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Money: New Car, Caviar, Four-star Daydream

As the gambling industry continues to nudge its way little by little into Florida, residents are constantly forced to wonder if casinos are right for the Sunshine State.  But while politicians, businessmen and concerned citizens squabble over gambling’s virtues and vices, the international waters just off Florida’s East Coast have already been opened by a few enterprising folks.  Able to capitalize on the growing popularity of gaming, these casino boats, whose operational capacities all differ, have become a hot ticket for locals, as well as out-of-staters.

With boats in Key Largo, Jacksonville, Hollywood, Port Canaveral, Madeira Beach, North Myrtle Beach, SC and, for the last nine years, right here in Daytona, SunCruz Casinos is the largest offshore gambling business in the nation.  Their goal was to merge the excitement of gambling with the allure of the water, and they have succeeded in creating a unique ambiance that harkens back to the glory days of the 1850’s when river boats roamed the Mississippi, loaded with frontier hope and big-stakes danger—without the guns, of course.

“We try to show people a good time, every time,” says David Schweibish, Executive Casino Host of the Daytona boat.  “There are regulars that come strictly to gamble, of course, but sometimes there’s others who come just to drink a little and play a little.  

“Our service is unique because it’s the only opportunity within a 1,000 plus miles to gamble in a real casino.  Most of the Indian casinos you’ll find are basically slots and bingo—fun games but not necessarily what the serious gambler might be into.  The bottom line, though, is that the boat is simply a way to have fun and maybe win something, too.”

Christened in 1989, the 150-foot-long vessel operates 365 days a year (except Christmas morning) and sports three playing decks.  The bottom deck has walls lined with slots and uses the rest of the room for table games.  The second deck contains all slot machines, showcasing games for both the high rollers and those who might not subscribe to the “play big to win big” strategy.  The third deck houses Ocean Offshore Sportsbooks with every line you could think of, as well as tables for cardsharps.  With its growing popularity and the celebrity status of its players, Texas Hold ‘Em has quickly become the game of choice.

Rick Migliaccio works as Casino Manager for SunCruz Daytona and was a key member of the team that first brought the boat here nine years ago.  With 25 years in the casino business, and as a veteran of the fast-paced Atlantic City gaming district, Migliaccio told WHD.com that gaming is gaming is gaming.

“The fact that we’re on the water doesn’t really change anything,” he said.  “The games we have on the boat are the same you’ll find in any casino.  We have the same caliber of staff here with the same available resources to set up any game that a gambler could want.

“What a casino does for an area is more than what people know.  We bring excitement to what you might call a sleepy part of town.  And for those outside of town, we’re a draw, an out-of-the-ordinary thing to do.  During the slow season in Daytona, we give people reason to come out and we put a lot of people to work.  We’ve had people on our boat from all over the world, as our boat has attracted quite a few big name gamblers.  Our operation is as professional as any casino.  So if people wonder what they’re getting when they come, it’s a true casino experience.  The only difference is that it’s on the water.”

To dispel (or confirm) any rumors, Schweibish noted that The Donald does in fact own a large tract of land off of I-95 near the Flea Market in South Daytona.  He also revealed something that many residents might not know: the Hilton and the Adams Mark are both wired for slots should the opportunity arise to put them in.  So while the potential arrival of The Donald, his hair and his casinos have kept lawmakers busy squabbling and locals busy on the coconut telegraph, SunCruz has become a popular draw for gamblers young and old.

“We came here to win a million dollars,” joked Steve Kropp, an Embry-Riddle graduate, now employed by his alma mater as an interactive designer in their New Media department.  “Instead, I lost my tuition.  But I plan on getting it back next week when I win their Halloween costume contest.”

To differing demographics come differing interests, however.  While Kropp and his female companion enjoyed themselves, they commented that for those who may have run out of money earlier than anticipated, alternate forms of entertainment would have made for a more complete evening.  It seemed, though, that most of the crowd on the boat this past Saturday came to gamble. Fortunately, as part of SunCruz’s customer feedback survey—a feature that has helped SunCruz maintain an edge with the consumer—Kropp’s opinion could be logged and worked into the overall experience to match the interests of those who came purely to test the odds.

“We always try to make the gambler’s experience a pleasant one,” Migliaccio said.  “That’s why our feedback form is so important to us.  This boat has been the number one rated boat in the entire fleet for customer service.”

SunCruz Daytona offers several amenities to the gamblers on board.  There is a buffet for an extra $10, in addition to the $10 boarding fee (there’s no boarding fee for Player’s Club Members, which is free to join), bars on every deck, a DJ/live guitarist and dance-floor, as well as a scenic view of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse when leaving and returning to port.  The quick and friendly service backed up Migliaccio’s claim, and we were assured that the boat’s Captain charts a different course nightly to provide the smoothest and most pleasurable experience while aboard.  Despite a small chop from Wilma towards the end of the night, we agreed.  Security was as tight as any casino should be, and the overall experience, even for a non-gambler, was enjoyable.

So whether you’re the nostalgic type looking to live a cardsharp’s life on the river, a competitive gambler looking to fold the player across from you or a bar hopper stuck in a rut looking to have a different night out, WHD.com recommends SunCruz Casinos as the place to go.