Trying to become Prime in the Casino

[TeamTrom]

So I understand it takes 2500 points to become Prime but my question is what does it take to get 2500 points. Just trying to find out roughly how long I might have to play, at what average bet to get the points required. Anyone tested this theory out want to share their secrets? 

[Joelster123]

I only play slots but you get 1 point for every 5 dollars played so it's $12500 that way.

Not really sure if anyone knows how table games are calculated.

[soremekun]

Wow!  What are the benefits of being prime?

[Goofyfanatic]

For table games the basic formula is average bet * hours played equals points.

 

This can change from session to session and even in the session if the pit boss adjusts your play up and down.

 

For example on the last cruise I was playing Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em.

 

My standard play was:

 

$10 Trips

$5 Ante-$5 Blind

They then assume a play bet of $5 

 

Making my total bet $25 and I got 25 points per hour.

 

Some sessions I played more and I think one session the pit boss gave me more credit (and two days the table min was $10 so that right there got me to 40 points per hour.) For the nine night cruise I earned just over 2200 points. One night the casino was only open for 3 hours also.

 

As for what Prime gets you...one free 8 night cruise (any itinerary) in an inside room and also free drinks in the casino. That is basically the best of it.

 

Of course the more your play and are rated the better the offers you get in the mail.

[Merion_Mom]

1 hour ago, Joelster123 said:

I only play slots but you get 1 point for every 5 dollars played so it's $12500 that way.

Not really sure if anyone knows how table games are calculated.

 

Or you can keep playing the same $20, if you are winning.  You don't really have to spend $12,500.  Nowhere near.  If you are spending that much money on the slots and only getting 2500 points, you are doing something very wrong.  😉 

[fla gang]

Took me a 7 night and a 4 night this year to make Prime. On the 4 night I had two machines that kept me playing for probably 3 hours each night. Ran about $300 of my money through them each night and everything they hit went right back in, so between the two cruises I dropped probably $3k. Some nights I spent less than $300, some more. Prime last year took an Alaska cruise as my freebie and get offers every month for shorter cruises. Probably go through $100 a night in free drinks in the casino.

[Joelster123]

1 hour ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Or you can keep playing the same $20, if you are winning.  You don't really have to spend $12,500.  Nowhere near.  If you are spending that much money on the slots and only getting 2500 points, you are doing something very wrong.  😉 

 

Of course, I was trying to work out the best way to put it 😁 For simplicity,  if you are betting $1 per spin it would take 12500 of them to get required points, but unless the machines are getting even tighter, you could probably expect to have a few collects somewhere in there. 😃

 

Also for this program, the points accumulate for the 12 months between 1 April and 31 March so you can earn them over multiple cruises. There's another system where if you earn enough points on the one cruise (2400 I believe) you can score another free cruise (from a list), or a credit towards any one.

[robandana]

$5 per point, on my last cruise I reached 400 ($2000) points but did not put more than $250 of my own money the rest was winning that I kept playing. I got a $100 off my next cruise voucher for reaching 400 points during that cruise.

 

I am at about 1100 points for the year and I have 3 cruises still to go but I don't think I will make it....normally I do not do more than 200-250 points per cruise....

 

Would be great to have free drinks and a free cruise....

[Coralc]

2 hours ago, fla gang said:

Took me a 7 night and a 4 night this year to make Prime. On the 4 night I had two machines that kept me playing for probably 3 hours each night. Ran about $300 of my money through them each night and everything they hit went right back in, so between the two cruises I dropped probably $3k. Some nights I spent less than $300, some more. Prime last year took an Alaska cruise as my freebie and get offers every month for shorter cruises. Probably go through $100 a night in free drinks in the casino.

WOW. I'm glad that you have fun fla gang. I rarely earn enough points for even a key chain. My gambling budget is $50 a day. And if I lose that for a day or so, I may not gamble after that at all. The free cruises and casino benefits are certainly worth it, I just hate to lose the money. 

[soremekun]

3 hours ago, robandana said:

$5 per point, on my last cruise I reached 400 ($2000) points but did not put more than $250 of my own money the rest was winning that I kept playing. I got a $100 off my next cruise voucher for reaching 400 points during that cruise.

 

I am at about 1100 points for the year and I have 3 cruises still to go but I don't think I will make it....normally I do not do more than 200-250 points per cruise....

 

Would be great to have free drinks and a free cruise....

$250 of your own money for $100 off a future cruise...

Gotcha.  Now I see why they treat the gamblers so well.  No doubt Royal always comes out on top. 

[Bases5]

Do they combine Table play points with slot points?

Is there a easy way to check points thru out the cruise. 

I know on Carnival the points you see on the slots only reflect the slots so I never really know where I'm at. 

 

[Crism]

1 hour ago, Bases5 said:

Do they combine Table play points with slot points?

Is there a easy way to check points thru out the cruise. 

I know on Carnival the points you see on the slots only reflect the slots so I never really know where I'm at. 

 

 

Unfortunately it's the same way. Your card in the machines only shows your slot points. Table points are separate, and you have to keep bugging the host to ask.

[agslc5]

I play mostly table games but also some slots.. I ask the Host everyday how many points I earned at the table the day before.. Its no bother. Its their job to assist with these matters and they are happy to help. 

[proggieus]

mathematically, assuming a 80% payback on slots it would cost ~$2300 cash in to reach prime if you replay any winnings.

 

that of course is if the math "works" for you. you can get lucky and win a major for $2500 on pull one and prime wont cost you a cent out of pocket,.

 

on the other hand, I have friends that had horrible luck on the machines and didn't get near the points we had expected for their cash in amount,

 

I suspect the payback percentage is closer to 90% as, both times I have made prime it has cost me considerably less then the math suggested it would, although it cost me almost the exact same amount each time. although again that just may be me being "lucky"

 

Personally, I would not play the tables if Prime status is your goal. In my experience it has cost me far more per point on the tables then the slots.

 

Luckily I enjoy both slots and craps so play i slots for points and craps for fun.

 

 

[slurry57]

We just got back from a Harmony of the Seas cruise. I went in as Prime not realizing we got free drinks in the casino. (both my husband and I ) I get free cruise offers at least twice a week, and we are able to cruise twice a year so this is what works for me.......

I chose the free cruise I want which are usually on the Oasis Class and most offers are for Balcony, a few for Junior Suite and lots for inside.  (we try to pick ones that are balcony if the dates work).  They let my husband and I combine are offers so we usually can upgrade the room if we like.  (this works if there are no cruises you are interested in with the offers they send you. You can just use the amount they give you towards any cruise you like) It will list the amount on the offer. 

I bring with me about 2,500 to 3,000  and have fun playing slots.  I play pennies and alternate between 1.80 and 3.75 a spin.  Whether I win or lose, the money I bring would have been spent on a cruise anyways and now this is just bonus.  I always end up with free cruises, gifts, etc...  in the end so its always a win/ win!!!  I usually hit at least one hand pay per cruise, but if not the money can go fast.  

I hope this helps.  

p.s.  I always say never play for comps, but in the case of cruising, why not?????? (as long as you are going to play anyways!!!)

[crazyank]

10 hours ago, soremekun said:

$250 of your own money for $100 off a future cruise...

Gotcha.  Now I see why they treat the gamblers so well.  No doubt Royal always comes out on top. 

In the end the house always wins. 

[Bronx12]

2 hours ago, slurry57 said:

We just got back from a Harmony of the Seas cruise. I went in as Prime not realizing we got free drinks in the casino. (both my husband and I ) I get free cruise offers at least twice a week, and we are able to cruise twice a year so this is what works for me.......

I chose the free cruise I want which are usually on the Oasis Class and most offers are for Balcony, a few for Junior Suite and lots for inside.  (we try to pick ones that are balcony if the dates work).  They let my husband and I combine are offers so we usually can upgrade the room if we like.  (this works if there are no cruises you are interested in with the offers they send you. You can just use the amount they give you towards any cruise you like) It will list the amount on the offer. 

I bring with me about 2,500 to 3,000  and have fun playing slots.  I play pennies and alternate between 1.80 and 3.75 a spin.  Whether I win or lose, the money I bring would have been spent on a cruise anyways and now this is just bonus.  I always end up with free cruises, gifts, etc...  in the end so its always a win/ win!!!  I usually hit at least one hand pay per cruise, but if not the money can go fast.  

I hope this helps.  

p.s.  I always say never play for comps, but in the case of cruising, why not?????? (as long as you are going to play anyways!!!)

 

I second this!!!

[proggieus]

14 hours ago, soremekun said:

$250 of your own money for $100 off a future cruise...

Gotcha.  Now I see why they treat the gamblers so well.  No doubt Royal always comes out on top. 

maybe,

 

however I have saved way more in cruise fares then I have spent in the casino,

 

my next cruise alone dropped $2200 dollars after I applied my tier certificate, I actually got half of my deposit refunded as the deposit was twice the final price of the cruise.

 

[SRF]

It is strange how everyone always seems to win/be ahead, but the Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, and all the Indian casinos are built with the players always winning.

 

But very few times have I seen anyone ever give a critical accounting of the money that actually spend gambling, versus what they got back.

 

Yes, people do win, but MOST do not.

[fla gang]

I play about three hours a day in the casino(slots) and have been going at least twice a year and have never had a hand pay. I have won enough on several cruises to keep me playing but never had that one big hit. I've hit the 15 Gold buffalo's at the Atlantis before but never on the ship. There's always the next cruise!

[Sail2k]

I would have to agree that slots are much easier to get points than table games, at least for me.  Table games for me is a very social thing...my wife and I enjoy talking to other players and good dealers, but as ratings go this can be difficult.  My bets go up and down depending on the people at the table and the way they play, and that affects my rating...not going to bet 100 a hand with a crazy table.  Hell we have spent hours at a $10.00 table because we were having a great time chatting it up, but we know at the end of the day, not really getting any points.

 

I fell like with slots, it really doesn't matter what people are doing next to you...your bet is not affected by someone hitting 14 on a dealer 6...it is you and the machine.

[Goofyfanatic]

5 hours ago, SRF said:

It is strange how everyone always seems to win/be ahead, but the Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, and all the Indian casinos are built with the players always winning.

 

But very few times have I seen anyone ever give a critical accounting of the money that actually spend gambling, versus what they got back.

 

Yes, people do win, but MOST do not.

Oh I don’t win. But as long as my loses are less than what my wife and my next cruise would have cost I come out ahead. If I lose a little more than hat we would have paid it’s the price of admission and ok. 

[Mikew0805]

6 hours ago, SRF said:

It is strange how everyone always seems to win/be ahead, but the Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, and all the Indian casinos are built with the players always winning.

 

But very few times have I seen anyone ever give a critical accounting of the money that actually spend gambling, versus what they got back.

 

Yes, people do win, but MOST do not.

I have a fantastic spread sheet for wins/losses, with actual cost all the way down to per day cost/out of pocket...so I always know where I am at. Everyone is not always winning/ahead, but when those wins occur, that is usually what people share. I have spent lots of money in the casino, but I don't tell stories about the losses, I tell the stories that are fun, about the winning... especially about the cruise that I spent RCI's $2 promo money, and ended up winning a jackpot, and continuing to play the whole cruise, earning enough points for two free cruises (cert & prime) AND walked off the ship with $700, without pulling $1 out of my pocket to play. THAT was fun!  Luck happens, and that is the fun stuff to share. Overall in cash, I am down a bit for the year... but then when I look at the cruises I took, it does not feel like I am down. 

 

 

[time4u2go]

6 hours ago, SRF said:

It is strange how everyone always seems to win/be ahead, but the Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, and all the Indian casinos are built with the players always winning.

 

But very few times have I seen anyone ever give a critical accounting of the money that actually spend gambling, versus what they got back.

 

Yes, people do win, but MOST do not.

Very true.  Casinos are there for a reason.  And I'm pretty sure that that reason is not for their customers to make money.

[slurry57]

I agree that in the end, very few (if any) come out ahead! What we (the people who gamble) are saying is that when you are going to spend money in the casino anyways, the free drinks, free cruise, and other things do count when adding up what you won or lost for the cruise. My free cruise in a balcony on the Harmony of the Seas would originally cost me $2800.00 if I paid cash for it.  I brought 2500.00 on this last cruise as gambling money.  I played everyday and had lots of fun, and in the end I came home with around 1800.00.  Yes, I lost money, but I was still ahead when you add the cost of the cruise, drinks, etc...  (oh, and my next cruise on the Symphony is comped as well).  So, does it make sense? Yes, for me it does, but for someone who does not like gambling it will not and I get that!  In the end the people who do not gamble will ALWAYS come out ahead!