Section 11.14 Application of Admiralty Jurisdiction to Riverboat Casinos

• Library: Tort Law 2016

K. (§11.14) Application of Admiralty Jurisdiction to Riverboat Casinos

Missouri has several riverboat casinos. Some have marine engines and are capable of navigation, some are permanently moored to the shore, and others are located in man-made waters not connected to any navigable waterways—"boats in a moat." In the past, Missouri and federal courts have struggled over whether the general maritime law applies to riverboat casinos. Several courts have applied the maritime law to riverboat casinos. See:

· Wiora v. Harrah’s Ill. Corp., 68 F. Supp. 2d 988 (N.D. Ill. 1999)

· Young v. Players Lake Charles, L.L.C., 47 F. Supp. 2d 832 (S.D. Tex. 1999)

· Barner v. Mo. Gaming Co., 48 S.W.3d 46 (Mo. App. W.D. 2001)

· Greer v. Cont’l Gaming Co., 5 S.W.3d 559 (Mo. App. W.D. 1999)

Others have declined to apply the maritime law to riverboat casinos. See:

· Davis v. Players Lake Charles Riverboat, Inc., 74 F. Supp. 2d 675 (W.D. La. 1999)

· McAdow v. Promus Cos., 926 F. Supp. 93 (W.D. La. 1996)

· Chase v. La. Riverboat Gaming, P’ship, 709 So.2d 904 (La. Ct. App. 1998)

· King v. Grand Casinos of

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