Cruise ship casinos are a popular form of entertainment, with some ships offering gaming opportunities as big as those found in Las Vegas. But with the increased popularity of these floating casinos comes a concern that some of them may be engaging in unethical practices in order to increase their profits. So, do cruise ship casinos cheat?
The short answer is that it depends on the specific cruise line and casino. While there have been some reported cases of cheating at cruise ship casinos, the majority of them are highly regulated and closely monitored. Cruise lines that have been found to be engaging in unethical practices tend to be quickly identified and removed from the industry.
When it comes to cruise ship casinos, the most common form of cheating is card counting. This is when players track the cards that have been dealt in order to gain an advantage over the house. While this practice is illegal, it can still be difficult for casino staff to detect and stop in a crowded environment like a cruise ship casino.
Another form of cheating that can occur at cruise ship casinos is when dealers or other casino staff members are manipulating the odds by stacking decks or dealing seconds (dealing more than one card from a deck before reshuffling). This type of cheating can be difficult to detect as well, but many reputable cruise lines take steps to prevent these types of activities by providing extensive training and monitoring for their dealer staff.
Finally, some cruise lines may employ “shills” or undercover employees who pretend to be paying customers in order to encourage others to bet or play more often. These shills may use various tactics such as making large bets or buying up chips without actually playing games themselves. While this type of cheating is difficult to detect as well, most reputable cruise lines do not engage in this practice and will only employ shills if they are necessary for regulatory reasons.
Conclusion:
Overall, while there have been isolated cases of cheating at cruise ship casinos, these instances are rare and usually quickly identified and rectified by reputable companies operating within the industry. Most cruise ships take extensive measures to ensure their operations are fair and above board and therefore cheating at these establishments should not be a major concern for most travelers planning a trip on one of these vessels.