Carnival Cruise Passengers Voice Disappointment Over Fleetwide Lottery Game ‘Carnival Millions’

Posted on: March 2, 2026, 11:40h. 

Last updated on: March 2, 2026, 11:40h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Carnival Cruise Line is debuting an inter-ship lottery game
  • Carnival Millions comes with a top prize of $1 million
  • Game details are widely unknown, including the cost to play

Carnival Cruise Line is giving cruisers an additional gaming option. Not everyone is thrilled.

Carnival Cruise Line lottery game
Carnival Dream and Carnival Conquest are seen docked in the Bahamas. Carnival Cruise Line is rolling out a fleetwide lottery game called Carnival Millions. (Image: Shutterstock)

A subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Cruise Line is rolling out a new lottery offering called Carnival Millions. The first interactive lottery game that links ships across the fleet, the daily lottery draw gives players a chance to win up to $1 million.

Once onboard, Carnival Cruise Line passengers will have the option to purchase digital tickets for Carnival Millions through the Carnival HUB app. All participating Carnival ships in North America and Europe will participate in the same coordinated drawing, generating a winning number and a range of secondary prizes.

“By linking our ships into one exciting lottery, we’re creating a shared sense of anticipation that goes beyond any single voyage. This experience gives every guest the opportunity to win a life-changing jackpot, exactly the kind of fun and energy our guests love,” said Marty Goldman, senior vice president of global gaming at Carnival Corporation.

Carnival Millions is being operated by TimePlay, an interactive business-to-business entertainment company whose products seek to engage and retain consumers and audiences. TimePlay’s clients, in addition to Carnival, include Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, the two others in the “Big Three” of cruising.

Is Carnival Millions For Cash or Promotion?

Details on how Carnival Millions will work, most critically, how much a play costs, were not disclosed.  Whether the lottery game is awarding cash prizes or only credits to be used aboard or for future voyages was also not specified.

Carnival said only that winnings “from onboard credits to the potential $1 million jackpot” are shown instantly on the player’s Carnival HUB app. Major winners will be contacted by the ship’s Casino and Guest Services teams.

Carnival Millions additionally did not disclose what sort of odds players are facing for the $1 million jackpot and secondary prize levels.

Customer Complaints

Carnival’s announcement of the fleetwide lottery product met opposition.

After hyping forthcoming onboard gaming news, some were disappointed that the announcement dealt only with another lottery game. Carnival Cruise Line already offers Pick 3 and Pick 4 lottery draws, with cash prizes of up to $55,000.

So, they found another way to make money, big whoop,” read one comment on Redditt’s CarnivalCruiseFans subreddit. “The odds are probably better on Mega Millions.”

Another Redditor humorously asked if Carnival Millions numbers would be read over the PA system. “Yes, at midnight, in the cabins,” read a reply.

Others said they were hoping the gaming news was to announce an onboard sportsbook development. While Carnival Cruise Line ships have casinos, and sports betting is available through BetMGM, no ship yet has a true sportsbook facility.