Carnival Cruise Line last week officially debuted its Ocean Sportsbook, which will take bets in international waters on Carnival ships going forward. The Majestic Princess, operated by Carnival subsidiary Princess Cruises, accepted the first wagers.
The Ocean Sportsbook works on a platform developed by U.K.-based Miomni Gaming. SportRadar provides odds through a satellite feed that reaches the ships on the high seas.
“Adding any additional forms of entertainment for cruise passengers to enjoy is a plus for the industry,” Cruise Vacations International’s Jeremy Hall told Travel Pulse. “I don’t see sports betting having any negative effect on passengers, as it seems the wagers are placed either in the casino or on the app. Gambling and watching sports onboard are both staples for many cruise passengers, so kudos for those who found a way to blend both together.”
Being that sports betting is everywhere, it only makes sense to give those folks that may enjoy gambling, but don’t really enjoy sitting in the casino, a chance to win big, even at sea,” John Maddox, owner and operator of Travel by John, a cruise booking service, told Travel Pulse.
Wagering on Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises is regulated by the Cruise Lines International Association, a cruise industry trade group that applies regulations similar to those in Nevada to cruise ship casinos.
