Cruise Ship Casinos May Soon Operate in Cayman Islands Waters
The Cayman Islands are a popular destination for cruise ships, but their strict gambling regulations prevent the ships from offering onboard casino games, which has become a sore spot for travelers.
Cruise ships near the coast of the Cayman Islands. Cayman Islands may permit cruise ship casinos in territorial waters.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Currently, Cayman law requires cruise ships to close their casinos while they are in Caymanian waters or passing through. Cruise lines have been adhering to this regulation, but it creates challenges for their operations.
Tourism Minister Proposes Change to Law
Tourism and Ports Minister Kenneth Bryan has proposed a change to this rule that would allow casinos on cruise ships to stay open while docked. Bryan has said he believes this would not affect the local community, as gambling would remain restricted to passengers onboard. Local residents would still be unable to participate, ensuring the change applies only to tourists.
This adjustment would make things logistically easier for cruise operators, which currently have to shut down casino activities when nearing the Cayman Islands. This requires careful planning around both their schedules and unpredictable weather conditions, making compliance with Caymanian laws a complex task.
Bryan argues that making this change would improve the financial appeal of docking in the Cayman Islands. At present, some cruise companies avoid the destination so that they do not have to close their casinos and instead, instead opt for other regional stops. By allowing casinos to operate, the Cayman Islands could attract more cruise traffic and boost local revenue.
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Possible Repercussions for Local Economy
The proposal arose after talks with cruise lines that looked at the benefits the change could bring to businesses and the local economy. However, the issue isn’t as straightforward as Bryan suggests as there are concerns that passengers would choose to remain on the ships rather than explore local attractions.
We want to make sure that they weren’t allowed to open until passengers have had a good opportunity to come off the ship.
One potential restriction would be to keep casinos closed until 3 p.m. This would give travellers a choice between enjoying local attractions and spending time at the onboard casinos, which could still encourage them to contribute to the local economy.
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