Princess will offer sports betting onboard

Calling it a cruise ship first, Princess Cruises says passengers will be able to wager on sports while cruising, using the line’s Ocean Sportsbook program on the MedallionClass app.

The new, real-time sports-wagering option will allow guests to bet on professional and college football, basketball, baseball and hockey as well as other domestic and international events.

Passengers can place bets with the Ocean Sportsbook when the ship is in international waters or wherever permitted by law. They can also place bets on competitions that occur after their voyage.

Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said that passengers using the line’s MedallionClass technology can already stay connected to friends and family around the world with the app. “Now, with Ocean Sportsbook, they can also stay connected to their favorite teams and wager on a host of events whenever they sail with us. Taking a cruise vacation no longer means being disconnected from a big game, an iconic event or friends and family.”

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Six Princess ships are currently outfitted with MedallionClass technology, while all 14 will have it when the line returns to service, Princess said. The technology offers services from an app as well as the OceanMedallion wearable, which interacts with what Princess calls a ” smart city” onboard.

Ocean Sportsbook is part of Ocean Casino, which enables cruisers to place casino bets from anywhere on the ship using the MedallionClass app. Due to parent company Carnival Corp.’s CEO ownership of the Miami Heat, Ocean Sportsbook bets cannot involve that team.

Sportsbook will be available on all Princess ships upon approval to return to service in 2021.