Carnival Cruise Lines Trumpets Gambling Contest at Sea

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced casino tournaments taking place on a score of sailings that can send winners home pocketing as much as $2,500 each and a free cruise for two.

Passengers could try your hand at blackjack and the slots on 19 select three- to eight-day cruises departing through October. Semi-finalists from the tourneys will earn a shot at the “Wild Winners” sweepstakes finale, to be held on Carnival’s new Freedom during its November 12 voyage.

All it takes to stake your claim for the prelims is $50. Should you wind up a winner on your cruise, you’ll need to ante up only another $100 to play in the finals on Freedom. That cruise, complimentary to the participating winners, nets a chance for $20,000 in cash prizes for the slot tournament or $10,000 in cash prizes for the blackjack tournament.

Even losers have something to look forward to. During each playoff cruise, a drawing also will be held for a complimentary cruise for two on the tournament’s finale cruise in November.