Riverboat Gambling Comes to the Shore

If there are three things people love it's drinking, gambling and riverboats. In the past, steam powered riverboats would cruise the muddy Mississippi River while card players drank rot-gut whiskey and gambled away their life savings. Now, a local entrepreneur wants to bring back those great days of yesteryear by bringing riverboat gambling to the Jersey Shore.


Chip Kounter of Point Pleasant Beach is the man behind the floating casino. "I love to gamble, but I don't always want to drive to a casino. People say, so why not use a gambling app? Those are great, but it's just not the same as being in a casino. I wanted to be able to sit amongst other gamblers while I enjoyed a drink and lost a lot of money. Now I can do just that and so can other local gamblers!"

Kounter purchased a sightseeing paddleboat and re-fit the entire vessel. It features a bar, a buffet area, and, of course, gambling machines. He named his riverboat the Lucky Lady. Some may question how Kounter was able to get around the laws prohibiting gambling outside of approved areas. Kounter has an answer for that.

"I found some unique gambling machines that don't violate any laws," says Kounter. "The machines run most of the online gambling apps. When you come in, you just login to the machine, bring up your account, and play whatever games you want! The controls on the machine are just like those at the casinos, but you're playing the apps. While you play you can have drinks then take a break at the buffet. It's just like a regular casino!" Kounter says his machines even imitate the sounds and lights of real casino machines,

The Lucky Lady will be cruising out of Brielle after Memorial Day. Boats will cruise on the Manasquan River and Point Pleasant Canal with trips lasting two hours. Tickets will cost $40 per person. Kids tickets are half price. Kounter believes that it's a great option for anyone who loves the casino experience but hates going to Atlantic City.

"I can't think of anything more fun that taking a leisurely riverboat ride while you gamble your Social Security check," says Kounter. "It sure beats going to bingo!"

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