7News Sydney Afternoon – Cruise Liners Face Class Action Over Predatory Gambling Practices – November 21, 2024

Transcript:

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Cruise liners are facing a possible class action accused of predatory gambling practices on board. A lawyer says he’s been inundated by victims, but wants more people to come forward. Here’s our consumer affairs editor, Georgia Holland.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good afternoon. Cruise companies are being accused of predatory behaviour and a potential class action could be launched as early as next month. Lawyer Peter Carter claims companies are taking advantage of passengers with gambling problems in the onboard casinos, incentivizing them with free alcohol, food, even free cruises and credit. We’ve spoken with a self-professed compulsive gambler who’s joining the class action. He claims to be caught in a vicious cycle.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
So you get your free cruise, you go back on, you gamble, you get another free cruise. You go on that one, you get another one. Cruise lines operating out of Australia think that once they get into international waters, anything goes. We have a different opinion. We think there’s a case to answer, and we are going to start the class action soon.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Most of the claims so far are against Carnival, which is the parent company of P&O, and Royal Caribbean. Peter Carter began his investigation after the tragic overboard death of a man earlier this year, who is believed to have lost thousands of dollars gambling.

Speaker 3 (01:20):
The class action will extend back six years. There have been about four million passengers over that period. We think there are between at least 5,000 and 10,000 passengers.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Cruise lines insist they have responsible gaming conduct policies in place. We’ll have more on this story in tonight’s news at six o’clock.