Suncruz Casino Cruise - Mayport - Florida
- Suncruz Casino Cruise - Mayport - Florida Atlantic
- Suncruz Casino Port Canaveral
- Suncruz Casino Cruise - Mayport - Florida Map
Oceans Casino Cruises Inc., which owns SunCruz Casinos and is based in Dania Beach, filed voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Monday in the Southern District of Florida. A Chapter 7 filing usually leads to liquidation of the company. SunCruz operated a casino boat from Mayport, Port Canaveral and Little River, SC until the 15th of. The Bourne Stuntacular to Open at Universal Studios Florida in 2020; Rumor: New Paid FastPass+ Version Coming to Walt Disney World Soon; New M&M’S Store Coming to Disney Springs in 2020; Exclusive Frozen 2 Sneak Peak Coming to Disney Hollywood Studios ‘Ice Breaker’ roller coaster coming to SeaWorld Orlando in Spring 2020. MAYPORT - A gambling cruise ship business has switched vessels at its hub in Mayport village, signaling a long-term commitment to the waterfront area. Oceans Casino Cruise, based in Dania, replaced its gambling ship with a larger SunCruz IV, which is a 'swath' vessel that has a catamaran hull providing smoother rides and more space for.
| Type | Private (Owned by Ocean Casino Cruises) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Florida, Myrtle Beach, SC | |
Key people | Robert Weisberg, Chairman & CEO |
| Products | Cruises |
| 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]
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.
Oceans Casino Cruises Inc., which owns SunCruz Casinos and is based in Dania Beach, filed voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Monday in the Southern District of Florida. A Chapter 7 filing usually leads to liquidation of the company.
SunCruz operated a casino boat from Mayport, Port Canaveral and Little River, SC until the 15th of this month when the gambling day-cruises abruptly ended.
SunCruz reportedly owes the Canaveral Port Authority more than $302,000 in wharf and other fees and owes Horry County, SC more than $100,000 for October fees and an unknown amount for November fees.
The company has estimated assets of $1 million to $10 million, and estimated liabilities between $50 million and $100 million, according to the bankruptcy filing. The company believes there will be no money available for unsecured creditors after exempt property is excluded and administrative expenses are paid, according to the court documents.
SunCruz was founded by the late Gus Boulis, a Greek-American businessman who also founded Miami Subs. In 2000, he sold the casino company to a group that included notorious disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Boulis was shot to death gangland-style in his car in Fort Lauderdale in 2001.
Abramoff later pleaded guilty to two criminal felony counts in Miami related to his fraudulent dealings with SunCruz.
Suncruz Casino Cruise - Mayport - Florida Atlantic
In February 2004, a bankruptcy judge approved the sale of SunCruz, for $36.1 million, to a group led by Boulis’ nephew, Spiros Naos. Naos is still listed as an owner of Oceans Casino Cruises on bankruptcy court documents, along with Oceans Trust of Pompano Beach and Robert Weisberg of Tiburon, Calif.
A sign on the door of the company’s office reads: “We will not be sailing until the completion of the transfer of ownership of our company.”
In November of 2008, Nevada Gold was engaged by Oceans Casino Cruises, Inc. to provide management services to SunCruz Casinos. Although its management contract is currently in effect, because of the bankruptcy filing, its future status is uncertain.
Suncruz Casino Port Canaveral
Nevada Gold is currently in discussions to purchase selected assets from Oceans Casino Cruises, Inc. These discussions are subject to numerous conditions and there can be no assurance they will result in the purchase of any assets.
Robert Sturges, CEO of Nevada Gold stated, “We recognize these are difficult times for the employees of Oceans Casino Cruises, Inc. We hope to have the opportunity to work with these employees after our acquisition discussions are complete.”