P and O Accused of Running Illegal Casino

The New South Wales Government has ordered an investigation into claims a P&O cruise ship ran an illegal floating casino off the state's south coast.

Last weekend, a P&O cruise ship left Sydney on a three-night cruise, including a stop at Jervis Bay. Once at sea, passengers claim they could access up to $5,000 from their credit cards to gamble on games including blackjack, poker and roulette.

Under NSW and ACT law, cruises must be 12 nautical miles from shore for the casino to operate and this generally occurs when the ship is on an international voyage.

NSW Gaming Minister George Souris says the waters around Jervis Bay are technically Commonwealth territory, but he has asked the Office of Liquor and Gaming to investigate. He said: “The NSW government considers this a very serious matter, and I am therefore intending to write to the Commonwealth Minister for the Territories Simon Crean to ask the Commonwealth to investigate this matter promptly and to take appropriate action.

“If it turns out that gambling operations were being conducted in New South Wales territorial waters of the coast line then that is indeed a breach.”

P&O says it has always worked to operate within the legislative framework and that it can operate the casino anywhere 12 nautical miles from where it leaves port, which in this case is Sydney.