A man who fell to his death on a cruise ship in Australia had lost AU$9,000 (US$5,693) gambling on board. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

A man who passed away after falling overboard on a P&O cruise had lost AU$9,000 (US$5,693) while gambling on the ship. Shane Dixon’s family claims that he got caught up in the high roller incentives during the course of his three-day stay on the Elvis-themed trip. The incident took place shortly before 4am as the ship approached Sydney Harbour.

The 50-year-old racked up AU$5,000 (US$3,312) in debt initially and repaid it after borrowing money from his mother before going on to lose another AU$4,000 (US$2,650). To get him to keep gambling, the Sydney father-of-three got free drinks, AU$750 (US$497) worth of gameplay vouchers, and a ticket for another cruise.

cruise ships don’t have to adhere to the same set of rules

While these types of incentives are not permitted at land-based casinos in Australia, cruise ships don’t have to adhere to the same set of rules when they are in international waters. Gamblers also don’t have to physically stake their money before betting as they can just add it to their room bill.

Dixon went on the trip with his mother was to take a break from his recent financial struggles, the breakdown of his marriage, as well as the loss of his brother and father. Shane’s brother said that the gravity of the gambling losses must have hit the truck driver as the ship was getting close to returning to land.

Talking to Daily Mail Australia, a spokesperson for P&O said that the company is unable to comment on the matter until the conclusion of the coroner’s investigation.