Floating casinos – an alternative to land-based gambling

At the peak of popularity are now best Nektan casinos, but there are also floating casinos. Have you heard anything about them? Floating casinos are often confused with cruise ships where gambling is allowed. These two types of gambling leisure should be differentiated. The mini-gambling houses on larger ships were introduced to diversify the pastime of the passengers and are not, in the full sense of the word, floating casinos. But they also have their own differences.

Under international maritime law, in neutral waters the laws of the country under whose flag the ship is registered apply. In this way, the owners avoid the traditionally high tax rates for the gambling industry. The rule remains that as long as the ship is moored to the shore, the gambling establishments must be closed. The range of games on offer varies, depending on which route the liner takes. The age requirement also differs:

• for Europe and Australia – 18 years old,
• 21 for the United States,
• Japan: 20.

Another peculiarity of such casinos is that their visitors are rarely so-called professional players trying to win with the help of deep knowledge in mathematics. This is because the cruise ships are usually played for fun, so the stakes are low and the range of games is poorer than in a full casino. But for beginners, there are special gaming tables where you can learn the basics of table and card gambling.

Floating casinos are barges converted into casino gaming houses, whose stay in the water is nominal. They do not ply the waters, but are usually attached to a specific location. Gambling laws are determined by the country in whose waters the floating casino is located.

Floating casinos in Goa

Floating casinos in Goa are a big problem for Indian authorities and the debate on the future of floating casinos has been raging for years. Politicians differ considerably on the phenomenon. Some argue that the casinos should simply cease operations, others argue that they should be moved to land, while others suggest changing the location and placing alternative gambling venues in other waters.

However, Goa authorities recognise that the exotic nature of the floating casino phenomenon attracts a large number of tourists to the region each year, so despite some costs, it is desirable to keep them. Currently, all six floating casinos are located on the Mandovi River, but the government is considering changing the location. In doing so, the Bay of Aguada has been named as one option. The problem is that the government has long been unable to come up with uniform rules for the industry. Previously, more than once it was declared that floating casinos will change format and become habitual land-based facilities. They even allocated a site near the airport, but the timing of the project from time to time, postponed. The biggest discomfort experienced by gambling operators, who constantly have to get temporary licenses, which are limited in validity by six months.

Floating casinos in Japan

In Japan, the operation of floating casinos has looked more like a gimmick than a business. Until recently, gambling was banned in the country. After the liberalisation laws were passed, Japan is in the active phase of developing a strategy for so-called integrated resorts. Japan’s floating casinos are huge ships that are on the move. They are something in between the sedentary examples of alternative casinos in Goa and the cruise liners.

In order not to break the previous ban, the ships have been unmooring and sent to neutral waters, close to the shores of Hong Kong. At night the ship would be transformed into a virtually full-fledged gambling establishment, and in the morning it would be docked again in its normal shipboard role. A similar concept was implemented in Hong Kong itself.