light weight casino question

[Mytime2014]

I see casino chips for sale and I see mention of using your OBC and/or sea card in the casino. If I wanted to play a few slots - is there any reason to have chips in addition to my on board account?

 

as if it was not obvious - I have never gambled. Unless we're playing War - I don't do cards and dice go with Monopoly! Maybe I'd try slots to say I did. I've got in my head to do the account with the sea pass card [is that the name] and then cash out when you're done - assuming you win a few bucks or to get extra cash....do I need chips for that? or just a good double shot of tekillya and a hell with it attitude?!!!

 

oh, is there anyone to tip in there?!

 

insomnia induced picture of me with a ribbon across my chest [think Ms America style] with dollar bills to pull off and pass randomly for good deeds....my scepter is a wine glass and a bar stool is my throne...

208 hours and y'all will no longer have to deal with my newbiness! ;)

[POA1]

You can put money into the slot machines to play, or you can change it to your onboard account using your room key card.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

I see casino chips for sale and I see mention of using your OBC and/or sea card in the casino. If I wanted to play a few slots - is there any reason to have chips in addition to my on board account?... oh, is there anyone to tip in there?!...

 

You won't need chips for slots, just for table games if you decide to try those. No need to tip if only playing slots unless you win big (over $1200 last I knew), then an attendant will appear to pay you off and do related tax paperwork. I usually tip them. People often tip dealers at the table games, though.

Edited June 27, 2014 by Ryndam2002

[Krazy Kruizers]

The only time I have seen people tip anyone in the casino is when they have played at the tables. We rarely go into the casino because of the smoke.

[Hlitner]

Many cruise directors will make a remark something like, "The Casino is open this evening and accepting your donations." It is actually a very accurate observation. If you take a lot of time (without using real money) to learn how to really play Blackjack (you must go with the odds) or Craps you do have a chance of winning in Casinos. For a skilled player, the odds in those games only slightly favor the house. But electronic machines like Slots are not much of a gamble, but rather a way to nearly guarantee losing your money. The odds on those games are awful. Yes, there are a few exceptions. We have a neighbor who won $15,000 on the slots. Of course what she doesn't tell folks is that she probably lost over $30,000 on the slots over the years (most winners tend to forget how much they have previously lost).

 

So should you go try to gamble (or "gaming" as they call it in many quarters)? Sure, because it can be a lot of fun. Set a budget of how much you want to donate to the casino and stick to that budget. Once you lose that amount, just smile, think that you have had a lot of fun, and walk away.

 

And yes, we also agree with Krazy Kruizers. Although I enjoy playing Blackjack or Craps (and usually lose or break even) I have taken a personal vow to never gamble a penny in any casino that allows smoking or even stinks of stale smoke (like all HAL casinos). So we can say that we have never lost a penny in a HAL casino. Celebrity, on the other hand, has received plenty of my "donations."

 

Hank

Edited June 27, 2014 by Hlitner

[CGYCruisingFamily]

DH and I are not gamblers or make that big gamblers. We will occasionally will do a little "finger exercising" :) at the penny slots. Nothing more than slots.

 

The machines accept cash and then (at least the last time we cruised), when you cash out, the amount goes on your room key and has to be cashed out by the last night of the cruise.

 

We have generally had mild luck with the slots on HAL. Last time I think we were about $40 down between the 2 of us for a 14 night cruise. There was one cruise where I won about $300 on the penny slots for the cruise. The one machine just kept winning (I took that money down to the front desk and paid it towards out ship board credit immediately).

 

My mom likes the slots and she usually either wins a bit or breaks even. The machines hate my dad and he usually down so between them, they offset each other.

 

I agree though with other posts, the machines can eat money so have a preset budget. We only ever use cash, we NEVER put it against our cabin account.

[CGYCruisingFamily]

DH and I are not gamblers or make that big gamblers. We will occasionally will do a little "finger exercising" :) at the penny slots. Nothing more than slots.

 

The machines accept cash and then (at least the last time we cruised), when you cash out, the amount goes on your room key and has to be cashed out by the last night of the cruise.

 

We have generally had mild luck with the slots on HAL. Last time I think we were about $40 down between the 2 of us for a 14 night cruise. There was one cruise where I won about $300 on the penny slots for the cruise. The one machine just kept winning (I took that money down to the front desk and paid it towards out ship board credit immediately).

 

My mom likes the slots and she usually either wins a bit or breaks even. The machines hate my dad and he usually down so between them, they offset each other.

 

I agree though with other posts, the machines can eat money so have a preset budget. We only ever use cash, we NEVER put it against our cabin account.

 

Oh and one last word of advice, even if it is a penny slot, keep an eye on how many lines or what the amount of a max bet is, there was one time my mom accidentally hit max bet and it turned out to be a $5 spin.

[jaguarstyper]

If you're going to take your first foray into casino gaming, doing it with slot machines is an easy way, but your chance of success, especially in a HAL casino is very slim. ALL slot machines are computer controlled, even the ones with real spinning wheels. The casino can "program" the odds and HAL has their machines programmed to be very tight. I'm not going to say you can't win, but its difficult. The video poker machines are not programmed nearly as tight and you have a better chance with them if you have some rudimentary understanding of poker.

 

The best game for someone to start gaming is Black Jack. I know many newcomers are very intimidated by table games, but you really shouldn't be. Black Jack is a very simple game and player strategy is based strictly on probabilities. Black Jack is my favorite game in a HAL casino. With the exception of the soft 17 rule, they play very traditional Black Jack. The uses 6 decks, manually shuffled, dealt from a traditional dealing shoe. No continuous shuffling machines to screw up the odds.

 

Many new Black Jack players make a couple basic mistakes that tend to take them out of the game quickly. First, they focus on getting 17 or better every hand. You do not need to get to 17 to win, you just need to beat the dealer, who does need to get to 17 to win. I have seen countless beginners take a hit on a 14 when the dealer is showing a 6. You need to remember your playing the probabilities. If you hit a 14, your probability of busting (going over 21) is high. And, showing a 6 means the dealer's probability of sitting on a 16 is also high, which in turn makes the probability of them busting high. Another thing you must remember is one quarter of the deck carries a 10 value. Always assume the dealer has 10 down when deciding what to do. Second, most beginners never double down on their bets. Huge mistake. When the odds are heavily in your favor, you must maximize the amount of money you can bet if you want to end up a winner at the end of the day. If you have an 11 showing, always, always, always double your bet, unless the dealer is showing an ace. Remember, 25% of the deck is 10 cards. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but you are playing the probabilities.

 

Black Jack is also easy to learn to play. There is a basic set of rules that tell you what you should do in every possible scenario. These are based on statistics and if you play strictly to the rules, your odds of winning over a period of time is around 46%, the best odds of any casino game. Learn more advanced strategies and those odds just get better. You can find the blackjack rules here. You must memorize them and play by them.

http://www.cryan.com/pdf/blackjack.pdf

 

Another thing newbies fear is the "human" dealer. Fear not, they are your friend. They want you to win. They don't get tips from people who lose. Most dealers are friendly, personable and know how to play the game. If you're not sure what to do, ask them, they are happy to tell you the right play. Remember, they want you to win.

 

And, like other table games, Black Jack can have a fun social element, especially when you are playing with experienced players. They will help you to, because they are not playing against you, they are playing with you. Many times its in the best interest of the entire table that every player make the right call on a hit or stand. I have seen many newbies make the entire table lose by taking a bad hit that would have have resulted in the entire table winning with a stand. It happens a lot and can be frustrating. First rule, don't be afraid to admit you're new to the game and if you're unsure what to do, ask the dealer or another player.

 

So, play the slots if you want, but know the odds are highly stacked against you. Take some time to learn to play Black Jack correctly and you just might end up with some extra folding money in your pocket. :D

Edited June 27, 2014 by jaguarstyper

[DaveOKC]

If you're going to take your first foray into casino gaming, doing it with slot machines is an easy way, but your chance of success, especially in a HAL casino is very slim. ALL slot machines are computer controlled, even the ones with real spinning wheels. The casino can "program" the odds and HAL has their machines programmed to be very tight. I'm not going to say you can't win, but its difficult. The video poker machines are not programmed nearly as tight and you have a better chance with them if you have some rudimentary understanding of poker.

 

The best game for someone to start gaming is Black Jack. I know many newcomers are very intimidated by table games, but you really shouldn't be. Black Jack is a very simple game and player strategy is based strictly on probabilities. Black Jack is my favorite game in a HAL casino. With the exception of the soft 17 rule, they play very traditional Black Jack. The uses 6 decks, manually shuffled, dealt from a traditional dealing shoe. No continuous shuffling machines to screw up the odds.

 

Many new Black Jack players make a couple basic mistakes that tend to take them out of the game quickly. First, they focus on getting 17 or better every hand. You do not need to get to 17 to win, you just need to beat the dealer, who does need to get to 17 to win. I have seen countless beginners take a hit on a 14 when the dealer is showing a 6. You need to remember your playing the probabilities. If you hit a 14, your probability of busting (going over 21) is high. And, showing a 6 means the dealer's probability of sitting on a 16 is also high, which in turn makes the probability of them busting high. Another thing you must remember is one quarter of the deck carries a 10 value. Always assume the dealer has 10 down when deciding what to do. Second, most beginners never double down on their bets. Huge mistake. When the odds are heavily in your favor, you must maximize the amount of money you can bet if you want to end up a winner at the end of the day. If you have an 11 showing, always, always, always double your bet, unless the dealer is showing an ace. Remember, 25% of the deck is 10 cards. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but you are playing the probabilities.

 

Black Jack is also easy to learn to play. There is a basic set of rules that tell you what you should do in every possible scenario. These are based on statistics and if you play strictly to the rules, your odds of winning over a period of time is around 46%, the best odds of any casino game. Learn more advanced strategies and those odds just get better. You can find the blackjack rules here. You must memorize them and play by them.

http://www.cryan.com/pdf/blackjack.pdf

 

Another thing newbies fear is the "human" dealer. Fear not, they are your friend. They want you to win. They don't get tips from people who lose. Most dealers are friendly, personable and know how to play the game. If you're not sure what to do, ask them, they are happy to tell you the right play. Remember, they want you to win.

 

And, like other table games, Black Jack can have a fun social element, especially when you are playing with experienced players. They will help you to, because they are not playing against you, they are playing with you. Many times its in the best interest of the entire table that every player make the right call on a hit or stand. I have seen many newbies make the entire table lose by taking a bad hit that would have have resulted in the entire table winning with a stand. It happens a lot and can be frustrating.

 

So, play the slots if you want, but know the odds are highly stacked against you. Take some time to learn to play Black Jack correctly and you just might end up with some extra folding money in your pocket. :D

 

Good analysis, but my advice is to skip gambling on a ship - the odds are really against you, much more so than on a land based casino.

 

While Blackjack and Video Poker are the "best" odds, on a ship the rules and payouts are not as good as a land casino, plus, most importantly, both of these games require that you spend alot of time learning the correct way to play them (as both require informed decisions on your part). For an occasional player, I doubt it is worth your time in learning all the rules/plays.

 

If you do decide to gamble, consider it a social/fun activity and decide how much money you want to "spend" on this activity.

 

DaveOKC

[jaguarstyper]

One more thing, another newbie fear is "table etiquette". Again, its simple. You only really have 4 decisions to make. Hit, which means give me another card. Stand or stay, which means you're happy with your hand and don't want any more cards. Double, which means you like your odds and you want to maximize your winnings. Split, which means you have a pair and you would like to play each card as a separate hand. All of these moves are defined in the rules.

 

Another piece of etiquette in Black Jack is the hand signals. Some casinos do not allow their dealers to act on verbal commands only, but require the player to gesture their intention. Again, its quite simple. Tap your index finger on the table behind your cards for hit, wave your open hand over your cards for stand, place your additional bet behind your original bet for double and place and equal bet beside your original bet to split. You do not have to actually double your bet, you can add any amount, subject to the table minimum, up to the amount of your original bet.

 

Never touch your cards. And, never touch your bet after the dealer sweeps their hand across the table just before dealing.

 

The most important rule: Have Fun!

Edited June 27, 2014 by jaguarstyper

[jaguarstyper]

Good analysis, but my advice is to skip gambling on a ship - the odds are really against you, much more so than on a land based casino.

 

While Blackjack and Video Poker are the "best" odds, on a ship the rules and payouts are not as good as a land casino, plus, most importantly, both of these games require that you spend alot of time learning the correct way to play them (as both require informed decisions on your part). For an occasional player, I doubt it is worth your time in learning all the rules/plays.

 

If you do decide to gamble, consider it a social/fun activity and decide how much money you want to "spend" on this activity.

 

DaveOKC

Also good advice, but I would point out, that the odds and payouts of card games like Black Jack do not change whether on land or at sea. The only difference I see on ship casinos with Black Jack is the dealer being able to take a hit on a soft 17. But this rule is also gaining popularity in land based casinos outside of Las Vegas.

 

And, most land based casinos have moved to continuous shufflers for tables with lower minimums. I think this is far worse than the soft 17 rule. It messes with the probabilities and takes many of the advanced strategies out of the game. HAL still uses a 6 deck shoe that is manually shuffled. A very good thing.

Edited June 27, 2014 by jaguarstyper

[Djptcp]

DH and I always tip the dealers if we are winning. They appreciate it and why wouldn't you tip them? You are having fun and winning.

[Mytime2014]

hmmm I may try blackjack a couple of time. I can't 'remember' cards played or concentrate on multiple things going on and I'm sure I'm going to be distracted to the 'oh look a chicken' max. So tap if I want a card, wave if I want to hold. I can do that.

The smoke won't bother me if I have a drink, weird as it may sound since I have never smoked a cigarette - when in a bar or drinking I kind of like the smell.

[jaguarstyper]

hmmm I may try blackjack a couple of time. I can't 'remember' cards played or concentrate on multiple things going on and I'm sure I'm going to be distracted to the 'oh look a chicken' max. So tap if I want a card, wave if I want to hold. I can do that.

The smoke won't bother me if I have a drink, weird as it may sound since I have never smoked a cigarette - when in a bar or drinking I kind of like the smell.

You don't have to remember cards that have been played and you don't have to be Rainman to have success at Black Jack. :) Yes, someone who can count cards and remember how many aces and face cards that came out and know how to bet accordingly will certainly have an advantage. Those are very advanced strategies and they are not required to have success at the game.

 

Just follow the rules, all the time, and you have a 46% chance at being successful. Throw in a little bit of luck and your odds of success get better and better. People who routinely lose a lot of money playing black jack do so because they do not follow the rules. Its a slow burning game and you won't ever make a big strike unless you really put yourself out there and get lucky. Playing mistake free and being patient is the best way to be successful.

 

And, don't forget to double when you have an 11 and the dealer has anything other than an ace. :D

Edited June 27, 2014 by jaguarstyper

[DaveOKC]

You don't have to remember cards that have been played and you don't have to be Rainman to have success at Black Jack. :) Yes, someone who can count cards and remember how many aces and face cards that came out and know how to bet accordingly will certainly have an advantage. Those are very advanced strategies and they are not required to have success at the game.

 

Just follow the rules, all the time and you have a 46% chance at being successful. Throw in a little bit of luck and your odds of success get better and better. People who routinely lose a lot of money playing black jack do so because they do not follow the rules. Its a slow burning game and you won't ever make a big strike unless you really put yourself out there and get lucky. Playing mistake free and being patient is the best way to be successful.

 

Actually, you can purchase a "cheat sheet" card at most gambling stores, casino gift shops or online. They tell you the "correct" play in every situation. Some of the online ones are even free, but I like the plastic coated ones from the stores. They have them for Video Poker as well and it is easier to use since the machine lets you take all the time you want to make a decision.

 

DaveOKC

[Boytjie]

If you're going to take your first foray into casino gaming, doing it with slot machines is an easy way, but your chance of success, especially in a HAL casino is very slim. ALL slot machines are computer controlled, even the ones with real spinning wheels. The casino can "program" the odds and HAL has their machines programmed to be very tight.

 

And you have proof of this? (Emphasis mine)

[jaguarstyper]

Actually, you can purchase a "cheat sheet" card at most gambling stores, casino gift shops or online. They tell you the "correct" play in every situation. Some of the online ones are even free, but I like the plastic coated ones from the stores. They have them for Video Poker as well and it is easier to use since the machine lets you take all the time you want to make a decision.

 

DaveOKC

Yes, and I included a link to one such "cheat sheet" in my first post on this thread. And don't be afraid to use it at the black jack table. There are no rules against it and its not "cheating". However, its probably a good idea not to obsess over it when playing and slow down the game. Its easy to memorize the simpler plays and you should only refer to it if you get stuck. And also know that most dealers know every play by heart and will be happy to tell you the right play if you're unsure. They do want you to win.

[jaguarstyper]

And you have proof of this? (Emphasis mine)

Proof? No, I have none. But from my experience, I can say their machines are very tight. I personally do not play slot machines, ever. But, my SO does and we do go to Vegas 3 or 4 times a year and play in our local casinos fairly frequently. She cannot win on the slots in a HAL casino and she wins fairly consistently in other casinos we go to. One can only deduce that the slots on the ship are tighter than the ones in other casinos. Or, perhaps her skills at pressing a button somehow get skewed when out to sea. It could be either. :D

[Boytjie]

Proof? No, I have none. But from my experience, I can say their machines are very tight. I personally do not play slot machines, ever. But, my SO does and we do go to Vegas 3 or 4 times a year and play in our local casinos fairly frequently. She cannot win on the slots in a HAL casino and she wins fairly consistently in other casinos we go to. One can only deduce that the slots on the ship are tighter than the ones in other casinos. Or, perhaps her skills at pressing a button somehow get skewed when out to sea. It could be either. :D

 

My anecdotal evidence is that I seem to win more on HAL ships' slots than at land-based casinos. :) Maybe it's just luck. ;)

Edited June 27, 2014 by Boytjie

[tooleman56]

Here in Pennsylvania, state gaming laws require slot machine payouts to be at least 85 percent. For each dollar in, at least 85 cents must be returned to the players in payouts. Some casinos set their machines a bit higher, it's a good marketing tool. I would be curious to know if HAL casinos are held to any sort of similar standards and who the regulating body might be.

[jaguarstyper]

Here in Pennsylvania, state gaming laws require slot machine payouts to be at least 85 percent. For each dollar in, at least 85 cents must be returned to the players in payouts. Some casinos set their machines a bit higher, it's a good marketing tool. I would be curious to know if HAL casinos are held to any sort of similar standards and who the regulating body might be.

The average payout in Pennsylvania in 2013 on slot machines was 89.9 cents on the dollar. Which is quite a bit lower than the averages in neighboring states. New York state was 93.4 cents on a dollar and the Vegas strip was 92.4 cents and 93.5 cents statewide in Nevada.

 

I cannot find any statistics for cruise ship casinos payout rates. I also do not think cruise ships fall under the auspices of any formal gaming regulatory agency since they only operate in international waters. As far as I know they only adhere to guidelines established by the cruise industry trade group, CLIA. They are largely self regulated.

 

http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/policies/gambling

Edited June 27, 2014 by jaguarstyper

[zookiebird]

DW loves to play slots in the evening. She's "graduated" from 1 to 2 penny machines. Have to admit they bore me but as long as she has her vodka & tonic and a fairly loose machine she's a happy camper. That's all that matters to me.

[DaveOKC]

Slot machine play is definately a matter of luck. The odds on a cruise ship likely are worse on a cruise ship than a land based casino, but if you are lucky that time thats all that matters.

 

I can tell you for certain that in Video Poker, the casino ships have a lower payout than land based casinos. How do I know this? Its easy:

 

You look at the pay tables on the machine. This basically tells you the payout percentages. For example, lets consider a standard Jacks or Better video poker game. The "old standard" pay tables pay you 9 times your bet for a Full House and 6 times for a Flush (the rest of the payout hands are normally the same from machine to machine (area to area) so lets ignore them for now). On a cruise ship you normally see a Full House only paying 6 times and a Flush 5 times. On the Las Vegas Strip (which is no longer known for good gambling odds) for example, you normally see 7 times for Full House and 5 for Flush.

 

Some land based casinos still have 9 times pay for Full Houses (and 6 for Flushes), but these are hard to find. If you can find these, they are the ones to play (the payout table is over 99% with proper strategy).

 

In any case, for a short period, like on a cruise, the payout percentages matter little. Luck plays a much bigger role.

 

DaveOKC

Edited June 27, 2014 by DaveOKC

[jaguarstyper]

DW loves to play slots in the evening. She's "graduated" from 1 to 2 penny machines. Have to admit they bore me but as long as she has her vodka & tonic and a fairly loose machine she's a happy camper. That's all that matters to me.

Keeping the DW happy is all that should matter to you. :p :p :p

 

Because, when they are happy...we are happy. Am I right?

[RMLincoln]

Nobody mentioned roulette. I enjoy a turn or two at the wheel. No, the odds are not as good as some other games but the fun is good! It's very social because no customer is betting against another customer, only against the house. Customers usually root for each other.

 

And because it takes some amount of time for the ball to spin around you might not spend as much money as fast as in a slot machine. And I find it's more exciting and not boring. But still, any ship is a money making operation.

 

Bets can be split by placing a chip on a line or a corner, thus increasing the chance that one of these numbers will come up, but dividing the winnings by that also (half for a line split or a quarter for a corner split). Etc. You can play rows, columns, reds, blacks, evens, odds..... so it's never boring!

 

There are fun gaming classes usually offered early in the cruise and as others have said, the staff will happily assist you.

 

Yes, if you win, it's customary to leave a tip usually a chip or two, depending on their denomination of course :).

 

Every person at the roulette table has chips of their own color or pattern so the croupier knows to whom to pay the winnings.

 

Go have fun within your budget. m--