P&O Casino question

[tuscanyvegas]

Hi,  I have been looking at the P&O website and it states in their casino you get £5 freeplay for first £20 spent on slots plus complimentary drinks whilst playing???  This to me reads like any drinks drank whilst gambling are free?  Can anyone confirm this?  I have travelled on a mini P&O cruise and this certainly was not the case, i was charged for all drinks i consumed.

Thanks everyone.

[daiB]

1 hour ago, tuscanyvegas said:

Hi,  I have been looking at the P&O website and it states in their casino you get £5 freeplay for first £20 spent on slots plus complimentary drinks whilst playing???  This to me reads like any drinks drank whilst gambling are free?  Can anyone confirm this?  I have travelled on a mini P&O cruise and this certainly was not the case, i was charged for all drinks i consumed.

Thanks everyone.

When you spend £20 of your money you get £5 free to spend on the machine. Ie not in cash. As you play you build up points on any of the machines you play. This is shown on the screen. When you have spent enough you reach your goal and get a free drink. To use this system you have to insert your cruise card and set up an account with a PIN number. I have seen people rack up 3/4 or more drinks this way. Clearly the more you spend per spin the more points you get. Works better on a longer cruise with plenty of sea days. 

[crompton21]

Isn't it cheaper to just buy yourself a drink?  

[Tablelamp]

17 hours ago, crompton21 said:

Isn't it cheaper to just buy yourself a drink?  

it sounds like a sales gimmick to get you to spend more.

[Harry Peterson]

Given that statistically and mathematically a casino cannot lose, why not just steer well clear and save the money you’d have wasted for the shops?

[terrierjohn]

39 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Given that statistically and mathematically a casino cannot lose, why not just steer well clear and save the money you’d have wasted for the shops?

For once I am in complete agreement with you; although since any profit made by the casino reduces the demand for higher fares, then maybe we should just stay stumm.

[davecttr]

31 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Given that statistically and mathematically a casino cannot lose, why not just steer well clear and save the money you’d have wasted for the shops?

Actually a casino cannot lose long term but it can short term but that is down to luck. You maximise your luck by learning to play the games properly, even then if you don't get the right cards dealt you are not going to win.

 

I consider the casino a form of entertainment where you should never gamble with money you can't afford to lose. I sometimes win, sometimes lose but long term I will lose. My favourite game is blackjack and if you play that properly the long term house edge is less than 1%.

[ToxM]

Time in the casino for me is a form of entertainment, and anything I get back is a bonus. One could say that it’s better to get a return on 20 quid spent in the casino than 20 quid spent in the bar 😉

 

 

[Harry Peterson]

45 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

For once I am in complete agreement with you; although since any profit made by the casino reduces the demand for higher fares, then maybe we should just stay stumm.

You’re right of course. Keep on gambling everybody, keep buying all those overpriced photos and tours, keep on drinking.

 

It’s all subsidising the tight-fisted - like me.  Thanks guys. 😀

[daiB]

2 hours ago, Tablelamp said:

it sounds like a sales gimmick to get you to spend more.

If it were a sales gimmick then it would be advertised. Most people don’t even know they are building up free drinks. Take it away and I suspect it would make little difference.

[crompton21]

2 hours ago, daiB said:

Most people don’t even know they are building up free drinks. 

Is that because they have lost the ability to reason as a result of them?

An attempt at humour btw.

 

[daiB]

1 hour ago, crompton21 said:

Is that because they have lost the ability to reason as a result of them?

An attempt at humour btw.

 

Yessssss... in that case “don’t ring us”

 

 

[john watson]

On 11/13/2019 at 12:30 PM, ToxM said:

Time in the casino for me is a form of entertainment, and anything I get back is a bonus. One could say that it’s better to get a return on 20 quid spent in the casino than 20 quid spent in the bar 😉

 

 

 

Totally agree with this.  Blackjack is a much easier to understand game than many and while you sit playing there are a few fellow players to chat with who are not your opponents.   I tend to limit the spend by predetermining which nights to play and how much cash to use on chips.

 

Regards John

[peteM3]

Are the blackjack rules in the Casino easy enough to follow ?

 

Wouldn't mind a flutter on an upcoming cruise on the Oceana , but last time I played was many moons ago and still called it Pontoon !

 

 

[daiB]

2 hours ago, peteM3 said:

Are the blackjack rules in the Casino easy enough to follow ?

 

Wouldn't mind a flutter on an upcoming cruise on the Oceana , but last time I played was many moons ago and still called it Pontoon !

 

 

On cruises with enough sea days they do lessons on each game

[davecttr]

3 hours ago, peteM3 said:

Are the blackjack rules in the Casino easy enough to follow ?

 

Wouldn't mind a flutter on an upcoming cruise on the Oceana , but last time I played was many moons ago and still called it Pontoon !

 

 

Well the rules are straightforward but to play an optimum game you should learn something called 'basic strategy' In comparing any hand you are dealt with the dealers up card, the one face up, there is a optimum call to make, stand, hit, split, double etc. This enhances your chance of winning and lessens your chance of losing. Over many thousands of hands you will still lose as the casino has their 'house edge' where they make their profit. With playing basic strategy blackjack is the best game in the casino as the house edge is less than 1%. There are over 200 possible combinations in basic strategy, you can learn them in a month or two, just like multiplication tables we learnt in the olden days. Eleven elevens always got me, the answer is not eleventy eleven.

[john watson]

9 hours ago, peteM3 said:

Are the blackjack rules in the Casino easy enough to follow ?

 

Wouldn't mind a flutter on an upcoming cruise on the Oceana , but last time I played was many moons ago and still called it Pontoon !

 

 

 

There are two types of table, straight Blackjack and "Lucky Pairs" Blackjack or something similar.  The second format is same as Blackjack but at the start you can side bet on whether your two first cards are a pair various odds for how similar the "pair" is (twp Queen of Hearts is 5000 to one as I recall) In this second format all the Kings have been removed from the cards used, reducing the odds of getting a "ten" next card.  You place your ante bet (minimum stake varies some nights) then the dealer deals one card all round.   You can see his card which may be strong or weak.  If he has a six it is very weak whereas if you have an ace you are very strong.  His six is weak because dealer must take cards until he has a minimum of seventeen. If he gets a ten to make 16 he must take an additional card.  You can stick at any number even as  low as twelve hoping he busts.  You can double your stake and get only one further card. So if you have 6 + 5 i.e. eleven an up coming 10 will total 21.  Any pair dealt to you can be split ideally two aces, not a good single hand will split into two separate hands of an ace. So you split the two aces bet the same again as your ante and have two hands with two chances of a Blackjack if ten/s come up. If you get a third ace you can split that and have three chances.  If dealer has an ace he will offer "insurance" against him having a Blackjack. You can surrender at any time and get half money back.  Well that's the friendly "Lucky Pairs" Blackjack version of the game.  Dealer will advise on options at any time it's your turn.  It is all filmed on CCTV, you never touch any cards and give hand signals scratching with one finger for another card or waving like a horizontal karate chop for sticking. The signalling is important for the CCTV.  Dealers have no real pockets in their clothing and "wash their hands" sort of Jazz Hands to show CCTV they are not palming anything.  Just ask "what are my options" if you get confused, dealer and players will give advice.  Sitting position is a thing as the player to left of dealer gets dealt first so best not sit there to begin with.  Watch an ongoing game for half an hour or more to get the idea.  If you join a table with a few players you will have a longer session as it takes time for everybody to make their decisions. Limit your nightly expense, I do max £20 a night and next night do something other than casino unless I got an ongoing pot from last night.  Walk away anytime saying "Cash Up Please" dealer will exchange your £1 or 50p chips for the relevant number of £25 Orianas plus the odd £1/50p chips.  Take these to cashier for cash or keep for later night.

 

Regards John

 

Regards John

[hansol1966]

Thankyou a very in depth guide to blackjack, if I recall you are allowed to use the basic strategy tables to help you at the table. Also blackjack is the only casino game where you have the edge if you can count cards, not many can and are thrown out when spotted.

[john watson]

4 minutes ago, hansol1966 said:

Thank you a very in depth guide to blackjack, if I recall you are allowed to use the basic strategy tables to help you at the table. Also blackjack is the only casino game where you have the edge if you can count cards, not many can and are thrown out when spotted.

 

I saw a system of "card counting" I think it was on YouTube where you score tens and non-tens.  It was something like add 1 for a non-ten and subtract 1 or whatever for a ten.  This gave an ongoing tally which indicated favourable or not favourable chance of the next dealt card being a ten depending on whether your tally figure was high or low and how extreme it is. I've used random numbers and assumptions on this for discussion purposes only. The fewer the decks used the better it is for counting players.  The problem with card counting is the type of "Shoe" the dealer uses and how many decks are in it. You can find out by waiting and observing whether a manual shuffle takes place at any time.  You can  also ask how many decks are being used and they will normally tell you.  The problem is if they are using an auto-shuffling shoe and feeding cards back in because the purpose of counting is to assess the residual deck and how many tens are in it.

 

Regards John.  

[funinhounslow]

Basic strategy in a nutshell. If you have 12 or above and the dealer has 2-6 then stand. Otherwise take a card and stop at 17. Always split 8s and aces and always hit soft 17 (ace and 6).

 

Double your bet if you have 9-11 against a dealer 2-6. 
 

 One exception to the above is you should hit 12 vs a dealer 2 or 3 as well. 
 

Your money will last longer if you can stick to the above...

[davecttr]

Ignore card counting, it is difficult to learn and, although not illegal, they will show you the door when they catch you doing it. not very practical on a ship as there is no other casino to go to. Also it only gives you a very slight advantage so to make any money you have to make large bets!. You also need a large bankroll, many thousands, because you might hit a bad patch which can last for months.

 

I avoid any blackjack type games. Say 'fun' blackjack. It is just fleeces the customers of even more money than normal blackjack which the vast majority of passengers on british cruise ships either don't know how to play or think they are playing pontoon..  To buy chips put your money on the table, do not try to hand it to the dealer as this could be considered a bribe. Use the correct terminology and hand signals, do not use stick, twist or buy one,  the correct terms are stand, hit or double. Use hand signals, a horizontal wave above your hand for stand, tap the table or scatch for hit, place your bet for a double next to your existing bet. Never touch your cards. when you are finished say 'colour up please' to the dealer. They will then exchange your chips for large denomination ones which you can take to the cashier or you can keep them for a later evening.

 

BTW blackjack is not a team game, it is you against the dealer, watching the other players might be entertaining but you can play a perfectly good game even if you are blind, the dealer will tell you what the cards are and you don't need to know what the others players cards are anyway.

 

Finally, the casino is a prime source of infection with all those people handling the chips and cards. Get yourself a hand spray with anti viral properties and use it. I use boots eco-hydra and wash my hands soon after leaving the casino.

[peteM3]

Thanks for all the blackjack advice chaps .All top notch advice , so glad i asked the question .

 

Now when I hit the Casino , I'll come across as a serious player( and maybe not ) but I'll still be useless - haha !

Edited November 19, 2019 by peteM3

[terrierjohn]

I never realised just how much I needed to know just to play pontoon, thank goodness I have no desire to spend my money in the casino.