Casino Table Minimums

[CruiserN1]

2 hours ago, Colorado Klutch said:

Even if you're not counting cards, the odds when playing Blackjack are WAY better than playing slot machines. I think it's fun to play using only basic strategy. 

I'm a statistician and can't understand why anyone would play a game for money where the odds aren't fixed. Playing video poker/BJ or slots are like being a rat in a psychology expert. The machine is manipulating your behavior. Craps has the best odds but BJ is easier to get the odds on your side.

[HALcruiser2001]

27 minutes ago, CruiserN1 said:

No, it's almost impossible to do it from memory with 6 or more decks. There are algorithms that help you decide whether to hold or hit. You still have to have a good memory and be good at mental math, and a partner makes it much easier to do it successfully. There's a documentary called Holy Rollers that I learned about this method from.

I will have a look at the documentary.  I will have to convince myself on algorithms, I would consider it statistics, but I have not played much or studied it, so you know more than me.

[lakedweller64]

If everyone played basic strategy correctly it’s one thing but as we all know on a cruise casino there is so many new players it is just the luck of the draw.

[dockman]

8 minutes ago, lakedweller64 said:

If everyone played basic strategy correctly it’s one thing but as we all know on a cruise casino there is so many new players it is just the luck of the draw.

Casinos love people who play their "hunches"....basic strategy is the best chance the average player has of actually winning.  Casinos  call it "gaming" as they love for people to think of it as a fun game rather than gambling where they are sure to lose if they play long enough and especially if they don't understand how basic strategy works and play 6/5 blackjack.  The problem for some is that basic strategy takes all of the hunches and "fun" out of the game as you absolutely must follow the basic strategy guidelines every time which means you make zero decisions.  So decide if you want to have a decent chance of actually winning or if you are content to have some "fun" and almost guaranteed to lose unless you are incredibly lucky playing feelings and hunches.

[Laminator]

25 minutes ago, dockman said:

Casinos love people who play their "hunches"....basic strategy is the best chance the average player has of actually winning.  Casinos  call it "gaming" as they love for people to think of it as a fun game rather than gambling where they are sure to lose if they play long enough and especially if they don't understand how basic strategy works and play 6/5 blackjack.  The problem for some is that basic strategy takes all of the hunches and "fun" out of the game as you absolutely must follow the basic strategy guidelines every time which means you make zero decisions.  So decide if you want to have a decent chance of actually winning or if you are content to have some "fun" and almost guaranteed to lose unless you are incredibly lucky playing feelings and hunches.

I disagree with this. You make the most important decision every hand. How much to bet!

[dockman]

2 hours ago, Laminator said:

I disagree with this. You make the most important decision every hand. How much to bet!

Basic strategy doesn't care how much you bet.  It does care if you know when to split, when to double, when to hit and when to stay.  That is what basic strategy is all about.  

[Laminator]

21 minutes ago, dockman said:

Basic strategy doesn't care how much you bet.  It does care if you know when to split, when to double, when to hit and when to stay.  That is what basic strategy is all about.  

I was referring to your statement about zero decisions. You do need to make a decision.

[iceman93]

On 3/8/2023 at 7:54 AM, FlaMariner said:

 

So on our Thanksgiving Nieuw Statendam cruise, the blackjack minimum was $25 until my two kids (20 somethings) and I walked past an empty blackjack table and said "the minimum is too high" and the head lady behind the counter called us back and opened it up as $10 minimum.  

 

We had a blast playing...It did not take us long to loose our money but it was very cool sitting at the black jack table with my adult kids.  I was most appreciative for them opening up the table to take our money.  LOL. 

That's awesome, and I wish I had known of that method to get the minimum lowered!  I had been hoping to play a little with my adult daughter as well, just for fun, and $100 each goes a lot further with $10 hands than it does $25!

[JeffElizabeth]

5 hours ago, CruiserN1 said:

I'm a statistician and can't understand why anyone would play a game for money where the odds aren't fixed. Playing video poker/BJ or slots are like being a rat in a psychology expert. The machine is manipulating your behavior. Craps has the best odds but BJ is easier to get the odds on your side.

Interesting.  My brother has studied most games and he thinks video poker nets you the best returns. Continued good luck. 

[CruiserN1]

10 minutes ago, JeffElizabeth said:

Interesting.  My brother has studied most games and he thinks video poker nets you the best returns. Continued good luck. 

In Vegas he is probably right because the odds are fixed. Who knows how ship casinos set their odds? There isn't any regulation on that in international waters.

[dockman]

1 hour ago, Laminator said:

I was referring to your statement about zero decisions. You do need to make a decision.

As said basic strategy has nothing to say regarding bet size so as far as basic strategy goes bet size is irrelevant.  But yes of course you make a decision what to bet just as you make a decision whether to play at all, when to quit, etc.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

So - get me up to speed here...

 

BJ on HAL --- $25+ tables will be 3:2?

 

Are those games CSM's or shoe games?

 

Is the casino non-smoking (Rotterdam)?

 

THANKS,

 

Tom

[Laminator]

33 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

So - get me up to speed here...

 

BJ on HAL --- $25+ tables will be 3:2?

 

Are those games CSM's or shoe games?

 

Is the casino non-smoking (Rotterdam)?

 

THANKS,

 

Tom

The $25 BJ table is definitely a shoe game and is 3:2. 8 decks. I do not believe any of HAL's BJ tables have CSM's. The Rotterdam casino has smoking on one side. The tables are on the opposite side. I believe on another post I saw you are on the Rotterdam in November. I am on the Nov 3rd sailing. 
Both my wife and I have free Neptune Suite offers with a good amount of free play for that cruise. 

Edited March 19, 2023 by Laminator

[shawn742]

I can provide updates on my recent sailing on the Nieuw Statendam.

 

• Blackjack:
  • The lowest table minimum was $6, and I also played at a $10 table that was adjacent to the $6 table.
  • The $6 and $10 table were 6:5 on BJ, and they used an 8-deck shoe that gets hand shuffled. They had the usual "Lucky Ladies" bet option, as well as a "Bust Bonus" bet option that I've never seen before.
  • I didn't see a $25 table, but also didn't walk to the other side of the pit to check.

 

• Craps:
  • One table, with a $5 minimum, and 2x odds on the pass line.

 

All of the table games were on the non-smoking side of the casino, which was nice. Dealers and Pit Bosses were all friendly, and even provided drinks on the house during the last couple days at the craps table during the late night. Craps had a lady who rolled for about 2 hours, and a guy who rolled for about an hour. Unfortunately I showed up on the tail end of each of these rolls, but the house was taken for >$10k on the 2-hour roll, and >$5k on the 1-hour roll. I personally didn't have much luck though.

 

Overall, the Casino was smaller than other cruise ships I've been on, but it operated just fine, and I enjoyed myself.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

18 minutes ago, shawn742 said:

I can provide updates on my recent sailing on the Nieuw Statendam.

 

• Blackjack:
  • The lowest table minimum was $6, and I also played at a $10 table that was adjacent to the $6 table.
  • The $6 and $10 table were 6:5 on BJ, and they used an 8-deck shoe that gets hand shuffled. They had the usual "Lucky Ladies" bet option, as well as a "Bust Bonus" bet option that I've never seen before.
  • I didn't see a $25 table, but also didn't walk to the other side of the pit to check.

 

• Craps:
  • One table, with a $5 minimum, and 2x odds on the pass line.

 

All of the table games were on the non-smoking side of the casino, which was nice. Dealers and Pit Bosses were all friendly, and even provided drinks on the house during the last couple days at the craps table during the late night. Craps had a lady who rolled for about 2 hours, and a guy who rolled for about an hour. Unfortunately I showed up on the tail end of each of these rolls, but the house was taken for >$10k on the 2-hour roll, and >$5k on the 1-hour roll. I personally didn't have much luck though.

 

Overall, the Casino was smaller than other cruise ships I've been on, but it operated just fine, and I enjoyed myself.

 

Hand shuffled -- that translates to BATHROOM BREAK !  😄 

 

I do hope the $25 table (if it exists) has 3:2.  

 

So, no smoking allowed at the table.  That's a good thing - anyone know if that's true across the fleet (or, at least, on the Rotterdam)?

 

THANKS,

 

Tom

[Calnev1]

On 3/9/2023 at 8:43 AM, CruiserN1 said:

No, it's almost impossible to do it from memory with 6 or more decks. There are algorithms that help you decide whether to hold or hit. You still have to have a good memory and be good at mental math, and a partner makes it much easier to do it successfully. There's a documentary called Holy Rollers that I learned about this method from.

Another excellent documentary on advantage BJ play (i.e, counting) is "Inside the Edge" available for rental on Amazon video.  Documentary includes descriptions  of various  advantage strategies, starting with the basic Hi Lo system and branching out into ace tracking and hole carding.

 

I was on the Volendam this past October.   There was a $15 minimum table that paid 3:2 on Blackjack.  My next cruise is on the Zaandam.  Hoping that I will find a similar $15 minimum 3:2 but am not holding my breath. 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Calnev1

[tompeter]

On 3/20/2023 at 11:59 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Hand shuffled -- that translates to BATHROOM BREAK !  😄 

 

I do hope the $25 table (if it exists) has 3:2.  

 

So, no smoking allowed at the table.  That's a good thing - anyone know if that's true across the fleet (or, at least, on the Rotterdam)?

 

THANKS,

 

Tom

Yes and Yes...

[CruiserN1]

Just off Rotterdam yesterday. I read the rules posted outside the casino and it does state that card counting is not allowed but then says the use of any technology to assist is not allowed. I imagine if one's card counting was obvious, they'd kick you out of the casino.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

3 minutes ago, CruiserN1 said:

Just off Rotterdam yesterday. I read the rules posted outside the casino and it does state that card counting is not allowed but then says the use of any technology to assist is not allowed. I imagine if one's card counting was obvious, they'd kick you out of the casino.

 

Funny, I've never seen that posted at any casino (but, I don't read a lot of fine print notices either).

 

Tom

[CruiserN1]

44 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Funny, I've never seen that posted at any casino (but, I don't read a lot of fine print notices either).

 

Tom

I wouldn't have read it except for this discussion and wondering if HAL specifically prohibited it. We passed through the casino a bunch of times (not willingly, but it was often on the path we needed to take) and I don't think I ever saw anyone at the BJ tables. Lots of rats pressing the slot machine bars for their pellets, but table games were pretty empty.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

26 minutes ago, CruiserN1 said:

I wouldn't have read it except for this discussion and wondering if HAL specifically prohibited it. We passed through the casino a bunch of times (not willingly, but it was often on the path we needed to take) and I don't think I ever saw anyone at the BJ tables. Lots of rats pressing the slot machine bars for their pellets, but table games were pretty empty.

 

Funny 😄

 

Tom

[VMax1700]

4 hours ago, accidentaljosh said:

That's a great question you've got there! While I can't provide exact details for the Nieuw Statendam, casino table minimums typically vary across cruise lines and ships. However, for games like Craps and Blackjack, minimum bets often range from $5 to $25, depending on the ship's policies and passenger demographics.

Excellently ambiguous first post by A.I.  🙄

[YourWorldWithBill]

On 3/20/2023 at 10:38 AM, shawn742 said:

I can provide updates on my recent sailing on the Nieuw Statendam.

• Craps:
  • One table, with a $5 minimum, and 2x odds on the pass line.

Overall, the Casino was smaller than other cruise ships I've been on, but it operated just fine, and I enjoyed myself.

Thanks for the notes on the Nieuw Statendam. I'm also mainly at the craps table, and enjoyed the Rotterdam last May. I'm on the NS this coming May.

[AV8rix]

Well, I only play blackjack (am a tournament player on land) so can only provide substantive info on the blackjack tables on HAL:

 

The $6 min table is always open when the casino is open, starting in mid-morning (about 10 am) on sea days; after the ship clears the port on port days -- which is usually in the evening.  However, that's a 6:5 table and is generally populated by the "beginners". 

 

The higher limit table on most of the ships opens in the evening, although if you request it (and there are sufficient dealers) they will sometimes open it in the daytime on sea days.  The high-limit BJ table is generally $25 min, although I have seen it on some ships as low as $15 min.  And that is a 3:2 table -- the only kind I play on, land or sea.  I'd chew ground glass before I'd sit down at any 6:5 table 😊.

Edited March 13 by AV8rix

[YourWorldWithBill]

Another note about the craps table (at least on the Rotterdam) everyone on the staff were extremely friendly and obliging. By the third night we were like old friends (old friends who take my money with a smile).