On August, Lee Booker of Tyler, Texas drew a royal flush in diamonds while sailing home from a cruise to the Western Caribbean (on the Carnival Ecstasy). He was playing on the Caribbean Stud Poker Diamond Edition with a $1 side bet.

The total jackpot was $209,188, making Mr. Booker the first six-figure winner on a cruise ship this year.

It probably won't be the last, though, as the Ocean Players Club Megacash progressive jackpot --which links machines aboard the Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Costa, Cunard, and other Carnival lines--is now at over $830,000. It has been over a year since it yielded a prograssive jackpot, and the current jackpot is the highest since someone hit a $1,065,428 jackpot in 2004.

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"I am in so far in blood, that sin will pluck on sin" - Richard III

I would like to know more about cruise ship casinos. You never hear about what happens on board.

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PokerPrincess
Live, Love, Laugh

But how do you tell what kind of casino they have by the cruise ship site and package? They all look very heavy on the room detail.

I've been on a casino cruise off the coast of Miamia once. It was a good time, but I spent most of my time at the Texas holdem tables. They had slots in all denominations, in my recollection, but I don't remember seeing any decent video poker tables or anything like that.

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Slotty McSlots

What were the players like? How tough was the dealer? Was the crowd there to lose money kill time, or play to win?

The dealer wasn't as good as some of the dealers in the Dallas underground cardrooms, but she was okay. The players weren't very good, but they sure were lucky, because I couldn't get ANYTHING going that night.

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Slotty McSlots

Underground cardrooms? Slotty where do you hang out? Put me on your mailing list dawg.

I am surprised Los Angeles does not have "offshore" cruise ship gambling like New Orleans (did)?

I would love to go on a cruise. And, if it was a gambling cruiseline that would be even better. Where are the U.S. cruise ships at? Where are they docked out of? I am in Texas and would like somewhere nearby to read up more about. I think there are some off the shores of Louisiana or Georgia, but I could be mistaken. If anyone knows more about some in the south, please let me know.

Aren't the Louisiana cruise lines back in business and now re embarking from New orleans? I thought they got rid of all their temporary passengers and were going strong. How can Texas not have casinos? Wow.