Cruise ship casinos feeling the pinch of the recession
Sunday 25th January 2009
There is no doubt that the casino industry has been a prominent part of the US economy and US business world for many years. While many states still have differing laws and differing opinions on gambling and casinos, this had prompted the creation and growth of a new type of casino operator, the cruise ship.
However, as the economy continues to fall and demand in the casino sector continues to weaken the situation has become critical for some casino cruises. Not only have they been affected by the reduction in casino attendance numbers but spending in the leisure sector, which includes the cruise line industry, has fallen dramatically over the last few months. So what next for these floating gambling paradises?
Historically many local governments have tended to neglect this sector, often trying to push the casino cruises away from their shores. However, with local authority budgets under serious pressure there is speculation that a number of states around America are looking at ways to entice these casinos into their waters and allow them to operate legally within the former three-mile exclusion zone. It will be interested to see how the casino cruise operators respond to these suggestions as in reality both parties need each other to survive.
There is no doubt that the casino industry has been a prominent part of the US economy and US business world for many years. While many states still have differing laws and differing opinions on gambling and casinos, this had prompted the creation and growth of a new type of casino operator, the cruise ship.