Is there an exclusion list for the Casino

[Family Travel Story]

I am traveling next week on the Carnival Breeze and a member of my family has a gambling problem. They have agreed to self-exclude themselves from the casino just like you can on land, if such an option is available. This is a little better then only using the cash they have when they get on board. Is there a process to do this on the ship, and can it be done ahead of time to avoid embarrassment of the face to face contact.

[okgirl]

I am traveling next week on the Carnival Breeze and a member of my family has a gambling problem. They have agreed to self-exclude themselves from the casino just like you can on land, if such an option is available. This is a little better then only using the cash they have when they get on board. Is there a process to do this on the ship, and can it be done ahead of time to avoid embarrassment of the face to face contact.

 

I've never heard of self exclusion on land or sea other than just will power. Since you don't have to gamble with your card in the machine there is no way for the casino workers to prevent you from just walking up and putting money in the machine.

 

Maybe your family should cruise on Disney where there are no casinos.

[Family Travel Story]

I did send an email request to Carnival, but have not heard back yet.

[Sauer-kraut]

No casino on NCL Pride of America in Hawaii either. Good luck with the self-exclusion, I hope CCL will answer you soon.

[golfadj]

Never heard of this. Perhaps you might want to pose this to John Heald on his blog or fb page.

[Bookbug53]

I've never heard of self exclusion on land or sea other than just will power. Since you don't have to gamble with your card in the machine there is no way for the casino workers to prevent you from just walking up and putting money in the machine.

 

Maybe your family should cruise on Disney where there are no casinos.

 

There are self-exclusion programs at land casinos. If you self-excluded you are not allowed on property for the period of time you choose. 1 year to lifetime. Being found on property can mean criminal trespass charges against you. If you happen to be able play and win big you cannot collect your winnings, trespass charges are brought, and you forfeit the money to the state. :eek:

[richstowe]

OP, thank you for starting a thread on an important issue that I have never seen addressed on CC before.

Thousands of posts on chair hogs, smoking issues and formal night topics but nothing on this one. :(

 

As you are no doubt aware ships , like land casinos, often place the casino in the middle of where you wish to go.

On the plus side ship casinos are often closed before, during and after port stops which may limit temptations.

Don't worry about the small "embarrassment of the face to face contact " stop them from doing what

is in their best interests. Good luck to you and your family members .

[Family Travel Story]

OP, thank you for starting a thread on an important issue that I have never seen addressed on CC before.

Thousands of posts on chair hogs, smoking issues and formal night topics but nothing on this one. :(

 

As you are no doubt aware ships , like land casinos, often place the casino in the middle of where you wish to go.

On the plus side ship casinos are often closed before, during and after port stops which may limit temptations.

Don't worry about the small "embarrassment of the face to face contact " stop them from doing what

is in their best interests. Good luck to you and your family members .

 

Thanks I will let you all know what I find out from carnival and if the self exclusion list is available on the ship.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forums mobile app

[Ladydarcy1]

I don't know about an overall exclusion, but I do know you can set it up with the casino where you cannot put money directly into a slot machine off the credit card you used for your sail and sign account. We have to do this with my dad. He has mild Alzheimer's disease and 2 cruises ago he got confused between taking money out of his player's bank and charging money out right from his sail and sign account. My mother didn't discover the mistake he was making until he'd charged over 2 grand! Needless to say, she now goes to the casino as soon as it opens first night and has his charging privileges in the casino completely cut off except for drinks.

[golfadj]

OP, thank you for starting a thread on an important issue that I have never seen addressed on CC before.

Thousands of posts on chair hogs, smoking issues and formal night topics but nothing on this one. :(

 

As you are no doubt aware ships , like land casinos, often place the casino in the middle of where you wish to go.

On the plus side ship casinos are often closed before, during and after port stops which may limit temptations.

Don't worry about the small "embarrassment of the face to face contact " stop them from doing what

is in their best interests. Good luck to you and your family members .

 

Very interesting thread. BIL has a gambling addiction and learned awhile ago cannot trust anything he says.

[Stinger-pr]

Let me shed some light on this since this is right up my alley. I am part of the management team for a local casino in Puerto Rico. Now, while we are not a state but a Commonwealth of the U.S., most of our gaming laws are written very similar to those in Vegas and A.C. We are also regulated by federal banking regulations. But on a ship is a very different ball game since it's "ships rule" in essence.

 

Self exclusion exists to help those with gambling problems and little or no self discipline to make way towards their recovery by asking the casinos to NOT allow them in the premises. Here in PR they don't face criminal charges for disobeying their self ban but since this self exclusion in done through notarized letters with legal implications, casino usually reserve the right of admission to these individuals when they don't comply with their own request.

 

We usually identify them quickly upon arrival to the casino and politely talk to the person away from other players so as to not embarrass them. 98% of the time, they will just thank us for not letting them play and for the help and be on their way.

 

You should contact the ship again and email them a photo of your family member and as much info in a description as possible. I wouldn't know about their procedures for these types of situations but I bet they would be more willing to cooperate the more info you give them. Good Luck!!

[Family Travel Story]

Let me shed some light on this since this is right up my alley. I am part of the management team for a local casino in Puerto Rico. Now, while we are not a state but a Commonwealth of the U.S., most of our gaming laws are written very similar to those in Vegas and A.C. We are also regulated by federal banking regulations. But on a ship is a very different ball game since it's "ships rule" in essence.

 

Self exclusion exists to help those with gambling problems and little or no self discipline to make way towards their recovery by asking the casinos to NOT allow them in the premises. Here in PR they don't face criminal charges for disobeying their self ban but since this self exclusion in done through notarized letters with legal implications, casino usually reserve the right of admission to these individuals when they don't comply with their own request.

 

We usually identify them quickly upon arrival to the casino and politely talk to the person away from other players so as to not embarrass them. 98% of the time, they will just thank us for not letting them play and for the help and be on their way.

 

You should contact the ship again and email them a photo of your family member and as much info in a description as possible. I wouldn't know about their procedures for these types of situations but I bet they would be more willing to cooperate the more info you give them. Good Luck!!

 

Thanks for the tips. I did finally hear back from Carnival who informed me that they don't have any kind of self-exclusion from their casino. However, you can certainly have a restriction placed on your ship sail and sign card which will not be allowed to take cash advances in the casino.

 

I will take your advise and try to send a detailed letter, along with photos and letter signed by my family member requesting to not be allowed in. We shall see if that helps.

 

As you point out, the problem is that if a person really wants to gamble, whey can always use cash, or their credit cards in the ATM.

[SadieN]

There are AA meetings onboard. Friends of Bill seems to be the only group onboard for any person with addiction problems, whatever they are.

 

Good luck to your travel companion.

[USNUZULOOSE]

You may have to have people with them to hold them accountable at all costs. Sometimes that may be the only recourse. If that is not possible than maybe one of the other lines that do not have a casino.

[tncap]

There are AA meetings onboard. Friends of Bill seems to be the only group onboard for any person with addiction problems, whatever they are.

 

Good luck to your travel companion.

 

Friends of Jimmy K. which is essentially Narcotics Anonymous usually hold meetings as well.

[ryanpatricksmom]

I'm pretty sure your only option is to not allow transactions to the Sign and Sail. If the gambler has the ability to charge to the S&S, they can charge $3,000 per day to the card so long as credit is available.

 

I don't know how complicated it is to get a credit card advance onboard, but if they have a gambling problem, perhaps their access to credit is already somewhat limited due to credit problems? I bet you can also self impose a restriction to the credit card that disallows cash advances. They should contact their credit card company and ask. That would be prudent for everyday life, not just on the seas.

 

The ATM has it's own restrictions. At least if they are using ATM machines, the amount per day is limited, and they can't take out more than they have.

Edited August 19, 2014 by ryanpatricksmom

[Luckysll]

Thank you for bringing up this issue.

 

I've always made a joke about "if you're looking for me, start in the casino". I don't smoke, don't drink more than a couple of alcoholic drinks during a cruise, don't buy jewellery or souvenirs, and have a small mobility problem so I don't do a lot of physical activities or excursions. The casino is my "entertainment" on a cruise (besides just sitting and watching the scenery or being with my friends :)).

 

I always take cash to gamble with on the ship, but I know what I'm like and it's too easy to just add an extra $20 here and there onto my sail and sign card rather than go back to my cabin to get extra money but it can easily get away from me if I'm not careful. Knowing that I have the option of not being allowed to put "entertainment" onto my sail and sign card is good to know.

[mzloolue]

We usually just put charging privileges on one of our sail and sign cards.

It makes it easier to keep up with things.

 

Perhaps that could be part of a strategy.

[SadieN]

I'm pretty sure your only option is to not allow transactions to the Sign and Sail. If the gambler has the ability to charge to the S&S, they can charge $3,000 per day to the card so long as credit is available.

 

 

 

I don't know how complicated it is to get a credit card advance onboard, but if they have a gambling problem, perhaps their access to credit is already somewhat limited due to credit problems? I bet you can also self impose a restriction to the credit card that disallows cash advances. They should contact their credit card company and ask. That would be prudent for everyday life, not just on the seas.

 

 

 

The ATM has it's own restrictions. At least if they are using ATM machines, the amount per day is limited, and they can't take out more than they have.

 

 

Cash taken off your card in the casino is billed as 'Entertainment' not a cash advance.

 

Could set up the account secured with cash.

Edited August 19, 2014 by SadieN

[ddloml]

As you point out, the problem is that if a person really wants to gamble, whey can always use cash, or their credit cards in the ATM.

 

You really do need a S&S card to gamble on machines in the ship's casino. IIRC, the machines do not pay out in cash; they only deposit funds to the S&S card. You usually upload and download credits to/from the card. A person could use cash to buy in at the tables, and play only at the tables. The chips won or left over can then be cashed out at the casino cage.