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Texas Star Casino almost ready to set sail
Published February 28, 2006
FREEPORT — As Michael O’Brien walks along the plastic-covered floors of the floating casino called Texas Star, he taps slot machines to test his luck.
A few mismatched lines reveal no wins until he hits the next one, which spits out 90 quarters. Odds sway his way again on a nickel machine.
“Within the next few days, we’re going to set sail,” said O’Brien, the company’s chief operating officer. However, he is cautious not to give an exact date. The U.S. Coast Guard still has to do its final inspection of the vessel, which will take those aboard into federal waters for gambling in the Gulf of Mexico.
“I’m tired of it sitting here,” O’Brien said. “We’re ready to go.”
The 167-foot boat, docked on Sailfish Drive near the bridge leading into Surfside Beach, is expected to open for business before the 12,000-square-foot boarding facility with redemption games and 400-seat bingo parlor is finished, O’Brien said. The boarding facility, which is next to the vessel, should be finished in three or four weeks, he said.
Currently, the boarding facility looks like a huge white tent, but O’Brien said insulation and an interior skin will be added along with other electrical components and a concrete floor that will look like marble.
“It’s going to be a real nice facility,” O’Brien said.
Just last week, Freeport City Council agreed to extend a specific-use permit for the boarding facility.
“We’re making a lot of headway fast,” O’Brien told city council. “It’s been a big hill, but we’re going to get to the top of it.”
Originally, the boat was supposed to set sail at the end of last September. The date was pushed to October, then to year’s end and on to Jan. 15. A opening was delayed for a variety of reasons, including changing the vessel’s Sierra Leone flag to the American flag and hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“It’s been through a reorganization and they’ve had their problems getting started,” Freeport Mayor Jim Phillips said. “If they make it, fine. I wish them all the luck in the world. To me, seeing is believing.”
The city will help the company any way it can as long as the company abides by the law, Phillips said.
That is something the company intends to do.
“We’ll run a very clean business,” O’Brien said.
A breezeway with a tiki-and-thatch theme will lead guests aboard the three-level casino boat, which will offer games such as craps, blackjack, roulette, poker and slot machines for a $10 entry fee.
A few card game tables need to be covered and the roulette wheel needs to be put in place, but for the most part, the casino vessel looks like it’s about ready to sail.
The business still is hiring employees, O’Brien said, adding the company will offer a free school to train employees on card games.
On a typical weekday, company secretary Lynn Kristensen answers about 20 phones calls from people asking questions about Texas Star Casino.
“When are we opening? Are we hiring? Just questions about dealers, bartenders and whatnot,” she said.
And sometimes, people drop by, said Chay Hamant, who also works there. People seem to be excited about it, she said.
For information about Texas Star Casino, call (979) 233-2777.
Velda Hunter is the senior reporter for The Facts. Contact her at (979) 237-0153.
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