Blackjack/Slots Tournaments......

[aaannnthony]

......are major rip-offs!

 

I attended the Blackjack tournament twice on our recently completed 14 day "Golden" T/A plus, played the first time, $20. Over 70 entrants, $1400 "take" and a $500 payout to the winner.....Princess profit over $900. Watched the second time....same, over 70 entrants.

 

I imagine the Slot tourneys are the same....Princess pays out $500, about a third of the "take"!

 

Needless to say, I'll be boycotting on future cruises; how about joining me!

[johnql]

I've been boycotting the tournaments for the past 4 or 5 cruises. Back in the day, cruise lines used to pay out pretty much all of the take. Not any more, as you pointed out. The tournaments used to be conducted as another shipboard activity, not as an income-producer.

 

The same goes for bingo. The cost seems to be going up while the payouts go down.

 

I've noted these regrettable trends on my cruise evaluations.

[spongerob]

I no longer participate in the blackjack tournaments. The rule changes instituted since the Carnival takeover of casino operations eliminated any element of skill. The payoff issue is just icing on the cake.

[shellyc]

I participated in the slot tournament on the Golden 5/22 sailing and won $500. I don't play the slots on the ship, just the tournement for fun.

[Greyhound3]

Under Princess payouts, there is no way I'd participate.

 

I won the blackjack tournament on my last cruise (on the Norway) to the tune of $660 - but everyone who made the final table got some cash.

 

Spongerob - when you said...

 

The rule changes instituted since the Carnival takeover of casino operations eliminated any element of skill

 

exactly what changes did they make? Was it that they wouldn't allow splits, doubles, etc.??

[LARGIN]

No more BJ tourneys for me unless they change the rules

[spongerob]

Spongerob - when you said...exactly what changes did they make? Was it that they wouldn't allow splits, doubles, etc.??

 

Before Carnival, the top money winner from each table advanced to the next round. Now, it's just the 7 top money winners from all qualifying tables that make the final. If you get a hot dealer, it doesn't matter how well you play, you're going to be out. It's just a matter of luck, now. Playing smart against a cold shoe no longer allows you to move on.

 

And yes, I take my blackjack very seriously! :)

[aaannnthony]

The most flagrant change, however, is the lack of a fair distribution of entry fees. I won one of the two tournaments on the Golden's westbound crossing in Septemer, 2002. I received almost $700, and, the second and third place finishers received about $400 and $300, respectively....a distribution of about $1400, which, I believe, was about 75% of the fees collected.

[RumbLine]

I came in second place on a Slots tournament. The winner won $500. The second prize was a black cap, with Princess Casino logo, and a ball point pen with Princess logo. All entrants got a tee-shirt.

 

Seems like there should be atleast some nominal 2nd and 3rd place cash prizes too (say $100 and $50 respectively).

 

As second place, I suppose I did get my $20 back in prizes, but I'd rather of had my $20 back, given a choice.

[Blamar]

I was on the Island Princess on June 1 and came in third on the slot tourney. The split went $500 for the winner, a key chain for second and I got a T-shirt. It was fun but the prize breaks suck.