How to run a slot pull or should I not bother

[EllieinNJ]

We are leaving on the Gem next week. There are approximately 35 people who responded to the M&G but actually no other communication on our roll call since I joined it over a year ago. My last M&G was so boring with only about 10 people showing up so I took it upon myself to ask if anyone was interested in a slot pull or cabin crawl, which I personally never did. About 5 couples/people said they might be interested in the slot pull. The same amount responded about the cabin crawl but no one with a grander cabin than a mini suite.

 

Do I wait for the M&G to ask if anyone else is interested? Is there a minimum number of people to do it? Do I collect the money beforehand or do they pay once in the casino? Do you schedule it right after the M&G (11am the second day) or later? I think someone mentioned doing it on a $1 Wheel of Fortune. Is this right?

 

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

[sgmamabear]

Best bet would be having a sign-up sheet at the M&G for slot pull. The money doesn't really need to be collected in advance but some organizers prefer to do that to ensure participation. Once onboard, talk to the casino host about timing to make sure there is no conflicting tournaments.

[sixesandeights]

We are leaving on the Gem next week. There are approximately 35 people who responded to the M&G but actually no other communication on our roll call since I joined it over a year ago. My last M&G was so boring with only about 10 people showing up so I took it upon myself to ask if anyone was interested in a slot pull or cabin crawl, which I personally never did. About 5 couples/people said they might be interested in the slot pull. The same amount responded about the cabin crawl but no one with a grander cabin than a mini suite.

 

Do I wait for the M&G to ask if anyone else is interested? Is there a minimum number of people to do it? Do I collect the money beforehand or do they pay once in the casino? Do you schedule it right after the M&G (11am the second day) or later? I think someone mentioned doing it on a $1 Wheel of Fortune. Is this right?

 

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

Slot Pulls are ok. They work best with an outgoing, fun, loud group. If everyone is standing silent you dont get the fun of drawing a crowd. You will want to have it setup in advance, but can make an announcement at the M&G that others can join if they want. How a slot pull works:

 

- Select an amount. Usually it is 5 pulls per person playing all 3 lines, so $15 per person is typical but you can adjust the number of pulls per person. You always want to play all the lines though.

 

- After the M&G get everyone together for the pull and walk to the Casino

 

- Collect the $ from each person and have them write their name on the role

 

- Put all the money in the slot machine (Wheel of Fortune is standard because of the bonus spin) and start going through each player.

 

- Record the amount that each player wins over all their spins

 

- Once everyone has gone you cash out the winnings and split it with the players. The person that won the most gets the overage after the even split. Ex. 10 Players. $209 after playing. Each gets $20. The person with the highest win get $29.

 

 

This should be all you need to get one going. Good luck and have fun!!

 

6&8

[cowboygene]

it's really fun...we did it with our roll Call goup.

the casino manager pointed out a machine for us to use and we were out over $200 in about 15 minutes..he also promised us drinks which arrived well after we were tapped out and had left the casino...still a lot of fun

Edited September 10, 2015 by cowboygene

[luddite]

In reality, the only time the group will meet is at the Meet and Greet.

Scheduling a slot pull ( always check spelling when typing slot pull) right at after the M&G is the onlt good chance of corralling everyone.

 

Here's a helpful hint: Do not let the casino staff select the machine that you'll play.

[swedish weave]

I have another suggestion.

 

Have each player put their own money into the machine.

 

One slot pull organizer got a counterfeit $20 when he collected the money and he could not identify the person who gave it to him.

[bjcruiser]

I hosted a slot pull on my last cruise. It was mentioned in the roll call and then at the Meet & Greet people were asking me about it. We set a time to meet I think it was around 15 to 20 minutes after the M&G was over. I believe there was about 20 of us. I did meet with the casino staff before and they gave us 2 bottles of champagne that we ended up giving to the 1st. and 2nd most amount won on a spin.

 

It was a lot of fun!!!!

 

When the first round was finished I think we were up about $10 each. Some of us decided to go again for round 2. The casino staff was awesome on the Sun. The broke up the winnings for us so we did not have to figure it out.

 

Like I said for us it was a good time. I did set some rules. They may work for you.

 

Slot Pull Rules

 

In order of sign up

$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

 

 

Hope this helps

Bobbie

[cliffd64]

I have another suggestion.

 

Have each player put their own money into the machine.

 

One slot pull organizer got a counterfeit $20 when he collected the money and he could not identify the person who gave it to him.

 

Really? That's amazing...

[cliffd64]

Another popular way of doing it is to set the price at $20 per person. $15 of each person's $20 goes into the machine, and the person who records the highest pull gets the left-over $5 from each person as a bonus :) In case of ties it's split amongst the highest pull winners.

 

So .. if you have ten people ... you have an initial pot of $150 and a $50 bonus to the highest pull :)

[newmexicoNita]

We are leaving on the Gem next week. There are approximately 35 people who responded to the M&G but actually no other communication on our roll call since I joined it over a year ago. My last M&G was so boring with only about 10 people showing up so I took it upon myself to ask if anyone was interested in a slot pull or cabin crawl, which I personally never did. About 5 couples/people said they might be interested in the slot pull. The same amount responded about the cabin crawl but no one with a grander cabin than a mini suite.

 

Do I wait for the M&G to ask if anyone else is interested? Is there a minimum number of people to do it? Do I collect the money beforehand or do they pay once in the casino? Do you schedule it right after the M&G (11am the second day) or later? I think someone mentioned doing it on a $1 Wheel of Fortune. Is this right?

 

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

 

My take: they are fun: I have organized a couple and here is how it works. You need to contact the casino manager plus have an idea how many might be interested. For that reason alone I think you are a little to late and the group probably isn't big enough to make it really fun. There is no min number of people, but the larger the group, the more fun. If you only have 35 or so even signed up for M&G, 1/3 to 1/2 will likely not show, you really don't have a very active group.

 

Now, if you decide you want to go ahead with it: you will want to contact the casino. Then meet with the casino manager when you get on the ship. He/she will tell you which slots to use. Yes, normally you want to collect the money at the M&G. We have always charged $15 and that give everyone 5 pulls at $3 a pull. If some want to play but didn't sign up ahead of time, you can take the money before the pull starts. Make sure everyone has exactly the correct change. You are not in the business to make change. When the pull is over, you go to the cashiere who will help you devide up the money. Once in awhile the casino manager will through in a bottle of bubbly, but don't count on it. If this happens the person with the highest money on his/her spin usually gets it.

[newmexicoNita]

Another popular way of doing it is to set the price at $20 per person. $15 of each person's $20 goes into the machine, and the person who records the highest pull gets the left-over $5 from each person as a bonus :) In case of ties it's split amongst the highest pull winners.

 

So .. if you have ten people ... you have an initial pot of $150 and a $50 bonus to the highest pull :)

 

I have heard of doing it that way as well. I still don't think it sounds like OPs M&G group is active enough to bother. But it is up to her.

 

For the person who said, do not let he casino manager pick the slot; we have done many pulls and always the manager has shown up to about 3 machines, let us pick.

[punkincc]

We are leaving on the Gem next week. There are approximately 35 people who responded to the M&G but actually no other communication on our roll call since I joined it over a year ago. My last M&G was so boring with only about 10 people showing up so I took it upon myself to ask if anyone was interested in a slot pull or cabin crawl, which I personally never did. About 5 couples/people said they might be interested in the slot pull. The same amount responded about the cabin crawl but no one with a grander cabin than a mini suite.

 

Do I wait for the M&G to ask if anyone else is interested? Is there a minimum number of people to do it? Do I collect the money beforehand or do they pay once in the casino? Do you schedule it right after the M&G (11am the second day) or later? I think someone mentioned doing it on a $1 Wheel of Fortune. Is this right?

 

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

I would highly recommend you do not wait until the Meet and Greet to ask about interest. Re post the list of those who expressed interest in the Slot Pull on the Roll Call and ask, and continue to ask, that others respond re interest. Someone should be doing this for the M&G itself as well.

 

Let them know there will be a sign in sheet at the M&G for the slot pull and that you will be at that spot to collect the money as they enter, exact change only.

[skeeter195]

Here is how I do it. I have never done one on the ship(always conflicts with the poker tournament), but have done many informal ones with friends or anyone else who wants to who is in the casino at the time.

 

-set a dollar amount and collect money

-pick a machine, set it up before hand with the casino or not. They don't really care. You are in their gambling with a bunch of people which may bring them future business.

-put all money in

-have everyone play through, keeping track who has the highest total return on their spins(usually 5)

-once everyone spins, the person with the highest return automatically gets 10% off the top of the winnings.

-divide the rest of the winnings evenly

-now whomever wants to continue, can. We were at one machine in Foxwoods for about 3 hours one time. We were up about $80 each at one point and some people "cashed" out and in the end the most any of lost was the initial investment.

 

Now, the one thing that I would do as the organizer is to make sure that my card was in the machine earning points. The only down side is that if you hit a jackpot you will be responsible for taxes. Someone is going to be responsible for taxes anyway if some one hits a jackpot.

 

Have fun

[Shellbelle28]

Thanks everyone for all this info! I've volunteered to run one for our roll call and had no idea how to do things. We're a small group, but will give it a go anyhow.

[EllieinNJ]

Thanks to everyone for their quick responses. One more question. Does everyone do their five pulls at one time or do you take turns by one pull at a time?

[sixesandeights]

You need to contact the casino manager plus have an idea how many might be interested.

 

Now, if you decide you want to go ahead with it: you will want to contact the casino. Then meet with the casino manager when you get on the ship. He/she will tell you which slots to use.

 

Do not do this at all. It is 100% not needed. Also any time the casino gets involved you can be sure they point you to the tightest machine in the house. Pick the machine the group wants.

 

Why anyone would ask the casino which slot to use is beyond me.....

 

6&8

Edited September 10, 2015 by sixesandeights

[Sauer-kraut]

Thanks to everyone for their quick responses. One more question. Does everyone do their five pulls at one time or do you take turns by one pull at a time?

 

Do them all at once, don't wait to go through your list again. Also we've tipped the casino helper with any overage above the winnings.

[sixesandeights]

Thanks to everyone for their quick responses. One more question. Does everyone do their five pulls at one time or do you take turns by one pull at a time?

 

Each player does 5 in a row.

 

6&8

[rochelle_s]

If you are lucky enough to hit something big and have a Canadian or any other non American let them be declared the winner of the big hit. In that case no declaration has to be made in terms of taxes.

 

Someone said no card in the machine but I was under the impression you needed a card in order to cash out. Maybe I am confusing my cruise lines, being a regular in the ship casinos I always try to make sure I don't forget my card.

 

Have fun and Good Luck!

 

 

Rochelle

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Last time I organized when we played two cents three dollar max quick hits we ended up coming out ahead and it was a lot of fun the previous two times we did the dollar wheel of fortune and won nothing my best guess would be to try the quick hit 2 cent machines. Each person put their $15 and took their five spins and that is simple as it is

Edited September 10, 2015 by FootballParent

[fshagan]

If you are lucky enough to hit something big and have a Canadian or any other non American let them be declared the winner of the big hit. In that case no declaration has to be made in terms of taxes.

 

It should be mentioned this is illegal; according to the law you still have to claim your share of winnings even if it momentarily passes through the hands of another person. It doesn't magically become a "gift" because a Canadian is listed as the winner.

 

I doubt you would ever get caught, of course, but those risk averse where the IRS is concerned will want to be aware of the actual law. You would be surprised what people say to IRS examiners when they don't know the law ;)

[rochelle_s]

It should be mentioned this is illegal; according to the law you still have to claim your share of winnings even if it momentarily passes through the hands of another person. It doesn't magically become a "gift" because a Canadian is listed as the winner.

 

I doubt you would ever get caught, of course, but those risk averse where the IRS is concerned will want to be aware of the actual law. You would be surprised what people say to IRS examiners when they don't know the law ;)

 

I'm sure you are right. Just to clarify, as a Canadian, when I win in the casino there is no 'list' to indicate I have won anything. The exact same as if I won in a casino in Canada. I am sure if I won something really big I would give my name but for just a few thousand dollars nothing is required of me.

 

For the benefit of anyone wishing to declare their winnings, having a 'foreigner' claim the prize and giving you your share means you are only obligated to claim the money you yourself received. If an American claims the prize I believe they have to claim the entire amount.

 

Not that I have ever heard of a Cruise Critic Slot Pull winning a big one...but given the odds, it should happen at some point. :)

 

 

Rochelle

[nyfltraveler]

I think many people are turned off by meet and greets when one person hijacks the roll call and comes across as it being all about them. Personally we do not do the meet and greet - in the past attended and odds of seeing those people again during the cruise or socializing with them during the cruise are very slim.

[cliffd64]

I think many people are turned off by meet and greets when one person hijacks the roll call and comes across as it being all about them. Personally we do not do the meet and greet - in the past attended and odds of seeing those people again during the cruise or socializing with them during the cruise are very slim.

 

I guess you have quite the different experience than we have had. In a number of meet and greets we have made connections that we enjoyed throughout the cruise and even afterwards ...

 

I've never run one myself, but I never got the impression that anyone was hijacking or making it "all about them"...

 

Speaking of hijacking... wasn't this thread about slot pulls? :)

[kernie968]

For the slot pull I ran I had everyone give me their first name then the city and state they were from. When I called people up for their turns announcing where they were from I noticed it started a lot of conversations. When I called people up for their second spin(we decided to play until we lost all of our money)a lot of people remember what city they were from and not their names!