How does the casino work?

[Miryam1234]

I sound stupid even to my own ears, but honestly I don't know.

So, how does the casino work on board, and moreover on an European cruise?

Do I need to have cash? If so, Usd or Eur? Do I buy chips or just hand out my cruise card? Or what?

 

During our first cruise we did not go to casino as it was so smoky and we had our daughter with us, did not want to harm her. Now, in Oct Navigator, it will be only me and my DH, so we are eager to try out gambling as well. But as fairly inexperienced to both subjects (cruising and gambling), I don't actually know how to behave properly.:o Therefore, your help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks, Miryam

[Clarea]

I sound stupid even to my own ears, but honestly I don't know.

So, how does the casino work on board, and moreover on an European cruise?

Do I need to have cash? If so, Usd or Eur? Do I buy chips or just hand out my cruise card? Or what?

 

During our first cruise we did not go to casino as it was so smoky and we had our daughter with us, did not want to harm her. Now, in Oct Navigator, it will be only me and my DH, so we are eager to try out gambling as well. But as fairly inexperienced to both subjects (cruising and gambling), I don't actually know how to behave properly.:o Therefore, your help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks, Miryam

The casino works on cash, USD. You can use your cruise card to get a cash advance, but they will charge a fee or 3% or 5%, I've seen both reported.

[reedprincess]

On-board the ship, casinos work in US Dollars. At the tables, you give them US cash, they give you equivalent chips and you start playing. You feed US dollars into the slot machines for credits and play away. You can bring cash from home, withdraw from ATMs onboard or withdraw against your SeaPass card (which incurs a 5% fee).

If you have euros, you can change them at guest services into US. Not a great exchange rate though, but may be better than withdrawing against your seapass card with the 5% fee. You would have to figure that out with exchange rates at the time. They cannot change large amounts of cash, but some petty cash, sure.

Enjoy -the casino can be fun, especially if you are winning!! lol.

[Miryam1234]

On-board the ship, casinos work in US Dollars. At the tables, you give them US cash, they give you equivalent chips and you start playing. You feed US dollars into the slot machines for credits and play away. You can bring cash from home, withdraw from ATMs onboard or withdraw against your SeaPass card (which incurs a 5% fee).

If you have euros, you can change them at guest services into US. Not a great exchange rate though, but may be better than withdrawing against your seapass card with the 5% fee. You would have to figure that out with exchange rates at the time. They cannot change large amounts of cash, but some petty cash, sure.

Enjoy -the casino can be fun, especially if you are winning!! lol.

 

Thanks for thorough answer. As for tipping - which is totally strange topic for us Scandinavians - who am I supposed to tip in casino? I stick to autotip with MTD to make it easy but I have followed closely many tipping threads and I've found numerous people I have not thought to tip just because we do not tip generally anybody in our country.

So, anybody, please any advice on that subject in casino?

[Missus Makkem]

Thanks for thorough answer. As for tipping - which is totally strange topic for us Scandinavians - who am I supposed to tip in casino? I stick to autotip with MTD to make it easy but I have followed closely many tipping threads and I've found numerous people I have not thought to tip just because we do not tip generally anybody in our country.

So, anybody, please any advice on that subject in casino?

 

Only seen tipping in casino if people have a win on the tables, ie give the dealer a chip of the winnings.

[bmac1]

It's simple you give them your money and they take it.

[RCcruisinfamily]

Thanks for thorough answer. As for tipping - which is totally strange topic for us Scandinavians - who am I supposed to tip in casino? I stick to autotip with MTD to make it easy but I have followed closely many tipping threads and I've found numerous people I have not thought to tip just because we do not tip generally anybody in our country.

So, anybody, please any advice on that subject in casino?

 

Tipping is totally optional, but the dealers appreciate it. If you win BIG, tip. If not keep your money.

[Ashland]

The casino works very well at taking your $$'s...very few come out on the winning side :)

[Uncle Fester]

Thanks for thorough answer. As for tipping - which is totally strange topic for us Scandinavians - who am I supposed to tip in casino? I stick to autotip with MTD to make it easy but I have followed closely many tipping threads and I've found numerous people I have not thought to tip just because we do not tip generally anybody in our country.

So, anybody, please any advice on that subject in casino?

 

It is customary to tip, or toke in casino parlance, the dealer. Some say to toke at least once an hour while playing, win or lose, while others say only toke if you have had a winning session. I personally will toke at least once an hour, especially if the dealer is friendly and personable. I view it as the dealer is providing me a service, so I just tip them for that service.

 

There are also different ways you can toke the dealer. You can either place a wager for them, in which case if they win, they keep the original wager and any winnings. Or you can just place the money down and say it is a toke for the dealer. I usually ask whether they would like me to place a bet for them, or just hand in the toke. In the vast majority of the cases, they want to play along. It makes it more fun for them, plus it increases the potential amount they can receive.

 

The above explanation is for table games. There is a different set of guidelines for slot machines/video poker, when a win is hand paid.

[Wheeling_family_of_3]

Thanks to the OP for asking this .... my husband wants to play some (with a strict wife-approved limit lol) and this is good to know!

[Miryam1234]

I'm so happy with getting proper answers. Thank you everyone.

 

As we are anyways bringing some US cash with us, for the room service tips, so we can change something for the casino as well.

 

The good thing with this "bringing USD cash along" will be that it already sets the limit to the playing. So his gambling would not get out of my hands, so to say.

Unless, of course, in the unlikely situation that we would actually win something! What would I do with the wins? - oh, no need to start planning - it would just mean more cruising, of course!:D

[goodycruising]

I think I remember a "learn to play" session. Also if you went early in the day and explained you would like to learn the etiquette I am sure they would give you a quick tour? We also find many players will help out if you ask nicely, and some of the dealers are very easy to talk to if unsure also. Don't hesitate to ask, you are the customer, and we all have had to learn as we go. You look sillier when you don't ask.

 

My rule of thumb is - if there are unpleasant people either playing or dealing, leave and come back later or another day. If you are on a losing streak, leave. It should be fun. If you have a nice win and don't want to keep it in your safe, go to the service desk and put it on your account if it is around what you might be spending on board.

 

Also you have the right to ask the dealer to slow down. We had one that was so fast we lost hundreds in very short time, and we are still not sure if we were being hustled. We should have taken it further, but the pit boss had already been rude when we asked about opening more tables, and we will never put up with that again. Some dealers can be very intimidating. They shouldn't be and it is just not worth staying. You might as well throw your money in the hallway.

 

We have met some lovely people at the tables both on ship and on land, and some dealers make the experience lots of fun. We expect to lose, and some dealers, if you don't whine about a few losing hands, will give you subtle tips and hints along the way. They don't tell you what to do, but if they ask you are you sure, sometimes it is worth slowing down and rethinking your play. They know the odds, and sometimes will deal on without your instruction if you don't stop them! If you abuse them when losing, they will withdraw into a neutral expression and the experience all around can go downhill.

 

Above all, set your limits, and have fun. Good luck!

[Queen of Oakville]

Like someone else mentioned, I like to tip the dealer by placing a bet for him/her.

 

I usually tip based on winning streak, but also tip based on how much l like the dealer. Some are grumps. I pretty much expect them to take my money before the cruise is over, .... but I'm there to have fun. I rarely tip a miserable dealer. But a happy dealer who makes me feel good about losing my money always gets more tips from me.

 

If I've lost their bet (had a losing hand) I will often give them a tip on the next hand, but more often than not, they want me to play the tip for them.

[H2Oregon]

If you have any OBC that you have not used,and you don't mind paying a percentage to the casino, you can use your sea pass card and withdraw an amount equal to your OBC's to spend in the casino.

[garycarla]

Lots of rather complex answers here.

 

We can help you better if you let us know what you think you will play.

 

If slots - pretty easy stuff.