Gambling on American Queen

BATON ROUGE, La. A New Orleans cruise ship would be able to offer gambling on board, under a bill approved 61-to-39 by the full House. Representative Danny Martiny says only the Delta Queen Steamship Company's American Queen meets the strict requirements of the bill. Cruise ships bound for foreign ports already can have gambling on board. Martiny's bill would allow up to 110 gambling positions on cruise ships that have overnight berths for at least 400 passengers, conduct 48-hour excursions and where passengers begin and end the cruise in New Orleans. Gambling proceeds would be taxed at a rate of 18-and-a-half percent. Under an amendment to the bill, Representative John Alario said seven-and-a-half percent of the tax dollars would go to local authorities, seven-and-a-half percent would go to the state, and three-and-a-half percent would cover the administrative costs. Martiny said the bill was an effort to help Delta Queen hang on to its business in the face of increasing competition for tourist dollars. The bill goes next to the Senate for debate. Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.