Don’t be alarmed by the rhythmic ringing and dinging sounds that emanate from a bend in the Ohio River in Evansville, Indiana. It’s just the sound of gamers at play aboard the floating Casino Aztar riverboat, where more than 1,200 slot machines stand sentinel along with 50 gaming tables, allowing visitors to try their hand at everything from blackjack and craps to roulette and seven-card stud. Plus, Casino Aztar gives you a way to put all those coins clogging up your piggy bank to fun use: Not only do those 1,200 machines feature video poker and progressive jackpots, there are also plenty of one-cent slots.
For those who want to spend an extra day at play aboard the boat, or don’t want to miss the next night’s headlining act performing at Casino Aztar’s Hoosiers Lounge, the casino operates two places where gamers can bed down: the conveniently close Casino Aztar Hotel and the boutique hotel Le Merigot. At the latter, deluxe suites come equipped with flat-screen TVs in the bedrooms and bathrooms, goose-down duvets and Italian linens, and expansive living and dining areas. On its first floor, Le Merigot even has its own late-night hangout spot, Blush Ultralounge and Tapas Bar, a stylish and metropolitan accent to downtown Evansville.
For famished visitors who don’t want to stray too far from all the fun, Casino Aztar has seven different dining options aboard the boat — from steak and seafood at the fine-dining restaurant Cavanaugh’s, to hearty burgers and pastas at the more casual Jillian’s. Best of all: Level two of the boat’s pavilion is home to a Starbucks, ready to serve up lattes for those who like to press their luck into the wee hours of the night.