Bingo Too Expensive

[Giorgi-one]

I do not play Bingo. I was a Bingo caller for over 20 years and every time I hear the word Bingo!!, I shudder.

I have heard numerous people on cruises complain that the price of Bingo games is too expensive. I believe they charge $20 for something like 3 cards and most people wind up spending more for additional cards.

I started to do the math. Let's assume that 200 people play each day and they spend and average of $25 each. That's $5,000 gross minus a few bucks for paper cards. I assume that they give away less tham $1,000 each day and there is usually a jackpot game which goes on the last day for let's say $5,000. Over six days, the ship could net somewhere around $20,000 profit on bingo or $1,000,000 each year per ship.

Should they lower the price or should they give away much bigger prizes or a combination of both? Does the cruise line really need to make money on Bingo? How about pay toilets?

[dakrewser]

I've never noticed a bingo session with no one attending (not that I play bingo, just that on some ships you happen to walk past/through the area being used). So there's no incentive for the cruise line to change.

A lot of people think Cadillacs should be the price of Chevys, too. But I doubt GM will change anything.

[Cathy p]

that it is mandatory to play Bingo. Ex-Bingo Caller if it is too expensive for you don't play. I'm an Ex-Smoker but that does not mean I won't hand around with those that do. The choice is your. I hope it does not ruin your cruise. Have a very :) day.

[jcrandle]

that it is mandatory to play Bingo. Ex-Bingo Caller if it is too expensive for you don't play. I'm an Ex-Smoker but that does not mean I won't hand around with those that do. The choice is your. I hope it does not ruin your cruise. Have a very :) day.I thought if you were Catholic you had to play!:D

[Westport]

Great response LOL

[Giorgi-one]

that it is mandatory to play Bingo. Ex-Bingo Caller if it is too expensive for you don't play. I'm an Ex-Smoker but that does not mean I won't hand around with those that do. The choice is your. I hope it does not ruin your cruise. Have a very :) day.

I believe you missed my point completely. I was just commenting on what I had heard from others. I usually bring about $1000 on a cruise for expenses and gambling, so $20 means nothing to me. I had never seen a thread on this and I thougth it might be more interesting than "Who's cruising in May, 2007" or anther ship review that says "Little Johnny and Jimmy had fried chicken for dinner .....". On our first cruise in 1996, we were told that all money collected at Bingo was returned in prizes. I do not believe that this is the situation now. It's perfectly OK with me if all you Bingo players want to subsidize my cruise, just like all the drinkers do. But considering the odds, you would be much better off taking your $20 to the Casino and playing roulette of a slot machine.

[Giorgi-one]

Great response LOL

What's so great about it? I didn't know we did religious jokes on this forum!

[Iggipolka]

But considering the odds, you would be much better off taking your $20 to the Casino and playing roulette of a slot machine.

Sometimes it's not the winning that is important, its playing and having fun. I also think that gambling on a cruise is a wonderful way to donate money to the cruise line, but so what? If you like it and enjoy it and it doesn't hurt anyone else in a non-consenting manner, than go and have fun. Cruise lines are for profit, so why shoudln't they make money?

[Giorgi-one]

Sometimes it's not the winning that is important, its playing and having fun. I also think that gambling on a cruise is a wonderful way to donate money to the cruise line, but so what? If you like it and enjoy it and it doesn't hurt anyone else in a non-consenting manner, than go and have fun. Cruise lines are for profit, so why shoudln't they make money?

Good!

Then your answers to my original questions would be:
1) No
2) Yes
3) You didn't answer the question on pay toilets!

[TeresaJenkins]

I believe you missed my point completely. I was just commenting on what I had heard from others. I usually bring about $1000 on a cruise for expenses and gambling, so $20 means nothing to me. I had never seen a thread on this and I thougth it might be more interesting than "Who's cruising in May, 2007" or anther ship review that says "Little Johnny and Jimmy had fried chicken for dinner .....". On our first cruise in 1996, we were told that all money collected at Bingo was returned in prizes. I do not believe that this is the situation now. It's perfectly OK with me if all you Bingo players want to subsidize my cruise, just like all the drinkers do. But considering the odds, you would be much better off taking your $20 to the Casino and playing roulette of a slot machine.

I found your post informative.
I had planned on playing some Bingo until I read your post and realized how much each card costs. I may change my mind, but now at least I know before my cruise how much to budget for each activity.

I wish they offered some games at a lower rate for people like me who really want to play, but must budget all the extras for vacations.

I too know I am not being required to play, but it would be nice to be able to have lower cost options. With this option the prizes would be lower of course, but it would be up to the person playing which games to play for which prize offering.
Thanks for posting this thread. :)

[Giorgi-one]

I found your post informative.
I had planned on playing some Bingo until I read your post and realized how much each card costs. I may change my mind, but now at least I know before my cruise how much to budget for each activity.

I wish they offered some games at a lower rate for people like me who really want to play, but must budget all the extras for vacations.

I too know I am not being required to play, but it would be nice to be able to have lower cost options. With this option the prizes would be lower of course, but it would be up to the person playing which games to play for which prize offering.
Thanks for posting this thread. :)

If my Math is right, the prizes don't have to be lower since the cruise line is keeping most of the money taken if from sale of cards. I imagine they also make a nice profit on the drinks sold during Bingo!

[xpcdoojk]

If my Math is right, the prizes don't have to be lower since the cruise line is keeping most of the money taken if from sale of cards. I imagine they also make a nice profit on the drinks sold during Bingo!

Do you know your math is correct? Seems to me you just pulled the numbers and the facts out of thin air, and I didn't find the notes to check in the appendix.:D I have never played Bingo on a cruise ship and I doubt I will anytime soon so I don't understand the fascination, anymore than playing the lottery, but you are making a pretty serious charge with your math, and if you are going to state it you should back it up. Otherwise, this topic isn't really about much of anything is it?:p However, if it will help you get your post count up, go for it. :D

jc

[ROZO'SBEAU]

FYI....
Here's what you get for your $20 per HAL Bingo session:
Entries for four (4) consecutive games. Each entry has three (3) cards. That amounts to 12 cards for $20 per session.
That's not too outrageous...is it?
Beau

[pollux]

You can also buy in for $10 and play every game.
I allways play the ten card. I have a saying you only need one card or ticket to win the lottery.
Well I never won money but did win a cruise for 2 outside cabin 7 days.
I still feel I play for free each cruise after my big win.

[TeresaJenkins]

FYI....
Here's what you get for your $20 per HAL Bingo session:
Entries for four (4) consecutive games. Each entry has three (3) cards. That amounts to 12 cards for $20 per session.
That's not too outrageous...is it?
Beau

Actually that sound very reasonable! Good to know, thank you.:D

[Giorgi-one]

FYI....
Here's what you get for your $20 per HAL Bingo session:
Entries for four (4) consecutive games. Each entry has three (3) cards. That amounts to 12 cards for $20 per session.
That's not too outrageous...is it?
Beau

I guess it all depends on how much you can afford. I know that it is much cheaper at local Bingos in our area. More like $8 - $10 for 4 cards for 16 games, and additional cards are 25 cents each. If I remember correctly, cruises sometimes have two Bingos on the same day, so there could be as many as 10 Bingos per week. Most people want to play every day because the value of the coverall jackpot keeps going up, so it could cost around $200 per person per week. Is that correct?

I am not making any judgements on the price of Bingo. I just started the thread because I heard some people complain and thought it might be an intresting topic. I am not sure that my math is exact, but it certainly appears that the cruise lines do not return all the money collected in prizes. Even if you are satisfied that $20 is reasonable, wouldn't you like to have much larger prizes?

[xpcdoojk]

I guess it all depends on how much you can afford. I know that it is much cheaper at local Bingos in our area. More like $8 - $10 for 4 cards for 16 games, and additional cards are 25 cents each. If I remember correctly, cruises sometimes have two Bingos on the same day, so there could be as many as 10 Bingos per week. Most people want to play every day because the value of the coverall jackpot keeps going up, so it could cost around $200 per person per week. Is that correct?

I am not making any judgements on the price of Bingo. I just started the thread because I heard some people complain and thought it might be an intresting topic. I am not sure that my math is exact, but it certainly appears that the cruise lines do not return all the money collected in prizes. Even if you are satisfied that $20 is reasonable, wouldn't you like to have much larger prizes?

Again, I don't mean to quibble, but you haven't stated anything to give me any confidence about the amount of prize money that is paid out. You throw out a number, but again no documentation and no way to validate your number. The simple truth is nothing stated in this thread has definitively shown what the payout is, therefore again this is a discussion without any purpose because we are debating things that may or may not be related in anyway to reality.

Perhaps, a real discussion could be had if we had some facts in which to base our conversation.:rolleyes:

jc

[Giorgi-one]

Again, I don't mean to quibble, but you haven't stated anything to give me any confidence about the amount of prize money that is paid out. You throw out a number, but again no documentation and no way to validate your number. The simple truth is nothing stated in this thread has definitively shown what the payout is, therefore again this is a discussion without any purpose because we are debating things that may or may not be related in anyway to reality.

Perhaps, a real discussion could be had if we had some facts in which to base our conversation.:rolleyes:

jc

Perhaps someone who plays bingo could confirm the number of people who usually attend bingo sessions, the price (I believe this has been confimed as $20 as I first stated) and the prizes for each game. Some of our traveling buddies play bingo occasionally and I remembered the payout as being in the $100-200 range.

I my original post, I estimated prizes at $1000 per day and $5000 for the jackpot and I believe that would be representative. Do you expect HAL to send me the exact numbers. If my numbers are even remotely accurate, it is obvious that cruise lines are using bingo as a profit center. That's OK with me since it subsidizes my cruise. Is it OK with you?

[Cathy p]

I am going on the Zuiderdam next week 3/5. I will try and remember to count the number of people in there for 1 night and how much it is and what the payouts are. Then maybe we could average it out. HEE HEE:p

[cru1s1ng]

Of course bingo is a profit center. HAL is a business after all. If they weren't making money they wouldn't offer it.

[xpcdoojk]

I am absolutely ok with it. I figured that HAL made money or they would not offer it. I figure the casino is a profit center too. So what. I hope that everyone other than me spends a small fortune on all ship activities. This means that the flat cost for cruising will remain low. Further it means that the cruiselines will be profitable, which means more new ships, more new destinations, and more economical cruising for me.

Do we know that the cruiselines ever paid out 100% of the price of playing bingo other than you think in 1996 they told you that? Are the bingo payouts comparable from cruiseline to cruiseline? Those are interesting questions.

jc

[Giorgi-one]

I am absolutely ok with it. I figured that HAL made money or they would not offer it. I figure the casino is a profit center too. So what. I hope that everyone other than me spends a small fortune on all ship activities. This means that the flat cost for cruising will remain low. Further it means that the cruiselines will be profitable, which means more new ships, more new destinations, and more economical cruising for me.

jc

I agree with having others subsidize my cruise. However, do you really agree that everything HAL offers should be a profit center. How about children's programs, guest lectures, entertainment, ice cream, pool band, karyoke - just to name a few. Do you really want to pay for every item on the cruise so HAL can make it a profit center?

[xpcdoojk]

I agree with having others subsidize my cruise. However, do you really agree that everything HAL offers should be a profit center. How about children's programs, guest lectures, entertainment, ice cream, pool band, karyoke - just to name a few. Do you really want to pay for every item on the cruise so HAL can make it a profit center?

Ok, I will play this game....:rolleyes:

If the cost of the cruise went down to the base price let's say the cruise is free and everything else is pay per use. I think that I would benefit very well from that system. I would pay for the best food, and the drinks I want, and I would not subsidize someone else who brings their children that requires lots of personnel and space on the ship. I would cruise for a lot less and I could pay for my lounge chair by the pool and get the spot I want, instead of someone laying their towel on the chair for 8 hours and sitting in the chair for 1. A per hour fee would on this would be wonderful. Why should I pay a subsidy for someone that didn't do their port research before they left on the cruise.

See this is at least an interesting discussion, we can all imagine what the world would be like if we made the rules and we were made the all powerful arbiter of good and evil. Unfortunately, HAL management manages HAL. They do so with the intent (evil I am sure you imagine) of maximizing the profits of their company to the enrichment of the shareholders. They do not do this in a vacuum, as they have lots of competitors providing very similar products with very similar offerings. If they change policies drastically to the detriment of the consumer (you and I) then we will look at their competitors as a substitute. Therefore, it is very hard for them (HAL) to make real economic profits ( a goal of a good capitalist company), but if they were to manage to accomplish this lofty goal then the cruise passenger would be the first to benefit. When economic profits (those over and beyond the rate of return you can make on other investments) are made in an industry, people outside the industry see this and say, hey we can do this and we too will make economic profits. This means that we will have more ships taking us to more wonderful exotic locations. Yeah!:D Unfortunately, as more competition enters the industry the economic profits go away. Then people leave the industry. This is what has been happening in this industry for the last 10 years. Pretty soon the world of cruising will be Carnival and RCI.

Actually, I only responded to this topic because of a straw man arguement you made in the first case that lacked any anchor in reality. Which is fine and dandy, but I bristle at the concept that underlies your topic that companies shouldn't be trying to make as much money as possible. If they fail to maximize their profits they should be fired by the shareholders. I never ever play Bingo, and I can't imagine the conditions under which I ever will, but to expect anything for free in this lifetime is simply fooling yourself. There is no free lunch on a cruise or anywhere in life. You either pay for it as you go or you pay for it up front whether you use it or not (I think for most of us paying as we go would be cheaper, maybe sometime EasyJet will form a cruiseline and we will find out).

jc

[ekerr19]

I heard that HAL actually pockets the difference between the prize money and what is paid for by the players. Now, I don't have any actual facts, but I do remember one of the cruise staff telling me that the "free" cruise giveaways are also subsidized this way. The jackpot that goes on the final day is usually in the anywhere between $2500 - $6000 (on a 10-day cruise) and some of the daily pots can get as high as $300 - $400 per game.

Bingo is a huge money maker for HAL - one of the main reasons why it continues to be offered, sometimes twice a day. The half price drinks lure people in too.

[xpcdoojk]

I heard that HAL actually pockets the difference between the prize money and what is paid for by the players. Now, I don't have any actual facts, but I do remember one of the cruise staff telling me that the "free" cruise giveaways are also subsidized this way. The jackpot that goes on the final day is usually in the anywhere between $2500 - $6000 (on a 10-day cruise) and some of the daily pots can get as high as $300 - $400 per game.

Bingo is a huge money maker for HAL - one of the main reasons why it continues to be offered, sometimes twice a day. The half price drinks lure people in too.

Half priced drinks... whoa... I may have to reconsider playing Bingo! :D :D

jc

[Giorgi-one]

XPCDOOJK:

Don't blow a gasket. Stop bristling. I was just looking for something to do because I was bored at work. I didn't even realize there was a concept underlying my argument, whatever that is. I never said HAL should not make a profit. I was just looking for opinions on whether Bingo fees were too high. Actually, I wish everyone on board, except my wife and I, played Bingo for $100 a game and had at least 12 drinks a day so the price of a cruise would come down. Now, if you believe that would happen, I have a bridge I could sell you!

Actually, I am a mathematical genius (PH.D) and my numbers are probably pretty close. I am looking forward to hearing back from Cathy on her 3/5 cruise as to how many people play Bingo and value of prizes.

[xpcdoojk]

I am not even going to respond to that.... I am biting my tongue nearly in two....:p :D :D :rolleyes:

jc

[HeatherInFlorida]

Ooooooooooooh!!!!!!!!!! Yikes!!! jc, you're doing great. Breathe deep. I feel your pain, but you'll be happier in the end. You'll be a better man for it. You can do this;) .

Actually, I enjoyed reading this thread. I didn't pick up on it yesterday because I was too involved with a really fun thread, but this is very interesting.

Personally, I don't care how much money HAL makes on Bingo. If people want to play it, great! If not, great! And if you do play, and you win, there's a possibility you get a free cruise or some pretty nice cash. So where's the problem?

Of course, I'm not a genius at anything so I could be missing the forest for the trees.

[cru1s1ng]

Bingo is a huge money maker for HAL - one of the main reasons why it continues to be offered, sometimes twice a day. The half price drinks lure people in too.

Do you have to play bingo to get the half-price drinks?

[cru1s1ng]

Bingo, which is a form of gambling (albeit a poor one), is chicken feed compared to what they rake in in the casino. Talk about KER-CHING!!!

[ROZO'SBEAU]

The DW won one of those "free" cruises early last year. I fully enjoy those half priced drinks.
Thank y'all very much!
Beau

[Cathy p]

Oh the pressure you have put on me. OK I will try and remember to do the Bingo spot check. I hope I am one of the ones that get the free cruise as I am doing all this work for free. However, half price drinks do sound good. See you on the flip side.:p :p :p :p

[BCEagle78]

This was from my entry back in December where I mentioned some of my experiences on the Volendam:

"We sensed that there was some subtle changes with the bingo payoffs - My wife enjoys playing bingo while on board. It seemed that the money prizes were quite a bit lower than in the past. At $20 a pop and 100-150 players, you would think that the winner would get more than $90-120. Here are some of my estimates for how the money changed hands - Using my calculator, with 150 players, they had $3000 in revenue per session. They has about 12 sessions so their revenue is about $36,000. Payouts were about $120 per game or $480 per session and a big jackpot on the last night of $3800. Total payout was about $8200. They made about $27,800 in profit... WOW... In addition, several of the lights on the bingo board were not working... you think they could spring for a couple of light bulbs."

So, it is true that this is a profit center for the cruise line. Only a fraction comes back to the players in prizes. That's why they annoyingly announce over the PA system so many times that "BINGO IS ABOUT TO START..."

[Giorgi-one]

This was from my entry back in December where I mentioned some of my experiences on the Volendam:

"We sensed that there was some subtle changes with the bingo payoffs - My wife enjoys playing bingo while on board. It seemed that the money prizes were quite a bit lower than in the past. At $20 a pop and 100-150 players, you would think that the winner would get more than $90-120. Here are some of my estimates for how the money changed hands - Using my calculator, with 150 players, they had $3000 in revenue per session. They has about 12 sessions so their revenue is about $36,000. Payouts were about $120 per game or $480 per session and a big jackpot on the last night of $3800. Total payout was about $8200. They made about $27,800 in profit... WOW... In addition, several of the lights on the bingo board were not working... you think they could spring for a couple of light bulbs."

So, it is true that this is a profit center for the cruise line. Only a fraction
comes back to the players in prizes. That's why they annoyingly announce over the PA system so many times that "BINGO IS ABOUT TO START..."

Thanks for the input. My estimate was $20,000 profit, but I gave them credit for an even higher payout. I didn't realize they were this stingy since, as I said, I don't play Bingo. Not bad for my "straw argument which lacked any anchor in reality", huh JC!

[xpcdoojk]

Thanks for the input. My estimate was $20,000 profit, but I gave them credit for an even higher payout. I didn't realize they were this stingy since, as I said, I don't play Bingo. Not bad for my "straw argument which lacked any anchor in reality", huh JC!

Read my posts, Giorgi-one they speak for themselves, pretty elegantly too.

So it is a fact because you have found someone to agree with you. Amazing... :rolleyes: :eek:

If the payout doesn't satisfy you, why would you play? :rolleyes: :confused:

jc

[Giorgi-one]

Read my posts, Giorgi-one they speak for themselves, pretty elegantly too.

So it is a fact because you have found someone to agree with you. Amazing... :rolleyes: :eek:

If the payout doesn't satisfy you, why would you play? :rolleyes: :confused:

jc

As I have said in every post, I DO NOT PLAY BINGO. I was a caller at Bingo for over 20 years at our Church, so I certainly know how Bingo works. Look at the odds. It costs $20 to play and the prize for each game is $120. The jakcpot game never goes until the last day, so you are investing $20 to win $120. Now if you enjoy playing and have a few drinks, that's great. But from a gambling standpoint, you are much better off going to the casino. It is very possible to put $1 in a slot machine and win $100 or $500. I have done it many times. Also, my wife plays the 25 cent poker machines every night for hours on $10. It just depends on what you like.

I started this thread to get opinions. I don't know why, but you decided to hammer me because I don't want the cruise lines to make a profit on Bingo. I never said that. I just think that the payouts could be higher or the fees could be lower and they could still make a profit. Taking 75% of the money seems a little greedy to me (actually a lot greedy).

[HeatherInFlorida]

Not to debate BCEagle, but whenever we've played (which isn't very often anymore), the payouts were much higher than that. I recall a payout of close to $300 pretty early in the week. So the numbers may be a bit flawed.

We'll just have to wait for Cathy P's report!

[Osgood Fielding IV]

As I have said in every post, I DO NOT PLAY BINGO. I was a caller at Bingo for over 20 years at our Church, so I certainly know how Bingo works. Look at the odds. It costs $20 to play and the prize for each game is $120. The jakcpot game never goes until the last day, so you are investing $20 to win $120. Now if you enjoy playing and have a few drinks, that's great. But from a gambling standpoint, you are much better off going to the casino. It is very possible to put $1 in a slot machine and win $100 or $500. I have done it many times. Also, my wife plays the 25 cent poker machines every night for hours on $10. It just depends on what you like.

I started this thread to get opinions. I don't know why, but you decided to hammer me because I don't want the cruise lines to make a profit on Bingo. I never said that. I just think that the payouts could be higher or the fees could be lower and they could still make a profit. Taking 75% of the money seems a little greedy to me (actually a lot greedy).

Never criticize Big Brother HAL.

http://www.strafe.com/2001/hal.jpg

[cru1s1ng]

Never criticize Big Brother HAL.

http://www.strafe.com/2001/hal.jpg

roflao!!!

[dakrewser]

I just think that the payouts could be higher or the fees could be lower and they could still make a profit. Taking 75% of the money seems a little greedy to me (actually a lot greedy).

Heck, I think everything should be cheaper. But perhaps it's just that you don't understand capitalism and "market dynamics". Prices tend to be adjusted to maximize profits. That means where profit-per-item times number-of-items-sold is a maximum. When people stop buying, prices come down. When people buy all that's available, prices go up.

While it's true that there are no competing bingo venues on the ship, there are plenty of other venues for entertainment. Passengers who choose not to spend their money on bingo could go to the casino, as you noted.

But bingo remains (from the few observations I've seen) well attended. Thus, you are beating a dead horse.

[dakrewser]

Never criticize Big Brother HAL.



Hmm. You've been a member of CC for a week, yet you seem to be familiar with the standard arguments used on the HAL board (you've not posted to any other). So what was your previous handle here?

[Osgood Fielding IV]

Hmm. You've been a member of CC for a week, yet you seem to be familiar with the standard arguments used on the HAL board (you've not posted to any other). So what was your previous handle here?

"Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this...I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over." (http://www.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/~elf/pub/au/2001/stresspill.au)



http://www.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/~elf/pub/au/2001/stresspill.au

http://home10.inet.tele.dk/terra/pic/2001.jpg

[trubey]

Don't worry Dave -- just do a google on "Osgood Fielding IV" (use quotes)

It'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Purr-r-r-r.

Lane

[ekerr19]

"Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this...I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over." (http://www.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/~elf/pub/au/2001/stresspill.au)


Not funny at all. :mad:

[Osgood Fielding IV]

"I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that." (http://www.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/~elf/pub/au/2001/sorrydave.au)

[ekerr19]

Don't worry Dave -- just do a google on "Osgood Fielding IV" (use quotes)

It'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Purr-r-r-r.

Lane

He's a cat!?

[lawyersinlove]

Not funny at all. :mad:

Did you click the quote?

That's very funny.:D

Don't you get it, HAL and Dave, 2001 Space Odyssey.

[ekerr19]

Did you click the quote?

That's very funny.:D

Don't you get it, HAL and Dave, 2001 Space Odyssey.

I did - and I still don't think it's funny...

[HeatherInFlorida]

I think it's just stupid.

[ekerr19]

I think it's just stupid.

That's what I was thinking... ;)

Now, maybe if the reference were to Poseidon Adventure, maybe...

[heyabbott]

Don't worry Dave -- just do a google on "Osgood Fielding IV" (use quotes)

It'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Purr-r-r-r.

Lane

Osgood Fielding III was the character Joe E. Brown played in "Some Like It Hot". He's the one that ended up with Jack Lemon. Maybe it's too contemporary a movie for some folks.

Since our cabin has a DVD player, I'm thinking of bringing my Marx Brothers DVD collection. Monkey Business takes place on a cruise ship. Maybe I can get them to play it in the Westerdam's movie theater.

[dakrewser]

"Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this...I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over."


Ah, now I get it. I stopped responding to your other persona, so you dreamed up this new one. Perhaps you should get together with Sea Island Lady and swap stories about multiple personalities.

-dave
"Too many freaks, not enough circuses."

[ekerr19]

Ah, now I get it. I stopped responding to your other persona, so you dreamed up this new one. Perhaps you should get together with Sea Island Lady and swap stories about multiple personalities.

-dave
"Too many freaks, not enough circuses."


OMG!!! Dave, this is too hysterical - I'm surprised I didn't make the connection! I must be slipping....

[trubey]

He's a cat!?

Yes indeedy, and a German one at that.

lkt

[ron46936]

I don't really care what they charge. It's a sucker game anyway. You get much better odds in the casino.

I do object to the overdone and intrusive announcements. I still believe that many bingo players can read and for the ones that can't a short announcement would suffice.

[cruzincurt]

Why is it called "snowball" bingo?

If you have 30 minutes and $20 to kill, it's OK. I like the idea that "professional" bingo players think they have a better chance to win.

[xpcdoojk]

Dave, I loved the dead horse comment! So true!:D

What is the strange 2001 movie person's alter-ego. Why do I think it violates the forums policies to have multiple accounts?;) Although, I don't think Sea Island Lady is posting under multiple accounts, she just changed her name after her last almost aborted trip, after getting sympathy from everyone in the RCI forum.

jc

[Stevesan]

I do object to the overdone and intrusive announcements. I still believe that many bingo players can read and for the ones that can't a short announcement would suffice.

The extra loud PA announcements are to wake my wife from her nap!

[BruceMuzz]

Bingo is a form of gambling.
In nearly every form of gambling, the many losers provide the prize money for the few winners. In most gambling venues (churches, casinos, cruise ships) the "house" takes a cut for sponsoring the game. In some games - like slot machines - the house keeps a very high percentage of the money. In other games - like blackjack - the house keeps a much lower percentage. The house take for Bingo is usually somewhere in the middle. This is hardly a secret, and certainly pretty easy to figure out.
People who play slot machines usually view them as forms of entertainment that slowly eat all their coins. People who play blackjack quite often see the game as a chance to win some money. People who play bingo seem to have a mixed concept of expectations. But if you notice that the bulk of bingo players consists primarily of little old ladies with nothing else to do, you get a pretty good idea what this game is all about.

I seriously doubt that you would ever find Bill Gates, George Soros, Allen Greenspan, or Donald Trump playing bingo.

[stevenpgol]

I played BINGO on the last day, the last "4-game session" before the "one game for the Snowball jackpot" in the evening. If I recall, you can buy one card for $10 or a strip of three cards for $20. Veendam staff were very upfront regarding how the monies are doled out---for every $20 spent for cards, $15 goes toward the prizes of those 4 games, and the other $5 goes into the "Snowball jackpot". The Snowball jackpot can be won before the last night of the cruise---you have to fill up your entire BINGO card with <50 numbers called---very difficult to do---so that is why the jackpot is typically a few thousand dollars for that one game at 1015PM the last night...at that point, whoever gets "full card BINGO" gets the jackpot, regardless of how many numbers have been called. I am not sure if HAL "makes their money" by keeping a percentage of the take for that jackpot game.

[Giorgi-one]

I played BINGO on the last day, the last "4-game session" before the "one game for the Snowball jackpot" in the evening. If I recall, you can buy one card for $10 or a strip of three cards for $20. Veendam staff were very upfront regarding how the monies are doled out---for every $20 spent for cards, $15 goes toward the prizes of those 4 games, and the other $5 goes into the "Snowball jackpot". The Snowball jackpot can be won before the last night of the cruise---you have to fill up your entire BINGO card with <50 numbers called---very difficult to do---so that is why the jackpot is typically a few thousand dollars for that one game at 1015PM the last night...at that point, whoever gets "full card BINGO" gets the jackpot, regardless of how many numbers have been called. I am not sure if HAL "makes their money" by keeping a percentage of the take for that jackpot game.

Bassed on what the Veendam staff told you, all the money collected goes to prizes. This may have been true for this one day, but I do not believe it is true in general. This is the way Bingo should work on a ship.

[xpcdoojk]

Bassed on what the Veendam staff told you, all the money collected goes to prizes. This may have been true for this one day, but I do not believe it is true in general. This is the way Bingo should work on a ship.

The cruiseline should make no money from Bingo?:confused: Is that what you are saying?

pretty much confirms my beliefs about your underlying tone, doesn't it.:D :p

jc

[Giorgi-one]

The cruiseline should make no money from Bingo?:confused: Is that what you are saying?

pretty much confirms my beliefs about your underlying tone, doesn't it.:D :p

jc

If the say that all the money goes to prizes, then all the money should go to prizes. Or is lying allowed because it's all part of the capatalistic objective of maximizing profits?

[xpcdoojk]

If the say that all the money goes to prizes, then all the money should go to prizes. Or is lying allowed because it's all part of the capatalistic objective of maximizing profits?

Guess it depends on who is telling the lie. :p If you ask the your room steward this question and they don't speak English is it a lie? Now when the president or qualified official of HAL tells you the lie then you have something to talk about. In the meantime, this is still pretty much whacking on the dead horsey!:p

I suggest for anyone wanting to know the real facts that they contact HAL directly, of course customer service is notorious for not knowing the facts, but providing answers extemporaneously. :D Kind of like this forum.:D

This is another example of facts without basis, IMHO.

jc

[Sigtau21]

I would play bingo for half priced drinks...unless that is something not backed up by facts.:)