Up to 3,000 Miami residents could be shipped into a casino every day, as reports suggest operators Genting are preparing to run a twice-daily ferry service to the Bahamas.

Casino gambling is still very much illegal in Florida, however the Malaysian company are ready to collaborate with a new casino on the island of Bimini, just two hours from the coast of Miami, and will run a shuttle service to and from the island to support their investment.

Bimini, which is approximately 50 miles east of Miami, is made up of a chain of three islands and has a population in the region of 1,500. It could however see double that number flood its shores every day to visit the Resorts World Bimini, whose 15 tables, 153 slot machines, sports book and sports bar are in operation from this week.

A draft port agreement on the Miami Dade CountyÂ's website states that Genting will pay approximately $11m upfront for refurbishments to the port from which their boat will transport its passengers. There is also to be a vote by the County Commission on calls for Genting to pay around $7m a year in rent to the port.

The Genting Group have a long-standing interest in the Miami market and although state gambling laws prohibit casino-style gaming it looks like they have found a loophole to get its residents to the tables.

Bruce Archer