SEARCH NEWS:

 

Florida Casino Boats May Get Bail-Out

FLORIDA – As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Just as Broward County officials are considering whether to schedule a referendum to allow slot machines at racetracks and jai-alai frontons, they may have to bail out the gambling ships that sail out of Port Everglades because of declining business.

"Port administrators are warning the three daily cruise lines will fall more than $700,000 short of what they owe in dockage charges this year because of increased competition from places such as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The port wants permission to reduce the charges rather than enforce what it views as increasingly unrealistic contracts.

"The problem for the port is expected to worsen if voters approve slot machines onshore. The port estimated in a memo sent to the County Commission's staff Friday that it could lose an additional $2.5 million in revenue a year because of slots.

"…Commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to set a March 8 referendum and whether to allow the port to renegotiate the contracts with SeaEscape, Discovery and St. Tropez cruises. The county has been crafting a deal with the racetracks and jai-alai frontons to pay local government up to $30 million a year in exchange for allowing slots.

"…The port estimates that St. Tropez will have fallen 190,000 passengers short of its promised annual volume and Discovery 138,000 passengers short when their contract years end next month. The port already has told SeaEscape that it must make up the $210,000 revenue shortfall it had when its contract year ended in November…"

< Gaming News