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Blackjack in the Bay of Bengal, slots on the Strait of Magellan? If you’ve ever wondered if, where, and when you can roll an easy eight on the Bering Strait, you’ve dropped your anchor in the right port.
Join us on board the Good Ship Techopedia, as we cast off and set sail on a voyage of cruise ship casino discovery: where you can play, the best floating casinos, the legal stuff, and why you need to be careful when you are playing blackjack with Blackbeard.
The Law of the Sea
Anyone who thinks the United Nations is a redundant organization in the 21st century, should take a look at the 1994 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); it’s a masterpiece of international diplomacy.
One of the main issues tackled in the document relates to the definition of territorial sea.
According to UNCLOS, the territorial sea extends for 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers; 14 miles) from the coastline of the country. Within that boundary, the laws of the nearby land prevail; beyond that: anything goes.
Of course, that’s not strictly true, you can’t kill someone and get away with it: maritime law applies. This relates to the country where the cruise ship is registered.
However, when it comes to gambling, it’s open water. Casino operators don’t require a license and both customer credit lines and complimentary drinks/incentives are allowed.
- This means is that the casino is closed until the ship is at least 12 miles away from the nearest country’s coastline.
- To gamble in the casino, you need to be at least 21 years old to comply with US law.
- In Europe, that drops to 18.
- That throws up the possibility of being too young during some parts of the cruise, to being old enough during other times.
A Brief History of Betting on Boats
Where there’s a will, there’s a wager. Riverboat casinos and gambling ships have been around as long as the legislation banning gambling on land.
In the 1900s, every US state with riverfrontage along the Mississippi approved gambling on the river, including Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri.
- At sea, gambling ships flourished during the Great Depression; from the 1920s to 1940s.
- The original territorial boundary was set at three miles from the coastline.
- When the law changed in 1982 to 12 miles, the gambling ships became less popular.
Today, most states now allow some live gambling; making the ocean-going casinos a little redundant. You can still enjoy a gambling day trip on the water with the likes of Victory Casino Cruises, setting off from Port Canaveral.
Their floating Las Vegas experience includes free drinks, 600 slots, 27 table games, and all the sea sickness medication you need.
Let’s Cruise
Today, pretty much every single Cruise Line will offer its guests access to a fully functioning casino.
It’s all part of a fabulous cruise ship vacation cocktail of non-stop buffets, onboard water parks, leisure activities, restaurants, bars, world-class entertainment, and more.
As of July 2024, the seven biggest cruise ships in the world are all operated by Royal Caribbean International; they are the Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas.
Icon of the Seas
The flagship Icon of the Seas accommodates up to 7,600 passengers. The 20-deck ship on board casino is called the Casino Royale.
There are 30 table games in play, including five roulette tables, alongside 370 slots. There is a bar, a smoking lounge, and a high-limit room. It’s a high-end, fully functional, all bells and whistles, casino. You could be in Las Vegas.
MSC World Europa
On the MSC World Europa, the MSC Cruises flagship, the vast Signature Casino is located on Deck 7. There is a bar, 100s of slot machines, and scores of table games. The casino is open 24/7, when the ship is at sea.
Costa Toscana
On the Costa Cruises flagship – the Costa Toscana – the Granducato Casino is open to adults, from the age of 18. It has its own bar and the gaming floor is split into two: slots and table games, including blackjack, roulette, and to rival even the best online casinos.
Arvia
The Arvia is the biggest cruise ship in the P&O fleet and – like every other cruise ship – has a casino. On the Arvia, it is situated next to Brodie’s Pub on Deck 7; a smoking area is available.
There are table games and scores of slots. The croupiers will also take time out to show you how to play the games. There are even on-board blackjack tournaments.
Loyalty Cards and Comps
The Royal Caribbean International Group has a Club Royale rewards program that rewards members every time they play.
The program comes with four tiers: Choice, Prime, Signature and Masters. Perks range from free drinks to a complimentary Grand Suite on one cruise, every year.
All the cruise lines offer guests a loyalty plan. Costa Cruises has the C Club, MSC Cruises has the MSC Voyagers Club, and P&O has the Peninsular Club.
Any spending on board boosts your loyalty status and unlocks perks. The cruise line companies are very coy about mentioning gambling in their publicity.
Some cruise lines allow you to carry points over between cruises; others have annual expiry limits.
Earning limits and redemption options also vary. Check the small print.
Top tip: if you want to really spend some time in the cruise ship casino, cozy up to the casino host. He or she will probably have the autonomy to dish out a few extra perks.
Winning on the Ocean Wave
If you are lucky enough to win a jackpot at sea, you will still be liable to pay tax if you are a US citizen. Expect your winnings to come with an IRS form. You can learn more about your IRS obligations and taxes on gambling winnings here.
Bingo is a big hit on board cruise ships and the prizes are often room upgrades or credits. You won’t find any multi-million-dollar progressive jackpot slots on board, for now.
These games are interlinked; ocean-bound cruisers don’t have the technical capability to monitor every spin of a particular slot across many ships just yet.
However, several interlinked games in the same casino currently exist onboard. This can soon push the jackpots into five figures.
Jackpot wins on the high sea are more often than not in the thousands, not the millions. Still, a great way to cover some of the costs of your cruise.
Regulations Rocking the Boat
Gambling is under a lot of scrutiny these days, mainly as a result of the massive online boom. Cruise ships have to walk the line between offering guests access to gambling and ensuring their well-being.
It’s a heady blend on the high sea, with people on vacation enjoying themselves.
A few too many drinks and credit at the casino? It’s a potentially tricky situation. How do cruise ship staff monitor and regulate 1000s of people?
All four of the cruise ship operators above are signed up to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), committed to supporting positive policies, including gambling.
The CLIA has adopted the policy that all cruise ships should use equipment that meets the regulatory standard of the Nevada Gaming Control Board; subject to annual inspection and surveillance.
But, there is nothing specific in the policy statement relating to customer care.
The Verdict on Cruise Ships Casinos
Cruise ship casinos are professionally run operations, with fully qualified croupiers working to Las Vegas Gaming Code standards.
You will see a lot more amateurs trying their luck at the tables. It’s more social and lacks the often tense atmosphere given off by serious gamblers.
- The limits are often lower on board and the general vibe is friendly.
- Drinks are not complimentary on most ships, but the pit boss may occasionally buy a round for the table.
- If you want to get the most from your casino spend, make sure you use your loyalty card.
- It is also worth checking if you can use points from a rival card. Some casinos will do this.
If you’re fed up with the theater, and can’t handle the crowds by the pool, the ship’s casino is a great place to kick back and relax.
On most cruise lines, the croupiers will even show you how it all works. Be wary of the credit lines that some cruise ship casinos can offer you. That final bill will really bite.
