Gustafson along for the ride during 20 years of riverboat casinos

When Isle of Capri Casinos founder Bernard Goldstein launched the Diamond Lady as nation’s first riverboat casino on April 1, 1991 in Bettendorf, Iowa, Bill Gustafson was along for the ride. The former Marine was the casino’s security supervisor.
 
On Friday, Gustafson was back in Bettendorf as the senior director of operations at Isle Casino Hotel.
 
It’s been a 20-year ride for Gustafson (pictured right), having worked at four casinos in four states.
 
Iowa legalized riverboat gaming in July 1989. Illinois, Mississippi and Colorado legalized gaming in 1990 and Louisiana followed along in 1991.
 
But Goldstein was first off the dock with the Diamond Lady. He also began operations that same day with two other riverboat casinos in Iowa, the President in Davenport and the Dubuque Casino Belle.
 
Gustafson can say he was there for the first slot machine pull.
 
“When the Diamond Lady left the dock in Bettendorf 20 years ago, I thought I had a good job,” Gustafson said. “Instead, I found a rewarding career.”
 
Goldstein, who died in 2009, became known as the “Father of Riverboat Gaming.” His Isle of Capri Casinos now operates 15 properties in six states. Meanwhile, commercial casinos operate in 13 states and racetrack casinos are legalized in eight states, according to the American Gaming Association.
 
Gustafson’s two decades with Isle of Capri took him from Iowa to casinos in Mississippi, Louisiana and Colorado before returning to Bettendorf where the regional gaming industry was born.