With everything you want and need alongside opportunities to meet new people and see new places, cruises offer a broad appeal that makes them an ideal vacation. Many cruises also offer a variety of entertainment options, including onboard casinos with all the makings of what you’d expect to find on the Las Vegas Strip.
If you’ve ever wondered how cruises manage to navigate the wide range of gambling laws found throughout the world, you’ll find the answers here. This article will examine the intricacies of sailing through different territories and international waters, regulatory bodies, your tax obligations, and even what you can expect on the gaming floor of a floating casino.
What Laws Govern Gambling on Cruise Ships?
Cruises often dock at ports in different countries and spend a great deal of time in international waters, making it challenging to understand the applicable gambling laws while aboard the ship. Generally speaking, cruises adhere to the local laws for the territory they’re currently in (similar to how the online casinos available at Casinos.com adhere to local laws wherever players access their games).
The territory of a state or country begins once the cruise ship is within 12 miles of the shore—this is why you may encounter a closed casino when first boarding a ship in the United States. Since gambling in the states is regulated from state to state rather than at an international level, cruise ships will often close operations instead of obtaining a gambling permit or license for each state they port in.
Once ships are more than 12 miles from the shoreline, they’re in international waters and no longer subject to territorial laws. Once there, they typically abide by the law of the flag. This means that the cruise ship will default to the laws of the country for which they’re registered.
Because countries have such varied rules and regulations for gambling, you’ll want to verify where your cruise ship is registered to determine what this means for you. For instance, if your cruise ship is registered in the UK, the minimum age for gambling while aboard will be 18 (younger than the age restrictions of US states), and any cash you win will not be taxed as the UK does not tax these types of earnings.
When in doubt, contact your cruise line for the specific rules you’ll encounter on your cruise.
What About Fair Play Standards?
Most cruise ships are part of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which regulates many ship operations, including fair play standards. The CLIA typically aligns with the fair play and rules of play standards that exist to help protect gamblers of locations like the United Kingdom and the American states of Nevada or New Jersey. This means that cruise ships with casinos regulated by the CLIA must make the house rules available in the casino. At every table, they must display betting minimums and maximums.
What Can You Expect From a Cruise Ship Casino?
Cruise ship casinos are similar to their land-based counterparts. They often have rows upon rows of slot machines and plenty of table games. But there are some differences, including these five:
More Slots Than Table Games
Typically, cruise casinos are more social and relaxed than land-based ones since they attract casual gamblers who are there for the experience rather than the challenge of the games. Because of this, cruise ships are also more likely to have far more slot options than table games that require more skill and know-how (like Texas Hold’em). They’re also unlikely to have perks or setups for high rollers.
Different Operating Times
Land-based casinos, particularly those in gambling hot spots like Las Vegas, are often open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With cruise ships, this varies, as casinos often close when the ship is docked or in certain territories. Usually, cruise lines will communicate these closing times to their guests. Cruise ships typically allow their casinos to operate 24 hours a day while in international waters.
You Can Win Cash, Points, Discounts, and Another Cruise
While land-based casinos frequently offer rewards or loyalty points to gamblers, they don’t typically offer a chance to win a free cruise. However, with casinos on cruise ships, it’s possible. In addition to earning cash prizes, there are opportunities on cruise ships to earn points or discounts to use with the cruise line (for things like food or drink packages); you also have the opportunity to win another cruise. The odds of winning are slim, but it’s still a fun possibility.
Deadline to Claim Your Winnings
Since a cruise doesn’t go on indefinitely, passengers who win cash or prizes at the ship’s casino must claim their winnings before the casino closes for disembarkation.
Concerns of Problem Gambling
Any time there’s a casino or gambling, the concern of problem gambling becomes a prominent discussion point—including for cruises that offer onboard gambling. While travelers can certainly play and enjoy the entertainment of a casino, it’s also important that they are aware of responsible gambling practices to help protect themselves from financial and emotional distress. This is especially important without supportive factors like regular routines, work, friends, and family while on holiday.
Conclusion
The novelty of casinos while on a cruise appeals to many people, and they’ve become popular additions on many cruise ships. They manage to work around local laws by closing casinos at ports or in territorial waters where gambling is prohibited and then resume operations once they’ve reached international waters. Although many cruise ships with casinos are still subject to regulatory standards to protect gamblers, always double-check what laws will apply to you before you place a bet on a cruise vacation.
