Judge’s ruling opens door for casino boats

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004 | 8:49 a.m.

GEORGETOWN, S.C. -- Less than a week after a judge ruled a Georgetown County ban on casino boats unconstitutional, a high-profile video gambling operator has said he wants to bring a gambling boat near Georgetown and the gambling boat operator who sued the town says he's ready to start his business.

Fred Collins, owner of video poker business Collins Entertainment and a 358-foot gambling boat, has written to the county to express interest in running "cruises to nowhere," said Councilman Jerry Oakley. It is unclear where Collins would dock his boat, Oakley said.

Circuit Judge Jackson Gregory ruled last week that a county ban on the business was unconstitutional, opening the door for more gambling boats to consider the county as a place to do business.

Gregory said the county could not ban the casino boats because the state has not banned them.

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