The sluggish economy and competition from nearby casinos and the parimutuel industry has run aground SunCruz Casinos' cruises from Madeira Beach. The last cruise sailed Sunday. The company that owns SunCruz Casinos, Oceans Casino Cruises, operates gambling ships from ports in Key Largo, Jacksonville and Port Canaveral. They will continue operationing in those locations.

The company took a gamble on the Madeira Beach port where another casino cruise was operating nearby. The newly renovated John's Pass Village at Madeira Beach is a popular tourist destination, but the recent downturn in the economy has fewer tourists and those tourists seem to have less money to spend. Also, Seminole Hard Rock Casino is in Tampa, just about an hour away. Seminole's recent casino expansion has also left its mark.

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