Victory Casino Cruises has suspended operations indefinitely after its only vessel was arrested in a federal court proceeding involving nearly $800,000 in disputed shipyard charges.
The Victory I, which normally operates gambling cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida, remains at Detyens Shipyards in North Charleston, South Carolina, where it was undergoing scheduled maintenance.
According to federal court documents, Detyens Shipyards filed a lawsuit on October 15 against Sophlex Enterprises, which operates Victory Casino Cruises, alleging the company owes $790,666 for repairs, storage, and other services.
The shipyard claims it provided $940,666 in services but received only $150,000 in payments.
A federal judge authorized the vessel’s arrest on October 19, and the U.S. Marshals Service served the warrant aboard the ship on October 28.
Company Disputes Shipyard Charges
Victory Casino Cruises confirmed the legal dispute in an October 29 statement, explaining that the ship’s arrest is part of a civil maritime proceeding rather than a criminal matter.
“We are currently in a contractual dispute with the shipyard and are making every attempt to resolve it as soon as possible,” the company said.
Victory Casino Cruises CEO Lester Bullock told Casino.org that the company disputes some of the charges, suggesting certain repairs or services were not performed.
The company has until November 6 to respond to the lawsuit or potentially face a default judgment.
Employees Furloughed as Sailings Remain Suspended
The legal dispute follows an extended maintenance period that has already kept Victory Casino Cruises out of service for several weeks.
The vessel traveled to South Carolina in September for dry dock work and was initially expected to return to service later that month.
However, the company announced on September 24 that additional maintenance was delaying its return. Future reservations were suspended, and customers with paid bookings or deposits were told they would receive refunds.
The shutdown has also resulted in the furlough of the company’s workforce.
“The hardest part has been having to furlough employees,” Victory said in its statement.
Before the suspension, Victory I offered five-hour gambling cruises from Port Canaveral, with more than 600 slot machines, table games, dining, and entertainment.
The company has operated in the Central Florida cruise market for approximately 15 years.
Victory says it remains committed to resolving the dispute and resuming operations, but no return date has been announced.
For now, the vessel remains in South Carolina, with its future dependent on the outcome of the shipyard dispute and completion of the required maintenance.
During the cruise industry shutdown, Victory Casino Cruises offered Florida cruise enthusiasts one of the few opportunities to get back on the water.
The vessel also experienced a fire in 2023, forcing the company to suspend operations for the evening.
