MSC Cruises has completed the first phase of a new casino technology rollout that brings progressive jackpots to blackjack tables aboard seven of its ships operating in North America.
Through a partnership with Galaxy Gaming, MSC has installed the company’s Galaxy Operating System, or GOS, on 30 blackjack tables. According to Galaxy, this is the first progressive table-game jackpot system introduced aboard MSC Cruises ships.
Galaxy’s system allows a casino to add an electronic progressive jackpot or bonus wager to a traditional table game such as blackjack. Sensors built into the table can detect chips placed in designated betting areas, while the system tracks qualifying wagers and jackpot activity electronically.
In a typical progressive blackjack setup, the player makes the regular blackjack wager and can choose to make an additional side wager for a chance at a larger payout.
That extra wager is separate from the blackjack hand itself. You can still play blackjack normally without participating in the progressive wager.
The progressive element works much like what casino players are accustomed to seeing on slot machines. Depending on how the casino configures the system, a jackpot can increase as players continue making qualifying wagers until someone hits the required combination.
Galaxy’s technology can support jackpots tied to individual tables or linked across multiple tables, along with different jackpot levels and wagering configurations.
MSC and Galaxy have not released the specific rules or paytable being used aboard the ships.
That means we don’t yet know how much the additional wager costs, which card combinations trigger payouts, what the starting or current jackpot amounts are, or whether jackpots are linked between several tables or ships.
Galaxy offers several blackjack side-bet and progressive products, but neither company has identified which specific configuration MSC is using. For that reason, passengers shouldn’t assume the rules aboard MSC will match another Galaxy progressive blackjack game they may have played in a land-based casino.
What has been confirmed is that MSC is using GOS to create a customized progressive jackpot experience on 30 blackjack tables across seven North American ships.
Progressive side bets are designed to add another layer of excitement to a traditional table game by offering the possibility of a much larger payout from a relatively small additional wager.
They can also make a casino bankroll disappear faster.
A passenger betting $20 or $25 per blackjack hand may suddenly be adding another side wager every time the cards are dealt. Over the course of a long session, those extra bets can add up quickly even if the progressive jackpot display overhead is difficult to ignore.
MSC says the rollout followed an evaluation period in which the cruise line tested the Galaxy platform’s performance, flexibility and guest experience.
“We are pleased to bring the Galaxy Operating System to our casino floors as we continue to enhance the gaming experience for our guests through innovative technology,” said Burkay Gokgoz, director of casino operations for MSC Cruises USA.
The installation is being described as the first phase of the project, leaving open the possibility of additional tables, ships or progressive games in the future.
For now, blackjack players aboard participating MSC ships may find something new next to the traditional betting circle: an optional chance to turn the next deal into something considerably larger than a standard blackjack payout.
