acthorson Posted June 19, 2018 #1 Share Posted June 19, 2018 On Carnival Cruises (we're on the Vista this July), I have two questions regarding the Hold 'Em games in the casinos. 1. What are the buy in's for the 1/2 no limit cash games? 2. For the tournaments, what's the buy in, and is there a re-buy? TIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoungingMcCoy Posted June 19, 2018 #2 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I can't speak for the Vista. The Triumph had an electronic poker table that was always empty. I checked a number of times. The Fun Times had listings for poker player meetups a couple of times but I never went to one. If I remember correctly the meetups were usually late, like 10:00 p.m. I never saw anything about a tournament. I was hoping to get into some poker action! Hopefully the Vista will be better for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted June 19, 2018 #3 Share Posted June 19, 2018 The Conquest poker table this April was packed every night. I think the buy in was $20. You can buy more anytime, but not during a game. There is always one jerk at the table with a $500 balance who goes all in every other game. A $20 buy in might last one hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acthorson Posted June 19, 2018 Author #4 Share Posted June 19, 2018 The Conquest poker table this April was packed every night. I think the buy in was $20. You can buy more anytime, but not during a game. There is always one jerk at the table with a $500 balance who goes all in every other game. A $20 buy in might last one hand. That's what I was worried about. We were on an RCCL cruise 2 summers ago, and in the Hold 'Em tourney, the buy-in never ended, and there was always someone who'd pull those moves, too. Thanks for the info. I'm hoping there'd be at least some players for a 1/2 NL game. I love the tournaments, but when there's no limits on the buy-ins, they're not worth it on the cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackjack22 Posted June 19, 2018 #5 Share Posted June 19, 2018 The Conquest poker table this April was packed every night. I think the buy in was $20. You can buy more anytime, but not during a game. There is always one jerk at the table with a $500 balance who goes all in every other game. A $20 buy in might last one hand. I think the electronic machines are rigged for people to have more exciting hands. I've never seen so many Aces vs Kings, set over set, straight vs flush set ups in my life. Maybe the person just kept getting hands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted June 19, 2018 #6 Share Posted June 19, 2018 OMG, they are not rigged, period. This is a 52 card random deck. so you think there are more than 4 aces and kings? Can you imagine the end of the game when everyone shows their hand and there are 5 aces? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackjack22 Posted June 19, 2018 #7 Share Posted June 19, 2018 OMG, they are not rigged, period. This is a 52 card random deck. so you think there are more than 4 aces and kings? Can you imagine the end of the game when everyone shows their hand and there are 5 aces? That's not at all what I'm saying. These machines use similar software as what most online poker sites used and it is common knowledge since the investigations by the feds following the online poker shutdown that sites programmed their "randomizers" to have more set up hands that encourage people to put money into the pot. I'm not saying there's not a standard deck or people are putting in cheat codes. I'm saying that the hands do not play randomly and people get more premium hands that they will want to bet, raise, call instead of check and fold. Why on earth would they want to do this? To make people put more money in the pot! Why on earth would that be an objective? Because the game makers and by extension cruise line make their money through rake which is based on how much money is in the pot. Why do you only see these machines on Indian Reservations and cruiseships? No regulators to tell them they can't do it would be my guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott4020 Posted June 19, 2018 #8 Share Posted June 19, 2018 That's not at all what I'm saying. These machines use similar software as what most online poker sites used and it is common knowledge since the investigations by the feds following the online poker shutdown that sites programmed their "randomizers" to have more set up hands that encourage people to put money into the pot. I'm not saying there's not a standard deck or people are putting in cheat codes. I'm saying that the hands do not play randomly and people get more premium hands that they will want to bet, raise, call instead of check and fold. Why on earth would they want to do this? To make people put more money in the pot! Why on earth would that be an objective? Because the game makers and by extension cruise line make their money through rake which is based on how much money is in the pot. Why do you only see these machines on Indian Reservations and cruiseships? No regulators to tell them they can't do it would be my guess! These machines are in more than just cruise ships including the racinos here in Indiana and I assure you they are very regulated here. There could be small reasons to rig these tables but if it were ever discovered that PokerPro were rigging things they would quickly be out of business. They lease these machines and make big bank, they have a huge financial stake in keeping them trustworthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yaksarefunny Posted June 19, 2018 #9 Share Posted June 19, 2018 The Holdem tourneys are never well attended. In the 5 cruises I’ve been on, only once did they have enough for a tourney. They also take ALOT out of the tourney fees for their big yearly jackpot tourney. The regular game is also usually poorly attended. Usually gets started around 9ish. Usually 3-6 players with the occasional (and brief) full table. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott4020 Posted June 19, 2018 #10 Share Posted June 19, 2018 On Carnival Cruises (we're on the Vista this July), I have two questions regarding the Hold 'Em games in the casinos. 1. What are the buy in's for the 1/2 no limit cash games? 2. For the tournaments, what's the buy in, and is there a re-buy? TIA. Buy Ins are typically $20-$300 People who buy in for $20-$50 fund my excursions :) I'm not a turbo tournament type of player so I generally avoid the tournaments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackjack22 Posted June 19, 2018 #11 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Buy Ins are typically $20-$300 People who buy in for $20-$50 fund my excursions :) I'm not a turbo tournament type of player so I generally avoid the tournaments. Those are the ones who drive up rake too! If rake is 10% of a pot and capped at 7 or 10 (can't remember which) then rake is maximized or near max when a person goes all in for $50 and there's a caller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlmonday Posted June 19, 2018 #12 Share Posted June 19, 2018 The cost of the tournament is $150 and 75 of that goes to prize pool at least that is the way it was setup on my 2 previous cruises and also the reason why there is hardly ever a tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coevan Posted June 20, 2018 #13 Share Posted June 20, 2018 The Black Tourney is the second biggest rake next to Bingo. Multiplying the amount of people by an average of $30 pp which probably is low, and subtracting the payouts, I estimated the rake at 75%, BJ they also take about 50% like poker. We don't play in the tournaments or bingo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlmonday Posted June 20, 2018 #14 Share Posted June 20, 2018 I have had my own Texas Holdem tournaments on two cruises. Had a couple friends with me and would make it known on the facebook group for the cruises dates. We would have 6 to 9 players playing in buffet area in the afternoon or nights. They were small buyins $10 to $30 and we played 5 out of the 7 days of the cruise... Someone in the facebook group had poker chips to bring and we used an app (for poker) for the timer and blinds. No one from Carnival said anything as we kept the money off the table. It was fun and no rake....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackjack22 Posted June 20, 2018 #15 Share Posted June 20, 2018 I have had my own Texas Holdem tournaments on two cruises. Had a couple friends with me and would make it known on the facebook group for the cruises dates. We would have 6 to 9 players playing in buffet area in the afternoon or nights. They were small buyins $10 to $30 and we played 5 out of the 7 days of the cruise... Someone in the facebook group had poker chips to bring and we used an app (for poker) for the timer and blinds. No one from Carnival said anything as we kept the money off the table. It was fun and no rake....lol That's a really good idea, will try it out next time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helene109 Posted June 20, 2018 #16 Share Posted June 20, 2018 We are on it in July too good luck! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cchips Posted June 20, 2018 #17 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Does the Vista have a live dealer or electronic table? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_DeA Posted June 20, 2018 #18 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Does the Vista have a live dealer or electronic table? All Carnival ships have the Poker Pro electronic tables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_DeA Posted June 20, 2018 #19 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Just to clarify, the buyin for cash games is $20 - $200. The rake is 15% up to $8 (unless that's changed recently). The Poker tournament entry fee is $150 and the house cut varies depending on the number of players. If it's a full table (10 players, the cut is 50%). If there are 5 players is it 33.3% (prize pool of $500, house fee of $250) I believe, but each player after 5, only $50 of that players' $150 entry fee goes to the prize pool, the other $100 goes to the house (prize pool $750, house fee $750). The winner does receive an entry into Carnival's annual poker tournament (this year it's in August on the Breeze out of Galveston), but no free cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dork42775 Posted June 20, 2018 #20 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Nothing funnier than watching these people walk up and buy in for $20 at a time but do it 10 times. You are losing right out of the gate and those people should be bullied if you are playing the game right. Everybody just can't limp in everytime with crap cards. You have to pay to see a flop against me. The above information is right but I thought the rake was capped at $10? Either way they are making a lot of $ when they can keep a full table running. As for the rigged I lean towards the game is set up for action. Even with 60-70 hands per hour there shouldn't be so many monster hands. It always seems it's a big hand vs another big hand to build the pot. I've played on these tables for years and have seen some crazy stuff like 3 different straight flushes in one orbit. No way that's random. Sent from my SM-G935V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_k58 Posted June 21, 2018 #21 Share Posted June 21, 2018 I think the electronic machines are rigged for people to have more exciting hands. I've never seen so many Aces vs Kings, set over set, straight vs flush set ups in my life. Maybe the person just kept getting hands! I agree that the table is " unusual" - I have played a lot of hold-em, and have never in my life seen so many instances of quads - especially quads against quads, super high full boats etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobetta204 Posted March 15, 2019 #22 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Anyone going on the Carnival Dream on May 5, 2019 and is interested in playing in the grand finale $175,000 texas holdem poker tournament? I am selling my seat as I am unable to attend. The seat can only be transferred once. Just asking $200 for the seat, which is worth $750 Seat must be confirmed by April 5th. Please contact me for details.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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