The crew aboard the Southern Elegance had waited for the boat to enter federal jurisdiction to uncover all the tables so that the passengers that are now players can begin to play roulette, blackjack and craps.
The Southern Casino Cruises in Little River offers day cruises for senior citizens and evening cruises for the younger population of working people.
Tourism officials realize that in other areas, gambling boats are legal and their revenue contributes to weak economies, that is, gambling boats can be turned into another attraction. However, the issue remains controversial as gambling opponents reject the idea of marketing gambling boats as an attraction in Little River.
Former Rep. David Redwine pushed a bill through the North Carolina General Assembly in 1999 asking to keep gambling boats out of the state. There was much opposition from tourism officials but the bill never passed the Senate. Since then, the South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that its laws forbidding the possession of gambling equipment do not apply to casino boats.
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