Gambling returned to Missouri in 1992 with an interesting caveat -- all casinos had to be on riverboats. As a result, most Missouri casinos are on the water. Unfortunately for the town of Joplin, the Missouri River is nearly two hours to the north and so access to riverboat casinos requires a long drive. However, with the Oklahoma border just a few miles away, several casinos are located within a 30-minute drive from Joplin.
Just 20 miles south of Joplin, Quapaw has two casinos. The Quapaw Casino offers table games including blackjack and several variations of poker. For those who don't like the tables, the casino offers more than 500 slot machines plus video poker and blackjack. Nearby Downstream Casino offers resort accommodations with 374 guest rooms, slots and table games. Visitors can make use of a private high-limit room featuring blackjack and poker tables.
Wyandotte, Oklahoma is 27 miles from Joplin and has two casinos. The Wyandotte Nation Casino is a full-service establishment offering slots, table games and bingo. The casino has three dining establishments. A second casino, Indigo Sky, is located 12 miles to the east and features a 117-room hotel plus an RV park with full hookups. On the gaming floor, visitors will find slots, video poker and blackjack, table games plus several restaurants and a sports bar.
Buffalo Run Casino is located in Miami, Oklahoma, about 35 miles from Joplin. Open 24 hours a day, the large casino has 70,000 feet of gaming space including a high-limit room. Buffalo Run features an adjacent hotel with 100 rooms and suites. Guests of the hotel can play golf at the nearby Peoria Ridge Golf Course for a discount.
Grove, Oklahoma -- 40 miles southwest of Joplin -- is home to the Grand Lake Casino. The casino features over 800 slots and table games including blackjack and a variety of poker games. The casino does not have any on-site accommodations but operates the Lodge Hotel, 2 miles away and accessible via a free shuttle that runs 24/7.
