Argosy Casino Alton

Argosy Casino Alton
Location Alton, Illinois
Address 1 Piasa St
Opening date1991
Total gaming space23,000 sq ft (2,100 m2)
Casino typeRiverboat
OwnerGaming and Leisure Properties
Operating license holderPenn Entertainment
Coordinates38°53′22″N 90°11′10″W / 38.88944°N 90.18611°W / 38.88944; -90.18611
Public transit accessBus interchange MCT
Websiteargosyalton.com

Argosy Casino Alton is a riverboat casino located in Alton, Illinois, in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. It is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment.

History

The Argosy opened in 1991 as a small riverboat casino named the Alton Belle owned by the Argosy Gaming Company and had 296 slot machines and 22 table games.[1] Over 450 patrons attended the opening on September 24, 1991.[1] It was replaced by a larger riverboat, the Alton Belle II, in 1993, and cruised for one hour to meet legal requirements.[2] In 1999, when Illinois allowed casinos to be permanently moored, the riverboat no longer cruised the river, although the casino still remains on an actual boat.

Unlike other competitors, the Argosy does not offer any lodging. Missouri allowed casinos in 1994, which quickly led to competition in the St. Louis metro area. In November 2004, Penn National Gaming (now Penn Entertainment) acquired the Argosy Gaming Company.[3] Furthermore, in January 2008, Illinois declared all casinos smoke-free, while Missouri lifted a $500 loss limit in November 2008, both having increased negative effects on the Argosy. Revenue in November 2011 had fallen to $5.6 million, the lowest of all St. Louis area casinos.[4]

The Argosy Alton was closed briefly in May 2019 due to flooding on the Mississippi River.[5][6]

Casino information

The Argosy Alton has 516 slot machines and 9 table games. [7] There are two restaurants on the property and 1,341 parking spaces. The two dining options are: Riverside Grill and Hops House.

The Argosy is open from 9am to 2am.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Suttles, Dylan (2021-09-25). "Alton casino beats the odds for 30 years". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  2. ^ Silberstang, Edwin (1997). The Winner's Guide to Casino Gambling.
  3. ^ "Alton-based Argosy Gaming Sold to Penn National". STLPR. 2004-11-04. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  4. ^ Bryant, Tim (2011-12-23). "Argosy Alton has long history of challenges". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  5. ^ Smith, Chris (May 14, 2019). "Argosy Casino set to reopen Thursday". Fox2Now. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  6. ^ "Argosy Casino in Alton to close due to flooding, again". kmov.com. 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2024-05-01.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Company Fact Sheet | Penn National Gaming". PNG Corporate.