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What Makes Gambling Cruises Unique: A Comparison With Traditional Casinos

by ReadyBetGo Editor

Every year, millions of people take cruises and enjoy some of the best experiences sailing in the seas. One of the best things about modern cruise ships is that they give people access to almost everyReadyBetGo EditorThere are occasions when we here at ReadyBetGo want to bring you interesting facts about the gambling industry  When something catches our eye, we will publish it for your enjoyment. 
  imaginable activity and amenity. With cruise ships, there’s always something for everyone to do and see, including gambling. All top cruise ships boast a casino like Mr Bet casino et al., so you’ll always have access to some great games onboard. Cruise ship casinos offer lots of benefits, but they also come with some notable drawbacks. If you find land-based gambling establishments a bit intimidating and have always wanted to play casino games while traveling, then gambling at cruise ship casinos can be a fabulous way to spend part of your time. There are several similarities and differences between casinos found in cities and towns and those on cruise ships. However, we’ll focus on what makes cruise ship gambling houses different from their land-based counterparts below. 

Not Always Open

Unlike land-based gambling establishments, cruise ship gambling operators aren’t open 24/7. They only open when traveling international waters, thanks to gambling regulations. So, the best cruise ship casinos for avid gamblers are cruises that leave ports early in the evening or those with sea days. Even during sea days, table games aren’t always available at cruise casinos unlike in land-based ones. On the other hand, slot machines are always open 24/7 during sea days.

More Socialization

Cruise ship casinos tend to offer much lower table minimums. For example, you could place bets as low as $3 on games like blackjack, roulette, or baccarat. But the table minimums vary based on where you’re sailing. For this reason, gambling cruises are much more sociable and recreational than brick-and-mortar casinos. Especially for players who find the land-based casino atmosphere intimidating. On cruise ships, gamblers tend to be much more accommodating and friendly to people who have little experience with table games like blackjack. To make things easier for newbies, cruise ships always run classes teaching people how to play different casino games.

Lower Gambling Age Restrictions

If you regularly gamble in brick-and-mortar casinos, you know you must be at least 21 to place real money bets. Most U.S. states that have legalized casinos have an age restriction of 21 and over. But cruise ship ones have more relaxed rules when it comes to the legal gambling age. In most cases, you need to be 18 or over to gamble at the casino. It’s worth keeping in mind that 18 is also the legal gambling age in many countries, including the United Kingdom.

Smoking Allowed

While aboard the cruise ship, you’ll notice that smoking isn’t allowed just about everywhere. However, casinos on the ship are typically the exception to the rule. While many brick-and-mortar casinos strictly prohibit smoking within their premises, cruise ship ones allow it. 

Luxurious Bars

In brick-and-mortar casinos, you’ll be served free drinks, provided you keep playing games. Moreover, even first-time visitors are given free drinks. However, cruise ship casinos don’t typically offer free drinks. You can only earn free drink points by playing slot machines. Once you accumulate a specific number of points, you’ll earn a specific number of free drinks. Cruise ship casinos make most of their money selling alcohol. They typically have well-furnished luxurious bars where punters pay for drinks. 

Low Payouts

This is bad news, especially if you’re a big-time high roller. For starters, the payouts are usually low since there’s just one place to bet. Then again, cruise ships are all about fun, so you may be unable to place huge bets even if you want to.

Perfect for Low-Rollers

There’s always a big risk of losing your money when you play at any gambling operator. However, one of the best things to love about cruise ship casinos is that they allow you to bet with a low minimum. With just a few thousand travelers onboard, cruise casinos are wary of scaring off potential high-rollers. This allows all players, regardless of level, to enjoy their gaming experience. 

Casino Tournaments

Mainstream cruise lines have casinos that often host tournaments onboard and boast various casino games, including slot tournaments, Texas Hold’em, and blackjack. Some casino tournaments are invitational — you need to be a loyalty program member of a specific level to participate. These are often run on cruises specifically reserved for players who’ve risen to a certain level. 

Are You Ready for a Cruise Gambling Trip?

If you love gambling while traveling, casinos on cruise ships provide an exciting way to have fun on a sea day. You can play all your favorite games here and even take part in casino tournaments. On top of the excitement of gambling, many cruise ship casinos have loyalty clubs that offer different perks onboard and even complimentary cruises. Moreover, since cruise ship casinos have the same regulations as their land-based counterparts and offer pretty much the same odds, they’re an excellent option for fun and games. All in all, it’s always important to gamble responsibly wherever you play!

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