How do I convert obc to cash in the casino on the magic?

[basketballdad]

I have heard alot of conflicting opinions and guesses.  Things could have changed since the pandemic.  So, are there any RECENT cruisers on Carnival that have converted OBC to cash?  First hand experience in the last few weeks trumps guesses, theories, and opinions.  I gosta know.  TIA

[EngIceDave]

OBC to free play on a slot, cash out?

[Calnev1]

7 minutes ago, basketballdad said:

I have heard alot of conflicting opinions and guesses.  Things could have changed since the pandemic.  So, are there any RECENT cruisers on Carnival that have converted OBC to cash?  First hand experience in the last few weeks trumps guesses, theories, and opinions.  I gosta know.  TIA

I am also interested in the answer to this from someone who has done it recently.   If you have tried to cash out OBC in the casino recently, please also state the source of your OBC (e.g., offered at cruise purchase?  Given as part of previous cancelled cruise?  Casino promotion? shareholder benefit?  military benefit?)

 

Thanks

Edited August 8, 2021 by Calnev1
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[d-train]

I am also curious on recent experiences,

I am sure many of us have alot of OBC to use...

[teknoge3k]

Just remember, you cannot cash out OBC that was given as part of a FCC for cancelled cruises. This has been stated by John Heald numerous times. You also cannot buy gift cards with that OBC either. 

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

15 minutes ago, teknoge3k said:

Cashing out OBC is not against any rules and people have been doing that, for a long time. That's something that's very common to do.

Just to clarify: I’m talking about promotional OBC, not purchased cruise cash OBC.  While people have been able to cash out at times even promotional OBC per-covid at the casino there has been much discussion on these boards of it at least being frowned upon or doing 1 slot pull & cashing out. I’ll let others more experienced in that respond but I wouldn’t expect it to work indefinitely; Carnival is smart enough to prevent you from taking $600 OBC from a canceled cruise just to spend it somewhere else.

[victory2020]

On 8/8/2021 at 1:28 PM, wkucrprez said:

I haven't paid for a cruise in 10 years (I'm only 37 years old btw) as the casino comps my cabins, pays for my drinks and gives me free play... I say t I also have on board credits on most cruises... I spend a TON of money in the casino on cruises to get these perks. Way more money than the value of the comps. I tell you this to validate what I'm about to say.

 

When you download money to a slot machine from Sign and Sail card you absolutely can use OBC to cover that. However, you must play a percentage of that money before you cash out. You can't download $200 and play one spin of $1 and cash out... the casino will freeze your casino balance. They won't pay you out when you go to the cage either. They will make you go back out to the floor and play until you meet the requirements until you can cash out. 

What are the requirements? I play about $10 a day & I have $300 obc to use .Also, can you use obc for daily gratuities?

[Banditswife]

OBC can be used for specialty dining, gratuities, in the shops, shore excursions, drinks, casino play.  But I agree they should/will not allow it to be exchanged for cash.  We have Over a grand to spend & plan on using it for grats, casino & gift shop.

[toocrazy]

This is only a guess. Have no idea how Carnival works this way. But, it MAY work like this. Having used to live in Las Vegas playing at the local bars. We would get free play. Let’s say if we have $20 free play, we could not cash out until that twenty is played. (Well you could but the money would still be in the machine). Now, if after that twenty is played and we have a balance we could then cash out if you wanted and get cash.

[EngIceDave]

That's my guess

[amcankid]

31 minutes ago, toocrazy said:

This is only a guess. Have no idea how Carnival works this way. But, it MAY work like this. Having used to live in Las Vegas playing at the local bars. We would get free play. Let’s say if we have $20 free play, we could not cash out until that twenty is played. (Well you could but the money would still be in the machine). Now, if after that twenty is played and we have a balance we could then cash out if you wanted and get cash.

Another way around it is what we used to do.

Based on a couple of trips with semi average gambling we started getting offers for free slot play at the Peppermill in Reno Nevada.

 One time it was $200 but usually around $60 to $100.  We would play the entire amount but cash out any winnings as we played. A cherry might give us .60c or maybe we hit something for ten bucks. Regardless of the amount, we would always cash out everything no matter how big or small. On average we would pocket about 60% of whatever the offer was and use it for a dinner or two. One time we even hit $1,200. Cashed that out as well instead of trying to “reinvest” it hoping for more.

I have to imagine you can do the same with your OBC

[wannagonow123]

The on board credit is deducted from your final bill. So, if you have $300 OBC, Charge $300 to your room, I think you have to play 10%, then you can cash out at the cage. One note on this, is when you make the charge you MUST play at least one spin at the the slot you requested the charge on. If you request the room charge and cash out, it will freeze the funds. Just remember the charge will show up as a debit on your account until the final day.

 

Fun  Cash is a different story....

[AmazedByCruising]

On 8/8/2021 at 5:01 PM, basketballdad said:

I have heard alot of conflicting opinions and guesses.  Things could have changed since the pandemic.  So, are there any RECENT cruisers on Carnival that have converted OBC to cash?  First hand experience in the last few weeks trumps guesses, theories, and opinions.  I gosta know.  TIA

 

Forget the slots where you also pay for jackpots that you probably won't win. Play Black Jack. 

 

The odds are pretty good even if it's your first time and don't know when to split or double or whatever. It's an easy game. If you'd start with $500 in OBC chips, betting $5 (or $10, if $5 isn't available) at a time, you'd be really unlucky if you would end up with less than $400 in actual cash. 

 

To increase the odds, look a bit confused at your table mates and they will tell you what they'd do and they are usually right. You'll walk out of the casino with a decent percentage of your OBC, maybe less than $400, maybe more than $500, but you will have new friends.

[Hokiehog2021]

3 hours ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Forget the slots where you also pay for jackpots that you probably won't win. Play Black Jack. 

 

The odds are pretty good even if it's your first time and don't know when to split or double or whatever. It's an easy game. If you'd start with $500 in OBC chips, betting $5 (or $10, if $5 isn't available) at a time, you'd be really unlucky if you would end up with less than $400 in actual cash. 

 

To increase the odds, look a bit confused at your table mates and they will tell you what they'd do and they are usually right. You'll walk out of the casino with a decent percentage of your OBC, maybe less than $400, maybe more than $500, but you will have new friends.

Fact

[nycruise1]

8 hours ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

If you'd start with $500 in OBC chips, betting $5 (or $10, if $5 isn't available) at a time, you'd be really unlucky if you would end up with less than $400 in actual cash. 

Are the chips different if you buy them by charging your account versus buying them with cash?  Meaning like fun play you have to bet them all and can only cash out different chips you get back from your winnings?

[EngIceDave]

Bet outside bets on roulette and you're at about 50/50

 

How I convert my FP in land casinos. It's slow, but I usually convert 2/3

 

Choose black or red and stick with it. Don't change. 50/50 shot you'll pick wrong. Stick with one. If you win, you get paid and your wager stays up for the next spin/hand.

[CruiseHealing]

We were on the Carnival Horizon on July 4th.  When you go the the casino cashier they check you off the list and give you 5 $5 yellow chips if you are going play table games.  The chips are yellow to indicate OBC chips.  For slots they load the $25 OBC on your S&S card.    I played those chips out at a $10 minimum table and walk away with $55 of real chips and cash out.

 

My DW played slots with her $25 OBC and it ran out real fast.  
 

My wife wished she had played Blackjack. She thought she had a better chance of washing out the credit and turning it into cash.

[Jim and Monika]

If I remember correctly, you can use OBC on the slots and cash out after playing for a time. But not on any table games, you will be charged a 3% (?) fee. It does not matter if you have OBC or not.

[mondello]

2 hours ago, Jim and Monika said:

If I remember correctly, you can use OBC on the slots and cash out after playing for a time. But not on any table games, you will be charged a 3% (?) fee. It does not matter if you have OBC or not.

I remember fee(s) for using the casino ATM to get cash to gamble. Using your S&S card to download money to play slots avoids the fee. Just one total charge on credit card at end of cruise, no way to differentiate money used gambling. OBC reduces amount charged to credit card.

added: I also got chips at table games and do not remember any extra fee.

Edited August 14, 2021 by mondello
Add

[AmazedByCruising]

13 hours ago, nycruise1 said:

Are the chips different if you buy them by charging your account versus buying them with cash?  Meaning like fun play you have to bet them all and can only cash out different chips you get back from your winnings?

 

I really wouldn't know. I can only say that if you have chips and want money instead, play Black Jack and have fun and new friends while laundering your chips. Roulette is an option, too, but it doesn't come with new friends. 

[kicia]

I assume there is a way to differentiate the different types of OBC.  Holland America, which is a Carnival company,  does not allow promotional OBC to be cashed out in the casino.  We had $200 OBC from a booking promotion and we did the slot thing and cashed out.  That amount showed up on our account to be paid. We got a note the last night reminding us to spend the $200 or we would lose it. We spent it.  Carnival could do that too.

[SeaBrz]

On 8/13/2021 at 8:49 PM, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Forget the slots where you also pay for jackpots that you probably won't win. Play Black Jack. 

 

The odds are pretty good even if it's your first time and don't know when to split or double or whatever. It's an easy game. If you'd start with $500 in OBC chips, betting $5 (or $10, if $5 isn't available) at a time, you'd be really unlucky if you would end up with less than $400 in actual cash. 

 

To increase the odds, look a bit confused at your table mates and they will tell you what they'd do and they are usually right. You'll walk out of the casino with a decent percentage of your OBC, maybe less than $400, maybe more than $500, but you will have new friends.

40 years of cruising, and I’ve never even considered that I could buy chips with my cruise card 😆! I always bring a stack of $$$ with me for the BJ table. I do use my OBC to play video poker (when BJ turns bad), but crazy that I didn’t think of the tables. Thanks so much for this info! (Old Gal learns a new trick ☺️)

[AmazedByCruising]

 

20 hours ago, SeaBrz said:

I’ve never even considered that I could buy chips with my cruise card 😆! I always bring a stack of $$$ with me for the BJ table.

 

Cash is still king, you usually pay a percentage (it was 3% my last time on X) until the casino really likes your business and you can get chips without those costs. When they tell you about this freshly earned perk, it's probably time to find other nice things to do on the ship 🙂

[tqc_cruiser]

On 8/14/2021 at 4:55 AM, EngIceDave said:

 

Choose black or red and stick with it. Don't change. 50/50 shot you'll pick wrong. Stick with one. 

Having studied probability, I can assure you that the roulette wheel will not "know" whether you last bet red or black. In other words the odds of black are the same as red, no matter how many times in a row black or red came up previously.   Past events have no bearing on the odds of a truly random outcome. (And because of the green 0 and 00, and apparently some casinos even have a 000, the odds of red or black are actually less than 50/50, but I know you know that....Just saying that for those who didn't know.) 

[EngIceDave]

I know