London, UK – September 5, 2025 – Global gambling technology leader Playtech has announced the successful rollout of its retail sports betting solution across the fleet of MSC Cruises, marking its official entry into the burgeoning cruise leisure sector.
This deployment is the first major step in the partnership established earlier this year and introduces Playtech’s innovative betting technology to the world’s third-largest cruise line, significantly enhancing the onboard entertainment experience for guests.
Expanding Entertainment on the High Seas
MSC Cruises, a market leader in Europe with a growing presence in North America, provides a powerful platform for Playtech’s global expansion. The new sports betting option seamlessly integrates with MSC’s existing casinos, which offer a dynamic mix of slot machines and classic table games like Roulette and Blackjack.
Guests can now place wagers on a wide range of global sports events using Playtech’s cutting-edge hardware and systems:
- Self-Service Betting Terminals: Intuitive kiosks for quick and easy bet placement.
- Mobile Tills: Newly developed terminals used by casino staff for assisted betting.
All transactions are securely and smoothly linked to the guests’ existing onboard accounts, eliminating the need for cash and providing a hassle-free betting experience at sea.
A New Frontier for Playtech
Yori Arami, VP Sports at Playtech, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration:
We are excited to partner with MSC Cruises and bring our retail sports betting solutions to their impressive fleet. This partnership represents a significant milestone for Playtech as we continue to expand our offerings and provide unique, engaging experiences for players around the world on land and sea.
Mara Friso, Head of Casino at MSC Cruises, highlighted the enhanced customer offering:
We are very proud to be able to deliver the excitement and engagement of sports gaming to our guests through our partnership with Playtech. Our fleet of modern cruise ships will provide our customers a wide array of immersive digital content as a complement to our state-of-the-art cruise casinos.
The initial deployment is already live across seven MSC Cruises vessels, with further ships scheduled for integration in the coming months. The project leverages Playtech’s advanced retail sports betting technology to ensure a seamless and engaging experience for guests, solidifying the cruise line’s position at the forefront of onboard entertainment.
