Casino query

[mayleeman]

Using a "system" in roulette doesn't give you any more control or improve your odds. Just a decision making device that can make it more fun when you do win.

 

The doubling strategy really can work well if you find a roulette slot machine that allows for 1 cent chips with 5 or 10 cent min bet. There was one over in a corner on Reflection in 2019. It had all the same pays as a double-zero table. (Some roulette slots pay a hit 33 or 34 to 1 rather than 35;  16 to 1 on a split rather than 17; and 10 to 1 on a three-number bet. Watch out for those!)

[NutsAboutGolf]

10 minutes ago, mayleeman said:

Using a "system" in roulette doesn't give you any more control or improve your odds. Just a decision making device that can make it more fun when you do win.

 

The doubling strategy really can work well if you find a roulette slot machine that allows for 1 cent chips with 5 or 10 cent min bet. There was one over in a corner on Reflection in 2019. It had all the same pays as a double-zero table. (Some roulette slots pay a hit 33 or 34 to 1 rather than 35;  16 to 1 on a split rather than 17; and 10 to 1 on a three-number bet. Watch out for those!)

 

Totally agree with all of this; while I called it a strategy, decision making device is an accurate deeper dive definition.  Yes the roulette wheel "has no memory" however this is where probability comes in.  I generally avoid any tables that aren't at least single zero (X has them) and on land seek out tables utilizing the en prison /la partag rule (if the zero hits you get half of your even money bet back).  Odds depends when in a streak you decide to bet and how many times you're willing double down.  

[canderson]

8 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

... and how many times you're willing double down.  

That can be the tricky part for someone relatively new to the concept.  Stuff happens, and going in with an inadequate bankroll and the will to see it dwindle to sustain bets in a longish losing streak is a quick way to lose a bundle.

[NutsAboutGolf]

10 minutes ago, canderson said:

That can be the tricky part for someone relatively new to the concept.  Stuff happens, and going in with an inadequate bankroll and the will to see it dwindle to sustain bets in a longish losing streak is a quick way to lose a bundle.

 

Very true, by no means is this a guarantee, you can have losing sessions, just from my first hand experience you win more often than you lose.  I've doubled my money on every cruise ship I've done this on and I just want to point out I played Baccarat 90% of the time on my last X sailing as the single zero roulette table was hardly ever open.  There are other factors as well including how much time you want to spend there, (my own personal strategy is to stop after I double my money), max bet amounts and if you're betting on a single even money streak (colors only for example) or if you're betting multiple streaks (colors, hi/low and even/odd).  I've witnessed some players going progressively with differing bet amounts based on their bankroll or they not only double down but they increase their double down bet (if a $50 bet was lost so $100 is doubling down, they bet $110).   I stick to a fixed strategy which keeps it simple which allows me to pass the time talking to the dealer, pitboss (who usually watch me like a hawk) or other players.

[canderson]

One final warning for the doubling strategy!  If there is a table max limit, be CERTAIN that a doubling strategy won't hit that limit even with a fairly sustained losing streak!  If you cease to be able to double due a limit, you can no longer recoup on a single bet!

[NutsAboutGolf]

5 minutes ago, canderson said:

One final warning for the doubling strategy!  If there is a table max limit, be CERTAIN that a doubling strategy won't hit that limit even with a fairly sustained losing streak!  If you cease to be able to double due a limit, you can no longer recoup on a single bet!

 

Very accurate, generally speaking the single zero tables have a higher max.  As one can imagine, I've seen a lot of things at the tables, based on my first hand experience, using the martingale or never stop doubling down is a losing strategy.

[PTC DAWG]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

That can be the tricky part for someone relatively new to the concept.  Stuff happens, and going in with an inadequate bankroll and the will to see it dwindle to sustain bets in a longish losing streak is a quick way to lose a bundle.

Table limits quickly come into play when using the double down method too, easy to run up on the limit...those Casinos are smart like that.

 

Oops, I commented before seeing WD's take..he's right.   🙂

Edited August 16, 2021 by PTC DAWG

[mayleeman]

One fun thing to do in roulette is to watch people dole out chips to cover all 12 numbers individually in a column, or all the odd numbers on the board. When the dealer, wanting to speed things up, tries to tell them they could just put 12 on the column spot, or 18 on odd, they invariably refuse to believe that the block payoffs are the same as an individual number winning (not accounting for losing the other 11, or 17).

[Guppy99]

On 8/12/2021 at 2:13 PM, justcrusn said:

its been our experience that they like $10 minimum on blackjack especially at the start of a cruise.

If there's not action (usually) they will begrudgingly open a $5 table to get players.

Minimum on the Blackjack tables on the Equinox a couple weeks ago was $15, I haven't seen $5 tables for years.

[LGW59]

4 minutes ago, Guppy99 said:

Minimum on the Blackjack tables on the Equinox a couple weeks ago was $15, I haven't seen $5 tables for years.

I went to the Wynn Boston Harbor casino on Saturday afternoon, minimum on roulette and blackjack tables were both $25, I said yea not for me!  Sat at a slot for 45 minutes, on $100 in, I left with $460, in my pocket on top of the $100 in.  

[Smmessineo]

19 hours ago, Guppy99 said:

Minimum on the Blackjack tables on the Equinox a couple weeks ago was $15, I haven't seen $5 tables for years.

In 8 Celebrity sailings from 2017-2020, the only ship that had $5 blackjack was the Reflection (cruise to Mardi Gras 2020). And those tables were packed. Every other cruise had 10-15 minimums. The ones with 15 , the tables would be empty or 1 player at any time  for the whole week. What a joke. Celebrity can't make money if no one is in the seats. 

We've been given every excuse/reason for why they won't lower minimums.

We'll be on Reflection in January. Maybe they still start at $5 there.

Edited August 17, 2021 by Smmessineo

[Vice]

On 8/13/2021 at 12:26 PM, canderson said:

While we are on a casino topic ....

 

Anyone note current video poker odds?  It's not like I'd expect an 8-6 machine, but I'd swear the last time we cruised they were at an abysmal 6-5.

I'm hoping at least 7/5 DDB

[happy cruzer]

So do you get comps for playing?  Those odds and table minimums are steep if there is no other incentive besides entertainment.

[marieps]

Since there's a casino forum going...I just learned the MGM/RCG alliance has switched up a bit.  Elite Plus on =X= now gets you GOLD on MLife, no longer platinum.  Gold and up is also supposed to get OBC.  Has anyone ever received M Life OBC on =X=?

[SHIP TRAVELER]

On 8/17/2021 at 3:26 PM, Vice said:

I'm hoping at least 7/5 DDB

The best game when we were on was 6/5 J or B.  Not very exciting. We have a VP calculator on our tablet and checked the other schedules offered to make sure.  95% game with solid strategy.  Many of the slot machines are much worse of course.  We watch for the buy $500 get $575 slot promotion to improve the odds.  You do not earn club points with the slot play promotion if that matters to you.  It doesn't matter to us, we just like to play a little here and there for entertainment.  Some times we re buy the $500 a couple of times and come close to breaking even over a long cruise. 

[canderson]

19 minutes ago, SHIP TRAVELER said:

The best game when we were on was 6/5 J or B.  Not very exciting.

I'll say.  Not like I expected 9/6 on a cruise ship, but 6/5?  That's pretty skinny.  Agree, that's a 95% payback machine.  Coupled with the fact that a lot of folks don't really know what a "solid strategy" is on these machines, and ... well, as you say, better than the slot machines.

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 hour ago, marieps said:

Since there's a casino forum going...I just learned the MGM/RCG alliance has switched up a bit.  Elite Plus on =X= now gets you GOLD on MLife, no longer platinum.  Gold and up is also supposed to get OBC.  Has anyone ever received M Life OBC on =X=?

yes, many in the casino dept (blue chips clu) could combine both your MLife benefits and Capt Club benefits; coincidentally when that was bought on the forums here, a memo went out to the reps that you could no longer “double dip”

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 hour ago, happy cruzer said:

So do you get comps for playing?  Those odds and table minimums are steep if there is no other incentive besides entertainment.

You get comps yet the rate you accrue them is far worse than land based casinos and that’s compounded that the odds/rules are also generally less than land based casinos

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

I'll say.  Not like I expected 9/6 on a cruise ship, but 6/5?  That's pretty skinny.  Agree, that's a 95% payback machine.  Coupled with the fact that a lot of folks don't really know what a "solid strategy" is on these machines, and ... well, as you say, better than the slot machines.

speaking of slots and payback, regular slots have some of the worse paybacks on the planet.  To be fair, many land based casinos can still have well below average paybacks

[George C]

On 8/13/2021 at 12:26 PM, canderson said:

While we are on a casino topic ....

 

Anyone note current video poker odds?  It's not like I'd expect an 8-6 machine, but I'd swear the last time we cruised they were at an abysmal 6-5.

My wife got a royal flush , I think bet was either 4 or 5 quarters on the edge on her birthday July 4th, she was paid a thousand 😁😁, we both did very well that week, never saw a single zero at roulette on X.

[happy cruzer]

Looking at the offer to pre-purchase casino chips and get 10% extra but not sure to jump in; plenty of time to decide.

[George C]

5 minutes ago, happy cruzer said:

Looking at the offer to pre-purchase casino chips and get 10% extra but not sure to jump in; plenty of time to decide.

I love this option, I bought 600 in chips so I got 660, did this a couple of cruises .

[DaKahuna]

5 hours ago, marieps said:

Since there's a casino forum going...I just learned the MGM/RCG alliance has switched up a bit.  Elite Plus on =X= now gets you GOLD on MLife, no longer platinum.  Gold and up is also supposed to get OBC.  Has anyone ever received M Life OBC on =X=?

Were those that were already signed up grandfathered?  I have been Platinum with MGM based on my RCI Diamond/Diamond Plus for years.  

 

[marieps]

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Were those that were already signed up grandfathered?  I have been Platinum with MGM based on my RCI Diamond/Diamond Plus for years.  

 

Not sure.  MLife still shows me as Platinum as well.  I'll be at the Beau in Biloxi soon.  I'll stop by the desk and ask.  New a new card anyway, whether in be gold or plat.

[DaKahuna]

I do not show an expiration on my card but that could mean anything or nothing.