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How to Organize a Slot Pull


LarryL
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I have a few questions on how to organize a slot pull:

 

1. How many participants are needed to be effective?

 

2. How do you set the dollar limit per person?

 

3. How do you pick the slots? I know nothing about how to identify a good machine.

 

4. Does this need to be coordinated with the casino manager?

 

5. What is a good time/day to hold one?

 

6. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

 

We participated in one on a transatlantic cruise on a sea day and it was so large we had to use two machines. Whoever organized it really knew what they were doing.

 

Thanks, in advance for your help.:)

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I have a few questions on how to organize a slot pull:

 

1. How many participants are needed to be effective?

 

2. How do you set the dollar limit per person?

 

3. How do you pick the slots? I know nothing about how to identify a good machine.

 

4. Does this need to be coordinated with the casino manager?

 

5. What is a good time/day to hold one?

 

6. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

 

We participated in one on a transatlantic cruise on a sea day and it was so large we had to use two machines. Whoever organized it really knew what they were doing.

 

Thanks, in advance for your help.:)

 

Wow sounds like fun never heard of it. What is the premises of it?

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After a group is assembled they decide on how much to put into a pot. They, then, are allotted a number of "pulls" on the slot based on the amount. The winnings are then shared by the percentage of what was put in. On our cruise, we each put in $10 and came out with nearly $30 each in winnings. It's really a percentage game in hopes of winning a big pot.:p

Edited by LarryL
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Here are my thoughts from my limited experience.

 

1. How many participants are needed to be effective?

I think it's really a case of "the more the merrier", but you don't want such a large group that you can't all watch the machine and share the experience. If a group is too large, you could break it into smaller groups.

 

2. How do you set the dollar limit per person?

A number around $20 is usually good. If you're going to play a machine that runs $3/spin, then I'd recommend going for $21 so as to keep it even.

 

3. How do you pick the slots? I know nothing about how to identify a good machine.

I think the better ones are games that have highly visible bonus features. For example, the Wheel of Fortune games are often played because if SPIN comes up on the reels, everyone can look up to see how much is won. Also, you want to ensure that the machine makes sufficient noise when there's a win so that everyone can hear it.

 

4. Does this need to be coordinated with the casino manager?

No, but if the casino manager or host is willing to help, they might contribute trinkets or other little prizes that you could include. For example, the player who won the top amount during the slot pull could get a t-shirt or a key chain or something.

 

5. What is a good time/day to hold one?

There have been two times that seemed to work. First, it should be an "at sea" day, if at all possible, and earlier in the cruise is better. Some do it right after the Meet & Mingle party. One time we had it after lunch on an "at sea" day. That was a fun one.

 

6. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

You should predetermine the winning conditions for the group. As a couple examples, you could:

  1. Have everyone contribute $21. Then, each person gets 7 spins on a $3 Wheel of Fortune machine (max bet, of course). Leave the winnings in the machine. After everyone has had their 7 spins, if you've doubled your money ($42 * number of players), then cash out and divide the winnings. Otherwise, each player in turn gets another spin until you've doubled your money or depleted it.
  2. Another way to do it is to put all the money into the machine at once, and then each person takes a spin. If you have a circular area, you could have people walk in a circle and when they get to the machine, they take their spin. Repeat until:
    1. Everyone has had at least one spin, and
    2. Money is doubled or depleted

 

I've seen some people post some very detailed rules and procedures for how their slot pulls were going to be handled. I don't remember where to find them at this point, though. Perhaps someone else reading this thread might be able to share some.

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On our cruise last year on the EPIC, the sign up sheet for those wanting to participate was available at the Meet and Greet. Money was also collected at that time, the casino staff was aware of the group meeting in the casino at 10am (sea day), the person putting together the slot pull along with a casino host selected a $1.00 (x 2 lines) machine for play. As mentioned before, each person got a select number of pulls and at the end, the money was divided equally among all. I can't remember the initial pay in, I tend to think it was $20. It was fun, but you need to find an area in casino where everyone can see the machine and be involved. Have fun!!!

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Thank you all for the great advice. It sure is different contemplating organizing one than it is just participating. I'll give being the organizer a try. Thanks again.:)

 

 

Last two cruises we participated in a slot pull using the Wheel of Fortune $1 slot machine. (Which was suggested here already.) Max should be played and that was $3. Someone suggested each player give $21, we each gave $15 and had 5 pulls each. Goes a bit faster than 7 pulls each but whatever you choose. Both times we had the tournament on a sea day around 11 a.m. As players arrived with their money, the organizer wrote their name (or had the player do it) on a pad to indicate they had paid as well as to determine the order for each person to participate. The organizer called out the next player's name and so on until everyone had a turn. At that point we used a show of hands as to whether we should cash out and divide the winnings or play on with everyone getting one or two spins depending on the amount of money left in there. Or, have the players who hit the wheel of fortune come up and respin for good luck! I think the important thing here is to keep track of your paid players. Hope this helps.

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  • 1 month later...

I've run two - both times asked the Casino Host ahead of time and asked if they could give us a few t-shirts for prizes. Both times they did this for us, and the second time the host sent out a waiter with a rum punch for everyone. (FYI- they were both NCL ships) We gave the t-shirts to the first and second highest spinner. Make sure you also take some money at the end for a tip to those that assist, such as the slot attendants, cashiers and waiters.

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  • 2 weeks later...
I've run two - both times asked the Casino Host ahead of time and asked if they could give us a few t-shirts for prizes. Both times they did this for us, and the second time the host sent out a waiter with a rum punch for everyone. (FYI- they were both NCL ships) We gave the t-shirts to the first and second highest spinner. Make sure you also take some money at the end for a tip to those that assist, such as the slot attendants, cashiers and waiters.

 

 

Did you contact the casino host prior to sailing or once you were onboard? I'm running one on my upcoming cruse on the Epic and would LOVE to see if the casino would give us a prize or two. Thanks!

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We will have the signup at the M&G starting at 11AM and play at 1PM

 

SLOT PULL SIGNUP

 

 

$15.00 ENTRY AND SPLIT ALL CASH AT END

 

1- NO CRUISE CARD WILL BE IN THE MACHINE

 

2- 5 SPINS PER PERSON

 

3- ROTATION BY SIGN IN

 

4- SIGN IN SHEET PROVIDED AT M&G

(WALKINS WELCOME BEFORE CUT OFF TIME)

 

5- PAID WILL BE CHECKED OFF

 

6- WHEN GAME STARTS NO

DOUBLE ENTRIES

 

7- ALL MONEY WILL BE PLACED INTO

THE MACHINE BEFORE WE START

 

8- ENTRY TIME FOR THE CUT OFF

10 MIN BEFORE GAME STARTS

 

I will be the counter/caller and the wife will be the banker. If anything goes wrong? It's her fault. :eek: __________________

Harry and Lucille countdown.pl?image=Beach-9&name=Harry%20and%20Lucille&date=12-5-2013&text=&ship=Star%20Princess

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  • 2 years later...
We will have the signup at the M&G starting at 11AM and play at 1PM

 

SLOT PULL SIGNUP

 

 

$15.00 ENTRY AND SPLIT ALL CASH AT END

 

1- NO CRUISE CARD WILL BE IN THE MACHINE

 

2- 5 SPINS PER PERSON

 

3- ROTATION BY SIGN IN

 

4- SIGN IN SHEET PROVIDED AT M&G

(WALKINS WELCOME BEFORE CUT OFF TIME)

 

5- PAID WILL BE CHECKED OFF

 

6- WHEN GAME STARTS NO

DOUBLE ENTRIES

 

7- ALL MONEY WILL BE PLACED INTO

THE MACHINE BEFORE WE START

 

8- ENTRY TIME FOR THE CUT OFF

10 MIN BEFORE GAME STARTS

 

I will be the counter/caller and the wife will be the banker. If anything goes wrong? It's her fault. :eek: __________________

Harry and Lucille countdown.pl?image=Beach-9&name=Harry%20and%20Lucille&date=12-5-2013&text=&ship=Star%20Princess

 

I know this is older, but I am totally stealing it to use it for our slot pull!!!

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SLOT PULL RULES



CASINO

 

Wheel of Fortune machine

$15 entry buys 5 pulls at $3 per pull

Sign up at the M&G or at the machine

Sign in and pay at machine

Play in order of sign in

Late sign in ok as long as first round is playing

No replay entries after game start

By group vote, additional rounds may be played

for those interested.

Payout will be the share, paid out rounded down

to the closest dollar and left over change will

go to the person who has won the greatest amount

for the group. (don't have to worry about the small change)

Lucille will be book keeper (full disclosure of money)

and will start the round. I will anchor the team.

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  • 1 year later...

Love you rules! I'm heading one up for next week. I'm going to make my husband the cashier and if anything goes wrong....it's his fault! LOL Thanks so much for your post!

 

We will have the signup at the M&G starting at 11AM and play at 1PM

 

SLOT PULL SIGNUP

 

 

$15.00 ENTRY AND SPLIT ALL CASH AT END

 

1- NO CRUISE CARD WILL BE IN THE MACHINE

 

2- 5 SPINS PER PERSON

 

3- ROTATION BY SIGN IN

 

4- SIGN IN SHEET PROVIDED AT M&G

(WALKINS WELCOME BEFORE CUT OFF TIME)

 

5- PAID WILL BE CHECKED OFF

 

6- WHEN GAME STARTS NO

DOUBLE ENTRIES

 

7- ALL MONEY WILL BE PLACED INTO

THE MACHINE BEFORE WE START

 

8- ENTRY TIME FOR THE CUT OFF

10 MIN BEFORE GAME STARTS

 

I will be the counter/caller and the wife will be the banker. If anything goes wrong? It's her fault. :eek: __________________

Harry and Lucille countdown.pl?image=Beach-9&name=Harry%20and%20Lucille&date=12-5-2013&text=&ship=Star%20Princess

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  • 1 month later...
We will have the signup at the M&G starting at 11AM and play at 1PM

 

SLOT PULL SIGNUP

 

 

$15.00 ENTRY AND SPLIT ALL CASH AT END

 

1- NO CRUISE CARD WILL BE IN THE MACHINE

 

2- 5 SPINS PER PERSON

 

3- ROTATION BY SIGN IN

 

4- SIGN IN SHEET PROVIDED AT M&G

(WALKINS WELCOME BEFORE CUT OFF TIME)

 

5- PAID WILL BE CHECKED OFF

 

6- WHEN GAME STARTS NO

DOUBLE ENTRIES

 

7- ALL MONEY WILL BE PLACED INTO

THE MACHINE BEFORE WE START

 

8- ENTRY TIME FOR THE CUT OFF

10 MIN BEFORE GAME STARTS

 

I will be the counter/caller and the wife will be the banker. If anything goes wrong? It's her fault. :eek: __________________

Harry and Lucille countdown.pl?image=Beach-9&name=Harry%20and%20Lucille&date=12-5-2013&text=&ship=Star%20Princess

 

This is about the same way hubby and I do these. I set up a spreadsheet for activities on our page and folks sing up for this before we sail. We do allow for additional players until just before we start in case anyone did not get to sign up ahead of time. We usually use a Wheel of Fortune slot and do 3 pulls per person with $5 bet. Same concept... At the end of each round we decide as a group to continue for another round or to cash out. We divide cash evenly and any difference which is most likely a few cents per person is donated to Groove For St. Jude on Carnival.

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  • 8 months later...

Just read through this thread..lots of helpful info here...but have some questions that I hope someone can answer...

We've organized a Slot Pull on our upcoming Oct. cruise. We have 60 people signed up to participate each putting in $15. We're a bit concerned about IF we win big and there would be taxes to pay...any suggestions on how to run this so that we can avoid that....???? Any advice will be appreciated...we have not contacted the ship casino and are just running it ourselves.

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Just read through this thread..lots of helpful info here...but have some questions that I hope someone can answer...

We've organized a Slot Pull on our upcoming Oct. cruise. We have 60 people signed up to participate each putting in $15. We're a bit concerned about IF we win big and there would be taxes to pay...any suggestions on how to run this so that we can avoid that....???? Any advice will be appreciated...we have not contacted the ship casino and are just running it ourselves.

 

I would suggest that if you do hit big and someone is going to be issued a 1099 that person be given an extra 15 - 20 % of the prize to cover the taxes.

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I would suggest that if you do hit big and someone is going to be issued a 1099 that person be given an extra 15 - 20 % of the prize to cover the taxes.

 

That can be a problem, we had that happen on Celebrity and they did not issue a 1099g. You need to ask this of the casino manager since it could happen on any spin.

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That can be a problem, we had that happen on Celebrity and they did not issue a 1099g. You need to ask this of the casino manager since it could happen on any spin.

 

Thanks for responding...do you know what the limit is that we can win with paying the taxes?

I think maybe we've come up with a plan...with 60 people we're thinking of dividing into 3 groups...each group will

start with $300...and after the last person in that group pulls...we cash out.,,,and cash in at the cashier as well. Then go on the to the next group and do the same...and then the third group. When all is done, we'll pool all the $$ from each group and then divide that by 60. This way, we feel the odds of hitting huge on $300 is better than starting with $900....any ideas about this?

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Thanks for responding...do you know what the limit is that we can win with paying the taxes?

I think maybe we've come up with a plan...with 60 people we're thinking of dividing into 3 groups...each group will

start with $300...and after the last person in that group pulls...we cash out.,,,and cash in at the cashier as well. Then go on the to the next group and do the same...and then the third group. When all is done, we'll pool all the $$ from each group and then divide that by 60. This way, we feel the odds of hitting huge on $300 is better than starting with $900....any ideas about this?

 

It’s $1200 on a single spin that they may give a 1099g, this is standard on cruise ships and land based casinos. If you are playing a machine with a bonus feature, all the bonus spins are considered as part of the spin that ignited the bonus.

 

It is not what you cash out with that matters, just what you hit on a single spin.

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