Quick Poll: Do you win at the table games at the RC Casino?

[OCSC Mike]

I wouldn't gamble if I thought I was going to lose in the long run

 

Then you shouldn't be gambling on a cruise ship with the exception of poker. BJ is of course beatable but the games RC offers don't make it worth it.

[SRF]

Two cruises on Grandeur. Playing blackjack.

 

First one I lost $100 over the entire cruise. Second one I won $200 over the cruise. Works for me. :)

 

But I play this way: A ticket to Disney is $100 for the day. So I start with $100. If I lose it, I am done for the day. If I win, I can play as long as I like.

 

I have the card with the mathematically correct play for each hand. I PLAY THAT WAY.

 

One thing about playing on RCI, if you play at the $6 table (you can play $6 on the hand or $5 on the hand and $1 side bet) , they pay 6 to 5 on BlackJack. So a $6 bet should pay out $7.20, but they only pay $7. So they are shorting you 20 cents on each blackjack, after having a significant house advantage by only paying 6to5,

 

In 8 (IIRC) trips to Vegas, I have lost for the trip twice. Once $100 and once about $300. ALl other trips have been winners, not a lot, but winning. $100 to $900 for about a 5 day trip.

[OCSC Mike]

PLEASE don't ever play BJ that pays 6:5. The house edge on that compared to 3:2 is MUCH larger.

[Goofyfanatic]

Exactly

 

 

 

 

Let me start by saying I won for the first time on a Royal Caribbean ship last time out. Hit an incredible hot streak on Three Card Poker over two days like I have never seen before.

 

That being put out there I am still down over the totality of my cruises (not taking into account the casino perks of free cruises and drinks in the casino)

 

 

 

 

 

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[WyKnott]

I play roulette and usually do okay. Either I break even or come out ahead. But I watch the numbers and if the wrong ones come up too much I don't sit down. I don't win big with each turn, but it's usually steady.

[tmcollins]

Took a cruise on Liberty in January of 2017. My husband is a pretty heavy gambler. That's what he enjoys on vacation. He won over $8000 on blackjack. Casino host and all dealers knew his name by the end of the cruise. He won a free cruise among other benefits. Sad to say we took another cruise on Vision in January of 2018 and he gave most of it back. Yes, it is possible to win, but as the saying goes "gamblers' money has no home."

[time4u2go]

This last cruise with Carnival, not RC. I tried something in Roulette called the double down method or Martingale system. I have never been much of a gambler, but I ran some tests at home with an electronic roulette wheel and $100 in starting chips at $5 bets. This method never failed even once in my at home testing.This is how double down works basically.

 

Choose a color to bet on. Say, “red”. Until the end of the game, you will bet only on red.

-Place your initial bet, for example $1, on red.

-If you win, your net win is $1. Stop here.

-If you lose, you have lost $1. Place 2x$1=$2 on red.

-If you win, you win $2. Your net gain is $2-$1=$1. Stop here.

-If you lose, your net loss so far is $1+$2=$3. Place 2x$2=$4 on red.

-If you win, you win $4. Your net gain is $4-$3=$1. Stop here.

-If you lose, your net loss so far is $3+$4=$7. Place 2x$4=$8 on red.

...

Considering that it is more likely that you will lose than win on any given spin, there's statistically no way you come out ahead with this method.

[rt1092]

The odds at the blackjack tables are so bad on the ships. It's hard to put together a win.

I used to do fine at third base on a single deck table with 5 or more other players.

I can deal with the 6/5 blackjacks the thing that hurt was not allowing a double down after a split. They would deal 2 hands then reshuffle. I had to tailor my play on the second hand depending on what was left in the deck. (Even I can count one deck)

Now some of the ships only deal one hand if there are 5 or more players, so they never get to use more than half the cards. Making counting useless.

Even with counting you still have to be lucky and get the right cards. You can't win consistently with 15 or 16 coming out. When that happens you leave.

My wife plays the slots and she watches for a hot machine, and how much the person is betting. It seems the first couple of nights are always the best.

[rte]

That's not "winning", that's just not participating. I look at it this way - I determine before going to the casino an amount I'm willing to lose, AND ADHERE TO THAT AMOUNT. If I exhaust my predetermined amount, I'm done. That's the cost of the entertainment I received from playing. And I never go into the casino expecting to win. I'm expecting to be entertained and have fun. That's my way of winning.

Well said I agree , I have a predetermined amount to spend each night . What ever I go back to my state room

with at the end of the night is saved for my next cruise. The free 9 night cruise from the casino for playing is

a bonus to me and makes me feel like a winner

[bouhunter]

Some of the comments in this thread are frightening.

 

Yes they are.

[SRF]

PLEASE don't ever play BJ that pays 6:5. The house edge on that compared to 3:2 is MUCH larger.

 

Overall, I agree, but I play for fun, and am willing to take the odds.

 

And many Vegas casinos have gone to 6 to 5 for BJ.

[proggieus]

This last cruise with Carnival, not RC. I tried something in Roulette called the double down method or Martingale system. I have never been much of a gambler, but I ran some tests at home with an electronic roulette wheel and $100 in starting chips at $5 bets. This method never failed even once in my at home testing.This is how double down works basically.

 

Choose a color to bet on. Say, “red”. Until the end of the game, you will bet only on red.

-Place your initial bet, for example $1, on red.

-If you win, your net win is $1. Stop here.

-If you lose, you have lost $1. Place 2x$1=$2 on red.

-If you win, you win $2. Your net gain is $2-$1=$1. Stop here.

-If you lose, your net loss so far is $1+$2=$3. Place 2x$2=$4 on red.

-If you win, you win $4. Your net gain is $4-$3=$1. Stop here.

-If you lose, your net loss so far is $3+$4=$7. Place 2x$4=$8 on red.

So, unless a streak comes that is longer than your bankroll, you win, but slowly. I figured it was worth $100 to try it. I started playing and for about two hours this system worked perfectly. I was slowly making a gain, but when I reached about $280 and right after an employee who seemed to be watching me pretty intently was doing something at a workstation next to the roulette table, I had an eight number streak of not my color. I have to point out that for the last two hours and for as long as I had been watching the Roulette table this cruise, I had never seen more than a three color streak. Now I know that this could have just been dumb luck and the woman may have just been doing something routine and not related, but that cured me of gambling.

 

 

I was already suspicious though, because I used to get onto a Carnival ship and play the slots when the ship was headed out on night one. I set limits on my play. Start with $20 and if I lose that, I am done for the cruise. I would play a dollar and win like $50. After that first night, I would not win again. The next three cruises, I tried only playing on that first night and I won around the same amount each first night for three cruises. It was like the slots could not lose on that embarkation night, but now I am just cashing out and walking away and not gambling the rest of the cruise. This worked for four cruises and then stopped. My last three cruises, no wins on night one. I spend my twenty on slots and win nothing. So this could just be luck, I know that chance can be strange statistically, but in the back of my mind it could also be that an algorithm linked to my sail and sign card has told Carnival that I take my winnings and walk, so don't waste money on this guy. I know, I know, it is all highly regulated and above board, but that was enough for me.

 

works great until you hit the table limits or lose your bank roll.

 

In other words it dont work.

 

No system works, If a system did work the rules of the game would be changed so that the system no longer worked.

 

 

Also the slots do not have different payout rates for the start of the cruise vs the end of the cruise - I dont care what it seems like to you,or all your friends. you are wrong if you think this is true-

 

 

the vast majority of slot machines are not built for cruise ships but land based casinos,the manufactures do not build different machines for different customers-

 

Most gaming commissions in the world will not allow a machine with a programmable on the fly payout percentage, in order to change the percentage you need to physically change the chip that controls the machine, anybody ever see slot techs pulling circuit boards on every machine on the floor on night 3?

 

didnt think so.

 

Not to mention the fact that if Bally or any other manufacture did decide to make a machine that the casino could control the payout percentage how long until word got out that those machines have a unfair payout percentage.

Edited June 1, 2018 by proggieus

[DiscoingGD]

I agree that 6:5 is bad and I avoid it whenever possible. However, I've never even seen a casino not allow you to double down on split hands (Aside from Aces, which they don't let you do anything). That's where all my exciting plays come from, splitting and doubling down multiple times, turning a $20 hand into a $120 hand. That's disappointing, but I guess they'll do anything to shift the odds even further in their favor.

 

It reminds me of the first time I went to Vegas, they had a game called BJ Switch (It's probably everywhere by now), where you were dealt two hands (With two equal bets) and you could switch the last cards dealt to each hand with each other if you wanted (Example: You have an A,5 and 6,K. You could switch them and have an A,K and 6,5). After that, it played like regular BJ. Actually a cool concept, except BJs only paid even money and the dealer pushed instead of busting on 22 (which happened a lot).

[SRF]

I don't remember RCI not allowing double after split.

 

I am sure I did this last cruise.

[OCSC Mike]

Some land-based casinos do not allow DAS (doubling-after-split). That also increases the house edge but not nearly as much as 6:5 BJ does.

[mk-ultra]

I don't remember RCI not allowing double after split.

 

I am sure I did this last cruise.

 

You're absolutely correct. Rules for 8 deck were:

 

- Blackjack pays 3:2

- Dealer hits soft 17

- Double after split allowed

- No re-split aces

- Single card on split aces

[FPP777]

One of the biggest problems with playing BJ on a ship is this,,, there are a bunch of young people captive for say 24-36 hours as you leave port. A bunch are hanging around near 10pm and one says, " hey, lets go to the casino". So they come in and sit down next to you and they put their 20 dollars down and in two hands that money is gone because they stayed on 12 against a dealer 10 or they hit a 14 on a dealers bust card. While sometimes play like that will go your way, I found on my last Liberty cruise, those people helped Royal build a new ship with my money.

[KelSny1011]

Typically my husband finds a single hand table with at least $25 limit. This increases his odds two ways ...obviously single deck...also weeds out the people who dont how to play.

He says the $25 tables dont happen until 7pm.

Hes done well on all cruises we have been on. I stick with roulette and always do well too. We live in CA so Vegas is an easy trip for us, and we swear we do better on cruises. Good luck!

 

 

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[SRF]

One of the biggest problems with playing BJ on a ship is this,,, there are a bunch of young people captive for say 24-36 hours as you leave port. A bunch are hanging around near 10pm and one says, " hey, lets go to the casino". So they come in and sit down next to you and they put their 20 dollars down and in two hands that money is gone because they stayed on 12 against a dealer 10 or they hit a 14 on a dealers bust card. While sometimes play like that will go your way, I found on my last Liberty cruise, those people helped Royal build a new ship with my money.

 

Several references state that over the course of play, other players strategy does NOT affect your winning or not winning.

 

ANd this has been tested in simulation.

 

For everytime their play hurts your hands, their play helps your hand.

 

Ignore them and play YOUR game.

[OCSC Mike]

SRF, nice to see someone who understands BJ math in a cruise forum, but if you haven't noticed yet, trying to explain it to recreational gambler is a futile endeavor. Just wanted to let you know I'll be silently supporting your cause! Keep up the good work.

[rimmit]

This last cruise with Carnival, not RC. I tried something in Roulette called the double down method or Martingale system. I have never been much of a gambler, but I ran some tests at home with an electronic roulette wheel and $100 in starting chips at $5 bets. This method never failed even once in my at home testing.This is how double down works basically.

 

Choose a color to bet on. Say, “red”. Until the end of the game, you will bet only on red.

-Place your initial bet, for example $1, on red.

-If you win, your net win is $1. Stop here.

-If you lose, you have lost $1. Place 2x$1=$2 on red.

-If you win, you win $2. Your net gain is $2-$1=$1. Stop here.

-If you lose, your net loss so far is $1+$2=$3. Place 2x$2=$4 on red.

-If you win, you win $4. Your net gain is $4-$3=$1. Stop here.

-If you lose, your net loss so far is $3+$4=$7. Place 2x$4=$8 on red.

So, unless a streak comes that is longer than your bankroll, you win, but slowly. I figured it was worth $100 to try it. I started playing and for about two hours this system worked perfectly. I was slowly making a gain, but when I reached about $280 and right after an employee who seemed to be watching me pretty intently was doing something at a workstation next to the roulette table, I had an eight number streak of not my color. I have to point out that for the last two hours and for as long as I had been watching the Roulette table this cruise, I had never seen more than a three color streak. Now I know that this could have just been dumb luck and the woman may have just been doing something routine and not related, but that cured me of gambling.

 

 

I was already suspicious though, because I used to get onto a Carnival ship and play the slots when the ship was headed out on night one. I set limits on my play. Start with $20 and if I lose that, I am done for the cruise. I would play a dollar and win like $50. After that first night, I would not win again. The next three cruises, I tried only playing on that first night and I won around the same amount each first night for three cruises. It was like the slots could not lose on that embarkation night, but now I am just cashing out and walking away and not gambling the rest of the cruise. This worked for four cruises and then stopped. My last three cruises, no wins on night one. I spend my twenty on slots and win nothing. So this could just be luck, I know that chance can be strange statistically, but in the back of my mind it could also be that an algorithm linked to my sail and sign card has told Carnival that I take my winnings and walk, so don't waste money on this guy. I know, I know, it is all highly regulated and above board, but that was enough for me.

 

I’ve seen red and black streaks fill up the whole board and then some. On any stream like that the betting gets heavy on the side that isn’t hitting obviously. You can lose but in one of those streaks when it happens. I’ve watched a lot of roulette and streaks of 6-7 are prettt common imo. Ultimately it’s about a 47% chance it hits on what ever color you pick every time. Previous events have no bearing on present events. The roulette table has no memory.

[mk-ultra]

One thing about playing on RCI, if you play at the $6 table (you can play $6 on the hand or $5 on the hand and $1 side bet) , they pay 6 to 5 on BlackJack. So a $6 bet should pay out $7.20, but they only pay $7. So they are shorting you 20 cents on each blackjack, after having a significant house advantage by only paying 6to5

 

It's even worse than that. They have these $6 min bet tables open during early hours to encourage people who might scoff at a $10 table -- thinking this is a way to play for less. That $1 side bet has a horrendous house advantage on it (~20%+), on top of the table only paying 6:5. You are much better off playing at a $10 minimum 3:2 table.

[SRF]

SRF, nice to see someone who understands BJ math in a cruise forum, but if you haven't noticed yet, trying to explain it to recreational gambler is a futile endeavor. Just wanted to let you know I'll be silently supporting your cause! Keep up the good work.

 

People in general do not understand math and statistics. :D

 

Most still believe in hunches. :D

[proggieus]

People in general do not understand math and statistics. :D

 

Most still believe in hunches. :D

 

or that a particular machine is "due"

[OldSeaDog1969]

I don't remember RCI not allowing double after split.

 

I am sure I did this last cruise.

 

The comment is about Single Deck Blackjack. On RCI if dealt from a 6 or 8 deck shoe then you can double after a split with the exception of ACE's.