A question for the "gamblers"

[KAR3600]

They say it's a cashless casino...you put money in and what happens if you "hit"?

 

Has anyone hit it big?

 

Do they tornaments?

 

Thank you!!!

[Hoosier-Cruiser]

For the slot machines, your winnings or anything are kept on the machine until you "cash out". When you cash out, the amount is transfered to your card. All winnings need to be cashed out from your card into cash at the Casino cashier before the casino closes on the last night. I saw a few people hit "big", but I don't play slots so I never hit personally.

 

They do run a few tournaments, generally on sea days. They had a poker tournament, a blackjack tournament and a couple of slot tournaments on our cruise. DW did the slot tournament and didn't make it to the final round. I did the blackjack tournament and won.

[beg3yrs]

Like Hoosier-Cruiser said, winnings are kept on your card. It's the same card as your cruise card, not a separate one.

 

You don't have to wait until the last night to cash out. You can do that any time the cashier is open.

 

The machines will accept US notes (and Australian notes on the Aussie ships which use Australian currency) but as previously said, the amount is kept on your card.

 

You can also load your card by charging to your onboard account. There is no fee for this. I believe the standard limit is $1500 per day.

 

Chips can be purchased at the tables for cash or can be charged to your on-board account. There is no fee for this service either. You turn in your chips at the cashier for cash just like land-based casinos.

 

Drinks are not free however the casino does keep track of your play and now and then they'll offer you something.

 

If you "hit big" and are a US citizen or resident, the casino is required to withhold US taxes unless you provide your tax ID number (typically your social security number) and a mailing address. In that case your win is reported to the IRS and you get a 1099G early in the following year. I believe the threshold for a "big win" is $1200. This is also true for Bingo wins. Big wins are paid in cash. DW has won a couple of big Bingo wins and immediately puts the cash back on our cruise account.

Edited August 21, 2014 by beg3yrs

[Coveguy4]

When I've won "big" in the casino, I was given cash at the cashier's cage. I had to show my SS card and received a 1099 from the ship. No taxes were taken out, I was paid about $2000.00 which I claimed on my taxes as gambling winnings. After that I would never put cash into the machine, instead draw from my onboard account, which can be used to offset from the winnings total at end of year.

[PurpleRose23]

Do they tornaments?

 

 

I believe tournaments will vary from ship to ship. On our last cruise this past July on the Star Princess, my husband signed up for two blackjack tournaments. The buy in was $20 with the winner taking $500. Unfortunately he didn't win either tournament and placed in the top 3 both times. For this he won Princess t-shirts and hat. They also gave the final table participants a free bingo card and a free match play (if you put down $5 , the match play certificate would count as $5 on one play of any table game).

 

They did have a slot tournament while we were on board but he did not partake in that. He had a lot of fun though.

Edited August 21, 2014 by PurpleRose23

[USNUZULOOSE]

We were on the Glory in 09 and couple hit a 98 thousand jackpot. They had to wait till we hit St. Thomas and have them come on board and verify the machine before the pay out. But I guess it all depends on the pay out.

[triple7tahoe]

On the Coral, I saw a woman win a BMW (0r $25K-her choice) While they were taking care of her another lady came up and said she thought she had won big also-Much laughter until they went and looked-She had also won a BMW.

 

On our Royal cruise last year, a man hit the penny machine for $84K. This was in the early stages of this new ship.

 

I have not had any such luck but playing .05 at a time probably won't get me there either :D

[rbg96]

And always remember to make sure that any money transfers to your card before you remove it and leave the machine.

And always remember to remove your card and take it with you when you leave the machine.

They do get forgotten and left behind. I know cause I've done it myself.

[geoherb]

On the CB earlier this month, there were a few $1 machines that still paid out in coins. I never played them. The nickel machines are my speed. I ended up about $40 ahead.

[jilly08]

Does anyone know what the table minimums are for black jack and 3 card poker?

 

thanks,

Jill

[Crzn-Life]

Does anyone know what the table minimums are for black jack and 3 card poker?

 

thanks,

Jill

 

For 3- card it is $5. For Black Jack it depends on the table: there are tables with different minimums from $5 - $25.

[2pbears]

When I've won "big" in the casino, I was given cash at the cashier's cage. I had to show my SS card and received a 1099 from the ship. No taxes were taken out, I was paid about $2000.00 which I claimed on my taxes as gambling winnings. After that I would never put cash into the machine, instead draw from my onboard account, which can be used to offset from the winnings total at end of year.

 

Just curious. Are you saying you had to show your Social Security Card to claim your winnings?

[Coveguy4]

Just curious. Are you saying you had to show your Social Security Card to claim your winnings?

 

To get the full amount of my winnings I showed my SScard to them. I have always done this at any casino I've won in, otherwise they take the taxes out right there. I've only had to do this twice on Princess(Darn). If I didn't have it with me maybe they could of had used the info from my passport or something, I don't know. Last time I needed it on Princess was 2 1/2 years ago, but I'm pretty sure they asked

[beg3yrs]

Just curious. Are you saying you had to show your Social Security Card to claim your winnings?

 

To get the full amount of my winnings I showed my SScard to them. I have always done this at any casino I've won in, otherwise they take the taxes out right there. I've only had to do this twice on Princess(Darn). If I didn't have it with me maybe they could of had used the info from my passport or something, I don't know. Last time I needed it on Princess was 2 1/2 years ago, but I'm pretty sure they asked

 

The Social Security card is NOT required. We know first hand has DW had a big win and we do not carry our cards or anything else with our SS# on it. As long as you provide your number and sign a statement certifying it's correct, you'll have no taxes taken out.

Edited August 21, 2014 by beg3yrs
fixed typo

[beg3yrs]

Does anyone know what the table minimums are for black jack and 3 card poker?

 

thanks,

Jill

 

For 3- card it is $5. For Black Jack it depends on the table: there are tables with different minimums from $5 - $25.

 

We were recently on the Ocean Princess for a very long cruise through Asia and Africa. It's a small casino and the passenger demographic didn't lend itself to much action at the casino. Minimums at the tables dropped (handwritten signs) to $3. That was a lot more fun.

[caribill]

The Social Security card is NOT required. As long as you provide your number and sign a statement certifying it's correct, you'll have no taxes taken out.

 

[jilly08]

We were recently on the Ocean Princess for a very long cruise through Asia and Africa. It's a small casino and the passenger demographic didn't lend itself to much action at the casino. Minimums at the tables dropped (handwritten signs) to $3. That was a lot more fun.

 

Thank you!!!! I think I can afford that!:D

[beg3yrs]

Thank you!!!! I think I can afford that!:D

 

Not sayin' it will happen on your cruise. Hope it does though. :)

[Coveguy4]

Thank you Caribill, I knew they asked me for it, I had it in my stateroom and went and got it for them. If I didn't have it, I'm sure they would have gotten the info somehow, but since it was available, no problem, I got it! Now if they would just ask me for it next month on my next cruise......lol

[Thrak]

I am the person who allows the rest of you to win. It would be easier for me to simply write a check and leave without playing. Enjoy your winnings. :rolleyes:

[beg3yrs]

Thank you Caribill, I knew they asked me for it, I had it in my stateroom and went and got it for them. If I didn't have it, I'm sure they would have gotten the info somehow, but since it was available, no problem, I got it! Now if they would just ask me for it next month on my next cruise......lol

 

I just want to make sure we all understand. Nowhere on the photo Caribill so graciously provided does it say you have to present a Social Security card. It only asks for a verified number. This number can be verified by your signature as testimony.

 

If the "it" you got in your stateroom was your card, that was not necessary.

 

I suppose I'm on a soapbox - it is a very bad idea to be carrying your Social Security card, especially on travel. It is much better to memorize your number.

[philv]

Not sure what to think about this discussion. Craps is my game. I go to casino, plunk down $50 or $100 in cash for chips, and take my winnings (if any) to cashier cage and get cash. Never had a big win, over $500, so wonder about this putting winings on card. I guess in the future if I win more than $1200, I'll cash chips in lower amounts than $1200 so I don't have to report winnings. ;)

[SadieN]

Not sure what to think about this discussion. Craps is my game. I go to casino, plunk down $50 or $100 in cash for chips, and take my winnings (if any) to cashier cage and get cash. Never had a big win, over $500, so wonder about this putting winings on card. I guess in the future if I win more than $1200, I'll cash chips in lower amounts than $1200 so I don't have to report winnings. ;)

 

 

Your card is used solely in the machines not tables. Unless there is one of those electronic BJ or Poker tables.

[ddloml]

Not sure what to think about this discussion. Craps is my game. I go to casino, plunk down $50 or $100 in cash for chips, and take my winnings (if any) to cashier cage and get cash. Never had a big win, over $500, so wonder about this putting winings on card. I guess in the future if I win more than $1200, I'll cash chips in lower amounts than $1200 so I don't have to report winnings. ;)

 

Don't worry about winning $1,200 or more at Craps. I don't think that any single bet pays more than 300 to 1 (see Carigill's post with the placard pic explaining tax withholding). Probably the only thing to concern yourself would be the Currency Transaction Report (CTR) that could be required for cash transactions over $10,000.

[alexspepa]

for those of you who play poker - most of the ships have the poker-pro electronic table; and they have hold-em tournaments and cash games.

 

you put money into a poker account and use your room key like a debit card when logging into the table - you set up a pin to access your funds; it is really easy and I find it better than carrying cash or chips around.

 

I also have found that the table plays much looser than a cash table, and the pots in a cash game can get quite high - more than enough to justify the rake which can be a bit higher than vegas tables, but considering there is no dealer to tip that evens out.