Florida: Gambling Boats and other developments.

Summary as of 12/15/12
Madeira Beach (Near Tampa): Tradewinds Casino Boat
Fort Myers Beach: Big M Casino
Riviera Beach (Palm Beach): BlackDiamond Casino Boat
Port Canaveral (Cocoa Beach): Victory Casino Ship

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Original post:
Anyone have the latest information on Florida?

I know there is a boat out of Port Canaveral (Cocoa Beach). Victory Gaming.
Anyone know if its roulette wheel is European or American?
Just what is Megastar8 electronic roulette? Any special tricks to it?
I've heard their craps tables are 5x odds and that they have three tables.

Florida's legislature seems equally bought, so nothing new has been passed regarding those "Destination Casinos" that were making headlines but never happened. Its still Disney's lobbyists prattling about Family Values wanting to protect its market share rather than have major developments that will siphon off kid toting parents to casino equipped resorts. The Seminoles still want but don't really have zones of exclusivity. Meanwhile Tampa is the fourth largest casino in the nation and all the Seminole properties are raking in money hand over fist.

Anyone have status reports on:

West Palm Beach
Port Richey
Elsewhere in Florida?

The Big M Casino boat still operates from Moss Marine in Fort Myers Beach but does anyone have recent trip reports? It would seem to be hard pressed to compete with the 24 hour Indian casinos. BJ is dealt really fast. Some high limit tables. Craps is Each and Every Cruise Thursday evening thru Sunday Evening only. Trying to emphasize alcohol and dancing but its mainly a slots boat and slots are available 24 hours a day 25 miles away. Craps crew talks alot.

Quote: FleaStiff

The Big M Casino boat still operates from Moss Marine in Fort Myers Beach but does anyone have recent trip reports? It would seem to be hard pressed to compete with the 24 hour Indian casinos.

No Craps or Roulette on land, so maybe the boats have that going for them. They might also offer better Blackjack, do I remember someone saying Seminole BJ means 6-5?

Seminoles are 6-5 at $5 tables but 3-2 on all others, but rules, even at higher limit tables tend to be 8d h17 das no rsa no surrender.

I just read an article that a new west palm boat, the black diamond, will begin operating soon.

The only other interesting news is the isle in pompano beach has a new organic roulette, craps, and sic bo combination table with an actual wheel and dice, 12 seats, and $10 minimums.

Victory Casino Cruise (Port Canaveral) - "Best Floating Casino in Florida" - 3 Craps tables, 1 Roulette Wheel, Blackjack, Sportsbook, etc. $5 Minimums. 2 trips everyday (7 Days a week) morning and evening sessions. $10 to board, get a players card and use to acquire points for free boarding, food, etc.

Black Diamond Casino Cruise (West Palm Beach) - Delayed opening (yet again). They claim they'll be opening in mid-August.

Big "M" Casino Cruise (Fort Myers) - Stay away from this dump!

Isle Casino (Pompano Beach) - Interlock "Electronic" Organic Craps, Sic Bo, Roulette. 12 station terminal. $5 "total" minimum on weekdays, $10 "total" minimum on weekends. For the $10 minimum, your total bets on one roll have to equal at least $10. For example, you can bet $5 on the 5 & 9 each and that satisfies the $10 minimum requirement.

In my personal opinion, play craps on boat cruises with extreme caution....nothing is "regulated" since they play in international waters.

Quote: CrapsForever

In my personal opinion, play craps on boat cruises with extreme caution....nothing is "regulated" since they play in international waters.

I'll be taking the victory boat some point in August, please let me know if you've seen anything sketchy.

Quote: dlevinelaw

I'll be taking the victory boat some point in August, please let me know if you've seen anything sketchy.

Victory Casino Cruises is very solid. The dealers are pretty good, however there is one dealer who begs for tips who is a bit annoying...I refuse to play on the same table he deals.

The players are very cool and laid back; great comaraderie among players. I have never seen "Monster" rolls there however I have never seen a Monster Roll on any cruise before neither...

New Casino boat (The Trade Winds Casino Cruise Line) coming to Madeira Beach, Florida the weekend of August 24 - 25.


http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/beach_beacon/content_articles/073112_bhb-01.txt

Quote: CrapsForever

New Casino boat (The Trade Winds Casino Cruise Line) coming to Madeira Beach, Florida the weekend of August 24 - 25.

Madeira Beach appears to be about ten miles South of Clearwater, twenty miles South-West of Tampa, about ten miles West of St. Petersburg and
about twenty miles NorthWest of Bradenton.

I have been to that area many times; it is part of a string of coastal islands. The pier this boat will sail from is on the south end of Madeira Beach, at John's Pass, just across the pass from Treasure Island. The area is known as John's Pass Village. It has a decor of a "faux" fishing village, with a bunch of T-shirt and souvenir shops and such, but I have to put "faux" in quotes because several fishing boats go out from the pier for half-day, full-day, and overnight fishing trips. My wife and I have taken the half-day trip several times, bringing our catch back to be prepared as our dinner at the Friendly Fisherman restaurant right on the pier. There is also a Bubba Gump's right next door.

The dock and fishing boats are owned and operated by the Hubbard family, and the pier itself is known as Hubbard's Pier. The have operated there for decades since moving up from a different Hubbard's Pier location in Pass-A-Grille, at the south end of that string of coastal islands.

There have been several gambling boats sailing out of John's Pass over the years, but I have never tried any of them. If this one survives until my next visit down there, maybe I'll give it a shot.

Quote: FleaStiff

Madeira Beach appears to be about ten miles South of Clearwater, twenty miles South-West of Tampa, about ten miles West of St. Petersburg and
about twenty miles NorthWest of Bradenton.

I used to play on the boat there. It isn't as "close" as those miles indicate. A bit of a trip getting there and you are better off having a hotel room than trying to return to Tampa when the ship comes in. I recall in times gone by you had to reach the 12 mile limit/line before the casino opens vs. 3 miles on the Atlantic coast but things change. I don't know now.

Quote: CrapsForever

In my personal opinion, play craps on boat cruises with extreme caution....nothing is "regulated" since they play in international waters.

Well said. There were some strange things happening on the boat in Fernandina Beach some years ago. I'm no expert but many players looked at each other a few times when the dice seemed to twitch as if a magnet? under the felt. Could have been our imagination.

Port Canaveral (Cocoa Beach) Victory Casino:

Cocoa Beach is a touristy beach town wherein real estate has bottomed out and is rebounding. Lots of motels, hotels and time shares. Some local antagonism between taxpaying hotels and non-taxed condo rentals. Bikinis and surf boards abound. Parking is difficult and shuttles advisable or buying all day parking passes seems an option.

Many hotels have concierge desks that offer brochures and boarding passes for the casino ship. The concierge desks all seem to be run by franchisees un-connected to the various hotels, so its really one concierge firm no matter which hotel you go to. There is a Nine Passenger van that picks up at the hotels, but no centralized booking system or radio, so the driver makes stops at the various hotels and inquires of the desk clerk if they have anyone for the casino bus. Its a good way to get a tour of some of the beach hotels and the back roads near the beach, surf schools, scooter rentals, etc., but it makes for a longer bus ride with all those stops and speed-bumps. Some hotels, such as Best Western, are part of the casino's Stay and Play packages. The local "word" is that the Ron-Jon surf shop's Time Share project did very well and is a well managed family oriented place to stay. Some of the hotels have problems with freeloaders who park and use the beach access as if they were guests so parking lot checkers often show up on occasion at various hotels.

Morning and Evening sailings with minor changes in the schedule for weekends. Some special events nights such as Fillipino Night or Birthday night or SIN night. (An acronym for the service industry people who get a Monday evening discount on the gambling ship and are then familiar with it and act as de-facto promoters in their jobs as bartenders, waitresses, maids, towel renters, etc. Occasional band bookings.

The ship gives notice that all lawsuits must be filed in US District Court right there in Brevard County.

The ship tries to provide a festive greeting as scantily clad greeters and ticket sales girls applaud those approaching the lengthy boarding ramp, but the prior security screeners are rather rude and the signage is of little practical help. While you are waiting to board, such as if you've parked your own car or used the valet park, you may have free soft drinks or buy a real drink. There is also a gift shop for those desiring the usual knick-knacks, but no duty-free store.

Once aboard (which is on Deck 3, but unannounced and poorly placarded) there is an immediately available One Pass Through the buffet that serves standard fare. There is also a separate a la carte menu which extends beyond the hours of the buffet. Fees can vary but its pretty much a matter of ten bucks to board, ten bucks for the buffet and an extra surcharge if you wait until boarding to declare your desire for a buffet. Taxes and fees bring the usual boarding to thirty dollars but players club discounts often waive ten dollars of that if you have a favorable history with them. I don't know what benefits the Stay and Play program confer but it seems that the evening cruise ending at or near Midnight makes a local hotel desirable even if one lives relatively near the Cocoa Beach area. I've not yet been on a daytime cruise.

The vessel is large but all decks seem to have slight ramps and bumps. Signage is poor. There are two elevators near the stern, but once aboard its hard to even determine which way the boat is pointed. The night I was there I was stunned at the number of well dressed women wearing expensive shoes with high heels. Congratulation to the sweet young things for successfully navigating the slippery and sloping decks but be advised: flats are recommended, though its obvious a great many women prefer to be dressed to the nines, including nine inch heels! Most unwise for a casino cruise.


Craps: two out of three tables were in use. One was a five dollar table, I've no idea what the other table was as I never left the craps table or wandered the casino to look at roulette or blackjack or other games. The table was five times odds but I seemed content to do usually one and 2x odds and stayed pretty much a five and ten dollar bettor all evening. Waitresses did pass by frequently but seemed not to announce their presence to the craps players much so some effort has to be made. The table was never "full" but did seem to get a good crowd, as did the other table which probably had a higher limit than five to five-hundred dollars. Several three hundred and five hundred dollar bets were being made during the cruise.


The crew were helpful, particularly to those who were tipping them all night long. The speed was okay, I would not say the table was particularly fast but the dice were kept moving as much as possible. Some loud and foul language was tolerated but nothing got particularly out of hand or particularly censored. For some reason only about half the players ever made any attempt to shoot. One roll earned a "great roll, Lady" from the other end of the table but no tip to the shooter who had made a man some really good money with a whole series of sixes and eights.

My play was disgracefully inept but the crew kept correcting my mistakes about whether it was a come out roll or not and what was trump and what to do with place bets on the six and eight when either of those numbers was the point number also. I was a bit distracted by the poor quality of the buffet, particularly the macaroni salad and the so-called "gentle" swell. Every time I got lots of come bets up there it seems someone rolled a Seven, usually I rolled it. Place Betting the Six and Eight seems to have been the best strategy for most of the night. Tipping the dealers was definitely wise for those who. like me, seemed distracted by the fears of seasickness or food poisoning.

There is no place on the boat that is a quiet lounge, everywhere there is the inescapable din, bright lights, including strobes in the upper deck disco, blaring music and an utterly non-understandable public address system. The upper deck did have some shadowy couches on which a few people were zonked out but the strobes made it possible to avoid sitting on them by mistake. In seeking a quiet place away from bright lights and strobe lights, the only thing I found was an open deck, covered bar area with an over powering aroma of used french fry oil which didn't help alleviate my feelings of sea sickness.

Disembarkation was orderly and rather prompt. Two shuttles were available for the hotel runs which of course did not take long to discharge passengers. There was some camaraderie amongst the shuttle passengers but most seemed tired and at least claimed to be "in the red".

Daytime cruises might be totally different in numbers, dress and demeanor... I do not know. Lots of other games seemed to be available but I was in no shape to go exploring.

Note: As to the Stay and Play program, there are about eight participating hotels. Each one advertises and books its own Specials. One Example might be the Hilton which charges 140 a room but provides: Free shuttle, Free Boarding, Free Buffet, Free ten dollars in Slot Play as well as a Fifty Dollar Hilton Dining Credit for the second night. Without a Stay and Play deal the room would be about 104, so you get the free shuttle, free boarding, free slot play and free fifty dollars credit at the hotel. Prices vary.

The Best and the Worst of Cocoa Beach's Victory Gambling Ship:

Best:
Its there and while it sure ain't Vegas, its a short trip and you don't have have a TSA screener demonstrate Second Base to you. For families wherein only one spouse truly enjoys gambling it would be a great boon to have all the usual beach resort activities available and yet still have the gambling oriented spouse quite well satisfied.

Its a truly varied experience, not just a couple of Blackjack tables and some slot machines. Its LARGE and VARIED. Just because I did not explore all the different games, don't let me paint a very narrow picture. I ofcourse can't describe the BJ rules or betting limits but I'm sure there would be good deals available since there was a five dollar craps table (2 and 12 each pay only 2x) available.

Cocktail service was really good, its only Craps players who had to turn around to speak to the waitresses. Later when my companion wanted a glass of water, a cocktail waitress RAN to grab us two free bottles of water and RAN back to hand it to us. Young, well-dressed and cheerful.

Worst:
Yeah, its only a short distance offshore sailing in a fixed pattern but its still a ship. A large ship but still a ship.

The decks all seem to have areas of up a few inches and down a few inches steps or ramps.

The shuttle bus goes in and out of a dozen hotels even if you are the only passengers.

My craps experience aboard the Port Canaveral Victory Cruise sailing out of Cocoa Beach:

Table was easy to find. Limits were electronic display and quite easily readable from a distance. Odds multiple was displayed as 5x. Field was clearly marked in the layout as both the 2 and the 12 being 2x. Lighting was good. Crew was cheerful. I started off with my usual bets for myself and for the dealers on the pass line so as to get the dealer's attention. Unfortunately, I should have started off on the Don't Pass line for those first few rolls. I didn't. So I was down quite a bit to start but I did indeed get the dealer's attention and must say that they were helpful at all times with odds and with leaving me "ten coming" and doing the math and letting me know what was going on. They kept my companion well informed of her place bets and her options. They kept her at optimal betting letting her make call bets so that her hands were not near the layout as the dice were in motion. She clearly did not understand that Odds behind her pass line bet were better than putting the money on a Place Bet, but since she was fond of Place Bets on the Six and Eight and the points much of the night were often Six and Eight, they kept moving things around for her to her benefit.

The guy making 300 and 500 dollar lay bets knew what he was doing and I don't think he was in any way upset that the crew was taking some time to explain things to my companion.

Soon Lady Variance started to favor those Sixes and Eights all night long and my companion had some really long rolls of hitting that six and four over and over again while the point was Eight. A few of her hardway rolls made the other end of the table and the dealers quite happy.

I stayed a five and ten dollar bettor while my companion was at thirty and sixty dollar bettor and often pressing like mad. The dealers loved it when she was on the Eight for ninety dollars and they were on it for thirty and she asked if she could raise her bets.

I was a bit tired and a bit under the weather as far as seasickness goes so I guess I have an excuse for the quality of my playing.

I actually ordered only one drink while at the craps table and was sensible enough to make it a Sprite, paid tipped when I ordered. The rest of the time I stayed turned towards the layout and didn't speak to the waitresses. (My companion turned to the waitress even when her stack was being counted by the boxman).

The dealers soon got the idea of what I would want and helped me with those long reach DC bets and the like. It was indeed a very helpful crew but that night at least it was a very well appreciated crew. I quit about an hour and a half before the gaming ended because my companion was desirous of a quiet place to sit down. So I never made it to the Roulette or to the EZBaccarat table. I had wanted to try the Ultimate Hold 'Em table but never did find it. I never saw any map or chart of the casino layout though it wouldn't have been all that hard to find anything if I had really wanted to stroll around. I don't think a Tropical Storm near Hispaniola had anything to do with the swell the boat encountered but who knows?

Quote: NokTang

Could have been our imagination.

Probably was. At craps it often doesn't matter to the house what numbers come up, since some people are betting that the dice will win and others are betting that the dice will lose. A pair of dice with shaved edges or weights in them would add little benefit to the casino and would be a great risk for a casino to run. Its even more illogical for the casino to cheat at roulette... the house never cares whether its Red or Black since in the long run people will bet on them equally. At craps, more people will be on the Pass Line but that also means they would win more come out rolls if the dice were loaded so as to produce some Seven Outs.

Quote: NokTang

Well said. There were some strange things happening on the boat in Fernandina Beach some years ago. I'm no expert but many players looked at each other a few times when the dice seemed to twitch as if a magnet? under the felt. Could have been our imagination.

I sincerely hope that there were no improprieties aboard the Fernandina Beach but please be aware that the Ecapade run out of Brunswick, Georgia appears to have been owned by the Fernandina Beach people and that the same vessel, The Escapade, will be the boat running out of John's Pass, Madiera Beach, FL near the end of August. I recall some jerk in Georgia tried to recover seven million dollars from a gambling boat even though he had never sailed on it simply because they allowed electronic devices withing the three mile limit and paid out the prize money once they got to international waters.

Additional on Cape Canaveral Victory cruise ship.

Often much cheaper to pay full rate at hotels than use Stay and Play "package". Orlando Quality Inn is 47 a night otherwise its 139 a night with the package of shuttle, buffet, boarding and ten bucks slot play. So why bother with it.

Blackjack in the main casino is five dollars to one thousand dollars. Six to Eight deck shoes.
VIP blackjack is higher limits.

Various concert cruises and 55plus cruises available as well as a few Double Points and Slot Tournament cruises.

Quote: CrapsForever

New Casino boat (The Trade Winds Casino Cruise Line) coming to Madeira Beach, Florida the weekend of August 24 - 25.
http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/beach_beacon/content_articles/073112_bhb-01.txt

The firm is advertising on several radio stations, has conducted sea trials, took the Chamber of Commerce and other Big Wigs on a No Gambling Shakedown Cruise, so it looks like The Escape will be sailing for real on August 24th.
No website or reservations data yet.

Quote: FleaStiff

No website or reservations data yet.

How about here?

Oh wow! 5.00 to 300.00 at Craps and only 2x odds.
Roulette seems equally low level with a 300.00 limit.

Now I will admit that I was playing at the 2x level most recently but that doesn't mean I want to be in a casino wherein that is all that is available.

Quote: CrapsForever

New Casino boat (The Trade Winds Casino Cruise Line) coming to Madeira Beach, Florida the weekend of August 24 - 25.
http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/beach_beacon/content_articles/073112_bhb-01.txt

I would be hesitant to recommend this boat since the craps game will be only 2x odds (5.00 minimum), however, I do want to point out that the 24th is merely the grand opening celebration, they apparently intend to commence cruises on August 14th.

EDITED 08/28/12: Obviously the arrival in the Gulf of Mexico of Tropical Storm / Hurricane ISSAC did not bode well for the inaugural Grand Opening cruise of the new craps boat but at 2x odds.... who really cares.

Just an advisory posting: All the recent publicity about new upscale restaurants opening at the Lake Worth Casino in West Palm Beach may have come to your attention, if so please understand that there is absolutely no gambling of any sort permitted at that "casino". There never has been any gambling there even though the building has been referred to as a casino for thirty years.

As to the Big M... in Fort Myers Beach. They still have craps at each sailing but the latest monthly mailer I received only offered me four weekly coupons for free boarding which is not much of an inducement to bother going.

So FleaStiff have you been on that new boat yet at John's Pass?

Quote: FleaStiff

Just an advisory posting: All the recent publicity about new upscale restaurants opening at the Lake Worth Casino in West Palm Beach may have come to your attention, if so please understand that there is absolutely no gambling of any sort permitted at that "casino". There never has been any gambling there even though the building has been referred to as a casino for thirty years.

As to the Big M... in Fort Myers Beach. They still have craps at each sailing but the latest monthly mailer I received only offered me four weekly coupons for free boarding which is not much of an inducement to bother going.

I flew from Las Vegas to Ft. Myers on a Saturday two months ago just to go to "The Big M". I show up at the designated time and no one else is there. It turns out they were expecting a hurricane the next day so the boat left and moved to safer waters. I was pissed that they didn't call me to let me know. Tried to fly back on Sunday morning but airport was closed. Finally got back to Vegas Monday morning and never did get on the boat. A long tedious trip that I will now have to make again shortly.

DRich; This story begs the question: Why?

Particularly if you had a reservation and had given them your email address or phone they should have let you know but I'm not surprised to hear of such inefficiency on their part.
If ever "stuck" in the area again, there is an Indian casino in Immokalee about thirty minutes away: No craps, just BJ and MiniBacc.

The East Coast Boat (Victory) out of Port Canaveral has a website link to current conditions of waves and wind and gives a notice of any delays or sailing cancellations. Several hotels offer specials. One is a 49.00 room and a 50.00 check from the casino boat.

I've not yet been on the Tampa Bay area boat and don't think I will bother. Who knows... its only 2x craps, so even the BigM is better.

Yes, they did have my phone number and they called me on Saturday morning to say my Sunday reservation had been cancelled due to weather. I assumed that meant they were still going out Saturday because I had a reservation for then too. Oh well, just poor communication.

Trust me, i wouldn't fly across country to go on a gambling boat for fun. It was a last minute business trip that I found out about Friday afternoon and I needed to be there by 5pm Saturday. A wasted trip.

Just a quick summary of the situation in Florida regarding Day Boats that offer a Cruise to Nowhere for a few hours of idling in International Waters where real crap tables and real roulette tables are available but for some reason, as with most casinos, the action seems to be largely at the slots.

Slot action: No reason to assume it is any better or any worse than at the Indian casinos.

Blackjack: Dealt rapidly. Various limits.

Craps: 2x out of Tampa (Tradewinds), 5x out of Fort Myers Beach (Big M Casino), 5x out of Cape Canaveral (Victory).

Various roulette, Pai Gow, and other games. Various smoking and drinking situations.

Black Diamond out of Riviera Beach, the Port of Palm Beach, seems to be a phantom boat that never actually sails.
JacksorBetter our of Jacksonville (Mayport) seems to have been suspended for a year or so.

For some reason the ships continue to exist, but fail to draw sufficient numbers of passengers to be impressive. Once the JacksorBetter ship lost power in the afternoon and it was reported that there were only sixty passengers aboard. Breakeven for the voyage costs of fuel etc for a 155 foot vessel must require more passengers than that.

The Indian casinos offer ever increasing square footage dedicated to slots, Blackjack, MiniBacc, Carnival games, scantily clad dealers, restaurants. I don't see how the casino boats survive when the casinos are open 24 hours a day and the boats only offer five hour cruises of which at best four would be in International waters.

Just a quick note: I'm informed that the Victory out of the Port of Cape Canaveral has passed its scheduled Coast Guard inspection with flying colors. Just to let you know that the vessel is formally inspected by the Coast Guard four times per year.

Speaking of USCG inspections and embarassment: After all those recent cruise ship incidents making headlines one would have thought that Genting would have made sure, but it seems that the Bimini Superfast cruise ship intended to make day trips from Miami to Bimini's Resorts World casino utterly and miserably failed virtually all tests.

A recent USCG hearing determined that one Carnival cruise ship fire turned from minor to major when there was a fifteen minute delay in activating a water-misting system into the fire area due to a crew member hitting the bridge's "reset" button so as to silence the alarm signal. After all the recent publicity the Coasties were going to be tough on the day boat's tests of systems and crews.

The most notable failure appears to have been the crews failure to exercise initiative.

Anyway, soon (Monday July 22nd, apparently) it will be Miami to Bimini Day Trips and Back: Leave Miami 9:00am Return at 7:00pm for Seventy Dollars with higher priced tickets depending upon meals and accommodations.
There will be a two hour turnaround time with the Evening Sailing time being 9:00PM and the Return being the next morning at 5:00am.

The vessel was built in 2001 and carries 1,400 passengers.
Nancy Smith: Sunshine State News July 10, 2013.

June 27, 2013|By Nick Sortal, Staff writer Sun-Sentinel (Heavily edited).

A ship that can scoot to Bimini and back twice a day will open for business next week, offering services that are illegal on dry land. (Slots, BJ, craps, roulette, Sports Book).

Called Bimini SuperFast, the ship will transport up to 1,400 passengers to a new casino in the Bahamas.

Once in Bimini, patrons can visit Resorts World Bimini, a resort formerly named Bimini Bay Resort.

Resorts World will be Bimini's first casino. The casino at Resorts World Bimini will be small. It's listed at 10,000 square feet — the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood is 14 times larger — and employment ads for Resorts World Bimini said the casino will have 15 tables and 153 slot machines. The Hard Rock has about 80 tables and 2,500 slots.

If you do go to Victory, take a day trip to Kennedy Space Center. It was 44 years today that we landed on the moon.

Remember, the Victory casino boat has various tie ins with several dozen hotels, so you can often combine activities there.

Quote: FleaStiff

Remember, the Victory casino boat has various tie ins with several dozen hotels, so you can often combine activities there.

Some of the links are broken and some stories incomplete. Can you please advise what the travel time is from whatever port to Bimini?

The Victory is the casino "Voyage to Nowhere'' ship in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Bimini SuperFast ferry is the two and a half hour cruise out of Port of Miami (Fort Lauderdale?) arriving Bimini in about two and a half hours. Seventy dollars ... service believed to start this Monday the 22nd.

The Big M Casino is a smaller day boat out of Fort Myers Beach.

The Tradewinds is the small day boat out of Tampa's Johns Pass.

Just a brief memo to keep people up to date on Florida's Seminole Casinos.

Growth continues unabated.

There have recently been hiring fairs for all Food, Beverage positions in all Seminole casinos with most casinos opening additional specialty restaurants, even sushi bars or One Dollar Dog and Draft stands. Smaller Seminole casinos have hosted Food Truck specials, usually on weekends, but continue to expand their food service hireing and bar tender hireing.

There have recently been Dealer OUTREACH events wherein Seminole Black Jack Dealers show up in casino attire at a variety of local health clubs to answer questions young, attractive girls working out in the gym might have about dealing blackjack in general and dealing blackjack in a "semi-party pit" atmosphere in particular. This is an indication of the Seminole's need for young females to deal Blackjack.

might do the bimini in oct and will post results if it pans out..

head to hard rock in hollywood tonight. anyone know if there are any 3:2. $5 tables?

Quote: bahdbwoy

might do the bimini in oct and will post results if it pans out..

head to hard rock in hollywood tonight. anyone know if there are any 3:2. $5 tables?

NO... BJ at the Hard Rock is in two separate pits (plus a non smoking alcove).
Each of the dozens of tables is clearly labeled. 6:5 in the five dollar and ten dollar area. The Pit has a large 6:5 sign and each and every table has a tiny little sign on it as well.

The other area for BJ is a large signed and STRICTLY enforced NO MID SHOE ENTRY at 3:2. It is usually 25 minimum. And is therefore preferable from a math point of view.

The non smoking lounge has "a little of everything" sometimes with slightly lower minimums than in the "real" casino, so feel free to explore it.

Prices are extreme so get a comp card. Good luck.

bummer... rule is not to play 6:5 ever correct?

you ever play the fake craps there (thought there is one)?

>bummer... rule is not to play 6:5 ever correct?
The rule is that it is YOUR money and you can do whatever you CHOOSE, but the Fearless Wizard (and others) always stress looking for 3:2 because there is no rule change of any sort that can ever make up to the player the terrible disadvantage of 6:5.
So, go for the quieter, less-smokey 3:2 area and get some Bang for your Buck.

>you ever play the fake craps there (thought there is one)?
Yes. It was fun. And usually all seats were full. Look for sings about a 100 promotion if its your first time at those machines there AND you have a players club card that is linked to your drivers license. IF the promotion is still running, they rebate if your first time is a one hundred dollar loss, but you have to let them know before you start playing.

ok thanks man

deleted

spanish 21 rules there ok?

Yes, but as was discussed on another thread tonight... the quoted mathematical edge in Spanish 21 presupposes that the player knows all the rules and exceptions cold and doesn't try to play BJ strategy during Spanish BJ.

The only place I know in Florida that deals 3:2 BJ for 5 and 10 tables is on the Victory Casino Cruise out of Port Canaveral. They also don't use CSM's; 6 and 8 deck shoes. They do a very nice job and offer all popular Vegas casino games at "Vegas" odds, including real craps and 00 roulette.

ended up on the craps flea... nothing like shooting the but super fun still... i just went with a basic step ladded place bet 6 since it was so random lol... was up 140 then all the way down to a 55 bet lol.. bounced back though thankfully... wifey was jumpint between the field and placed 8 and won 145..

Quote: beachbumbabs

The only place I know in Florida that deals 3:2 BJ for 5 and 10 tables is on the Victory Casino Cruise out of Port Canaveral. They also don't use CSM's; 6 and 8 deck shoes. They do a very nice job and offer all popular Vegas casino games at "Vegas" odds, including real craps and 00 roulette.

Yes, Victory Cruise ship from Cocoa Beach is quite attractive. Offers real roulette as well as electronic roulette. Also offers low priced BJ with nice dealers.

I find that area hotels seem less prone to offer room specials linked to the Casino any more. It seems to offer the most as far as a real Vegas experience.

they have a special for the bimini $85 for 2 with everything on day cruise 10/18 or like $120 saturday and some cheap nights....

ill be on 1 of them

Is that going to be gambling on the boat or is this a trip to a casino located in Bimini?

both except the overnight on just stays at sea so no resort