Carnival Corporation First Cruise Line to Join American Gaming Association
Posted on: July 21, 2025, 12:33h.
Last updated on: July 21, 2025, 02:01h.
- Carnival has joined the American Gaming Association
- Carnival is the first cruise line to align with the casino gaming trade group
- Carnival ships offer passengers slots and table games
Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, is the newest member of the American Gaming Association (AGA).
The AGA, based in Washington, DC, is the national trade group representing the commercial and tribal gaming industries. The advocacy works to foster policy and business environments that support legal, regulated casino gambling and other forms of gaming.
Miami-based Carnival is the first cruise line to become a member of the AGA.
Joining the American Gaming Association is an important step in advancing our industry leadership and ensuring we remain at the forefront of responsible gaming and regulatory best practices,” said Marty Goldman, Carnival Corporation’s senior vice president of global gaming. “This partnership opens new avenues for collaboration and knowledge-sharing that will directly benefit our guests, team members, and the broader Carnival Corporation organization.”
Maureen Beddis, the AGA’s senior vice president of membership and events, said the gaming lobby was “thrilled” to welcome its first cruise line member.
“Their commitment to delivering world-class gaming experiences at sea complements our efforts to promote innovation, collaboration, and responsible gaming across the industry. We look forward to working together to strengthen our collective impact,” said Beddis.
Carnival’s Gaming Focus
In May, Casino.org reported on Carnival running limited-time, adults-only, casino-focused excursions. Known as “ACES,” or “All-Casino Exclusive Sailings,” Carnival insiders said the special voyages with slots and table game promotions arose because of shipyard scheduling issues that postponed the planned dry docks of several boats, including Carnival Magic and Conquest.
All Carnival cruise ships have a casino space, with most offering both nonsmoking and smoking areas. The company’s joining of the AGA, the association says, will allow Carnival to obtain industry-exclusive data and resources, professional development programming, networking and collaboration, and advocacy and policy support.
“As part of the AGA, Carnival earns a seat at the table for national conversations, learning from and contributing to developments in gaming regulation, responsible gaming initiatives, and policy advocacy. This partnership allows corporate leaders and team members to stay at the forefront of industry trends, access cutting-edge data, and participate in events and committees that shape the future of gaming,” a release from the AGA added.
Are Cruise Casinos Legit?
Casino areas on cruises can’t open until they reach international water, where the laws governing their port of departure no longer apply.
That isn’t to say a cruise ship’s slot machines and table games aren’t subject to regulations. Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Disney, Emerald, Holland, MSC, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin are members of the Cruise Lines International Association.
As CLIA members, the cruise lines’ casinos must adhere to the same regulatory standards of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), which is often considered the gold standard of casino regulation.
Each CLIA member’s casino operation is inspected annually for compliance.
Cruise casinos must adhere to similar rules as casinos in Nevada, including slot machine stipulations regarding a minimum payback rate of 75%. Most casinos in Nevada, including in Las Vegas, tend to pay out at a much higher rate — upwards of 90% — to retain customers. Cruise ship casinos tend to pay out around 80%-85%.
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