| Private (Owned by Aquasino Partners of South Carolina, LLC) | |
| Industry | Transportation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Little River, South Carolina |
Area served | Horry County, South Carolina |
| Products | Cruises, Gambling |
| Website | http://www.suncruzcasino.com |
The SunCruz Aquasino is a 220 foot long, 600 passenger, 5 hour gambling cruise ship based in Little River, South Carolina. The SunCruz Aquasino offered 'Cruises to Nowhere,' legally transporting passengers into international waters beyond federal and state gambling laws. SunCruz Aquasino offers classic table games such as blackjack and craps, as well as a live poker room and slot machines.
Experience Vegas-style gambling minutes from the beaches! Myrtle Beach casino cruises create a scenic atmosphere while on the Atlantic Ocean! South Carolina, home of the SunCruz Aquasino and the Big “M” casino boats. The Big “M”Casino boat is South Carolina’s newest gambling cruise and offers a fun and spirited gaming.
History[edit]
SunCruz was founded by multimillionaire Konstantinos 'Gus' Boulis (who also founded the Miami Subs sandwich shop franchise). Boulis purchased eleven luxury yachts which he remodeled into casinos. These would conduct 'Cruises to Nowhere', consisting of a three-mile cruise from the Florida coast into what was then considered international waters.[1] While in international waters, passengers could gamble on poker, blackjack and slot machines. Boulis named the fleet the SunCruz Casino line. By the time of its sale in 2000, SunCruz was earning tens of millions of dollars of profits annually, and had over 2,000 employees.
In September 2007, SunCruz discontinued operations at Palm Beach,[2] and service has subsequently been discontinued at Daytona and Treasure Island as well. On December 16, 2009, SunCruz Casinos was reported to be closing amid allegations that it owed $300,000 to the Canaveral Port Authority.[3] Less than two weeks later, on December 28, parent company Ocean Casino Cruises filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.[4] At the time of the filing, there were approximately 300 full and part-time employees.[5] In May 2010, SunCruz returned to Little River, South Carolina under a new name, SantaCruz Casino, and under new ownership by Casino Partners of South Carolina, LLC.[6]
Gambling Boat Little River Sc
Lawsuit by Horry County[edit]
In 2011, Horry County sued the operator of SunCruz Aquasino for breach of contract, alleging that SunCruz had failed to make payments to Horry County for passenger fees received during the months of August and September 2011. Horry County was supposed to receive a fee of $7 per passenger instead, of collecting taxes based on the boat's revenue. The suit asked for $165,000 in back payments plus legal costs.[7][8][9] Aquasino asserted they had stopped making payments due to the county not enforcing a ban on illegal gambling, which was also part of the agreement. The company's position was that it had protested the boarding fees from the beginning of their relationship with the county, stating they were onerous. Even so, they had continued to pay those fees in good faith. However, when the county did not seem to be doing enough regarding the illegal gambling, they suspended payments, entering into negotiations with the county to reach a compromise. It was during these negotiations when the county filed its lawsuit.[10]
On July 23, 2012, Horry County Circuit Judge Benjamin Culbertson ordered SunCruz Casino to start paying the passenger boarding fees as stipulated in the agreement, but did not issue a ruling on any alleged past due amounts. On July 29, the county received a check for $20,202.[11]
Cruz/Gambling Features and Options[edit]
SunCruz Aquasino offers players Vegas-style slots ranging from $0.02 to $25.00, including ticket-in and ticket-out machines. Blackjack, Poker, Texas Hold ’Em, Rummy, Roulette, Craps, and sports-book wagering are also offered.
See also[edit]
- SunCruz Casinos, a former casino boat company that went bankrupt in 2009.
Footnotes[edit]
- ^New York Times retrieved Sept. 19, 2012
- ^'Port of Palm Beach statement'.
- ^NBC News
- ^http://www.cfnews13.com/Business/LocalBusinessHeadlines/2009/12/29/suncruzs_parent_company_files_for_bankruptcy.html
- ^Price, Wayne T. (11 January 2010). 'SunCruz offers apologies'. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 14A.
- ^'New owners buy Sun Cruz, sending casino boat to SC'. Carolina Live/ WPDE-TV. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Carolina Live/ WPDE-TV. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^Naquin, Ryan (2011-11-16). 'Horry County sues casino boat for not paying passenger fees'. WPDE-TV. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ^Naquin, Ryan (2011-11-16). 'Casino boat gets reality show, still owes county $500,000'. WPDE-TV. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ^'SunCruz Casino responds to lawsuit'. WMBF-TV. 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ^Naquin, Ryan (2012-11-16). 'Horry County sues casino boat for not paying passenger fees'. CarolinaLive.com. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
- ^Naquin, Ryan (2012-08-02). 'Sun Cruz Casino ordered to pay Horry County taxes'. WPDE-TV. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
| Private (Owned by Ocean Casino Cruises) | |
| Industry | Transportation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Defunct | 2009 |
Area served | Florida, Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Robert Weisberg, Chairman & CEO | |
| Products | Cruises |
Number of employees | 1,000 |
| Website | http://www.suncruzcasino.com |
SunCruz Casinos was one of many cruise lines that offered 'cruises to nowhere,' legally transporting passengers into international waters beyond the reach of federal and state gambling laws.
Four ships operated out of four ports including Jacksonville (SunCruz VII), Key Largo (SunCruz I), Myrtle Beach (SunCruz VIII), and Port Canaveral (SunCruz XII).[1]
On December 16, 2009, SunCruz Casinos was reported to be closing amid reports of owing $300,000 to the Canaveral Port Authority.[2] Parent company Ocean Casino Cruises filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy December 28.[3]
At the time of the filing of bankruptcy, there were about 300 full-time and part-time employees.[4]
- 1History
History[edit]
In 1994 Gus Boulis, already a multi-millionaire by founding the Miami Subs sandwich shop franchise, bought a number of luxury yachts. He remodeled the yachts as casinos, and began to operate his 'cruises to nowhere,' sailing three miles from the Florida coast into what was then considered international waters.[5] There, out on the sea, passengers would gamble on poker, blackjack and slot machines. Boulis called his fleet of 11 ships the SunCruz Casino line. By the time he sold the company in 2000, SunCruz Casinos was earning tens of millions of dollars in annual profits, and employed over 2,000 people.
In September 2007, SunCruz discontinued operation at Palm Beach.[6] Service was subsequently discontinued at Daytona and Treasure Island.
Investigation[edit]
In the 2000s, lobbyists such as Jack Abramoff became involved illegally with the sale of the line. Boulis was murdered in 2001.
See also[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ^'SunCruz website'. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^NBC News
- ^http://www.cfnews13.com/Business/LocalBusinessHeadlines/2009/12/29/suncruzs_parent_company_files_for_bankruptcy.html
- ^Price, Wayne T. (11 January 2010). 'SunCruz offers apologies'. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 14A.
- ^New York Times retrieved June 8, 2008
- ^'Port of Palm Beach statement'. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
Sun Cruise Casino Myrtle Beach
