Operators of newest Texas casino ship look to survive in treacherous industry

Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001 | 9:23 a.m.

HOUSTON -- Operations have begun aboard the latest casino ship to sail into the treacherous financial waters that have sunk other vessels trying to offer gambling off the Texas Gulf Coast.

The Texas Treasure II casino boat is making daily trips from Freeport, about 60 miles south of Houston. The 400-foot boat has more than 300 slot machines and offers other games including blackjack, roulette and poker.

A roundtrip on the ship costs between $25 and $30.

About 200 people sailed during the boat's maiden voyage Friday. The vessel has a capacity for 700 passengers and officials with Texas Treasure Casino Cruises, which runs the ship, are expecting an average of 500 customers per trip, The Facts newspaper of Brazoria County reported.

"I think, for once, we will give Louisiana a run for their money," Deidre Xan, marketing manager for Texas Treasure Casino Cruises, said, referring to casinos in Louisiana, which will be the ship's competition.

Although casino-style gambling is illegal in Texas, operators get around the prohibition by traveling into international waters.

The Texas Treasure II follows another casino ship out of Freeport that shut down in early October, three months after it began sailing.

The Surfside Princess was seized Oct. 3 for nonpayment of charter fees by its owner, St. Louis-based President Casinos Inc.

The Talisman Casino ship, a vessel operating out of Galveston and run by another company, shut down in May.

The Talisman ran into trouble with its creditors, who claimed they were owed management fees and crew travel expenses.

About a decade ago, the Sea Palace casino ship left Freeport without notifying people.

Xan said where the other casino ships have failed, the Texas Treasure II will succeed.

"I think it's unfortunate we are going against some bad history here," Xan said. "In seeing it a decade and seeing it now, it's a big difference. They didn't have the deep pockets."

Texas Treasure Casino Cruises has operated another casino ship out of Port Aransas for more than a year.

The group also plans to operate a boat out of Galveston.

"We are going to have a whole fleet on the Gulf Coast," Xan said. "I'm excited about this."