Riverboat gaming was legalized in which year?

• A. 1987
• B. 1988
• C. 1990
• D. 1989

Answer: (D)

The key idea is the timing of when lawmakers first allowed riverboat gambling by passing legal authorization. In 1989, legislation in several states authorized riverboat gaming as a regulated form of casino-style entertainment, signaling the regulatory birth of the practice. This year is cited because it marks the legal enactment that made riverboat casinos permissible, even though actual boats often began operating in the following years as licenses were issued and facilities built. So, 1989 is the year the activity officially became legal, which is why it’s the correct date.