The U.S. cruise line Princess Cruises will be offering onboard sports betting in the future. As soon as the luxurious ocean steamers set sail again in 2022, guests on their ships will be able to watch live sports events and submit live sports betting via an app, the California company announced in a press release.
The new “floating” betting offer will be presented on Princess MedallionClass ships and run under the name Ocean Sportsbook. It is the first of a kind in the cruise industry and includes all major U.S. events in American football, basketball, baseball and hockey, as well as international events and tournaments. The guests of the cruise ship will not be limited to only place bets on live events or events that are going on, but also on events that will begin after their journey.
How Can Bets Be Placed?
The bets can be placed through the cruiser’s app. The software will be obtained from Miomni, a manufacturer who, among other things, provides products for the legendary Las Vegas casino and hotel company Caesars Entertainment.
However, the availability of bets depends on the exact route of the ships. Betting is only allowed in international waters and in the waters of countries where sports betting is legal. If the ship docks in a country in which sports betting is not allowed, the sportsbook offer will be put on hold. Cruise ships, or ships in general, are subject to different legislations. These depend on the exact location. If you enter a port, the law of the respective country always applies. However, as soon as the ships enter international waters, the law of the ship’s home country applies. According to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, international waters begin 12 nautical miles (just less than 22.2 kilometers) from the coast.
Guests Not Cut off From the World at Sea
The new sports betting offer, which is a kind of offer that usually comes with bonuses – some of which are presented here – goes hand in hand with the general improvement in digital networking between the sea and the mainland. Unlike a few years ago, passengers in the middle of the ocean no longer have to function without a landline phone, TV, or Wi-Fi connections.
“On Princess MedallionClass cruises, our guests can stay connected with their friends and family around the world, and now with Ocean Sportsbook, they can also stay connected to their favorite teams and wager on a host of events whenever they sail with us. Taking a cruise vacation no longer means being disconnected from a big game, an iconic event, or friends and family,” explained Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.
The Ocean Sportsbook is part of Ocean Casino, available on all Princess MedallionClass ships for a while now. Ocean Casino has developed as a digital experience that allows betting outside the casino – in cabins, by the pool, spa and more – in a range of games that include slot machines, poker, roulette, blackjack, bingo, keno and lottery.
It is still uncertain when the Princess Cruises ships will be able to set sail again because of the worldwide situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although customers can pre-book for the year 2022, the shipping company has not yet received the green light or specific date from the authorities.
