North Charleston gambling cruises OK'd (updated x2: launch date delayed, again)

Image by Flickr user marcandrelariviere

Update: They're still waiting.

Update February 12: The Post and Courier reports that the launch date for North Charleston's casino boat has been pushed back once again.

A business partner in the venture said that the kickoff date will most likely be summer 2011.

Update December 29: The original launch date of the North Charleston casino boats has been pushed back until at least mid-February.

A handful of delays including insufficient parking, getting the boats cleared by inspectors and the hesitation of the two casino boat entities to jump in with multiple vessels have temporarily stalled the project.

The Post and Courier explains the delay in further detail; read it here.

Update November 2: Less than a week after the City of North Charleston gave the approval for casino boats, two companies, listed as Palmetto Casino Cruz Inc. of Charleston and Diamond Casino Cruz II Inc. of Myrtle Beach, are applying for business licenses.

If all goes as planned, the casino boats hope to be up and running by the new year, if not sooner.

The Post and Courier's got the story on both businesses and their grand plans to bring riverboat gambling to the Lowcountry; read it here.

Update October 29: The fix is in.

Expecting up to a $1 million addition to the city's coffers, North Charleston City Council OK'd casino boats to be based from the city's docks.

For those that say gambling revenue for the city is a tax mostly on the poor, interestingly, Mayor Keith Summey argues that the state lottery is worse as it is far more accessible and a gambling cruise requires the, comparatively, steep $25 admission fee.

The Post and Courier has a nice write-up on the news while NBC News 2 has a brief video interview with the mayor.

Two boats are expected to start in the next couple months.

Don't forget you can watch a recording of the entire city council meeting over here.

Update October 28: This cruise may be at it's final port: North Charleston City Council is making the all important "final reading" on proposals that would allow for the opperation of casino boats from the city's docks.

You can watch the meeting live on Ustream and check out the meeting agenda here (and detail of the items, 25MB PDF.)

Update September 23: On Wedensday night, North Charleston City Council gave initial approval for a gambling boats to sail out of the Cooper River beginning as soon as this winter if all of the necessary City Code changes pass in the coming weeks.

The Post and Courier's got the update; read it here.

Update July 3: The Post and Courier is still on the story and writes that North Charleston officials are headed to Savannah to see how that city handles casino boats. 

Update March 27: The Post and Courier's Brian Hicks has chimed in in support of the idea and points the methods that one town near Myrtle Beach (Little River) has used to make the heavily taxed boat rides a success; read it here.

First reporting: Looks like they're still a remote possibility, but a real one.

The Post and Courier has the story.

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