Officially known as a riverboat casino because the gaming area is situated on a building built on barges that float in a pool of water linked to the nearby Mississippi River as required by state law, the resort in all other aspects resembles its Nevada sibling, except for the atrium.

It was built to replicate a Western town; at the time it opened it was 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) in size with a 200-room hotel.

[2] In 2002, Boyd bought an adjacent hotel and theater owned by Isle of Capri Casinos for $7.5 million.

[3][4] Sam's Town expanded into the property, adding an additional hotel tower and parking garage.

[5] From 1999 to 2007, Boyd sponsored the Sam's Town 250, a NASCAR Busch Series race at nearby Memphis International Raceway.