Have You Suffered Gambling Losses on a Cruise Ship?
A class action investigation is underway. Register your interest today: https://cruiseshipgamblinglosses.com.au/.

Sarah (00:00):
… the onboard casinos, roulette tables, banks of poker machines, they really are a floating casino. Are they subject to the same licensing laws and regulations like Star and Crown have been facing on the shore? There’s a law firm specializing in travel compensation, it’s called Carter Capner, and it’s launched an investigation back in May after a man tragically jumped overboard from P&O’s Pacific Adventure following reports of large gambling losses. Now the company is preparing to launch a class action, it’s calling for other passengers affected by alleged enticement to gamble, to come aboard or to come forward. I shouldn’t use aboard, right? Because that’s what happened, aboard is the concern around this.

(00:44):
Peter Carter is a director of Carter Capner Law. Good morning.

Peter Carter (00:48):
Good morning Sarah.

Sarah (00:49):
So what are you alleging is going on here in terms of the cruise industry?

Peter Carter (00:57):
Well, the point is that the cruise lines think that once they’re in international waters, everything goes, we have a different opinion and we think that there are still some regulations that need to be followed. Even the law of the United Kingdom or the law of Bermuda, wherever the ship is registered, will apply, and those laws are very favorable in terms of consumer protection.

Sarah (01:26):
So if they’re in international waters, what does apply in terms of people being limited in how much they can gamble?

Peter Carter (01:34):
Well, there are no regulations as such. The question is whether they should be permitted to allow gambling when people are heavily intoxicated, whether they should be giving no questions asked loans just charged to their room account without any investigation. Is there the capacity to repay or any investigation as to whether they’re a problem gambler? So those things we believe apply under the consumer protection laws of other countries. And the law that applies on the ship in international waters is the law of the state where the vessel is registered.

Sarah (02:16):
Right. So what kind of things are you seeing onboard? I mean, this is a day we’re asking people to help, for those who are struggling just to put food on the table. But what kind of trouble are people getting into on a cruise that might mean they’re in trouble when they get home?

Peter Carter (02:29):
Well, they go to the casino desk and they’ve asked, oh, would you like a loan? And they say, oh, how much? $5,000 a day, $2,000 a day, depending. We have people who’ve contacted us, who’ve racked up a debt of $13,000 without keeping track of it because the casino on the ship doesn’t do it for them and they’re distracted by the free drinks, the promises of the next cruise is free. So we think that’s all very poor conduct, wouldn’t be tolerated in Australia. And our objective is to get compensation for those passengers who’ve been financially harmed as a result. And remember, it’s not just the passenger, it’s their family as well. So it’s serious conduct and they should be brought to account.

Sarah (03:28):
And you’re preparing a class action against who?

Peter Carter (03:32):
Well, the main protagonist, according to the numbers who’ve already expressed their interest to us is Carnival and their brands, P&O and other Carnival cruises. Royal Caribbean featured to some extent. They’re the only two that are featuring at the moment and they’re the ones that operate out of Australia over the last six years.

Sarah (03:59):
All right. Well we’ll watch this space on that. Thanks for your time.

Peter Carter (04:03):
Thanks Sarah.

Sarah (04:03):
Peter Carter, director of Carter Capner Law.