BINGO -- Low payout on NCL ships

[jeanettep]

On a cruise in November/December on NCL "Dawn" I played Bingo a few times and won once ($160 split with another person = $80 each). While waiting for Bingo to start one day, I counted the people playing and tried to figure out how much NCL took in and how much they paid out in prizes. It was a VERY small percentage of the "take."

 

I asked one of the Bingo attendants why the prizes are so low and his answer was that the computer figures out the amount of the prize. But someone has to put in the percentage of payout into the computer and who would that be? -- NCL, of course.

 

It takes all the fun out of playing Bingo when you know you are being robbed. I know someone on this board will say, "Then don't play!" Good advice and I'll follow it next time.

[salty dingo]

DW loves bingo so we do play sometimes. I know it is a rip off by the odds, but there is some entertainment value. I really prefer table games at the casino where the odds are more clear.

 

Next time you play, just estimate the number of people in the room, like the OP did. Figure each has paid $10 (some more, some less, but that's average) and then look at the prizes offered.

 

Usually there is some grand prize at the end of the cruise, like a free cruise or $1,000, but that pools money from bingo all week.

[greywillow]

Seems to me there is no gambling event anywhere where the odds are in your favor--unless you're the house--whether it's a casino or horse racing or your state's lottery or a local charity's 50/50 raffle (where they twist the arm of the winner to give back some of his "50"). If anyone gambles with the intent of making money over the long run...well...it just goes without saying. As Salty Dingo wrote, if you aren't gambling for the entertainment value, then you're just...well...it just goes without saying.

[jeanettep]

DW loves bingo so we do play sometimes. I know it is a rip off by the odds, but there is some entertainment value. I really prefer table games at the casino where the odds are more clear.

 

Next time you play, just estimate the number of people in the room, like the OP did. Figure each has paid $10 (some more, some less, but that's average) and then look at the prizes offered.

 

Usually there is some grand prize at the end of the cruise, like a free cruise or $1,000, but that pools money from bingo all week.

 

I don't think you know how much NCL charges for Bingo cards! The lowest priced package for PAPER cards is $29 for a session of bingo and it goes up from there -- $59 or $79 for the "MACHINES" which most people play. So figuring $10 average per person is not even close!

 

Yes, I'm playing Bingo for entertainment, but NCL is holding back a LOT of money, even if you take into consideration the free cruise giveaway and the jackpot.

 

And just to be clear, I don't play Bingo to "make" money -- but NCL could give the winners a larger amount and still show a profit on the games. There were a lot of people grumbling, even if they were winners, and the attendance went down as the days went by.

 

NCL, if you read these boards, rethink your Bingo payouts!!

[scopewest]

I found that the payouts on other cruise lines were just as bad. I look at it as an "entertainment" fee, and sometimes I don't even bother to play, I just watch.

[RichardK]

"The quickest way to double your money is to fold it

over and put it back in your pocket."<Will Rogers>

 

I gamble regularly on a cruise, however, I limit myself to those games of chance where I stand somewhat of a chance of winning-- e.g., Blackjack, Craps.

 

I did try Bingo once.......let me repeat once. Unfortunately, most people are afraid of table games; hence they go for Bingo, Slots, Wheel of Fortune. House odds are tremendous.

 

Even though I don't play Bingo, I still hold a bit of a grudge against the Cruise Lines – they should take the money more slowly (as in Blackjack); not however, like lambs going to slaughter!!

[Giorgi-one]

Used to be not so long ago - 10 years or so - that cost to play Bingo was way lower and payouts were way higher. I only played Bingo once for the final jackpot and the payout was $7900. At that time I was told that all money taken in for cards was returned in prizes. Cruise Lines have wised up and now see Bingo as a money maker. I would not be surprised if any cruise line made $10,000 per week per ship on Bingo - or $5,200,000 profit for 10 ships.

 

Like expensive drinks, excursions and photo prices, it is very easy to JUST SAY NO. If more people did this, prices would have to come down. Unfortunately, then cruise fares would go up. So, since I never play Bingo, drink very little. and book all my excursions with private operators, I hope everyone decides not to protest and keeps my cruise fares low.

 

If you are thinking I am a scrimper, think again. We usually book suites, eat in the alternative restaurants on many evenings, and spend lots of money in the Casinos. But I'm not complaining about cost of these items.

[Sally Forth]

I like playing Bingo on sea days, but have also sat and figured out the take from having so many people show up. It's not just the bingo money, but the money they are making from pulltabs and drinks, too.

 

Viv

[harjoe]

Just a little aside i was told in Monte Carlo if you want to come out of the casino with a SMALL FORTUNE go in with a big one. ;)

Les

[Volunton]

In 1990 or so, I was on one of the Carnival Cruise ships. I think my cabinmate and I split $40 to play bingo on the last night.

 

(He actually 'loaned' me $20 that night so I could play). We wont the JACKPOT!

 

We WON $1,500 U.S. (I'm Canadian). That was the HIGHLIGHT of the cruise. We bought cigars and went to our cabin and put the $10 and $20 bills on our beds (there were LOTS of bills!).

 

I don't recall seeing wins like that on 3 other cruises (one on Princess and two on NCL) since!

[mj cruiser]

We went on Carnival a couple years ago and we won $500! We were so excited. Carnival I think was around $20 for one game and one card which i think had 3 bingo cards on it and $25 for 6 tries....On RCI last year the payouts were smaller and progressive but for $20 you got to play like 6 games. The final game was blackout and if nobody got blackout by the time a certain amount of balls were drawn the pot got bigger till the end of the week. On the last day they took all the money from the blackout which was like $4000 and had one last bingo and drew till someone one. It was really fun. I will be on my first Norwegian cruise in February. I have heard the prices are a little higher than other lines.

[melika091900]

we were on ncl last year . or actually in 2006 and the last day they had the jackpot bingo , i think it was 3800$

we had the bingo machines i think i paid like 150$ for it . i had a million packs,

anyways i got on for G 59............

 

the caller said G ...............pause...............50 ...........pause ..... 5!!!!!!!!! and someone said bingo !!!!!!!!!! i was soooooo mad, but happy someone won,, i was soooo close, but after that,

i never played bingo on a cruise again.. its a rip off in my opinion..

 

maybe the last day jackpot game i would do, but i would never play all week, there were people there lining up everyday to play 2=3 times a day thats nuts