If you’ve ever spent any time in Georgia, you’ll know Georgians do love to gamble. There are a number of racetracks and off-track betting options, as well as private bingo clubs and some pull-tabs. But despite the fact that Atlanta is one of the biggest cities in the South, Georgia has severely limited options for casino gambling of any kind, including roulette. There are no land-based casinos at all in the state and the only casino gambling option are several floating casinos that are based in coastal towns such as Savannah.
But all of this will change in the next few years following the passage of a 2015 bill in the state legislature that will allow for up to six casinos to open in Georgia. MGM is already planning a $1 billion casino for downtown Atlanta and several other large multi-national gambling organizations are also planning new facilities for the greater Atlanta area. But any casino would also need approval from the local government. And any new casino would have to agree to oversight from a state gambling commission.
There is also an effort to license so called “racino” courses in Georgia, which are traditional horse tracks that are able to offer some forms of casino gambling. But several bills authorizing the idea have recently failed in the state legislature, so it’s not clear when the racinos will become legal in Georgia, if ever.
So at least for the next few years, the only roulette option available in Georgia will be on the gambling cruise ships.
Roulette In Georgia: Emerald Princess
The Emerald Princess Casino and Dinner Cruise is based in Brunswick, Georgia. The 200-foot, multi-level cruise ship offers several dinner and dining options to customers while they wait for their opportunity to gamble. To play roulette, you need to board the boat and then wait for it to reach international waters, where gambling then becomes legal. While it’s illegal in Georgia to offer a boat ride strictly for the purpose of gambling, it is legal to offer gambling as a part of a dining and/or entertainment cruise. So besides the dining options, visitors can also spend time at the several bars located on the ship and enjoy the live entertainment available in the lounge area. The cruise itself lasts five hours and costs $10, which includes a complimentary beverage as well as discount coupons.
The Emerald Princess has two tables offering traditional American-style roulette. There is a $5 Minimum stacked on outside bets and a $5 Minimum scattered on inside number bets. The ship also sponsors several roulette tournaments, in an effort to encourage players more familiar with blackjack into giving the game a try. The ship also has a deal with several port side hotels, where players can book a cruise/hotel package for a special discounted rate.
Website: https://www.emeraldprincesscasino.com/
Roulette In Georgia: Tradewinds Casino
Based in the port city of Savannah, the Tradewinds Casino is a three-story, 500 passenger cruise ship that runs Tuesday through Saturday. The ship boasts “Vegas Style” gambling and its main gambling space does indeed look a lot like a traditional Las Vegas gambling space. There is also sports books available, which is a rarity for Georgia casinos. The cruise itself lasts five hours and costs $5, which includes a complimentary beverage as well as discount coupons and other special offers.
One attraction for Georgia roulette players is that the ship offers the state’s only double-sided roulette wheel, which delivers twice the payout on bets. The tables have a $5 minimum bet, with a limit of $5 to $300 on even-money bets and a $10 on bets any way. The Tradewinds offers a special VIP Club option for roulette players, which includes special bonus deals.
Website: https://www.savannahcasinocruise.com
Roulette in Georgia: Diamond Casino
This three-story cruise ship is based in Savannah and sails seven days a week. The gambling area includes 240 slot machines as well as 18 Vegas-style table games. The ship also has a deal with several port side hotels, where players can book a cruise/hotel package for a special discounted rate.
There are two roulette wheels that offer both American and European versions of roulette. The ship also promotes “roulette Tuesdays,” during which players can grab special incentive prizes. Roulette lessons also offered to novice players and there is a VIP club for frequent players.
240 slot machines and 18 table games
Website: https://www.diamondcasinosavannah.com/