Mark Timothy Grant arrived at the Brisbane cruise terminal with his partner and son, expecting to board the first of five Royal Caribbean cruises he says he won through casino play. Instead, he was turned away. Royal Caribbean had placed him on a “no sail” list, alleging he broke casino rules by counting cards and engaging in other behavior. Grant is now seeking A$22,000, the value he places on the five trips. 

Grant initially had his claim dismissed by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. He appealed, and on September 14, Senior Member Samantha Traves allowed the consumer dispute to proceed. The decision means Grant can pursue his claim; it does not establish that he counted cards or that Royal Caribbean owes him money. 

Royal Caribbean encourages guests to join its Club Royale casino program, where play can earn points, benefits and offers, including complimentary cruises. Its program terms also say that members who breach the rules or are barred from sailing or gambling may lose benefits and offers. Whether those terms justified the action taken against Grant is a matter for the tribunal to consider, not a finding made in the appeal.

This is not Grant’s first dispute over advantage play. In a separate case involving The Star casinos in Queensland, he and another player challenged exclusions linked to allegations that they used edge sorting, a technique involving differences in the backs of playing cards.

In its 2022 decision, the tribunal found no reasonable grounds for the exclusions under the law at issue in that case and set them aside. The Star ruling concerned different events, a different operator and a different legal question. It does not decide Grant’s claim against Royal Caribbean.