Cruise Ship Casinos: 10 Must-Know Facts About Gambling At Sea

Casinos conjure up images of the glitzy hotels and 24/7 action of Las Vegas, but there’s a unique form of gambling that takes place far from the desert—on cruise ships.

While you will find some serious gamblers at sea, most people gambling on cruise ships are casual gamers at best. The casino offerings from most cruise lines reflect this, with a limited number of table games and a focus on slots.

Nevertheless, spending some time in the casino can be an enjoyable part of a cruise vacation for many people. As with all gambling, it’s important to set aside a budget so you know what you’re prepared to lose.

1. Odds Aren’t As Good

It’s no secret that casino odds aren’t in your favor on land, but that’s even more true at sea. For example, in Blackjack, where the odds of winning on land might be more favorable due to competitive regulation, cruise ship casinos often have rules that further tip the balance in the house’s favor.

“Cruise ship casinos offer some of the poorest payouts of any casino you’ll find,” stated Cruzely’s Tanner Callais. He highlighted Blackjack as a typical case of offering poorer playing conditions at sea.

He explained that many cruise lines offer payouts of 6-to-5 instead of the more usual 3-to-2: “If that doesn’t sounds like a big deal, consider that a $10 bet would pay $12 on blackjack instead of $15 under the typical rules.”

This means players should be more cautious and aware that their chances of winning are slimmer than they might be in a traditional casino.

2. Limited Choice Of Table Games

Cruise lines tend to fill their casinos with profitable slots, something that attracts the more casual gamers. This leaves less room for table games such as poker and blackjack, although roulette wheels are usually well represented.

There may be only one or two tables for each game, so the variety and availability are significantly less than what you would find in a large land-based casino.

3. U.S. Age Laws Don’t Always Apply

Depending on the state, some American citizens under 21 may not be able to gamble in land-based casinos. On a cruise ship, those laws don’t always apply.

All major American cruise lines allow anyone over the age of 18 to gamble, with the exception of some U.S.-focused itineraries such as Alaska, and some Caribbean cruises. If in doubt, check cruise line policies before booking.

4. Opening Hours Vary Wildly

Although most cruise ship facilities are open throughout the day, the casino—like onboard shops—is an exception. Because of tax rules and regulations, casinos will only be open when the vessel is at sea.

On sea days, you’ll find slots open throughout the day, possible even for the full 24 hours. Table games will begin around lunchtime and stay open until late. Whenever the ship is in port, the casino will be closed.

Casino opening times will be advertised in the daily program, which is usually delivered to your cabin on the previous evening or available in the onboard app, if one exists. Speak to a casino host if you’re wondering about opening hours throughout the cruise.

5. You Can Earn A “Free” Cruise

On land, frequent gamblers are often offered discounted accommodation, meals, and other perks to encourage them to return. Loyalty programs exist on ships too.

Frequent gamblers can rack up points through their play, which can be redeemed for various perks, including future cruises.

Bear in mind that in order to reach the amount of playing points needed for such premium benefits, you’ll need to put in some serious playing time. If that’s your aim, pick an itinerary with more sea days to maximize your time in the casino.

Several people have documented their journey to earning a “free” cruise using this method, including Melinda Crow.

She highlighted several stumbling blocks and issues along the way, eventually recommending that for most people, “shopping cruise sales is probably a better route to a cheaper vacation.”

6. It’s Less Intimidating

If you’ve always wanted to learn poker or blackjack but have been intimidated by the idea of a live casino, a cruise ship could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Most cruise lines with casinos offer sessions for beginners so you can learn in a comfortable environment with the pressure off. In many cases those who attend the lesson may get some casino credit to use for real, so it’s well worth keeping an eye out for any sessions advertised in the daily program.

During regular playing time, the casinos usually have a more sociable atmosphere than a land-based casino, with lower table minimums further encouraging more casual players.

7. Free Drinks Are Rare

Keep playing the slots or sitting at the poker tables in Vegas and you’ll likely be offered drinks, albeit at the cost of a gratuity. But on cruises, that’s not generally the case.

There is usually a bar in the casino, and waiter service is likely to be offered. However, drinks will almost always be charged, unless you have a beverage package of course.

Some cruise lines do offer a free drink after a certain amount of spend, typically $100 on slots, so check the cruise line’s policies to ensure you don’t miss out.

8. You Can’t Gamble With Onboard Credit

Do you have a big amount of onboard credit and you’re thinking of putting it all on black? You’re out of luck.

Most cruise lines don’t allow the use of onboard credit for gambling. Even if you have some on your account, any deposit you make in the casino will be charged to your credit card.

9. Cruise Casinos Are Becoming Non-Smoking

Smoking and casinos go hand-in-hand. Traditionally, a cruise ship casino is one of the only indoor spaces in which it was possible to smoke. Some lines still allow this, but things are changing fast.

On MSC Euribia, the newest cruise ship from MSC, smoking is not permitted throughout the casino floor. There is an outdoor smoking terrace accessible from the back of the casino, so smokers needn’t venture far.

10. Cash Out Before You Disembark

Although you can play using your cabin account, cruise ship casinos typically only pay out in cash.

If you do strike it lucky on the slots or at the tables, make sure to cash out before you disembark. In fact, this must be done before the casino closes on the last night. If you miss this deadline, you won’t be able to claim your winnings.

Finally, it’s important to remember that visiting the casino should be an enjoyable part of a cruise vacation. If it stops being fun, or you’re losing more than you intended, stop. There’s plenty of other ways to spend your time and money when at sea.

If you need advice on overcoming an issue with gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline on 1-800-GAMBLER.