Cruise Ship Casinos: How Gambling at Sea Works

Most large cruise ships have a casino, but it normally opens only once the ship is out at sea and shuts again in port. On board you can expect slot machines, the main table games and often poker or bingo, an age limit chosen by the cruise line (usually 18, sometimes 21) and house rules written by the line itself rather than by a regulator on land.

When the casino opens

A ship in port sits inside that country's waters and under its laws, which in most places do not allow a floating casino at the quay. So the gaming room stays closed while the ship is docked and opens after departure, typically once it has moved beyond the territorial limit, which most countries draw 12 nautical miles from the coast. The exact moment is announced on board.

That rhythm shapes the week. On port days the casino may only open in the evening after sailing. Sea days are the opposite, with the room open from late morning into the night. Itineraries that stay inside one country's waters for long stretches can mean very short opening hours, or none.

What you will find on board

• Slots and video poker, which take up most of the floor space on nearly every ship.
• Blackjack and roulette, plus craps, baccarat or carnival games such as three card poker on larger vessels.
• Poker, either a small cash table or scheduled tournaments.
• Slot and table tournaments with an entry fee and a prize table.
• Bingo, usually called in a lounge or theatre rather than the casino. The game itself works as described in how to play bingo.

Who sets the rules at sea

On land, a casino answers to a state or national gaming regulator. At sea the cruise line writes the house rules and enforces them, within the laws of the country where the ship is registered and the ports it visits. In practice that means the line decides the minimum age, the table limits, the blackjack payout, the type of roulette wheel and how disputes are handled.

The posted rules, usually displayed at the casino desk and in the cruise line's own terms, are the reference point. If a disagreement arises, the casino manager is the first stop, then guest services.

Age limits on cruise casinos

Many lines set the casino age at 18, some raise it to 21 for all sailings or for certain itineraries, and a few apply different limits depending on where the ship departs from. The age printed on your booking terms is the one that applies, not the limit at home or at the port. The wider picture of gambling ages around the world is set out in how old you have to be to gamble.

Money on board

Ships usually run on a single currency, often the US dollar or the euro. Cash works at the tables and machines, and many lines also let guests charge casino credit to their onboard account, sometimes with a service fee added. That convenience is worth a moment's thought: a card that already pays for drinks and excursions makes it easy to lose track of what has gone into the slots.

Chips and slot credits are cashed at the casino cashier, not elsewhere on the ship. Do it before the last night, because the casino closes as the ship nears its final port.

Check the odds before playing

Game rules at sea are not always the ones a player knows from land. A few quick checks:

For a newcomer deciding between machines and the wheel, the comparison in slots vs roulette applies at sea just as it does on land.

A calm plan for a week at sea

1. Pick a daily amount before boarding and keep it separate from the holiday budget.
2. Review the onboard account statement every day or two; most ships show it on the cabin TV or an app.
3. Use sea days for the rest of the ship too, from the pool to the shows, rather than letting the casino fill them.
4. Avoid mixing a drinks package and long gaming sessions.

Quick questions

Are cruise casino winnings taxed?

That depends on your home country's rules rather than the ship's. Some countries tax gambling winnings and some do not; a tax adviser at home can say what applies.

Can I smoke in a ship's casino?

Some lines still allow smoking in part of the casino, others ban it. The policy is in the line's guest rules.

A cruise casino is part of the entertainment programme, open to adults and best treated as one more show with a ticket price you choose in advance. Rules differ by line and by itinerary, so read them before the first bet, and stop for the day when the set amount is gone.