CasinoCityTimes.com

Home
Gaming Strategy
Featured Stories
News
Newsletter
Legal News Financial News Casino Opening and Remodeling News Gaming Industry Executives Search News Subscribe
Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter!
SEARCH NEWS:
Search Our Archive of Gaming Articles 
 

Secret Deal Allows 3rd Gambling Ship at Port Everglades

19 March 2003

PORT EVERGLADES, Florida – As reported by Sun Sentinel: ``A third entertainment and gambling ship is set to begin sailing from Broward County under a secretive deal with Port Everglades and will dock at least temporarily amid million-dollar homes in one of Fort Lauderdale's ritziest neighborhoods.

``The port agreed to let executives of New York City's Circle Line Cruises use one of its berths through mid-October. That's despite a long-standing policy of allowing only two day-cruise operations. The arrangement was neither put out for bid nor taken to county commissioners for approval -- despite promises to do both.

``The St. Tropez, a 401-foot cruise ship, wants to operate from the port permanently. But shipping executives are buying Best Western's Marina Motor Inn off 17th Street and plan to keep the St. Tropez there each night until a permanent agreement can be reached with the port.

``City officials and residents of the Harbour Inlet neighborhood object to placing the St. Tropez where only yachts and fishing boats now berth. The neighborhood of 252 single-family homes and 2,000 condos uses the same two roads as the hotel and faces it from across a canal.

``…The ship is expected to begin twice-daily cruises from the port in about two weeks, entering a market now divided between Sea Escape and SunCruz. Sea Escape has launched a last-ditch effort to block the St. Tropez, arguing the deal with the port is unfair and will drive its operation out of business…"

< Gaming News