State Supreme Court to hear casino boat case Jan. 23

Friday, Dec. 1, 2000 | 12:08 p.m.

"I'm pleased that the court is finally scheduling the case, and I would hope that we could have a decision rendered fairly quickly since we will be in session at that time," said state Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach.

The state's high court can sometimes take up to six months to rule, meaning the two gambling boats operating out of Little River most likely can operate into next year's heavy tourist season.

This past spring, a court clerk said the case was set back because of a delay in getting a lower court transcript.

Sam Gray, owner of the casino boat Stardancer, said he was happy the case was finally set for trial. "That'll be a nice way to start out 2001," Gray said.

The Sun Cruz, which replaced the Victori Casino, is also docked in Little River.

The Victori Casino arrived in 1998, spurred by a federal judge's ruling that it could operate in South Carolina because the state had not specifically banned the vessels.

The state appeals and won its case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

But Gray sued in state court in Charleston last year to keep sailing.

Circuit Judge Victor Rawl ruled the state has no law to prevent the boats. State officials said in the state and federal cases that existing laws against gambling cover the casino boats.

Gray and Sun Cruz owner Dewayne Williams say federal rules let the ships have gambling outside the state's three-mile offshore limit.

In October 1999, Attorney General Charlie Condon appealed Rawl's ruling to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

State representatives banned casino boats during the past two legislative sessions. However, state senators would not go along.

Edge, the state representative, said Little River residents who were angry when the boats came to their community are "still mad about it."

At the time, Little River was also a video gambling center with the nickname "Little Reno."

The gambling machines, in part because of a state Supreme Court ruling, were outlawed as of July 1.

Gray said he has about 150 employees and his business brings millions of dollars to the community.

"I really think that the ruling made in Charleston was a very just ruling, and I don't know why it even needs to be appealed to the Supreme Court," he said. "I also think the court should leave alone what the Legislature can or can't do."