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State senate says no to American Queen gambling

Monday, June 20, 2005 | 9:26 a.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Handing a victory to opponents of new gambling, including Gov. Kathleen Blanco, the Senate on Friday rejected legislation that would have let a New Orleans-based Mississippi River cruise ship have a gambling area on board for people taking two-day excursions.

Sen. Joel Chaisson, D-Destrehan, stressed that gambling would not be the star attraction on the cruises, just an added attraction that would help the Delta Queen Steamship Company's American Queen compete with foreign cruise ships, which can already offer gambling once they leave port.

"It's just an amenity," Chaisson said as he pushed the House-passed bill by Rep. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner.

There was no debate, but the Senate voted 15-19 against the bill.

Blanco's executive counsel, Terry Ryder, had told a Senate committee earlier in the week that Blanco opposed any expansion of gambling.

Martiny has said the American Queen is the only one boat that could meet the strict requirements of the bill. He stressed that the gambling would only be available to passengers on the ship who must pay anywhere from $700 to $1,500 per person for the cruise.

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