Cruise Ship Crew Members Fired After Casino Plot Costs Cruise Line $100,000

Photo byAnneleven / Cruise Fever

A recent incident aboard the Carnival Glory has exposed a three-month-long casino scheme involving two casino staff members and passengers, costing the cruise line over $100,000.

According to news reports, the discovery has led to an investigation and several terminations.

The scheme was uncovered by a concerned Carnival employee who sent a detailed letter outlining the events.

The letter, which was also shared with Cruise Law News on Facebook, detailed how two experienced casino dealers from Peru, working in conjunction with a group of Spanish-speaking guests, exploited lax supervision to manipulate payouts, steal chips, and falsify buy-ins.

The dealers targeted roulette and blackjack tables, using tactics such as concealing chips in their clothes, paying out losing bets, and adding chips to winning numbers after the spin.

They worked closely with the Spanish-speaking guests, making it difficult for supervisors to detect irregularities.

Despite surveillance cameras being installed at the casino tables, the scam went undetected for months due to infrequent reviews.

The fraud was finally discovered when a supervisor noticed a blackjack dealer pushing a bet that should have been lost. A subsequent review revealed the larger scam, which had been ongoing since May 2024.

The discovery of the scam had far-reaching consequences for the casino team aboard the Carnival Glory.

Several staff members, including the casino manager, six supervisors, and other employees, were fired or sent home early, despite their lack of direct involvement in the scam.

This mass termination has sparked frustration among the crew, who feel that Carnival's handling of the situation was unjust.

The incident has raised serious questions about how such a large-scale scam could go unnoticed for so long and whether Carnival will take steps to improve oversight and support for its employees.

The crew member hopes that their message will reach the wider cruise community, encouraging employees to report concerns immediately.

Following the revelation of the scam, cruise lines may need to reevaluate their policies, professional programs, and recruitment standards.

In recent years, many cruise lines have hired inexperienced staff to cut costs, leading to potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, the decline in pay compared to land-based casino jobs has made it difficult to attract experienced casino professionals.