House approves bill restricting casino boat cruises to nowhere

Thursday, April 6, 2000 | 11 a.m.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Casino boat cruises to nowhere would have a harder time sailing from South Carolina under a bill the House has approved.

The legislation approved Wednesday is the same as a bill that the House sent to the Senate last year. The Senate stripped the casino boat language, drastically altering the bill last year and used it to rewrite regulations on video gambling.

"It sends a clear message that South Carolina is not going to tolerate casino boat gambling," House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said.

Rep. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, said changes in the law were needed after federal court decisions. The legislation doesn't prevent gambling on ships leaving the state for foreign ports, but it does bar gambling on ships that sail 3 miles off shore to avoid the state's gambling laws, he said.

archive