There are rules, and then there are ways to get around the rules. In Missouri, all casinos must float on the Mississippi or Missouri rivers. The original regulation envisioned “riverboat gambling” but did not require the boat to be operational. This led to floating casinos – either on boats or barges — that are literally on water but are anchored to the riverbank and essentially function as permanent land structures.
But Lumiere Place Casino pushed the letter of the law to the limit. This gaming facility is located 1,000 feet inland and was built on a foundation that floats in a man-made moat. Water is pumped in from the Mississippi River, satisfying the requirement to be located on the river, but the “river” is purified river water in a surrounding basin. The net effect is that the casino is a stable structure, several blocks away from the water, but technically legal.
I’m not advocating that you always test the boundaries to this degree, but it is more likely that you give in too easily. The next time you are thwarted by a rule or regulation, think about Lumiere Place. If they could build a floating barge on a moat and make it happen, maybe there is a way for you to avert your barrier as well.
