Lynn’s casino boat is no longer afloat

LYNN – Lynn’s popular casino boat has apparently gone beyond the horizon’s edge.
With three months of rent in arrears totaling $15,000, the Horizons Edge Casino Cruise ship set sail from its summer port off of Marine Boulevard without notifying its landlord, the Economic Development & Industrial Corporation (EDIC) or its loyal customers.
Not at all pleased with the situation, EDIC Director James Cowdell said the company has had problems paying its $5,000 a month rent in the past, but always managed to work it out somehow with the city’s help.
?We’ve been pursuing them for the money, but it seems they basically just walked away from their lease and vanished somewhere in the Atlantic,” he said.
After calling the company several times, Cowdell said he paid a visit to the business and found a note on the door that said, “This tenant is no longer here.”
Aggravated by their disappearance, Cowdell said EDIC pursued court action against the company and has since placed a lien on its boat to regain the money owed to the city.
?There are a long list of people that are looking for them,” he said. “They were supposed to open in April, so we’re actively seeking another vessel as a tenant. We put out our feelers in that industry and we have two meetings next week.”
The casino boat has been in business in Lynn since 2002 during the spring and summer months, and then in Treasure Island, FL, during the winter season.
The Las Vegas-style casino cruise, the only one of its kind in the Boston area, featured cards, poker, craps, roulette, over 225 slot machines, a buffet and live entertainment. The ship can carry 500 passengers plus crew.
?It’s not a good way to do business,” he said. “It’s also very surprising because they did very well in Lynn. I know the Florida operation drained them, however.”
Calls placed to the company were not returned on Monday.