When you hear the name Casino Royale, it's likely that many associate it with the renowned James Bond film of the same name.
However, this article will delve into a different establishment, one that also offered gambling services but lacked a fixed address. As you may have guessed, we'll be discussing a floating casino—the renowned Casino Royale ship that sailed along Florida's coastline.
Constructed in Florida in 1978, the ship is an impressive three-deck vessel stretching over fifty meters in length, boasting a substantial displacement of one thousand three hundred tons.
Designed with a unique purpose, Casino Royale was intended to transport patrons beyond U.S. jurisdiction by venturing at least three nautical miles away from the coast. By navigating into international waters, the ship offered passengers the freedom to engage in unrestricted gambling pursuits.
Within its three decks, Casino Royale housed a variety of enticing attractions:
Spanning over 550 square meters, the casino area took up a significant portion of the ship. The upper level was designated as an observation deck and provided a space for relaxation and leisure activities.
During the early 2000s, Casino Royale sailed in the Gulf of Mexico, often disregarding the law by permitting gambling activities before reaching the mandatory three nautical mile distance from the shore. As a consequence, the owners were apprehended, their license was revoked, and they faced legal proceedings.
Over the subsequent years, the ship underwent multiple changes in ownership, often resulting in name changes as a strategy to allure fresh clientele. It went by various names, including Diamond Royale, The Escapade, Roayle, and others.
Typically, each owner violated the law in some manner, leading to swift police intervention. Consequently, Casino Royale frequently changed ownership as a result of these legal infringements.
In 2014, the ship ran aground on a sandbank, leaving passengers stranded onboard for hours, awaiting assistance. Coast Guard officers had to come to their rescue. Despite attempts to tow the ship to shore, the ropes snapped, leaving it firmly lodged in the sand, immovable against the tide.
Due to the inaccessible conditions, the only means of boarding the Casino Royale was via helicopter. As there were no immediate emergency situations involving the passengers or crew, the evacuation was postponed until the following morning.
As night turned into day, the individuals were safely evacuated from the vessel. With the reduced weight and the rising water level, the ship could then be transported to the port.
Following the incident, the captain was temporarily suspended pending an investigation, but was eventually acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Subsequently, it was discovered that customers had engaged in card games and slot machine activities throughout the night, despite the ship being only two miles offshore. However, considering the circumstances, the authorities refrained from pursuing a case for the violation of gambling laws.
The incident was quickly silenced, allowing Casino Royale to resume its operations without further attention.
A year later, the ship encountered another grounding incident. However, the captain hesitated to contact the coast guard, as the crew insisted it was a minor encounter with shallow waters, while passengers insisted the ship remained motionless for two hours.
Following the incident, the Coast Guard revoked Casino Royale's certificate of inspection, rendering the ship unfit for sea travel. Since then, it has remained docked in port, succumbing to rust and abandonment.
Despite efforts by the owners to sell Casino Royale for four million dollars, they were unable to find any interested buyers for the vessel.
The gambling license for Casino Royale expired in 2015, rendering the establishment without a valid regulatory permit.
In 2016, the Casino Royale ship, under the orders of authorities, had to be relocated from South Carolina to Georgia to avoid potential risks associated with the approaching Hurricane Matthew. This was the only instance when the ship was anchored during that time.
Undeterred, the current owners of Casino Royale persistently release official statements, expressing their determination to restore and relaunch the ship for future cruises.
Currently, the ship remains neglected in the port, with only occasional visits from urban photographers and urban explorers. They clandestinely venture aboard to capture images of the abandoned interiors, where untouched gaming tables and casino paraphernalia lay beneath a thick blanket of dust. In the vast halls, one can even stumble upon scattered chips on the floor.
Considering the prevailing gambling landscape in the United States, reviving Casino Royale in its original format seems impractical. With the proliferation of land-based casinos across many states, the demand for floating gambling establishments has significantly diminished.
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