12 Must-Have Cruise Casino Tips to Know Before You Play

gambling on cruise ships

For blackjack, it’s common to find that tables pay 6-to-5 instead of the usual 3-to-2. Each cruise ship has a different look and feels for its casino. Some provide a contemporary atmosphere, while others add a bit more creativity with Egyptian or Roman themes. On newer (and larger) ships, the trend seems to be toward having dedicated non-smoking areas where you can play without the smell. Smoking is heavily restricted on a ship due to safety of the ship (fire is a major worry at sea). You can’t smoke across the vast majority of places, including your room, public areas and even many outdoor spots.

gambling on cruise ships

Casino Hours of Operation

For example, the minimum bet on Let it Ride and Blackjack is $5, while Ultimate Texas Hold’em has a minimum stake of $10. Mike is our Senior Editor and experienced gambling strategist. A former hockey player, he transitioned to the casino industry after finishing his B.A.

The Best Cruise Casinos for Gamblers in the USA

Casino.org Announces Cruise Giveaway With Free Casino Play - Casino.Org News

Casino.org Announces Cruise Giveaway With Free Casino Play.

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Promotions and offers are given away based on the frequency of cruises and games played. There are gaming lessons available for new players and high stakes games for more serious players. The Allure of the Seas casino is a massive 18,000 sq ft, which is bigger than many land-based operations. Inside, you can find 500 slots with favorites like Wheel of Fortune, one of the best slot machines of all time, as well as video poker. You can typically use both cash and cruise cards to play at them.

The best jackpot games at Australian casinos in January 2024

Visit the cruise’s webpage to learn more about where the ship will be going and which country’s laws it falls under. Some casinos like the Disney Cruise Lines don’t offer casino games even when it’s legal in the region. Cruise ship casinos are a big part of the future of land-based casinos. They combine the joy of traveling with the thrills of gambling and casino games. But cruise ship laws can be complicated and you’ll need to do some research before you book your cruise. Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options.

The classes are great because they provide a quiet place to learn before real money games begin. The tournaments are fun because they allow guests to win a large amount of money while only risking a small entry fee. You might find poker, blackjack, and slot tournaments during the cruise.

Everyone actively gambling in the casino gets free well drinks on Celebrity cruises. Social media posts and casino announcements would indicate that at least a small handful of people win four- and even occasionally five-figure slot machine payouts on a regular basis. But just as in a land-based casino, it's far easier to lose your stake than it is to win that kind of money. If you're curious, I've compiled answers to the most common questions people ask about cruise ship casinos. Carnival casinos tend to be popular for slots, with guests spinning the wheels around 112 times every second across all cruises.

To be in with a chance of winning an all-expenses paid trip on this cruise ship, check out this casino cruise tester competition. The casino on Symphony has also been somewhat reduced in size, down to about 12,000 square feet. But it seems similar in size to the one on Oasis and has almost the same number of tables (24) and slots (452). So we’re still happy to consider it as one of the best cruises with casinos. Second, you can charge money to your room account just like you would a drink or a service at the spa. There is usually no charge for this at a slot machine, and a few percent at table games.

What is the best casino game to play on a cruise ship?

Cruise ship casinos: Everything you need to know about gambling at sea - The Points Guy

Cruise ship casinos: Everything you need to know about gambling at sea.

Posted: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

And calmly accept occasional confusion or delays during hectic moments. But before you play, there are some essential things to know. In fact, we’re guessing that anyone who is a fan of casino gambling will feel right at home the moment they step into this spot on the ship. You should know, however, that there are some unique features of cruise casinos that make them a little different than you might be used to seeing. After the pool and dining room, arguably the most popular spot on a cruise ship is the casino.

Are Drinks Free in the Cruise Ship Casino?

Gambling on a cruise ship can be a fun and exciting way to pass the time, but it’s essential to be aware of the rules and regulations before playing. Depending on where the cruise is going, there are different rules about how old you can be to gamble in a casino on a cruise ship when you are in international waters. While there are many different games to choose from, slots are popular for many cruisers. One reason is that they offer the chance to win a jackpot, which can be pretty significant on some ships. Casinos are often seen as the last bastion of cruise ship smoking freedom (beyond small, designated areas on deck).

Denominations will vary, but penny machines seem to take up the lion’s share of what’s available. Minimum bets tend to be around $0.40 – $0.50 cents per spin, with the ability to bet several dollars per turn. In rare cases, when a dispute can’tbe solved onboard, the policy is to direct patrons to the contact informationfor the main office or casino operator on land. The UK does not and has not done sosince it changed its laws back in 2001, so you can keep your cash if you’re inits waters. If you’re complying with US law orare on specific ships that stop in US ports, you must be at least 21 years oldto gamble. For example, Bermuda, a country that legalized gambling in 2014 has yet to open any casinos because of multiple delays.

Many casinos also let you match casino status from land-based casinos (or even other cruise lines), giving you a leg up. For example, I haven't cruised with Carnival in a while, and I've never played in the line's onboard casinos, but I signed up for the Carnival players club via its Fun Match program. When I registered, I uploaded an offer from a competing cruise line and a players club card from MGM. Now when I log in to Carnival's website, I am shown casino offers that include free and discounted cruises.

Attend an engaging lecture, go to a wine tasting or simply relax and unwind. You may initiate a transfer of unredeemed points if you cruise on a different Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship within 18 months. Tier levels are based on Reward Points earned within the 12-month evaluation period. For purposes of tier evaluation, all members will start with zero points on April 1st. Reward Points earned April 1 -March 31 will determine the tier level for the subsequent year.

In the US, if you win $1,200 at a poker or blackjack game, you will be given an IRS Form W-2G to pay taxes on your prize. If your winnings are reported, federal taxes will be withheld at a flat rate of 24% of the amount. If your winnings fall under the thresholds, you won’t be given a form but you can self-report your winnings on an IRS Form 1040. If you aren’t in a country that taxes gambling winnings, you may be tax-exempt.

gambling on cruise ships

In addition, the stakes are typically low, so there’s usually not a ton of money at stake. On the day that you board the casino will be closed (although you are still free to enter and check out the offerings). It will open up later that night after the ship has set sail. As well, during days in port the games are closed, but available once the ship exits the jurisdiction of the port country.

The company also paid out $1 million in tournament prizes in one year, including an epic Monopoly tournament. Cruise casinos in the USA are easy to find – a quick Google search will bring up hundreds of results. However, finding the very best casino cruises is another matter - and we hope that after reading this post, you have some ideas of which cruise liners offer a stellar gambling experience. Awareness of these “don’ts” will help navigate experience on casino ships responsibly and safely for gamblers. By setting limits, staying rational, managing finances wisely, and prioritizing personal well-being, individuals can enjoy the thrill of gambling without succumbing to its potential pitfalls. Many of the tournaments allow passengers to rebuy if they lose.

As you might guess, there are a number of laws that oversee casino gambling, depending on the jurisdiction the ship is in. That’s why there’s a simple rule — the casino is open when the ship is at sea. Many cruise lines also offer their own scratch-off tickets available for purchase, as well as big lotto-style drawings with jackpots worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. When it comes to cruising, gambling in the ship’s casino is one of the most popular activities. In fact, in the late evening it can be the busiest spot on the entire ship. Typically there are a handful of tickets available and they are cruise line branded.

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