Argosy Casino Alton


Argosy Casino Alton is a riverboat casino located in Alton, Illinois, a city in the Metro East area outside of St. Louis. It is currently owned by Penn National Gaming.

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. It was replaced by a larger riverboat, the Alton Belle II, in 1993, and cruised for one hour to meet legal requirements. 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, the current owner of the property, acquired the Argosy Gaming Company. 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.
The Argosy Alton was closed briefly in May 2019 due to flooding on the Mississippi River.

Casino information

The Argosy Alton has 827 slot machines and 12 table games. There are three restaurants on the property and 1,341 parking spaces. The three dining options are: Journey, the Captain's Table Buffet, and Hops House.
The Argosy is open from 8am to 6am.