South Carolina lawmakers moving to resolve casino boat issue, but courts likely will have final say

Monday, April 24, 2000 | 9:37 a.m.

Ships like the Stardancer and the Sun Cruz VII, both of which operate out of Little River in Horry County, travel three miles out to sea, then allow passengers to gamble once the boat has reached international waters. The boats return to the same port several hours later.

The Senate bill would prohibit such "cruises to nowhere," but would allow larger gambling cruise ships, such as those operated by Carnival Cruise Line, to continue to use South Carolina ports.

That compromise was achieved through an amendment introduced by Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, who had long worked to stall the bill.

"We don't want to shut off the availability of passengers coming into the Port of Charleston by cruise boats," McConnell said. "The old proverbial slip between the cup and the lip could have happened. We tightened that so that it won't."

The House already has passed a bill to outlaw gambling ships. Because of differences in the two bills, they likely would go to a House-Senate conference committee if the Senate bill passes.

But gambling cruise operators say the real fight remains in the courts, where they plan to challenge what they consider an unjust restriction of their business.

"It's hard to say, whether someone is a scholar in logic or not, that gambling is OK on a big boat, but not OK on a little boat," said Samuel Gray, president of the Stardancer boat.

"The state is clearly destined for a lawsuit," Gray said.

Gambling boat operators already have taken the state to court, where Circuit Judge Victor Rawl ruled gambling cruises are still legal despite a state law banning all gambling machines aboard boats.

State Attorney General Charlie Condon has appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court, which has yet to hear arguments in the case.