Bingo Scam on Liberty of the Seas

[fishingal]

What I found worrying on the Legend in Asia last week was that children under 16 were allowed to play bingo for free.

 

Call me a killjoy if you wish - I don't care - but I find that encouraging kids to gamble is at best irresponsible in my mind. I have seen first hand how addictive gambling is (particularly to young people) please believe me on this. I am sure someone will come on here with a pedantic response such as the kids did not pay any outlay, but that is totally missing the point.

 

Many on here may suggest it is harmless fun for the kids - I totally disagree - people who have family members or friends who are victims of gambling will know where I am coming from.

 

I also agree, while cruising mid last year on Legend we came across children that were allowed to play bingo (and won-twice) as long as a parent was present to collect the prize. I cannot comment on whether they received free bingo cards, i was under the assumption that the parents purchased them for the children. I find this both unfair and disrespectful to passengers that are of legal age and wonder if this is in fact against the law to allow and encourage gambling with children?

 

If we take the gambling away from the bingo game, it can be very educational for teens and great for exercising the mind and keeping it active while on holiday.

They do family bingo in the kids club but perhaps a solution would be a bingo 'game' targeted at 13-18 year olds with cruise related prizes as opposed to cash - maybe the soft drink package for duration of trip, unlimited ben and jerry icecream etc.. even meet the captain?

Edited February 29, 2016 by fishingal

[Pipo]

I love bingo, but the ones on cruises are a scam itself: expensive, with unknown terms and conditions. This story just confirms my lack of confidence on such activities.

The same with slot machines. At least the ones on land casinos are subject to state audits or regulations, but on a Bahamian flag vessel on international waters.. PLEASE!

Edited February 29, 2016 by Pipo

[pharaoh]

I love bingo. I only play when I'm on a cruise, it's family tradition to play at least one game. It's a fun (although expensive) way to kill an hour. I don't usually win. Shrug.

 

On my last cruise, we inexplicably won 4 of the 6 games we played. Didn't make any big jackpots but did win enough to pay for the next game, so that was a nice turn of events!

 

There was a family with a lot of children and they came to every game we were at, and they (the kids) won a couple of times too. It was cute. I played bingo when I was a kid on our family cruises and I have lived to tell the tale.

[psupa]

I miss the bingo from many years ago when it was fun and they played the snowball bingo game on the last day. The lounge was packed and the prize was anywhere from $3000 to $5000. Now it's fill the card in 49 numbers or win consolation prize.

[yuvraj]

deleted.

Edited February 29, 2016 by yuvraj