Gaming News

Lawsuit Over Casino Boats Stalled

FLORIDA – As reported by the Myrtle Beach Sun News: "A two-year-old casino-boat lawsuit lodged against Georgetown County remains on hold while county officials work out the final language in a new ordinance that will ban the boats from local waterways.

"Third reading of the county's new casino boat ordinance, which mirrors the language set by the S.C. General Assembly, is expected to pass next month, Georgetown County Attorney John 'Mac' Tolar said.

"Meanwhile, the S.C. Supreme Court has not decided whether to hear an appeal from Georgetown County on a decision by a circuit court judge last year to allow the boats to dock on local waters, Tolar said.

"The Supreme Court could decide not to hear the case or that it has no merit, based on a recent decision by the General Assembly to allow counties and municipalities to have a choice on whether to allow the boats.

"…Zoning regulations were passed last year to keep the boats at least 1,000 feet away from schools or churches and limit their hours of operation.

"The county was sued in 2003 by Wallace Cheves, who wanted to move a casino boat into Murrells Inlet. The lawsuit said the county's ordinance on casino boats was unconstitutional…"

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