Transcript:

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Cruising promises paradise. But below deck there’s a dark side leaving some passengers drowning in debt.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
I think we should call it what it is and just say it’s a casino boat.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
Ben is a self-confessed compulsive gambler and is caught in a vicious cycle.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
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.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Onboard, he’s given free drinks, food, even credit. His only expense is in the casino.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
I wanted to spend about $2,000–$3,000. I ended up spending $8,000. My turnover on the boat was $28,000. We’re concerned about the incentives.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Peter Carter is planning to launch a class action as early as next month. His investigation was sparked by a tragic overboard death in May.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Claims so far are against Carnival and their brands, including P&O, and some against Royal Caribbean.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Cruise lines insist they have responsible gaming conduct policies in place, with casinos only operating outside territorial waters. But some claim once ships hit the high seas, it’s a high stakes game where anything goes.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Because in the gambling mind, you’re not gonna lose. You’re gonna win. But in reality, that doesn’t happen.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
It’s the house – or ship – that always wins. But the tide is turning.

Narrator:
Georgia Holland, 7News.