all, the gaming laws for the state of Missouri are a joke. Why casinos are on ponds in order to be a “boat” is a direct reflection on the reality that politicians who run this state, think the voters are a bunch of morons. Which unfortunately, is proven to be true, because we elected them in the first place.

As for $500 limit, it’s a limit for a few hours and it doesn’t do anything but placate the “do gooders” and keep the “high rollers” out Missouri casinos. If we’re going to have these things get as much out of state Money as possible.

My last beef is the best example I know of how our politicians will do anything to get there hands on other peoples money. Revenues from gambling were intended and promised to go to educating the children of Misouri, which somehow justified the gambling. Well, the money from gameling does go to education. Unfortunately, it didn’t increase money available for education, but simply replaced what the state was spending prior this income. Therefore, the net gain for education has been $0.00, nada, nothing. Where the money went that once went to education, I have no Idea and neither do the other citizens of Missour. I believe this scam is also going on in Illinois and all the other river boat gambling states. Shame on our shameless politicians and shame on us for electing them.

Lincohn was wrong, you can fool all the people all the time, just ask the Missouri State legislaters.

As for the President casino, it’s health hazard and the only reason Pinnacle is keeping it going to maintain their share of the local market that enjoys gambling in smelly, dirty old river boats. However, someday, the president will magically blow-up and/or burn-up and they’ll collect more insurance then it’s worth.

Get rid of all the casinos. What a sick society you have that lives on alcohol, nicotine, titty bars and gambling. Why on earth would you even think there should be survival of that sad con game called a casino?

Thus far the opinion that seems to have the most “votes” is some version of having the President burn down to the water line and/or sink.

As for it being a “landmark” with the Jr High School shop project covering it looks like an ugly paper weight in the shape of a boat.

Who cares.

I wish the casinos would bring in more games of skill vs games of chance.

I play poker. Will not play slots, blackjack, roulettem craps, etc.

I wish we had sports & horse betting at the Missouri casinos.