Genting Says SuperFast Cruises Are Doomed Without Foreign Labor

Genting’s casino ferry cruising between Miami and Bimini might not be as profitable as expected.

American gambling laws are standing in the way of Malaysian casino developer Genting’s profits. At the end of November, the US government banned the company’s overnight gambling cruises due to employee visa issues and now the casino developer says it’s suffering “incalculable” losses.

Latest gambling news announce the Malaysian casino operator is so desperate that it decided to sue the US, asking for the right to use foreign labor on its cruises in international waters between Miami and the new casino resort built in the Bahamian district of Bimini.

Launched in July, the Bimini SuperFast ship was supposed to ease the casino developer’s access to the South Florida gambling market, while the company is leading a political battle to build a casino resort in Miami.

US workers too costly

At the end of November, the court ordered Genting to either hire US workers or stop offering night cruises. The casino developer said hiring 250 American crew members would be “cost-prohibitive”. Company lawyers are now claiming that the whole business will collapse without the night cruise.

Both sides have found a way to make maritime law work in their favor. While Genting is asking for the same rights as Miami-based ships, which employ low-wage foreign workers, American attorneys claim the company is “trying to take advantage of a business model that would save them a lot of money”.

Meanwhile, Genting announced the lawsuit will not impact current cruises. “The ship’s daytime sailings will continue as scheduled,” a company spokesman said.