Esplorare il mondo dei casinò a bordo delle navi da crociera
In the world of high seas adventures, few activities are as popular as gambling on cruise ships. However, the rules governing these games of chance can be as unpredictable as the ocean itself, depending on whether the ship is sailing in international waters or US territorial waters.
When a cruise ship sets sail beyond 12 nautical miles from any country's coastline, it enters international waters, where gambling operations are primarily governed by the maritime laws of the country under whose flag the ship is registered. This is often referred to as "flag state" jurisdiction. Many cruise ships register under flags of convenience, such as Bermuda, Panama, or the UK, which have permissive gambling regulations. As a result, UK-flagged ships, for example, are not subject to UK gambling laws once outside UK waters.
Conversely, within 12 nautical miles of the US coast, cruise ships must follow US state and federal gambling laws. Gambling is generally not permitted in US territorial waters unless the local jurisdiction allows it, which is rare except in specific circumstances.
In some instances, US ports have hosted "cruises to nowhere," allowing boats to take passengers just beyond the 12-mile limit to allow gambling. However, additional requirements have been imposed in certain states, such as Texas, where ships sometimes needed to visit a foreign port or sail for at least 24 hours to legally offer gambling.
The world's largest cruise industry trade association, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), enforces regulations and policies surrounding equipment, rules of play, internal audits, internal control procedures for cash counting, and customer service on cruise ships' casinos.
When the ship approaches a national coastline within 12 nautical miles, all gambling activities must cease to comply with local regulations. Notably, Bermuda, a country that legalized gambling in 2014, has yet to open any casinos due to multiple delays.
The legal gambling age on cruise ships varies based on the nation under whose flag the ship sails and the waters it is in. In the US, for example, the minimum age is 21. However, some cruise lines may require passengers aged between 18 and 21 to be accompanied by a passenger over 21 if they want to gamble and drink.
In countries where land-based gambling is illegal or heavily state-controlled, such as Israel, many citizens gamble illegally from home due to ineffective website blocking. Offshore online casinos can offer gambling to Israel's population, bypassing the government's strict anti-gambling laws.
Japan, with plans to limit native participation in gambling without banning it entirely, expects to become a global hub for international gambling. In the UK, cruise ships do not need a premises license for commercial gambling if they are on a journey into or from international waters.
It is essential to remember that the boat is considered an extension of the country under whose flag it sails. As such, when a ship is docked or within a certain distance from a country's coastline, it becomes subject to the law of that land. International waters become territorial waters when the ship sails within 3 to 12 miles from the coastline.
In conclusion, the regulations governing cruise ship casinos are complex and varied, but understanding these rules can help passengers make informed decisions about their gaming experiences at sea.
