Gambling at Sea: The Loopholes and Laws Behind Online Casinos on Cruise Liners

Online casinos have literally been everywhere. From websites to mobile apps, they definitely offer a variety of casino games with a simple tap. Accordingly, online casinos are also offered in cruise liners providing entertainment options for travellers looking to indulge with some of the games. 

As part of every cruise liners’ extensive array of entertainment options, many of them have now embraced the digital revolution and introduced online casinos aboard their ships. This approach to entertainment is well within its reputation of luxury and adventure providing a twist to the cruising experience on a classic pastime. 

However, legal concerns arise and many are curious as to what laws may apply to these online casinos. Below, let us get to know various casino games offered in these online casinos in cruise liners and let us explore and find out how Australian laws regulate gambling onboard these cruise liners. 

Online Casinos at Sea 

a person holding a tray of casino chips
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

Gambling has always been a socially accepted behavior in Australia. Aussie social circles encourage gambling as it has become the symbolic gesture of friendship. Accordingly, this is the reason why there is an estimated 6.8 million Australians considered to be regular gamblers that participate mainly with lotteries and playing the pokies. 

With this penchant for gambling among the population, it is not surprising that even their cruise liners also offer it as an entertainment option. For most cruise ships, they have long offered physical casinos as part of their entertainment such as online pokies and table games such as poker and blackjack. This integration of online casinos may also signal their response to the increasing popularity of digital gaming and the increasing demand for diverse entertainment options. 

Cruise ship patrons may be able to access select online casino platforms via onboard Wi-Fi or ship intranet systems. Depending on how it is offered in various cruise lines, some of them offer it by allowing their patrons to create gaming accounts tied to their cruise or cabin identification information. 

For example, a cruise ship may offer access to an online pokies real money app to patrons who are pokies enthusiasts looking to enjoy their favorite games while at sea. Some may even offer progressive web apps where their patrons do not need to download the app and can access the games directly through their mobile browsers. 

When it comes to deposits and withdrawals, cruise ships may arrange this with their patrons through room charge accounts or ship currency cards. In doing so, cruise ship patrons can easily deposit money through their account or easily withdraw their winnings. 

Applicable Laws Behind Online Casinos on Cruise Liners 

close up of person with cards in casino
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

This set up of online gambling at sea may probably be the most convenient thing to have ever been offered to gambling enthusiasts aboard cruise ships. However, such convenience and accessibility has a significant downside particularly when it comes to laws governing it. 

International laws provide that within twelve nautical miles from land, ships are generally governed by the laws of the country or state. Outside the limit, they generally come under the laws of the nation in which the ship is registered. 

This means that if a ship offering gambling entertainment to its patrons is within 12 nautical miles from Australia, they will be governed by its laws. As such, we have to keep in mind that current Australian laws typically prohibit overseas-based operators not holding relevant state or territory licenses to provide online gambling service or even advertise it to Australian residents.  

Therefore, when the ship sets sail, they are technically free from the local gambling laws that may bind them. This freedom has then become the huge selling point for cruise ships since gambling commissions only apply when the ship is docked on the territory. As such, when the ship is docked for example in Australia, they restrict such entertainment options to bypass any Australian law that may apply.  

For other cruise ships, they often fly flags of convenience whereby the owners of the ship register it to another country other than that of the ship’s owners. This practice has become as prevalent as it allows ship owners to take advantage of minimal regulation and even low or no taxes especially when it involves gambling.  

Final Thoughts

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Gambling at Sea: The Loopholes and Laws Behind Online Casinos on Cruise Liners 4

Online casinos in cruise liners represent dynamic and exciting development in the world of maritime entertainment. By combining the thrill of gambling with the exciting allure of ocean travel, cruise lines offer passengers a more unique and modern gaming experience. 

However, Aussie casino gamers should always bear in mind the regulatory laws that may be applicable on them. For some cruise ships, they even offer self-exclusion programs to help players manage their gambling activities responsibly. Yet, critics exclaim that relying on a gambler to self-exclude is not so effective as they envision it to be. 

Accordingly, nations should really come together and strengthen their regulations over gambling activities not only on land but also in high waters. 

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