MAYOR GIULIANI SIGNS LEGISLATION CREATING THE GAMBLING CONTROL COMMISSION TO REGULATE SHIPBOARD WAGERING
Remarks by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani at Public Hearing on Local Laws
The first bill before me, Introductory Number 897-A, was sponsored at my request by Council Members Berman, O'Donovan, Spigner, Eisland, Pinkett, Marshall, Wooten, Stabile, DeMarco, McCaffrey, Povman, Robles and Williams. This legislation would amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York with regard to the regulation of shipboard gambling.
The bill would create a Gambling Control Commission to license and regulate businesses that engage in shipboard gambling on vessels that depart from locations within New York City. The Commission would have the power to set standards for the conduct of shipboard gambling businesses and issue licenses to appropriate businesses. Employees of such ships and vendors that provide shipboard gambling businesses with goods or services will also be required to register with the Commission and obtain certificates of approval.
Recent amendments to federal law which legalized gaming "cruises to nowhere" in international waters have resulted in the operation of shipboard gambling cruises that originate from New York City. The emergence of this new unregulated industry in New York has created serious concerns for the safety and security of New Yorkers as well as tourists. The goals of the Gambling Control Commission would be to safeguard the security of the public participating in these gambling cruises and to ensure public confidence and trust in the integrity of shipboard gambling operations that originate in New York City. More importantly, the Commission would ensure that such gambling operations will not be controlled or influenced by persons with criminal records or associations with organized crime.
I will first turn to the bill's sponsors and then to any other elected official wishing to be heard.
There being no one else to be heard, and for the reasons stated previously, I will now sign this bill.
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