For a long while now the besieged cruise-to-nowhere ships that operate north and west of Broward County have been dealing with a losing battle with the Seminole and Miccosukee gaming operations. Now they are facing their biggest test yet, with the Broward pari-mutual facilities at Gulf Stream Park, Mardi Gras Dog Track and Isle Capri Harness Track that now offer a superior gaming experience to that of the 4- or 5-hour gambling cruises.

As Governor Charlie Christ prepares to start negotiations with the tribal gaming operators to allow full Class III gaming, any competitive advantage such as Blackjack and Craps gaming from the cruise gaming segment would be out the porthole. There is no way that venturing into rough seas is going to be more attractive to players than taking a short drive to the more comfortable casinos at the sports venues or the Indian territories.

The Day Cruise Casino industry does not contribute any gaming taxes to the State of Florida, and it is understandable why the State is not worried about imposing competitive elimination. Eric Rahn of Rahn & Associates, a maritime gaming expert said “Over the last 25 years the Day Cruise Casino market has struggled with assorted controversies, an anti-casino Attorney General and numerous bankruptcies.

“With the State of Florida looking to revamp its property tax rates, the goal of this piece of legislation is to reduce the school property taxes between US$1 and 2 billion annually. What other service industry contributes that much tax revenue to the state budget?” Perhaps the lowest point for the cruise gaming sector was the criminal involvement in SunCruz Casinos of jailed Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, but that is nowhere near rock bottom as the expanded gaming initiatives that have already passed in the Florida Senate and are on their way through the House of Representatives. (E-05.08.08)

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