A sign posted at the Port of Palm Beach this Wednesday informed that all Blue Horizon Casino Cruises operations from the port have been suspended. As was explained on the sign, the company was sorry for any inconvenience caused by their actions and promised to refund all reservations.

The decision comes because of the recent $3.1 billion worth agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe that places land-based gambling properties in a very favourable position. According to Blue Horizon, the casino day cruise industry in Florida “cannot compete” with the brick and mortar expansion of gaming.

The one to comment on the termination of operation on behalf of Blue Horizon was the managing director of PB Gaming (the firm that operated the ship), Robert Weisberg. He said that with the expansion of slot machines into kennel club, there wasn’t any sense to operate gambling cruises. He explained that such a move would be like “investing in a business that has no future.”

Weisberg went further saying that once the legislation is finalised in the fall, the tribe would be allowed to offer roulette and craps i.e. games that were exclusively offered on the ship. Therefore, he revealed that since Florida gaming “is done” for boats, they had other plans for the watercraft.

The director added that the company invested over $9 million in the operation and in the boat hoping the governor wouldn’t sign the deal. However, now that the situation is obvious, Weisberg said that he would rather let his 100 employees go now, than wait for eight more months and do the same thing at Christmas.

Blue Horizon is the sixth Palm Beach day cruise that ceased to operate in recent years.