That rule is that the boat is\nconsidered to be an extension of the country under whose flag it sails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Except when it sails into another\u2019s\nterritorial waters\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Laws About\nGambling At Sea<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAccording to maritime law – the rules\nthat govern all things seaworthy – gambling laws on the waves are determined by\nthe nation the ship is registered with. Simple, eh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, yes and no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once a ship is docked or within a\ncertain distance from the coast of a country, then it becomes subject to the\nlaw of the land whose coastline it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if you are sailing in US waters, activities are governed by US federal and state laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd, again under maritime law, international\nwaters become territorial waters when the ship sails within three to 12 miles\nfrom the coastline<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nShould your cruise ship take you to\nwithin 12 miles of the coast of the US, the on-board casino will be closed for business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, with a few exceptions, cruise\nship casinos will shut up shop while the ship is docked, to comply with local\ngambling rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This means that if you\u2019re exploring the US or another country where gambling is banned on shore, but you had hoped to spend a lot of time in a casino<\/a>, keep this in mind \u2014 you may want to choose a cruise itinerary with a lot of sea days.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Far Out To Sea\nYou Need To Be To Gamble Legally<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis depends on the country you have\njust cast off from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gambling laws in the US and the UK\nare very different. In the US, where casinos are restricted by state, ships\nmust be a minimum of 12 miles out before the first dice is thrown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to the UK Gambling\nCommission, things are far more relaxed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cruise ships do need to have a premises license if they offer commercial gambling, but if the ship is “on a journey into or from international waters” then no premises license is even required at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can gamble away in UK waters\nwithout batting an eyelid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Countries Where Gambling Is Banned (But You Can Get Around By Gambling At Sea\u2026)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the following countries, land-based gambling is illegal<\/strong> or so heavily state-controlled that the ship\u2019s casino doors will only be open when you are the legal distance of 12 miles or more off-shore<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Afghanistan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Algeria<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- American Samoa<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bangladesh<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Barbados <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bhutan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Brazil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Brunei<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cayman Islands<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- China<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cuba<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ecuador<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Guam<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Guatemala – operates on a\ncontradictory, semi-legal basis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Indonesia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iran<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Iraq<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Israel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jordan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Kuwait<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Libya<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Maldives<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mauritania<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Norway<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Oman<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pakistan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Palau<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Qatar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Saudi Arabia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Somalia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- South Sudan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Syria<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Taiwan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Thailand<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Turkey<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tuvalu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- United Arab Emirates<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Uzbekistan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Yemen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Gambling laws can\nchange quickly, so the above list is not exhaustive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Countries To Keep\nAn Eye On<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAlways remember to do your research on local gambling laws<\/a> before you roll the dice, but keep your eyes peeled for developments in some of these countries\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn some nations such as North Korea <\/strong>and Cambodia<\/strong>, land-based gambling is illegal for its citizens yet legal for foreign visitors, which led to a casino-tourism boom for the latter. <\/p>\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, there is also a difference in how native and foreign casino workers are treated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Researchers have reported that Chinese casino workers in Cambodian casinos earn 4.5x as much as their Cambodian colleagues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other countries, such as Japan<\/strong>, have put plans in place to limit native participation without banning it entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSince the government approved the necessary legislation for integrated resorts (IRs) a few years ago, Japan<\/a> has been preparing to open its land-based gambling venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe IR program is seriously behind schedule though, due to COVID-19 and other issues, so it’s unlikely to see an IR open its doors before at least 2027 or 2028<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen these are complete it expects to become a global hub for international gambling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Japanese nationals will only be able to visit the resorts 10 times a month and will have to pay \u00a56,000 (approximately $45) for admission each time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laws which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hopes will stop addiction and crime<\/a> levels soaring. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs shown by Japan, it can take a country multiple years after the legalization of gambling to build the required infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, Bermuda<\/strong>, a country that legalized gambling in 2014 has yet to open any casinos because of multiple delays. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPlans have been\napproved for four casinos to be integrated into Bermuda\u2019s existing hotels and\nresorts. The first to open was supposed to be the St Regis Hotel in St George\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the opening\ndate of this casino has been pushed back multiple times and it currently remains unopened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whilst land-based betting is causing issues for Bermuda, online betting<\/a> has created problems for many countries that have banned gambling. This is because these countries are struggling to stop their citizens from playing online.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Israel<\/strong>, offshore online casinos can escape the government’s strict anti-gambling laws and offer gambling to Israel\u2019s population because the government’s method of website blocking is not 100% effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs such, many Israelis can gamble\nillegally from the comfort of their own home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those Israelis not interested in online betting can still gamble thanks to the range of cruise ships with casinos<\/a> that dock in major Israeli ports which allow players to spin the roulette wheel in international waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGambling laws can change rapidly, as\nproven by the recent changes made by Japan and Bermuda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you\u2019re planning a cruise, it’s\na good idea to keep tabs on the countries you are going to visit, just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legal Gambling Ages On Cruise Ships<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"cruise](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/cruise-boat.jpg\")
Image: Josiah Weiss\/Unsplash <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAgain, this works on an international\nvessel basis and, of course, on whose water you are floating at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re complying with US law or\nare on specific ships that stop in US ports, you must be at least 21 years old\nto gamble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, much like the rest of the\nrules, if the nation under whose flag you are sailing has a more liberal\napproach to gambling, then the age cut-off might drop to 18, as it is in the\nUK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even then, you could still be at the\ndiscretion of the cruise line, with some requiring that passengers aged between\n18 and 21 be accompanied by a passenger over 21 if they want to gamble and\ndrink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If in doubt, always check before you\nbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taxes On Gambling\nWins When You\u2019re On A Cruise Ship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOk, here\u2019s where things get a little\nmore complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paying taxes on your winnings<\/a> can depend on whether the amount you win is deemed worthy of reporting to the state by the casino operators on board the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\nShould somebody win over $1,200 in a\nsingle payout or enjoy a table game win with odds of 300\/1 or more, then\ntechnically the house is required to provide the lucky winner with IRS Form W-2G \u2014 who can then pay the taxes on\ntheir haul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For winnings that fall under these\nthresholds the player will not be given any forms but should self-report their\nwinnings using IRS\nForm 1040. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the case for winnings across gambling games such as blackjack<\/a>, bingo<\/a>, and slot machines<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBut they\u2019ll only have to do this if\nthe casino operators are based in a country that taxes its gambling winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UK does not and has not done so\nsince it changed its laws back in 2001, so you can keep your cash if you\u2019re in\nits waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who Regulates\nCasinos On Cruise Ships?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Roulette](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_1560971411-1024x683.jpg\")
Image: Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe world\u2019s largest cruise industry trade association, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) enforces some regulations and policies<\/a> surrounding equipment, rules of play, internal audits, internal control procedures for cash counting, and customer service.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn general, CLIA tends to follow the\nregulatory standards and rules of play used by control boards, licensed\njurisdictions and established casinos in Nevada and New Jersey in the US, or\nEngland in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regulation and policies have become\nmore important as cruise ships are fitted with larger casinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, again under maritime law, international\nwaters become territorial waters when the ship sails within three to 12 miles\nfrom the coastline<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Should your cruise ship take you to\nwithin 12 miles of the coast of the US, the on-board casino will be closed for business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, with a few exceptions, cruise\nship casinos will shut up shop while the ship is docked, to comply with local\ngambling rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that if you\u2019re exploring the US or another country where gambling is banned on shore, but you had hoped to spend a lot of time in a casino<\/a>, keep this in mind \u2014 you may want to choose a cruise itinerary with a lot of sea days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This depends on the country you have\njust cast off from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gambling laws in the US and the UK\nare very different. In the US, where casinos are restricted by state, ships\nmust be a minimum of 12 miles out before the first dice is thrown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to the UK Gambling\nCommission, things are far more relaxed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cruise ships do need to have a premises license if they offer commercial gambling, but if the ship is “on a journey into or from international waters” then no premises license is even required at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can gamble away in UK waters\nwithout batting an eyelid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the following countries, land-based gambling is illegal<\/strong> or so heavily state-controlled that the ship\u2019s casino doors will only be open when you are the legal distance of 12 miles or more off-shore<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gambling laws can\nchange quickly, so the above list is not exhaustive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always remember to do your research on local gambling laws<\/a> before you roll the dice, but keep your eyes peeled for developments in some of these countries\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some nations such as North Korea <\/strong>and Cambodia<\/strong>, land-based gambling is illegal for its citizens yet legal for foreign visitors, which led to a casino-tourism boom for the latter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, there is also a difference in how native and foreign casino workers are treated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers have reported that Chinese casino workers in Cambodian casinos earn 4.5x as much as their Cambodian colleagues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other countries, such as Japan<\/strong>, have put plans in place to limit native participation without banning it entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the government approved the necessary legislation for integrated resorts (IRs) a few years ago, Japan<\/a> has been preparing to open its land-based gambling venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The IR program is seriously behind schedule though, due to COVID-19 and other issues, so it’s unlikely to see an IR open its doors before at least 2027 or 2028<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When these are complete it expects to become a global hub for international gambling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Japanese nationals will only be able to visit the resorts 10 times a month and will have to pay \u00a56,000 (approximately $45) for admission each time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Laws which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hopes will stop addiction and crime<\/a> levels soaring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As shown by Japan, it can take a country multiple years after the legalization of gambling to build the required infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, Bermuda<\/strong>, a country that legalized gambling in 2014 has yet to open any casinos because of multiple delays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plans have been\napproved for four casinos to be integrated into Bermuda\u2019s existing hotels and\nresorts. The first to open was supposed to be the St Regis Hotel in St George\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the opening\ndate of this casino has been pushed back multiple times and it currently remains unopened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst land-based betting is causing issues for Bermuda, online betting<\/a> has created problems for many countries that have banned gambling. This is because these countries are struggling to stop their citizens from playing online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Israel<\/strong>, offshore online casinos can escape the government’s strict anti-gambling laws and offer gambling to Israel\u2019s population because the government’s method of website blocking is not 100% effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As such, many Israelis can gamble\nillegally from the comfort of their own home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Those Israelis not interested in online betting can still gamble thanks to the range of cruise ships with casinos<\/a> that dock in major Israeli ports which allow players to spin the roulette wheel in international waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gambling laws can change rapidly, as\nproven by the recent changes made by Japan and Bermuda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you\u2019re planning a cruise, it’s\na good idea to keep tabs on the countries you are going to visit, just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, this works on an international\nvessel basis and, of course, on whose water you are floating at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re complying with US law or\nare on specific ships that stop in US ports, you must be at least 21 years old\nto gamble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, much like the rest of the\nrules, if the nation under whose flag you are sailing has a more liberal\napproach to gambling, then the age cut-off might drop to 18, as it is in the\nUK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even then, you could still be at the\ndiscretion of the cruise line, with some requiring that passengers aged between\n18 and 21 be accompanied by a passenger over 21 if they want to gamble and\ndrink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If in doubt, always check before you\nbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ok, here\u2019s where things get a little\nmore complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paying taxes on your winnings<\/a> can depend on whether the amount you win is deemed worthy of reporting to the state by the casino operators on board the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Should somebody win over $1,200 in a\nsingle payout or enjoy a table game win with odds of 300\/1 or more, then\ntechnically the house is required to provide the lucky winner with IRS Form W-2G \u2014 who can then pay the taxes on\ntheir haul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For winnings that fall under these\nthresholds the player will not be given any forms but should self-report their\nwinnings using IRS\nForm 1040. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the case for winnings across gambling games such as blackjack<\/a>, bingo<\/a>, and slot machines<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But they\u2019ll only have to do this if\nthe casino operators are based in a country that taxes its gambling winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The UK does not and has not done so\nsince it changed its laws back in 2001, so you can keep your cash if you\u2019re in\nits waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world\u2019s largest cruise industry trade association, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) enforces some regulations and policies<\/a> surrounding equipment, rules of play, internal audits, internal control procedures for cash counting, and customer service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, CLIA tends to follow the\nregulatory standards and rules of play used by control boards, licensed\njurisdictions and established casinos in Nevada and New Jersey in the US, or\nEngland in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regulation and policies have become\nmore important as cruise ships are fitted with larger casinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Far Out To Sea\nYou Need To Be To Gamble Legally<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Countries Where Gambling Is Banned (But You Can Get Around By Gambling At Sea\u2026)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Countries To Keep\nAn Eye On<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Legal Gambling Ages On Cruise Ships<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Taxes On Gambling\nWins When You\u2019re On A Cruise Ship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who Regulates\nCasinos On Cruise Ships?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n