Carnival Corp. Teams Up with BetMGM for Sports Betting and iGaming on Cruise Lines

Carnival Corp. has announced a partnership with BetMGM to introduce sports betting and iGaming on select cruise lines.

The collaboration will bring retail and mobile sports betting as well as iGaming to more than 50 U.S.-ported ships operated by Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises.

According to Marty Goldman, Carnival's senior vice president of Global Casino Operations, the popularity of the activities in North America influenced the decision to include sports betting and iGaming onboard.

"We're also looking for what's most popular in every market we serve, so obviously sports betting and iGaming is going like gangbusters right now throughout North America and we wanted to be a part of it," Goldman explained.

The rollout of these offerings will occur in phases, with Carnival Cruise Line ships expected to receive them first, possibly in the first quarter of the upcoming year.

This move reflects Carnival Corp.'s commitment to enhancing passenger experiences and staying abreast of evolving market trends.

BetMGM's CEO, Adam Greenblatt, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, "We've found an ideal partner in Carnival Corp. and look forward to providing our sports betting and iGaming products to its millions of passengers."

This initiative marks an expansion of Carnival Corp.'s sports betting offerings following Princess Cruises' introduction of Ocean Sportsbook last year.

Eventually, Ocean Sportsbook will be replaced by the new offerings.

The partnership comes amidst a surge in sports betting activities across the United States since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018.

A December survey by Morning Consult revealed that among U.S. adults aged 21 and older, 18% reported betting on sports at least once a month, representing an 80% increase from January 2021.

Carnival Corp.'s collaboration with BetMGM underscores the cruise line operator's proactive approach to adapt to changing consumer preferences and capitalize on the growing popularity of sports betting and iGaming.