Diamond Jo Casino
Encyclopedia
The Diamond Jo Casino is a gambling casino
and entertainment complex located in the Port of Dubuque
, in Dubuque, Iowa
. The casino is owned and operated by Dubuque-based Peninsula Gaming, LLC, which also operates the Diamond Jo Casino - Worth
in Northwood, Iowa
, and gambling operations in Eunice
, Henderson
, New Iberia
, Opelousas
, and Port Allen, Louisiana
. It is a member of the Iowa Gaming Association, and its license is held by the Dubuque Racing Association, which operates the Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino
. Beginning operations on May 18, 1994, the Diamond Jo was a 3-level, 305 feet (93 m), 1,500-passenger vessel in Dubuque's Ice Harbor. The boat was a dockside that did not cruise, the casino became land-based when its new facility opened December 11, 2008.
The Diamond Jo Casino is located at 301 Bell Street, in the rapidly-developing Port of Dubuque. The casino, along with the nearby National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
and other attractions, have helped to create a large and growing tourism market in Dubuque.
, keno
, and video poker
games, and 17 table games, including: Big Raise Hold 'em, Blackjack
, Craps
, Four card poker
, Let It Ride, Roulette
, Texas Hold 'em
, and Three card poker
. The operation had 3 restaurants: the Diamond Deli, HighSteaks Restaurant, and Jo's Café.
's first riverboat casino
in Dubuque's Ice Harbor, the Casino Belle. This boat's operation was short-lived, however, and relocated to Missouri
in 1993, following a change in ownership.
Soon after, the DRA began to search for a new riverboat to operate under the gaming license already in place. The organization selected the Greater Dubuque Riverboat Entertainment Company L.C., and its boat, which was later named the Diamond Jo, following a local naming contest. The name honors businessman Joseph "Diamond Jo" Reynolds, who owned a Dubuque shipping company, among other enterprises. The "first" Diamond Jo Casino began operations on May 18, 1994. After a year and a half, in October 1995, that boat was replaced with a larger, 1,500-passenger riverboat, which is the current casino operation.
In July 1999, Dubuque-based Peninsula Gaming L.L.C. purchased the casino operation, and spent $1 million updating the riverboat. Peninsula Gaming continues to operate the casino. In 2006, Peninsula opened a second Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood, Iowa, 200 miles (321.9 km) from Dubuque.
& entertainment center, 3 restaurants, retail stores, and a 1,130-space, $23 million parking ramp.
The casino's expanded operation is part of the "America's River Project: Phase II", which will also involve a major expansion of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. The museum will take over the Diamond Jo's existing Portside Building, as well as the riverboat, and renovate them into an IMAX
-like theater and exhibit space.
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and entertainment complex located in the Port of Dubuque
Port of Dubuque
The Port of Dubuque is the section of downtown Dubuque, Iowa that lies immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River. The area was among the first areas settled in what would become the City of Dubuque, and the State of Iowa...
, in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. The casino is owned and operated by Dubuque-based Peninsula Gaming, LLC, which also operates the Diamond Jo Casino - Worth
Diamond Jo Casino - Worth
The Diamond Jo Casino - Worth is a gambling casino and entertainment complex located just off Interstate 35, at exit 214 near Northwood, Iowa...
in Northwood, Iowa
Northwood, Iowa
Northwood is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 2,050 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Worth County.Northwood is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and gambling operations in Eunice
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
, Henderson
Henderson, Louisiana
Henderson is a town in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,531 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, New Iberia
New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia is a city in and the parish seat of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, 30 miles southeast of Lafayette. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747...
, Opelousas
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
, and Port Allen, Louisiana
Port Allen, Louisiana
Port Allen is a city in and the parish seat of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. Port Allen is located between Interstate 10 and US Highway 190 on the West bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 5,180 at the 2010 census...
. It is a member of the Iowa Gaming Association, and its license is held by the Dubuque Racing Association, which operates the Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino
Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino
Mystique, formerly Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino , is a combination greyhound race track and casino located in Dubuque, Iowa. The casino is owned by the City of Dubuque, and operated by the non-profit Dubuque Racing Association, its license holder. It is a member of the Iowa Gaming Association,...
. Beginning operations on May 18, 1994, the Diamond Jo was a 3-level, 305 feet (93 m), 1,500-passenger vessel in Dubuque's Ice Harbor. The boat was a dockside that did not cruise, the casino became land-based when its new facility opened December 11, 2008.
The Diamond Jo Casino is located at 301 Bell Street, in the rapidly-developing Port of Dubuque. The casino, along with the nearby National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
-External links:...
and other attractions, have helped to create a large and growing tourism market in Dubuque.
Riverboat casino
As a riverboat operation the Diamond Jo was the smaller of Dubuque's two casinos, with 19600 square feet (1,820.9 m²) of gaming space. It has 777 slotSlot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
, keno
Keno
Keno is a lottery or bingo gambling game often played at modern casinos, and is also offered as a game in some state lotteries. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a "bubble" containing 80 balls which determine the ball draw result. Each ball is imprinted...
, and video poker
Video poker
Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine.-History:...
games, and 17 table games, including: Big Raise Hold 'em, Blackjack
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
, Craps
Craps
Craps is a dice game in which players place wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other or a bank...
, Four card poker
Four card poker
Four card poker is a relatively new casino card game similar to three card poker, invented by Roger Snow and owned by ShuffleMaster.-Description of play:...
, Let It Ride, Roulette
Roulette
Roulette is a casino game named after a French diminutive for little wheel. In the game, players may choose to place bets on either a single number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even....
, Texas Hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
, and Three card poker
Three card poker
Poker played with three cards dates back to the origins of the game of poker. As a result it's as unclear as the origins of poker, but includes the 16th century British card game of Brag. Rules for three card poker are included in Hoyle's Rules of Games from 1983 along with a hi-low...
. The operation had 3 restaurants: the Diamond Deli, HighSteaks Restaurant, and Jo's Café.
History
On April 1, 1991, the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA) and local businessman Robert Kehl opened IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
's first riverboat casino
Riverboat casino
A riverboat casino is a type of casino found in several areas of the United States which use a riverboat as a casino. Several states authorized this type of casino to limit the areas where casinos could be constructed under a type of legal fiction.-History:...
in Dubuque's Ice Harbor, the Casino Belle. This boat's operation was short-lived, however, and relocated to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in 1993, following a change in ownership.
Soon after, the DRA began to search for a new riverboat to operate under the gaming license already in place. The organization selected the Greater Dubuque Riverboat Entertainment Company L.C., and its boat, which was later named the Diamond Jo, following a local naming contest. The name honors businessman Joseph "Diamond Jo" Reynolds, who owned a Dubuque shipping company, among other enterprises. The "first" Diamond Jo Casino began operations on May 18, 1994. After a year and a half, in October 1995, that boat was replaced with a larger, 1,500-passenger riverboat, which is the current casino operation.
In July 1999, Dubuque-based Peninsula Gaming L.L.C. purchased the casino operation, and spent $1 million updating the riverboat. Peninsula Gaming continues to operate the casino. In 2006, Peninsula opened a second Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood, Iowa, 200 miles (321.9 km) from Dubuque.
Expansion
In September 2006, Peninsula Gaming officials announced that the Diamond Jo would begin a major expansion, during which it would become a land-based casino. The $75 million project, set to open in November 2008, will include 1,000 slot machines, 17 table games, and a poker room in a new 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) casino. Also included in the project are a 36-lane bowlingBowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
& entertainment center, 3 restaurants, retail stores, and a 1,130-space, $23 million parking ramp.
The casino's expanded operation is part of the "America's River Project: Phase II", which will also involve a major expansion of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. The museum will take over the Diamond Jo's existing Portside Building, as well as the riverboat, and renovate them into an IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
-like theater and exhibit space.
Land-based casino complex
The land-based complex, which is a short distance away from the old casino property, opened on December 11, 2008. The new, two-story, $82 million facility has approximately 900 slot and video machines, 17 table games, a separate high-stakes gaming area, and a 5-table poker room. The Diamond Jo complex features two sitdown restaurants (The Woodfire Grille and Kitchen Buffet), two bars (the Tree Bar and Mojo's Sports Bar), a 30 lane bowling alley (Cherry Lanes) with scheduled leagues, and an entertainment theatre complex (The Mississippi Moon Bar).Mississippi Moon Bar
The Mississippi Moon Bar was named after the refrain in the Doobie Brothers song "Black Water", which the casino uses in their current commercial campaign. The Doobie Brothers were also one of the first groups to perform at the bar.See also
- Port of DubuquePort of DubuqueThe Port of Dubuque is the section of downtown Dubuque, Iowa that lies immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River. The area was among the first areas settled in what would become the City of Dubuque, and the State of Iowa...
- Dubuque, IowaDubuque, IowaDubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
- Dubuque Greyhound Park & CasinoDubuque Greyhound Park and CasinoMystique, formerly Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino , is a combination greyhound race track and casino located in Dubuque, Iowa. The casino is owned by the City of Dubuque, and operated by the non-profit Dubuque Racing Association, its license holder. It is a member of the Iowa Gaming Association,...