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Question for the Gamblers!


bbryan5
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I'm diamond player for total rewards. Mostly play at Ballys in AC. Play a lot of craps, 3 card, bj, etc.. Never a big slot player at all. Have hit a few 1200-1500 jackpots in AC on dollar machines, but nothing that great. On my ncl cruises I stick to the same games for the most part, and rarely, if ever, play slots on board. My question is, how do the ship machines pay out compared to land based casinos? I always feel the ship machines would be extremely tight. I'm seriously considering hitting the slots a lot more than normal on my upcoming Breakaway cruise, but I'm looking for feedback. I APPRECIATE IT!

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Slots on cruises are notoriously tighter than land based casinos. That being said, the total rewards Atlantic City casinos have tightened up their slots the past 5 years as well but that doesn't stop me from playing.

 

 

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I'm a craps and BJ player also, only because i thinks slots anywhere are to tight, but i will say out of the 4 cruises I've done, i have hit the slots on each one and have done pretty good verses land based casinos.

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One thing for sure, on Craps i only place numbers, pass line not worth it since all you can put down is single odds behind the line. At least that was the rule on RCCL ships, assuming its the same for NCL. Someone please correct me if i'm wrong.

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One thing for sure, on Craps i only place numbers, pass line not worth it since all you can put down is single odds behind the line. At least that was the rule on RCCL ships, assuming its the same for NCL. Someone please correct me if i'm wrong.

Single odds behind, is that true? I've never seen any casino give worse than 345. And if there's some competing casinos around they'll often allow more than that.

What about 5 and 9, not allowed to make your odds behind even?

 

If that's the case then I'm guessing the only people at that craps table will be the same people who you see crowding the one dollar blackjack tables splitting 10s.

 

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Hi, I am a professional gambler, and I can answer your question.

 

Yes, the ship's casino gives you significantly worse odds than most land based casinos. It varies from game to game, and depends upon the limits you play. Some are much worse, and some are only a little worse.

 

This is industry-wide. NCL's casino is similar to other ship casinos, but here's what I've observed:

 

Tournaments: Much worse. Rake is often over 50%! (The only exception is if there's little interest in a tournament, and it still has a minimum prize guarantee. This happened for the blackjack tournament on my last cruise, making it a great deal.)

 

Slots: Worse. Very tight, but in general slots give you poor odds, even in land based casinos. However, they are definitely worse on cruise ships.

 

Blackjack: Worse to a little worse. All games under $25 minimum are 6:5 payouts on blackjack, which is HORRIBLE (though this is getting common at land-based casinos, sadly). Double after split not allowed. Double only allowed on 9/10/11. The only semi-decent blackjack game is the $25+ minimum game, which pays 3:2 on blackjack (but still isn't a great game).

 

Video Poker: Much worse. Pay tables are horrible, typically ranging from 92-97% payback, depending upon how much you spend per credit. The $5/credit games are best, but still lousy overall. By comparison, most land-based casino video poker games range from 96-99% payback. That may not sound like much of a difference, but it basically means that you're going to lose your money 3x as fast.

 

Craps: Not sure. It's 3x/4x/5x odds. Didn't play it or examine the other payouts, so I can't give a good analysis of this game.

 

Poker Much worse. Rake is 10% up to $25. Unbeatable.

 

 

This information was based upon what I last observed. Maybe things have changed since then, but the above is fairly accurate.

 

You will not find much better by going to other cruise line casinos.

 

You're a captive audience. If gambling is still fun despite worse odds, then by all means go ahead and do it. Just be aware that they are worse.

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Hi there,

 

 

 

On my last NCL cruise I won 6 jackpots, 2 of them over 3,000 dollars. So... not sure where people get cruise line casinos are tight.

 

 

 

Good luck !

 

 

 

It's a well known fact. They are not restricted by US laws as to how tight they are allowed to make the machines. Just because you were lucky does not mean that others were not lucky. Here is an example: In Maryland the law states that 90% must be paid back on the slots. That is a pretty good number. On a cruise ship it will significantly lower. I have heard as low as 70%.

 

 

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It's a well known fact. They are not restricted by US laws as to how tight they are allowed to make the machines. Just because you were lucky does not mean that others were not lucky. Here is an example: In Maryland the law states that 90% must be paid back on the slots. That is a pretty good number. On a cruise ship it will significantly lower. I have heard as low as 70%.

 

 

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Where are you getting this information?

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Blackjack: Worse to a little worse. All games under $25 minimum are 6:5 payouts on blackjack, which is HORRIBLE (though this is getting common at land-based casinos, sadly). Double after split not allowed. Double only allowed on 9/10/11. The only semi-decent blackjack game is the $25+ minimum game, which pays 3:2 on blackjack (but still isn't a great game).

 

I have to disagree here. The $50 and up game on NCL is no worse than any multi shoe land based game. 3:2 on BJ, stay on soft 17, split any 2, split after double. I also seem to get a thinner cut in the shoe when playing on NCL(nice tips help).

 

I get all of my cruises comped by NCL but in no way am I an NCL cheerleader. In fact after my next 2 comped cruises I will be looking elsewhere. I no longer feel that my business is appreciated. I was actually told by a CAS rep that NCL does need the casino business as much as it used to because NCL as a whole is doing very well.

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Single odds behind, is that true? I've never seen any casino give worse than 345. And if there's some competing casinos around they'll often allow more than that.

What about 5 and 9, not allowed to make your odds behind even?

 

If that's the case then I'm guessing the only people at that craps table will be the same people who you see crowding the one dollar blackjack tables splitting 10s.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Forums mobile app

 

I can verify that on my last 2 RCCL cruises that i was only allowed to put single odds behind the line.

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Hi, I am a professional gambler, and I can answer your question.

 

Yes, the ship's casino gives you significantly worse odds than most land based casinos. It varies from game to game, and depends upon the limits you play. Some are much worse, and some are only a little worse.

 

This is industry-wide. NCL's casino is similar to other ship casinos, but here's what I've observed:

 

Blackjack: Worse to a little worse. All games under $25 minimum are 6:5 payouts on blackjack, which is HORRIBLE (though this is getting common at land-based casinos, sadly). Double after split not allowed. Double only allowed on 9/10/11. The only semi-decent blackjack game is the $25+ minimum game, which pays 3:2 on blackjack (but still isn't a great game).

 

You will not find much better by going to other cruise line casinos.

 

You're a captive audience. If gambling is still fun despite worse odds, then by all means go ahead and do it. Just be aware that they are worse.

 

I can't speak to your information about all of the games but what you wrote about Blackjack is not true. In all of my NCL cruises:

- Only $6 BJ tables ($5 main bet, $1 side bet) pay 6:5 on Blackjack. $10+ pay standard 3:2. I usualyl sit at a $15 table and have always been paid 3:2.

- Double after split is definitely allowed, except when splitting Aces in which you only get one card (standard across most casinos, land or sea).

- I've doubled down with an 8 and have seen some do so on a 12 (ugh), so the 9/10/11 rule is not true either

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Blackjack: Worse to a little worse. All games under $25 minimum are 6:5 payouts on blackjack, which is HORRIBLE (though this is getting common at land-based casinos, sadly). Double after split not allowed. Double only allowed on 9/10/11. The only semi-decent blackjack game is the $25+ minimum game, which pays 3:2 on blackjack (but still isn't a great game).

 

I have to disagree here. The $50 and up game on NCL is no worse than any multi shoe land based game. 3:2 on BJ, stay on soft 17, split any 2, split after double. I also seem to get a thinner cut in the shoe when playing on NCL(nice tips help).

 

I get all of my cruises comped by NCL but in no way am I an NCL cheerleader. In fact after my next 2 comped cruises I will be looking elsewhere. I no longer feel that my business is appreciated. I was actually told by a CAS rep that NCL does need the casino business as much as it used to because NCL as a whole is doing very well.

 

I will have to check this out on my cruise later this year.

 

Last I checked, you could not double after split, you could not double on anything but 9-10-11 and they DEFINITELY were not standing on soft 17. This includes the high limit games I observed.

 

If the game description you gave is true, then it's actually a GOOD blackjack game, albeit one with high minimums.

 

Can anyone else verify having played a game like this on NCL?

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I can't speak to your information about all of the games but what you wrote about Blackjack is not true. In all of my NCL cruises:

- Only $6 BJ tables ($5 main bet, $1 side bet) pay 6:5 on Blackjack. $10+ pay standard 3:2. I usualyl sit at a $15 table and have always been paid 3:2.

- Double after split is definitely allowed, except when splitting Aces in which you only get one card (standard across most casinos, land or sea).

- I've doubled down with an 8 and have seen some do so on a 12 (ugh), so the 9/10/11 rule is not true either

 

This is odd. That's not what I observed, but you're the second one to dispute my report.

 

So perhaps they vary from ship to ship.

 

Can anyone else describe their experiences playing blackjack?

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Hi there,

 

On my last NCL cruise I won 6 jackpots, 2 of them over 3,000 dollars.

So... not sure where people get cruise line casinos are tight.

 

Good luck !

My personal opinion...

This is Fake News. :p

If pax actually won at the casino, they would be discontinued.

 

WE just play for the entertainment.

Edited by $hip$hape
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Where are you getting this information?

 

 

 

I live in Maryland so I know what the law says about the 90%. As far as the percentage for cruise ships... well there is no law so that number is hard to come by. Also why they are allowed to have the percentage so low. However I have extensively googled it as well as I have multiple friends in the casino industry and the 70-80% figure is the consensus.

 

 

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Black Jack.

When we are on an NCL cruise, sometimes play the side-bet "Wheel of Madness".

If you happen to get to "Spin the Wheel", it always lands on the lowest amounts...

We mock, and still have fun. (Don't play too long, or you'll loose all your money.)

Edited by $hip$hape
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A table game cannot be tight or loose. It has the stated odds and it is all purely random after that.

 

 

 

I agree with this and almost said the same thing however I believe the poster was talking about the odds/payouts being worse then land based Casinos so in the end they lose more. Making them "tight".

 

 

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I usually play video poker on land at quarter or dollar multi-line play. At sea, I've lowered my denom to nickel/dimes on VP in order to play for fun. Last cruise I tried mainly slots and found CAS gave me much higher theo for what I actually played/lost. I'll take the comped balcony and be happy. I like to go to Vegas and be comped nice suites. Now I take some of my Vegas cash to CAS to take more cruises. It's part of the game to us to see how long we can play and what we will be 'comped'.

(I know...I've paid for it, but I have friends that go to Vegas and pay for their hotel rooms. I spend less:cool:)

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NCL $6 BJ tables are 6:5, $15 and up pay 3:2, at least as of my last cruise in December. I only played the $6 when my wife wanted to play as the higher limits make her nervous. On the 6:5 game only time i have ever taken even money on a bj- not sure what the numbers are but seemed prudent at the lower payoff.

 

Also true about the exorbitant rake on poker.

 

Craps and roulette same as land based, in my opinion.

 

 

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