riverboat casino kansas city

Casino KC Review

Mike is our Senior Editor and experienced gambling strategist . A former hockey player, he transitioned to the casino industry after finishing his B.A. in English. Blackjack systems, online casino guides, gambling terms, and more - Mike is familiar with all fine points of gambling.

Casino KC in Kansas City— formerly Isle of Capri Kansas City is a classy riverboat casino, permanently docked on the Missouri River. ... You can board the riverboat and you’ll be faced with a casino floor filled with slots and table games, not to mention quality dining and drinking options where you can refuel, recharge, and let off steam.

• Casino KC Gambling and Games

Casino KC Venues and Services

• Casino KC Contacts and About
• Casino KC FAQ

Gambling in Casino KC

Spread over 28,000 square feet, the Casino KC floor carries the one-two punch of slot machines and table games as their casino’s bread and butter. In small casinos like this, the poker tables are often the facet of the casino that is forsaken, so it's to be expected here in a small riverboat.

Casino Games

• Colossal Wizards
• Spartacus Gladiator of Rome
• Forbidden Dragons
• Queen of the Wild II
• Lazer Lock Ice Sapphire
• Let it Ride
• Limit Holdem
• No Limit Holdem
• Crazy 4 Poker
• Fortune Pai Gow
• Sharp Shooter
• American Roulette
• European Roulette
• Any 2 Card Blackjack
• Hand-Held Deck
• Single Deck
• Double Deck
• Chuck-A-Luck
• 75 Ball Bingo
• 90 Ball Bingo
• Daily Lotto Draws
• Mini Lottos
• Electronic Craps
• Electronic Blackjack
• Electronic Roulette
• Electronic 3-Card Poker

Dining, Bars, and Entertainment

The Casino KC has a handful of dining options to satisfy (almost) all tastes, with three restaurants covering the needs of the patrons. Also on offer at the casino is a relaxing bar where you can kick your feet up after a busy night.

• Tradewind's Marketplace

Bars & Night Life

Contacts and about casino kc, how to get to casino kc.

Casino KC is located on the Missouri River in Kansas City, just a few minutes from the downtown area

• Public Transport Bus 77
• Shuttle Service KCI Shuttle
• Nearest Highway I-29
• Parking Slots RV Parking

Frequently Asked Questions

When was casino kc opened, how old do you have to be to gamble at casino kc, does casino kc offer free parking.

If you’re looking for a quaint riverboat casino in the classic Mississippi style, Casino KC in Kansas City MO ticks that box. It offers some quality games, in the form of slots and table games, and some great dining options where you can have your fill. In addition to that, we also enjoyed:

• The multi level car park
• Drinking at Pulse Bar
• Learning about the 20-year history

Disclaimer: With regard to any changes related to the information about a casino, we won't be held responsible if such differences occur. We advise our readers to double-check the official website of the casino for the most accurate information.

• Responsible Gambling
• Contributors
• How We Rate

A Guide to Kansas City Casinos

Visitors and locals alike love Kansas City’s casinos for more than just the poker tables, slot machines and other fantastic ways to win. Each touts incredible dining and events as well, plus three offer overnight stays that specialize in luxury and convenience.

Before you play or stay, consult this guide for all the need-to-know info about Kansas City casinos.

ARGOSY CASINO HOTEL & SPA

Kansas City’s winning destination touts hot slots, world-class tables and nonstop thrills. Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining or the thrill of this state-of-the-art casino floor, Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa takes your experience to the next level. 

Top restaurant options include The Terrace Buffet and Journey Woodfired Steaks , in addition to international favorites like Asian fusion and authentic Mexican street tacos.

When the night’s over, rest up for another big day by staying in the onsite AAA 4-Diamond hotel—fresh off a multimillion-dollar renovation.

HARRAH’S CASINO AND HOTEL

Based in buzzy North Kansas City , Harrah’s Casino and Hotel is a player’s paradise thanks to more than 1,300 slot and video poker machines and 60 table games. But where it truly shines is with its World Series of Poker room—the only such space in the entire city.

Not to mention the nearly 400 guest rooms, ideal for late nights spent gaming or enjoying one of the popular live shows at the VooDoo Lounge venue, which regularly hosts notable music acts, MMA fights, dancefloor fun and more.

Onsite restaurants are a stellar plus as well, including  Gordon Ramsay Steak , a prominent addition to KC’s high-end culinary scene.

AMERISTAR CASINO HOTEL KANSAS CITY

The sprawling Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City features a little something for everyone. In addition to nearly 1,900 slot machines, 50 table games and 184 guest rooms, a fully functioning movie theater and arcade keep youngsters entertained while adults can play on.

Don’t forget lunch or dinner. A balanced mix of upscale and relaxed offerings—including  Great Plains Cattle Co. —means you can treat loved ones to date nights or fuel up before you hit the gaming floor. Plus, with the area’s largest indoor TV screen at Amerisports Brew Pub , what more could you ask for?

HOLLYWOOD CASINO AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY

Turn after turn of thrilling action makes Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway one of the most unique venues in the city. The KCK casino shares a site with racetrack Kansas Speedway , host of two high-speed NASCAR events each year.

In addition to the track, visitors will find 2,000 slot machines, 52 table games and five restaurants. And while there’s no hotel onsite, plenty of other nearby accommodations have what you need to recharge before another full day of entertainment.

Bally's Kansas City

Hit up Bally's Kansas City riverboat for a fantastic time that you won’t soon forget. Kick back with more than 1,000 different slot machines and dozens of table games—no matter your gaming preference, there’s a spot for you here.

Grab a bite at 1 800 Noodle Bar , a 20-seat restaurant featuring Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, or catch the game at the onsite cocktail spot, Pulse Bar .

7TH STREET CASINO

Also located in KCK, 7th Street Casino specializes in slot machines. With more than 575 in total—and no other options offered—players can get right down to business with entertaining gaming.

If you’re on a roll, don’t worry about leaving. With a café and bar onsite, your breakfast, lunch or dinner are covered no matter the time of day or day of the week.

Table Games

• Guest Services
• Meet Your Hosts
• Casino Credit
• Responsible Gaming
• Bally Rewards
• 1800 Noodle Bar
• Celebrity Casino & Lounge
• Chickie's and Pete's
• Meetings & Groups
• Gameday Parking Packages

Welcome to Bally's Kansas City

Come experience the all-new 40,000 sq. ft. casino, featuring new slots, blackjack, roulette, mini baccarat, Chickie's and Pete's Crabhouse and Sportsbar, and more!

NOW OPEN Chickie's & Pete's

Chickie’s and Pete’s voted #1 Sports Bar In America by ESPN is NOW OPEN! With a view of a TV from every seat in the house, Chickie’s and Pete’s Kansas City is THE place to catch your favorite teams! Enjoy craft beer, seafood, cheesteaks, famous Crabfries AND MORE!

TRY YOUR HAND AT OUR TABLES

We’ve added Surrender On Any Hand to our Blackjack rules!

Welcome to Bally’s Kansas City

As part of the planned renovation plan and investment in the Kansas City Riverfront, the all-new BIGGER, BETTER, Bally’s Kansas City is NOW OPEN with ALL NEW dining including Chickie and Pete’s – The #1 Sports Bar in North America as Voted by ESPN! Together with Tiki Bar, Best Odds Quick Bites, 1800 Baccarat Lounge featuring 1800 Noodle Bar, and Celebrity Casino and Lounge, along with improvements to the gaming floor, Bally’s Kansas City is the gaming and dining destination in the region!

Best Odds Quick Bites

Whether you’re out for a quick bite between games or longing for something tasty late night, you’ll find yourself satisfied with the familiar options here. Just breeze in and breeze out.

From a classic Cheeseburger, to Chicken Strips and Fries, the menu at Best Odds has something for you!

Meetings & Events

Around the casino, level up your loyalty.

Enhance your experience in Kansas City with our all-new Bally Rewards program. Together with Casino Credit, it’s easier than ever to shoot to the top of our tier benefits.

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Casinos in Kansas City, MO – Map & Information

With 4 casinos on the Missouri side and 2 others just across the Kansas border, there are plenty of options for visitors or residents of Kansas City to scratch their gambling itch.

From a small slots-only joints to luxurious Las Vegas-style resorts, the Kansas City metropolitan area has a thriving gambling market. The Missouri Gaming Commission says that the three casinos north of the Missouri River alone see over 6.3 million visitors a year.

The area’s six casinos are all within a ½ hour drive of downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

We’ll break these down in more detail below, but overall, five of the six are what you’d consider to be nice, traditional casinos – ones with regular slot machines, table games like craps, roulette, blackjack, etc. You have to be 21 or older to play here.

All but one are set on the banks of the Missouri River, and all 5 of these main casinos are clean, spacious, with all the usual games. Three have nice hotels attached, along with a variety of restaurants, showrooms, along with many of the amenities you would find at Las Vegas resorts.

A sixth casino is a small Indian-run slots-only casino in Kansas City, Kansas.

Below is a map of the six casinos:

(Ameristar Casino Hotel (Red Star) * Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa (Brown) * Harrah’s Kansas City (Purple) * Hollywood Casino (Black) * Bally’s Kansas City (Green) * 7th Street Casino (Blue) )

• Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City

By far the largest of the KC-area casinos, the Ameristar is 8 ½ miles northeast of downtown Kansas City. This equates to just a 15 to 25 minute drive most times.

The two levels of gaming are beautiful, with an ornate, Victorian décor. And with 140,000 square feet of casino space, Ameristar is larger than many of the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

Here at this Boyd Gaming property, you’ll find 2,200 slot machine/video poker machines, along with 66 table games. You’ll find all the usual favorites here, including blackjack, roulette and craps. The high limit room takes bets up to $10,000! There’s also a baccarat pit and a 13 table poker room.

Opened in 1997, the rest of the resort has a charming old village motif with the pretty blue faux sky ceilings you often see at casinos.

(RELATED: Casinos in St. Louis, MO )

In addition to an attached 184 room hotel, Ameristar Kansas City has an 18 screen theater, meeting space, and the Star Pavilion showroom, which holds concerts for up to 1,350 guests.

Ameristar Kansas City Restaurants

As of this late 2021 update, there are six dining options at the Ameristar Kansas City (the popular buffet was an early Covid casualty, and it looks to be closed permanently).

There is, however, the following:

• The Great Plains Cattle Company steakhouse (a 16 ounce slow-roasted prime rib goes for $45. There’s seafood too).
• Amerisports Brewpub – which boasts a cool vibe and huge TV screen. Typical sports bar fare here (burgers, pizza, wings), along with “Ghost fries.”
• Willy & Joe’s Cantina – with house-made tacos and 16 different brands of Tequila. As of this update, they still have a pretty good happy hour deal (Monday – Thursday: 4PM to 6 PM), featuring $2 tacos (chicken or beef), and $1.25 chips & salsa.
• Big Tony’s Pizza (quick bite)
• An Pho – Vietnamese (quick bite)
• The Burger Joint (quick bite)

The attached 5 level parking garage holds room for over 2,600 vehicles. Per figures from the Missouri Gaming Commission , the Ameristar Kansas City is the most popular casino in the region, (based on total gaming revenue and number of admissions.)

Ameristar Kansas City Address, Phone & Website

3200 North Ameristar Drive Kansas City, MO 64161 (816) 414-7000

Website: Ameristar Kansas City

• Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa

The Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa opened back in 1994 as the Kansas City area’s first riverboat casino. And it was a true riverboat too, floating up and down the Missouri River.

It’s now permanently docked of course, on beautiful grounds just around 7 ½ miles northwest of downtown, or roughly a 12 to 20 minute drive.

The 62,000 square foot casino has around 1,500 slot machines, and 37 table games. Attached to the casino is a 258 room hotel, spa, along with five restaurants, including a buffet.

Argosy Kansas City Address, Phone & Website

777 N.W. Argosy Casino Parkway Riverside, Missouri 64150 (816) 746-3100

Website: Argosy Kansas City

Harrah’s Kansas City

Part of the Caesars Entertainment chain of hotel/casinos, this resort is the second busiest casino in the area, and located 6 ½ miles northwest of downtown. It’s normally just a 10 to 20 minute drive.

Here you’ll find 1,500 slot machines/video poker machines, and 45-plus table games. They even offer 100x odds on craps! If you don’t care for the live version, there are electronic versions of craps, blackjack and roulette.

Harrah’s KC’s 13 table poker room is plush, with 13 large plasma TVs. Promotions include both high-hand and bad-beat jackpots.

Their lineup of restaurants includes Gordon Ramsey Steak, Winning Streaks sports bar, the Bite & Bean coffee bar, and the Royal Noodle Bar. Harrah’s Voodo Lounge concert venue has room for 1,200 guests.

And while it’s only the third largest casino in the region, Harrah’s KC boasts the largest hotel of the region’s casinos, with 392 rooms.

Address, Phone & Website

One Riverboat Drive North Kansas City, MO. 64116 (816) 472-7777

Website: Harrah’s Kansas City

Hollywood Casino at Kansas City Speedway

The most distant of the six KC-area casino, the Hollywood Casino is across the border into Kansas, but still just 16 miles directly west of downtown.

Just off of I-70 (the Kansas Turnpike), it would take you only around 20 to 25 minutes to drive.

Opened in February 2012, it’s the second largest casino in the KC area, at 100,000 square feet of casino space, complete with 2,000-plus slot machine/video poker machines and 40 table games.

The 12 table poker room is back open and spreads $4/8 limit on up, and $1/3 no-limit Texas Hold’em and higher. There’s high-hand and bad-beat promotions here as well.

The Hollywood Casino Kansas City does not have a hotel attached to the resort, just a 74,000 seat NASCAR race track, which hosts two big NASCAR events each year.

Dining options at Hollywood KC include the Final Cut Steakhouse, Marquee Cafe, and the Turn 2 Sports Bar & Restaurant.

Hollywood Casino Kansas City Address, Phone & Website

777 Hollywood Casino Boulevard Kansas City, KS. 66111 (913) 288-9300

Website: HollywoodcasinoKansascity.com

Bally’s Casino Kansas City

Currently the second smallest casino in the area, at just 38,000 square feet, the casino formerly known as the Isle of Capri Kansas City and briefly (Casino KC), has become Bally’s Kansas City.

It has the benefit of being by far the closest casino to the city, at just 2 ½ miles northwest of downtown, or just a 5 to 10 minute drive.

The old riverboat casino still looks like a riverboat – complete with a moat-like setting on water south of the river, however that is about to change, as Bally’s is undergoing a $61 million dollar transformation.

As part of the rebrand/remodel (which is expected to be completed in early 2022), there will be two new restaurants: a Sugar Factory, and a Chickie & Pete’s Crabhouse and Sports Bar. 

Bally’s KC is open during construction. Amenities include a Baccarat and Blackjack lounge, the usual table game favorites like roulette and craps, (with bonus betting options on blackjack games), along with over 900 slots and video poker games.

Dining options include the 1800 Noodle Bar, and the fast-casual Tradewinds Marketplace.

Bally’s Kansas City Address, Phone & Website

1800 East Front Street Kansas City, MO, 64120 (816) 855-7777

Website: Bally’s Kansas City

7th Street Casino

The only Indian casino among the six, it’s just a fairly small, slots-only building (no table games).

The 20,000 square foot casino is on the Kansas side, tucked between a cemetery and some Wyandotte County government buildings.

Five hundred and seventy-five slot machines dot the property. I haven’t personally been here, but they may be the bingo-style class II gaming machines found at Indian casinos, rather than traditional Vegas-style slot machines.

777 North 7th Street Trafficway Kansas City, Kansas 66101 (913) 372-3500

Kansas City Casinos with Hotels

Here’s a list of the casinos in the Kansas City area that have hotels attached to them.

• Harrah’s Kansas City

(By Steve Beauregard. Photos courtesy of Brian Whitmarsh via Flickr, the Argosy Hotel & Casino, Bally’s KC via JCJ Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, VisitKC.com and each other respective casino’s media page.).

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Four riverboat casinos hail Kansas City visitors

KANSAS CITY The four casino riverboats in the Kansas City metropolitan area are the city's most popular attractions, according to attendance numbers.

The first riverboat casino in the area, the Argosy Casino, opened in 1994 and continues to expand. In Riverside, less than 15 minutes from downtown Kansas City, the Argosy IV riverboat was custom built for Argosy Gaming Co. with more than 30,000 square feet of gaming space on three levels and an occupancy load of 2,000 passengers.

The casino is open seven days a week, 24 hours Fridays-Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sundays-Thursdays.

Near downtown sits the Isle of Capri Casino Kansas City. The exterior proudly adorns the 19th century steamboat look, and the interior provides a Caribbean-theme tropical paradise. One of its highlights is Caribbean Cove, a sports bar with a giant television screen for ideal viewing conditions and open until 1:30 a.m.

The casino is open 24 hours Friday-Sunday and holidays, and 8 a.m. to 4:59 a.m. Monday-Thursday.

Just up the road from Isle of Capri is the popular Harrah's North Kansas City Casino and Hotel. Visitors can escape to the French Quarter of New Orleans in the two-level Mardi Gras Casino. Harrah's North Kansas City also features fabulous restaurants and a newly renovated hotel.

The casino is open 24 hours weekends and holidays.

The newest riverboat casino in the area is the Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, which features the largest area of gaming space of the four Kansas City casinos 115,000 square feet on two decks. Ameristar opened its doors in January 1997 and prides itself as an entertainment center, featuring 14 restaurants, a showroom for headline entertainment, 18 movie theaters and Kid's Quest, a child-care facility.

Other riverboat casinos in Missouri are in St. Joseph, St. Charles, St. Louis, Caruthersville, La Grange and Boonville.

Argosy Casino, (800) 270-7711.

Isle of Capri Casino, (816) 855-7777.

Harrah's North Kansas City Casino and Hotel, (816) 472-7777.

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, (888) 440-7700.

Archive ID: 1485838

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Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Kansas City, Missouri, is home to world-class shopping, places where you can sample famous Kansas City barbeque, entertainment like the riverboat casinos, and great museums like the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and the extensive collections of an antique toy museum.

Families will enjoy the 235-acre amusement park, Worlds of Fun, and the adjacent water park, Oceans of Fun.

Shop and Dine at Country Club Plaza

Derek Slagle / Getty Images

With amazing shops, great restaurants, and those famed Kansas City fountains, the world-famous Country Club Plaza gets the top pick of the Kansas City's attractions and destinations. The Plaza (as the locals call it) was the first outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment district in the United States and is wonderful any time of year.

Sit in the courtyard and enjoy an evening of jazz, or enjoy dinner and drinks on one of the many patios around the district, enjoy a romantic carriage ride, and be amazed by the Plaza Lights during the holidays . See why over 170 shops and restaurants make the Plaza KC's top destination.

Peruse the Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum

Eddie Brady / Getty Images

The world-renowned Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is one of Kansas City's most treasured gems. With amazing exhibits both inside and out, the Nelson-Atkins boasts impressive collections with everything from ancient Egyptian sculptures to a Japanese collection with more than 2,000 works of art dating as far back as 10th century B.C.E. You can easily spend days looking at everything. Admission is free, although to see most special exhibits, a small fee is charged.

Visit the Animals at the Kansas City Zoo

Andy Harris / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Kansas City Zoo is a great attraction for those young and old alike. The Zoo is spread over 200 acres with habitats for over 1,300 animals. You'll see animals like penguins, polar bears, and orangutans covering species from all of the continents. The Zoo does have trams, shuttles, and a train but even so, you'll get in a lot of walking.

Savor Kansas City BBQ

Trip Savvy / Marianna Massey

When it comes to Kansas City, barbeque is the one thing they do better than everyone else. With rich traditions of dry-rubbed meats cooked to perfection and covered with spicy sauces, it truly is what made Kansas City "The Home of Barbeque."

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que with its original restaurant housed in a repurposed gas station is a favorite with both locals and visitors. Another eatery serving up local barbeque is Jack Stack Barbecue - Freight House which serves a long menu of barbecue meats as well as fish and salads. Located in the Crossroads Art District, this historic converted Freight House has 25-foot ceilings, a fireplace lounge with full-service bar, and indoor and outdoor private dining.

Check Out Union Station

Courtesy of Union Station 

The fully restored Union Station is one of Kansas City's favorite attractions with plenty of great things to see and do. With everything from the fully interactive Science City and its famed Rail Exhibit to movies, planetarium shows, and world-famous exhibits. Visit traveling national exhibits, 3D movies on the Extreme Screen, or enjoy a cup of coffee or a nice meal in this beautiful, historic building.

See the Collections at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library

gnagel / Getty Images

Harry S. Truman was not only the 33rd president of the United States, but he was also an Independence, Missouri native. The Harry S. Truman Library in Independence is home to an amazing collection of over 30,000 presidential artifacts including everything from Presidential gifts that he and wife Bess received during his term of office, political memorabilia, and other artifacts from the Truman era. The Truman Library is also a well-known research library and has a massive collection of photographs, a motion picture collection, as well as a political cartoon exhibit.

Gamble at a Riverboat Casino

Richard Cummins / Lonely Planet Images / Getty Images

You may or may not sail down the river, but you'll find some great gambling venues on riverboats. During the last decades of the twentieth century, many states began allowing riverboats to offer casino gambling, thus limiting the spread of casinos to the boats, while still bringing in some revenue to the states. Many riverboats are actually stationary barges that never leave the dock.

Even if you are not a gambler, the Kansas City Riverboat Casinos are also great places for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The casinos boast everything from great movie theaters and restaurants to concert venues, hotels, and spas. Some favorites are Harrah's Casino with its Voodoo Lounge hosting name entertainment, Ameristar with a great buffet and its Pearl's Oyster Bar. For relaxation, there's an amazing spa at Argosy.

Other riverboat casinos in Missouri are in St. Joseph, St. Charles, St. Louis, Caruthersville, La Grange, and Boonville. In addition, gambling at Indian tribal casinos is legal in Kansas. 

Visit the 18th and Vine Jazz District

Chris Murphy / Flickr /  CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The historic 18th and Vine Jazz District is a fitting tribute to what put Kansas City on the map—world-famous Jazz and Negro Leagues Baseball. The district, which was resurrected in the late 1990s, is home to the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and the Gem Theater.

With great restaurants and clubs like the Blue Note, jam sessions and great acts abound. There's always something going on at 18th and Vine.

Stroll Powell Gardens

Kelly Garbato / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Located just east of Kansas City , Powell Gardens is an amazing 900-acre botanical garden that boasts amazing displays of plants and flowers that are in bloom any time of year. The displays change with the seasons, so you'll never see the same thing twice at Powell Gardens and is beautiful year-round. Have lunch at their great Cafe Thyme or see their beautiful chapel, home to many weddings throughout the year.

Reflect at the Liberty Memorial and National WWl Museum

Edwin Remsberg / Getty Images

Liberty Memorial and the WWI museum is the official WWI museum of the United States and honors those who served and sacrificed in WWI. This interactive exhibit shows the impact the war had on the United States. The museum and memorial serve as the leading educational institute and resource of WWI. Head to the top of the Liberty Memorial for some of the best 360 views of Kansas City.

Take the Family to Worlds of Fun

 Courtesy of Worlds of Fun

Worlds of Fun, a 235-acre amusement park in Kansas City, opened in 1973. Admission to Worlds of Fun includes access to Oceans of Fun, a water park adjacent to the amusement park. There's something for everyone from roller coasters and thrill rides, to Planet Snoopy for the little ones. Year 'round there are special events marking holidays like Halloween and Christmas.

See the Sea Life

From Stingray Bay to an undersea exhibit where you can view tropical marine life, SEA LIFE Kansas City has something for all ages to learn about and enjoy. There's a Turtle Rescue Center where you can get up close to Green Sea Turtles. A favorite is a special exhibit devoted to seahorses.

SEA LIFE Aquarium Kansas City is located in the center of Downtown Kansas City. You can find it in the Crown Center District, situated in the Crown Center Square along with LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City. 

Discover LEGOLAND

SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center are both situated in the Crown Center Square in downtown Kansas City. Both attractions can be visited on a combination ticket. This indoor attraction includes Lego rides, a soft play area, a 4D cinema, and a gift shop. There are 10 build-and-play zones for the Lego enthusiast who wants to try building something new. Human-sized Lego characters stroll the building meeting visitors and posing for photo ops.

Find Out About Steamboats

Ian Morton / Flickr

At the Arabia Steamboat Museum, you can learn about steamboat history as you peruse salvaged items brought up from the Missouri River from the Arabia Steamboat which sank in 1856. The attractive museum, located on the river, offers guided tours where you can watch preservationists working on artifacts. Items brought up from the bottom of the river include clothing, fine china and carpentry tools, guns, and children’s toys.

Explore the World of Toys

The toys housed within the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures are said to be some of the worlds most valuable and rare. The collection began in 1982 when two private toy collectors joined forces. The present-day museum occupies 33,000 square feet and houses 72,000 objects. You'll find dollhouses, mechanical toys, and even political toys within this immense collection of antiques.

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What is the closest casino to the Country Plaza. Is there a bus to get you there from the plaza area?

I guess Isle of Capri would be closest. But Harrah's and Ameristar are only a few minutes/miles further across the river. I am not familiar with any busses so hopefully someone else will know...

http://www.kcata.org/maps_schedules/routes/173_casino_cruiser/

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Missourians could vote soon on legalizing sports betting

Supporters of a ballot initiative legalizing sports betting said they have gathered more than 300,000 signatures — roughly 171,000 are needed to make the 2024 ballot.

Missouri has been a relative straggler when it comes to legalizing sports betting.

Because of a high-profile impasse in the Missouri General Assembly, sports gambling is illegal. But since it’s legal in Illinois and Kansas, many people drive across state lines to place wagers.

If a ballot initiative from a group called Winning for Missouri Education is approved by voters, Missourians could bet on their computers and phones and at casinos and sports stadiums. The group said this week they’ve already gathered roughly 300,000 signatures. Ballot initiatives need to get a certain number of signatures in six out of eight congressional districts to go to a statewide vote with a minimum total of around 171,000.

“Missouri is one of only about a dozen states that hasn't legalized sports betting,” campaign spokesman Jack Cardetti said Friday on an episode of The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air. “And that means we lose out on millions of dollars that could be going to our classrooms, and millions of dollars of economic opportunity. So if this ballot initiative passes, Missourians will be able to place sports bets in a responsible, regulated manner.”

The money generated from a tax on sports betting would go toward bolstering education and to curb compulsive gambling, advocates say. Critics of gambling expansion have argued that there’s nothing stopping lawmakers from using money that would have gone to education elsewhere and then filling in the hole with gaming proceeds. Cardetti said there’s constitutional protections in the initiative to make sure the funds go toward its purpose.

“This money has to go towards Missouri education and it has to go towards our classrooms,” Cardetti said. “And quite frankly, Missouri education can use this permanent funding. We know that sports betting is here, it's here to stay. And we think it'll be a nice funding source that will help classrooms throughout the state.”

The initiative has the backing of the state’s major sports franchises, including the St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Blues, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. If passed, the initiative would allow sports franchises to set up an area within the parameters of a stadium to bet on sports.

“They view this as a great way to increase fan engagement,” Cardetti said. “They also are in a competitive disadvantage to other teams and other states that have this revenue stream.”

One of the other notable parts of the initiative is that the Missouri Gaming Commission could only authorize two mobile sports betting services to operate in the state.

Roots of the impasse

Some Missouri lawmakers, such as state Sen. Denny Hoskins, have balked at legalizing sports betting without also legalizing video lottery terminals — which are gaming machines usually found at gas stations or fraternal halls.

The Warrensburg Republican said that casinos have been adamantly opposed to regulating and legalizing so-called VLTs primarily because it could be seen as competition. Hoskins, though, said he’s skeptical of that argument — adding that casinos often have an appeal as a social gathering place.

He said he doubts many people would say “let’s go down to the truck stop and eat some roller dogs and play some VLTs.”

“I think that we could actually get this solved if we left all the special interests out of the room,” Hoskins said.

Cardetti said the inability of lawmakers to pass a bill legalizing sports betting is why backers are going to the initiative petition process.

“And quite frankly, we've been overwhelmed with how enthusiastic Missouri voters are when we talk to them about sports betting,” Cardetti said. “I mean, every year the legislature fails to get this done. Meanwhile, seven of the eight border states in Missouri have sports betting.”

“ St. Louis on the Air ” produces stories of the people who live, work and create in our region. Send questions and comments about this story to [email protected] . Copyright 2024 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio .