The beleaguered cruise industry, slammed hard by the coronavirus pandemic, has found a bright spot moving forward: sports betting.
BetMGM and Carnival Corporation struck a deal to put sportsbooks on more than 50 U.S.-based ships. The agreement allows customers to wager while ships are at sea and when they’re in a port, so long as it’s in a state that permits sports betting. Passengers can rely on a mobile app or a kiosk, according to the Associated Press.
Besides Carnival Cruise Lines, the agreement includes Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, which began accepting bets last October.
The sports betting will be phased in over the next few months, BetMGM said. The ships already offer casino gambling with slots, table games and poker.
“We’ve found an ideal partner in Carnival Corporation and look forward to providing our sports betting and iGaming products to its millions of passengers,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said in a statement. “This is another great opportunity for us to further expand BetMGM’s footprint.”
Financial terms have not been publicized at this time.
BetMGM operates in 18 states, Washington, D.C., and Ontario, Canada. It is a 50-50 joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Entain Plc.
In a statement, Carnival Senior Vice President Marty Goldman suggested gaming—including sports betting—could be a way to bring customers back.
“We’re very proud to be able to deliver the excitement and engagement of sports betting and iGaming to our guests through our partnership with BetMGM,” Goldman said.
The two companies will collaborate on marketing and promotions.
