Carnival Corporation announced it will install Ocean Medallion technology on its cruise ships, which allows passengers to gamble on their smartphones 24/7, anywhere onboard while at sea.
John Padgett, chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival, said, “The growing global demand for gaming across all audiences is undeniable.” He said the social, competitive and location-based nature of the Carnival games gives them broad appeal.
Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess will be the first Carnival Corporation vessel to showcase Ocean Medallion technology on its cruise scheduled to leave from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 13.
Passengers simply download the PlayOcean app and register an account in the ship’s casino in order to gamble with their smartphone. The app also is programmed to include maximum wagering amounts per day and per cruise. Four games will be available: Queen Sea, a multi-player, online poker game; Tipsy Tentacles Slots, an e-version of a slot machine; Roulette on Deck, “a continuous live event in which players place virtual bets on regularly occurring spins of a virtual roulette wheel;” and Bingo on Deck, in which players can seamlessly switch between their mobile device and a traditional bingo card. The games can be played without prize money on land or when the ship is not in international waters.
