Casino Newbie

[reeinaz]

I've never gambled before but am considering visiting the casino on my next cruise. Does Carnival offer any introductory classes for any of the games? I'm more interested in roulette and craps than card games or slots.

 

Thanks

[alyssamma]

23 minutes ago, reeinaz said:

I've never gambled before but am considering visiting the casino on my next cruise. Does Carnival offer any introductory classes for any of the games? I'm more interested in roulette and craps than card games or slots.

 

Thanks

LOL, oh yeah, they'll "teach" you 🙂

 

One bit of advice, stay away from craps until you know what you're doing.

[Border Granny]

I’ll bet there’s YouTube videos that you could watch:)

[reeinaz]

34 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

LOL, oh yeah, they'll "teach" you 🙂

 

One bit of advice, stay away from craps until you know what you're doing.

LOL. I'm just wondering if there are slower paced games for beginners so we don't mess up the flow, playing with the regulars.

 

I grew up watching the guys throw dice on the corner. Craps is actually one of the games I'm more familiar with. 

[reeinaz]

32 minutes ago, Border Granny said:

I’ll bet there’s YouTube videos that you could watch:)

I'm ok with the rules. It's the actual play I'm more interested in. I think I'd feel more comfortable and have more fun playing with others who also don't have much of a clue. At least the first few times.

[alyssamma]

20 minutes ago, reeinaz said:

LOL. I'm just wondering if there are slower paced games for beginners so we don't mess up the flow, playing with the regulars.

 

I grew up watching the guys throw dice on the corner. Craps is actually one of the games I'm more familiar with. 

Lower stake tables are where you want to be then. However, note that craps in a casino is WAY different from dice on a corner.

 

The basic rules are the same, but the myriad of ways to bet is what's confusing.

 

You can make a lot of money fast - or lose it just a quickly - with craps.

 

Roulette is "easier" but also has one of (or maybe *the*) worst odds of any table game. This isn't to say not to play...it's my wife's favorite thing to play in the casino.

 

You probably won't find a table of all newbies (although I do think they do special times where they "teach" the games...like an hour here and there), but don't worry about that. It's your money...forget everyone else. Have fun.

[EngIceDave]

Most every casino has daytime/morning classes.

 

If you go to a host in the casino and ask when they have lessons, they'll help you.

 

Craps isn't that bad, except for the math part. If you listen to your dealer and allow them to guide you through a few hands (rolls). I always tell the dealer that I am new or haven't played in a while, so they remind me of things like odds or pressing.

 

It's not hard.

 

If totally new to a casino, just play some low limit slots. It's like a pinball game, you're trying to accumulate points ($$)

[mpacker]

2 hours ago, reeinaz said:

I'm ok with the rules. It's the actual play I'm more interested in. I think I'd feel more comfortable and have more fun playing with others who also don't have much of a clue. At least the first few times.

 

if you want learn the nuances of craps, the best way is to stand and watch and ask.  there are almost always people willing to answer questions.  i only play craps and love when someone wants to learn.  it's probably not advisable to try and learn at 9pm though when the table is packed.  just try watching then.  craps looks like the most complicated but it's really not, the biggest thing that confuses people when they walk up to the table is the number of chips all over the place and how people are throwing money everywhere.   just let the team on the table know you are knew, they will be glad to help.  just remember keep the dice in one hand... do not move them from one hand to the other! 🙂

 

[urbanhawk]

I only play  the slots. I could "teach" how to lose $ $$$😬!!!

 

The only thing I've ever heard about craps is to "take the dice from the baby, he/she is crapping  on the floor"😇!!!! Happy cruising!!! 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

I did go to a class for 21 and they give you chips to play. You cannot win any money just for the class. it was very good. You can check at the casino when they will have the classes for the different games.

[BoozinCroozin]

It's a casino. Dealers are measured on games per hour. BJ is something like 20 games per hour. Craps is X rolls per hour. Roulette is the same with the number of spins. I am sure they offer "learn to play" type things. My advice is don't gamble if you don't know what you are doing. The reason is the odds are stacked against you to begin with.

 

If you want to learn at your own pace, watch YouTube videos. But, do not listen to any of those "strategies". The fact of the matter is you may win a little in the short term, but in the long term the casino always wins. Also, the table limits are usually high on the cruise ship. What I have seen is $10 and $15 minimum. Those are not beginner tables where people are learning. If people at a craps table know you don't know what you are doing, they may help you out, but they will keep money of the table with people that don't know what they are doing. 

[kabux]

Also - remember it is a cruise where a lot of people play for fun, much less intimidating than in Vegas!!!

Have fun and good luck!

[texancoyote]

There are allot of craps games for your phone. When you get to the table just stick with a pass line bet and you can watch how other players make their bets.

[ninjacat123]

Something I recently read is that one can stand and watch if they have a player at the table.  Can't sit at the table unless you are playing.  My mom can't stand that long so I will probably be playing on my own while she hangs out at a non-casino seat near by.

[rlindholm]

If you want to learn I think (besides youtube) a carnival casino is not a bad place.  I'm not a big gambler but I do remember when I was in my early 20's feeling much more comfortable playing on in a carnival casino than in the local casino.  The dealer was happy to  give me tips as far as making or not making hand motions etc.  I felt like I was going to mess up and get in trouble at the local casino.  

[vwrestler171]

Prior to COVID, they did have times that they would teach you how to play.  

[EngIceDave]

28 minutes ago, vwrestler171 said:

Prior to COVID, they did have times that they would teach you how to play. 

Exactly, it's always an hour before opening if I remember right.

 

BTW, if you see a dealer doing nothing, like waiting for a player, THEY'RE WAITING FOR YOU!!

 

Seriously, just tell them upfront you're new/never played and does he mind, can he guide you, they'll say yes.

 

They CANNOT tell you how to wager or how much, they will only tell you options unless required, like an opening bet.

[hurricane0226]

8 hours ago, reeinaz said:

LOL. I'm just wondering if there are slower paced games for beginners so we don't mess up the flow, playing with the regulars.

 

I grew up watching the guys throw dice on the corner. Craps is actually one of the games I'm more familiar with. 

I learned how to play craps on the internet, just google it and it will show you how to play.

[Razor_Poke]

Low limit blackjack which has the very odd amount of $6 pays 6to5 and uses a continuous shuffler.  So some purist would argue it isn’t blackjack at all. 
 

The dealers are friendly and helpful though. However, there is no blackjack table like a cruise casino low limit blackjack table for attracting absolutely awful players. You’re better off playing alone against the dealer, which at certain times of the day, isn’t that difficult to do. 

Edited September 20, 2021 by Razor_Poke

[Caribbean Drifters]

19 hours ago, reeinaz said:

I've never gambled before but am considering visiting the casino on my next cruise. Does Carnival offer any introductory classes for any of the games? I'm more interested in roulette and craps than card games or slots.

 

Thanks

There is some really good advise above on the craps table subject. It will be nothing like street dice as far as how the game is actually played. stop resisting youtube, it will get you prepped so you are walking in blind, not to mention teach the etiquette of the game. ALSO, cruise line craps dealers are notoriously some of the lowest grade, every cruise I have sailed I have either heard a dealer give horrible assistance or pay out a bet wrong. Youtube will teach you what pays what, and quite honestly standing at the rail and just playing the Pass Line will get you to a place wear you remember what you learned on Youtube, AND it will be exciting.

The 3 best Craps channels on Youtube is:
Casino Quest
CEG dealer School
Color Up

post here what ship and sailing and maybe you can link up with someone.

[reeinaz]

I'm doing a b2b on the Horizon. 12/5/21 and 12/11/21

[EngIceDave]

Hardest thing for me to remember is the odds.

 

I suck at math, I mean really bad....fingers and toes (I'm 57....LOL)

 

Laying a bet on the pass line with two more identical chips behind it (2x odds on your pass line bet)

 

I can never remember how much when I place a bet and odds on a number.....this is where the dealers can help you and keep you square, that's their job.

 

Just buy in (Give man in the middle your cash, he will give you chips....BTW, he's the referee)

 

Place minimum on passline, say $5

 

They will help you from there on odds and placing bets.

[arkaine23]

I was learning on my last cruise.  My wife and I had a lot of OBC and were trying to spend some of it to get into Player's Club and get the casino offers.  Spoiler:  It worked.  We also made a little money from our OBC.

 

I played roulette.  This is American Roulette so there are two greens, 0 and 00, as the casino's over 5% house advantage... compared to European Roulette where there's just 1 green 0 and slightly less than a 3% house advantage.    Carnival's tables had two unique outside bets however, Red + Even (8 numbers out of 38) and Black + Odd (8 numbers out of 38).   These are slightly below 25% chance of winning and pay out 3:1.  They both also pay out 1:1 on a 0, which could cut into the house advantage a little depending on how you bet.

 

Outside bets have a $5 minimum.  So for examples I'll use $5 bets.  You could bet $5 on 1st Dozen (numbers 1-12), $5 on Red+Even, and $5 on Black+Odd.  There is some overlap, 12 is in 1st Dozen and  Red+Even, and 11 is in 1st Dozen and Black+Odd.  0 also overlaps to win on 2 of your bets.  The other 14 Red+Even and Black+ Odd are spread out across the other 24 numbers.  Plus you've got 0 covered, so 27 out of the 38 numbers will win for you.

 

Each round you're betting $15.

If it lands on either 11 or 12 you win $35.   (2 out of 38, about 5%)

If 0, 13-18, or 29-36, you win $20.  (15 out of 38, about 40%)

If 1-10 you win $15, so you break even.  (10 out of 38, about 26%)

19-28 or 00 you lose $15.  (11 out of 38, about 29%)

 

Playing like this can prolong your game time.  You win or break even at least 70% of the time.  The house will still win in the long run though, so always try to manage your bankroll and winnings so that you quit when you're ahead.

 

This is similar to what's called a 3/2 strategy.  With that you bet 3 units on a color and 2 units on a specific Column.  Columns 2 and 3 have uneven distribution of red and black.  So you're betting on the column that has only 4 of the color you're betting on, and gives you 8 numbers of the opposite color.  That has you covering 26 of the numbers on the wheel, and 4 of those numbers are an overlapping win.   

 

Color pays out 1:1 and Column pays out 2:1.  The 3/2 ratio of bets means both will pay out the same $ amount on a win.  With our $5 minimum outside bet, we'd have to bet $9 on a color and $6 on a column to do the right ratio.   So each round you're betting $15.  The bets are on either Red and Column 2 or Black and Column 3.

 

When you win, you win $18.   (26 out of 38)

If its one of the 4 overlapping number wins, you get $36.  (4 out of 38)

If its one of the 10 numbers that you don't have covered or 0 or 00 you lose.  (12 out of 38)

 

 

You can try out the 3/2 strategy in a roulette simulator.  You can't try out the modified 2/1/1 version of it that'd work on Carnival's tables because no roulette simulator I've found has Red+Even&0 or Black+Odd&0 with a 3:1 or 1:1 payouts.  Seems to be unique to Carnival's casino.

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by arkaine23

[FromIndy]

OK, I am curious in regards to arkaine23 post. I like roulette despite it having poor odds. I don't play in the ship's casinos but might give it a try with some OBC.

On 9/20/2021 at 3:42 PM, arkaine23 said:

You win or break even at least 70% of the time.

So, in your opinion what is the best strategy, no matter how boring, to keep as much as you can and keep playing? Can you make it concise so I can take my notes to the table? Thanks in advance.