casinos

[cccer]

On the Liberty earlier this year my wife and I tried three card poker and got hooked. It is a fun game and does not take much strategy or skill. The money up front is a little higher than BJ, you can lose $15 per hand depending on how you bet, but they payouts can be a lot better. On three nights we started with $100 each and only lost on one night. The other two nights we came out with over $600.

[mathgeek1978]

I've never heard of slots being loose the last night. But we all hear different things. It's been my experience that slots are loose in the begining, and tight at the end. Yes, they use a RNG, but the casino is able to set the payback. A 98% payback means the machine holds 2 bucks out of every $100.00 wagered. And that is over some period of time, or number of spins. In Las Vegas and Atlantic city, they have to file paperwork with the gambling commisions when they change the payback on any machine. And if they're checked, and it's wrong, that is a MAJOR problem for them. I doubt casinos at sea have anyone watching over them, so It's my bet that the paybacks can be changed any time they feel like it.

 

You asked about craps. It's not that hard if you take it in bite sized bits. But I would forget about learning it at a casino class. They will be VERY selective in what they tell you. If nothing else, concentrate on learning pass and odds bets, come bets, and place bets. That will keep you busy for awhile.

 

Oh, and keep your hands clear of the table when the shooter is throwing. Oh, having the dice hit your hands while you're futzing with a bet or picking up chips is bad Karma. No, don't let that happen man.

 

Yes, it is illegal for Las Vegas casinos to change their payouts. In fact, some of their softwares are sealed, and cannot be accessed without the presence of regulatory officials.

 

While most cruise lines, includng Carnival, belong to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which provides guidelines for casino operations, it is NOT a regulatory agency and pretty much has no enforcing powers.

 

So it's a common belief that cruise lines change their payouts daily. Whether this is true, only the insiders know. But from a pure mathematical point of view, there is no need to change the payout daily. The payback will fluctuate from hour to hour, day to day, cruise to cruise, just by pure random events. So the payouts will be higher on some days and lower on other days.

 

In the end, the machine will make whatever it is programmed to make over the long term.

[boaterette]

I won 5700 on a slot machine on the fourth night of a seven night cruise. I won 1100 on the last night of a four night cruise. I won 500 on the second night of a seven night cruise. It is just a matter of luck. Being at the right machine at the right time.

[TahoeBob]

thanks lou, you are not the first person that i have heard say the they fill the slots are loose on the first and last day.

 

I have found that slots are loose on the first night of the cruise and the last night of the cruise.

 

Just some correct facts on slots on the ships. The slot machine are not changed during the cruise they are awakes the same. I have spent many years in the casino business (back of the house) with many friends and coworkers who have worked both for carnival and RCI as slot tech. The fact is the main reason that the casinos do not change the machines is because they don't have to. In every casino both Land and sea the largest income from the slots.

 

IGT (International Game Technology) is one of the largest slot machine manufactures in the business, one of my very good friends works for them in Reno and I have toured the plant in the past, the amount that can be changed by the end user (casino) is extremely limited and is governed by the NGC (Nevada gaming commission). All cruise lines follow NGC regs in there operations.

[ssstacoma]

I was just on the Splendor two weeks ago with a success story!! I hit a royal flush playing double bonus video poker for $2064 (only held 2 cards). The progressive meter was higher than that at the start of the cruise, so I know it had been hit either that day or the day before also. By the end of the cruise, the meter was up to $2900, so I don't think it was hit again. (this was playing quarters at max bet of 10 quarters). On the last day of the cruise I was playing triple bonus poker and hit four 2's with a 3 kicker for $1000. I feel extremely lucky as the payout schedules were pretty bad!! The only way you can play for a while is to hit some 4 of a kinds - the rest of the payouts are garbage!! I probably only gambled a total of $300 for the trip to get that. My brother-in-law also hit 4 aces with a kicker for $1000, so for the family we did pretty good!!

 

I was very disapointed with the blackjack tables. The only "normal" rule game is dealt out of continuous shuffle machines, and I can't ever seem to get in any kind of a rythm with those. Two games were dealt out of a shoe. I started playing them until I realized it was "FUN 21". I was being paid on some weird things, such as doubling on 11 and getting a 10, I would be paid before the dealer played his cards. Knowing there must be a catch, I had to ask before I was told that there were no queens in the shoe!!! I could have dealt with some of those rules to sit at a table for a while to have a good time, but the dealers all seemed to really enjoy taking the player's money. One dealer even told us that's why he was hired is because he's good!! He told us to watch his table - said that his rack is always full of chips. I don't need that kind of attitude - it's not his money for cryin' out loud!! After that I stuck to the poker machines (thank goodness)!!!

 

Scott

[wdnoble9999]

Yes, that is correct. And there is NO first day or last day for the slot machines. They are run continuously. So everyday is just a random day.

 

Those passengers who won on the first/last days will tell you they are loose. Those who lost would tell you they are not. Unlike common belief, the RNG are not reset everyday, nor even every cruise.

 

Why? Becasue they don't have to. Once the payout percentage has been set, that is the long term payout of the machines if operated continuously for the long term. Moreover, the RNG only determines the position where the reel (mechancal or electronic) stops, not which symbol of the reel is displayed.

I agree with MathGeek... the slots are no looser on any one day than another. It's all about being at the right place at the right time. In our case, the right place/time came on the Conquest on our way to dinner on the first night. We were a bit early so when passing the casino, I paused and popped a $20 into a quarter video poker game. Hit a royal flush on a max bet. The machine didn't make much noise, and my wife didn't notice anything. So, I casually asked her to help me out with some math. "Honey, just how much money is 8,000 quarters?". Needless to say, this more than covered her spa treatments and my gambling for the balance of the cruise.

 

Here's hoping that your luck is just as good!

[tarheel04]

Just some correct facts on slots on the ships. The slot machine are not changed during the cruise they are awakes the same. I have spent many years in the casino business (back of the house) with many friends and coworkers who have worked both for carnival and RCI as slot tech. The fact is the main reason that the casinos do not change the machines is because they don't have to. In every casino both Land and sea the largest income from the slots.

 

IGT (International Game Technology) is one of the largest slot machine manufactures in the business, one of my very good friends works for them in Reno and I have toured the plant in the past, the amount that can be changed by the end user (casino) is extremely limited and is governed by the NGC (Nevada gaming commission). All cruise lines follow NGC regs in there operations.

 

 

thanks tahoebob for the info, that makes me feel at ease a little better

[tarheel04]

I agree with MathGeek... the slots are no looser on any one day than another. It's all about being at the right place at the right time. In our case, the right place/time came on the Conquest on our way to dinner on the first night. We were a bit early so when passing the casino, I paused and popped a $20 into a quarter video poker game. Hit a royal flush on a max bet. The machine didn't make much noise, and my wife didn't notice anything. So, I casually asked her to help me out with some math. "Honey, just how much money is 8,000 quarters?". Needless to say, this more than covered her spa treatments and my gambling for the balance of the cruise.

 

Here's hoping that your luck is just as good!

 

that's the kinda luck i'm looking for hopefully it will happen this cruise, i'm really down for the total year on land casionos so i'm taking my luck to the sea!

[cruiseman111111]

I lost all my $ in the slots!

[Casino Player]

i love to gamble as i find it relaxing. will i be wasting my time on the crusie as i have heard the odds on tables and machines are way in the favor of carnival. what are everyones favorite games ( slots or tables ) ? give me some sucess stories so my confidence will rise even if my bank account doesn't.

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO tarheel04: I love to gamble too on a cruise. I think it is relaxing. On my last cruise on the Carnival Dream they had young kids working as dealers. A few weeks to months out of dealers school. I've been playing craps for more than 20 years. What can the Dealers possibly teach me? Dealer tells another player he can't tap the dice on the table. My guess is the dealers are afraid that the ship will go down like the Titantic. They try to hurry you or to get you out of your game. The thing is you don't let them do it. Play like you've always played.

[Dave0311]

The casinos are fun onboard. Slots, roulette, and Caribbean stud are my favorites. On my last cruise, I was one card away from getting a royal flush at Caribbean stud. :mad: Needless to say, that was quite frustrating.

 

The casinos onboard are great especially when the dealers are good. It's always nice when they know you by name by the end of the week.

[FightOnRon]

Play craps. The casino cn't ge tthe edge on you by fixing the payouts (like slots) or using multiple decks to throw you off (like blackjack). The worst they can do is give you crappy odds on your bets.

[okwriter]

:eek: I am sure I will get another notification if I go further with this one.

 

 

OP - I have come out ahead on all my cruises playing 3 card poker. Just my experience though.

 

You said "ahead" :D :D :D :D :D

[Casino Player]

Play craps. The casino cn't ge tthe edge on you by fixing the payouts (like slots) or using multiple decks to throw you off (like blackjack). The worst they can do is give you crappy odds on your bets.

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO FightOnRon: The odds on your bets are fixed. A Place Bet in any Casino regardless of where it is pays on 6 or 8 7-6, on 5 or 9 7-5 and on 4 or ten 9-5. On Pass Line bets or Come bets when you make an odds bet it pays true odds. That is the only bet in the Casino that in fact pays true odds. On the 6 or 8 it is 6-5. On the 5 or 9 true odds are 3-2. On the 4 or 10 true odds are 2-1.

All other bets on the craps tables do not pay out at true odds. This is what gives the Casinos their edge.

[newlife_2010]

Can someone explain the slot machines to me. I am taking a small amount of money on the cruise for the casino. How do I avoid the 3% service charge?

[mouche]

hey mouche where are you from in north carolina, do you ever do cherokee? here lately i have been doing the internet sweepstakes cafe's that have been poping up all over nc.

 

Hey tarheel04, I'm in Greensboro, and no I haven't done the Cherokee yet, I've thought about it though.;) First time hearing about the sweepstakes cafe's I must check into that. Thanks:)

[Casino Player]

Can someone explain the slot machines to me. I am taking a small amount of money on the cruise for the casino. How do I avoid the 3% service charge?

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO newlife_2010: You can avoid a 3% interest rate charge in two ways. First, bring your own money and only use that money set aside for gambling, I use this method. The other way is to establish credit with the Casino. This way when you go in you could just ask for a marker. This is an interest free loan. You must settle with the ship before you leave the ship. Terms could be to settle right away or have up to 45 days to settle.

[newlife_2010]

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO newlife_2010: You can avoid a 3% interest rate charge in two ways. First, bring your own money and only use that money set aside for gambling, I use this method. The other way is to establish credit with the Casino. This way when you go in you could just ask for a marker. This is an interest free loan. You must settle with the ship before you leave the ship. Terms could be to settle right away or have up to 45 days to settle.

 

I will be going with method 1. So when I play the slots, I put in a my sign and sail card and put in my cash money. When (lol, nice I said when) I win, does the machine print out a ticket like Vegas or does it go to the sign and sail card? then after your done playing, you go to the cashier and cash out?