The original 2010 report
Original reporting follows. Offers, event dates, product details and opinions are historical. Old outbound links are shown as text.
After the UIGEA was passed, blackjack players in the US found it extremely difficult to play their favorite games as they were barred from transacting financially with international gaming enterprises. However, since casino gambling is permitted in international waters, a boat from the state of Florida has been turned into a casino and will soon be settings ail into international seas.
The Jacks or Better boat, a special blackjack vessel that will feature an array of casino games and blackjack tables is scheduled to set forth on Thanksgiving Day, the 26th of November, which is also known as Black Friday.
Blackjack players will be thrilled to know that the Jacks or Better boat casino will sail twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday and will host a variety of games, including more than a 170 slot machines and blackjack games with 3:2 odds. The boat will also feature Blackjack Switch a much loved variant of the game.
The blackjack boat will depart from Mayport, Florida and will venture into international waters to be free from the gambling restrictions of the United States. This boat was once a 500 passenger carrier and was recently renovated for a sum of 1 million dollars. The boat is currently under inspection and will only be allowed to set sail if it passes muster by the Coast guard. The idea is to move into international waters where the federal gambling laws and state laws on gambling will not apply.
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Picture the place at the time
Openings, refurbishments and unusual table settings make useful snapshots of casino history. Names, facilities, opening hours, minimum bets and table rules can change. The report below describes the place at its original publication date; use it as history rather than a current trip-planning listing.
- Stage
- Separate a proposal, scheduled opening and completed launch.
- Setting
- Look for the physical layout and experience described.
- Game details
- Treat reported limits, hours and rules as dated observations.
Does an opening announcement confirm a venue’s current tables?
No. It records plans or conditions at a particular time. A venue can change its name, layout, opening hours and games after publication.
More from this era
Archive presentation refreshed 26 October 2026. The original report and publication date are retained; this is not a new offer, event listing or product review.