Abandoned Florida Casino Ship Still Has Slots and Gaming Tables From Murdered Tycoon's Fleet

Abandoned Florida Casino Ship Still Has Slots and Gaming Tables From Murdered Tycoon's Fleet

By Michael Davidson

December 17, 2024 at 09:50 PM

An abandoned casino cruise ship, formerly owned by murdered tycoon Gus Boulis, sits idle in a Florida dock with its gaming equipment still intact. Urban explorer Leland Kent recently photographed the vessel, revealing untouched slot machines, gaming tables, and scattered casino chips.

Casino chips scattered on roulette table

Casino chips scattered on roulette table

The Blue Horizon, previously known as SunCruz VI, last operated in 2016 before its owner PB Gaming went bankrupt. The ship once conducted "cruises to nowhere," taking gamblers into international waters to circumvent Florida's gambling laws.

Abandoned slots in empty casino

Abandoned slots in empty casino

Gus Boulis, a Greek immigrant who started as a dishwasher in Canada, built a business empire including the Miami Subs restaurant chain and SunCruz casino cruises. After becoming a millionaire in his twenties, he launched SunCruz in 1994 with a $2 million investment in his first ship.

Portrait of Gus

Portrait of Gus

Legal troubles forced Boulis to sell his fleet to Jack Abramoff and Adam Kidan for $147.5 million. The deal turned fraudulent when the buyers fabricated a wire transfer to secure a $60 million loan. When Boulis attempted to regain control, he was murdered in 2001, allegedly on orders from Gambino mobster Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello.

Casino craps table with players

Casino craps table with players

The ship changed hands multiple times after Boulis' death but rarely operated successfully. The expansion of Seminole tribe gambling in Florida has made casino cruises less profitable, leading to the vessel's current abandoned state.

Cruise ship at dock

Cruise ship at dock

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