How does the casino operate?

[EllieinNJ]

Do you have to put the money on your on board account and draw from it or could you put bills into the individual slot machines, get slips and cash out like you do in Vegas or AC?

[Sand and Seas]

The machines all take cash. And if you want additional cash, they will allow you to put it on your onboard account for a 3%fee. (Try to avoid that...it's too easy!)

[cb at sea]

Cash is king....bring the cash you're willing to lose, as that is the most likely outcome. IF you win, it's paid out via ticket...cash it at the cage.

[Cowdengelly]

Yes, just like Vegas. You take your money in, have some fun, and come out without it. Easy!

[bruadhin]

The machines all take cash. And if you want additional cash, they will allow you to put it on your onboard account for a 3%fee. (Try to avoid that...it's too easy!)

 

How do you avoid that? Baring bringing more cash.

[timmo44]

The machines pay out a printed barcode slip which you can either put into another machine to transfer the cash over to it or draw out as cash at one of the few machines around the entrance.

[NMLady]

How do you avoid that? Baring bringing more cash.

 

No way to avoid the 3% fee if charging cash to your account.

We bring travelers checks and cash them as needed at either the front desk or casino cage.

[Sizzlechest]

How do you avoid that? Baring bringing more cash.

 

Instead of bringing actual cash, get a certified check made out to yourself for the amount of money you want to bring. You need to put the cruise date, ship, and reservation number in the memo section. If you lose it, nobody should be able to deposit it without your signature. If you fax the front of it to the NCL Casino department in advance of your cruise, they will have the money ready onboard. Any left over money will be given back to you as a check from NCL.

 

There is no fee for this service other than whatever your bank charges for a certified check, which in my case was zero. Contact NCL's casino department to get all the details.

[hpecorari]

No way to avoid the 3% fee if charging cash to your account.

 

That's not completely true. If you are Golden, VIP, or Elite the 3% convenience fee is waived.

 

Harriet

[daveeboy]

So can I use OBC from my account in the casino?

[KCpumkin]

All the cruise games also have the WORST ODDS!

 

So if you have a real casino near you --> Save your losses for them :D

[hpecorari]

So can I use OBC from my account in the casino?

 

I'm not sure about refundable OBC but can't for non-refundable OBC.

 

Harriet

[Sizzlechest]

So can I use OBC from my account in the casino?

 

Yes, but it's just like drawing from your credit card. It gets hit with a 3% fee.

 

All the cruise games also have the WORST ODDS!

 

So if you have a real casino near you --> Save your losses for them :D

 

I don't know what the odds are for the slots, but the table games are on par with the "real" casinos. What casino games are you referring to?

[hpecorari]

Yes, but it's just like drawing from your credit card. It gets hit with a 3% fee.

 

 

 

I don't know what the odds are for the slots, but the table games are on par with the "real" casinos. What casino games are you referring to?

 

Really? Last time the $5.00 BJ table was paying out $6.00 for blackjack!

 

Harriet

[vp1]

All the cruise games also have the WORST ODDS!

 

So if you have a real casino near you --> Save your losses for them :D

 

I will say that, for craps, the odds on NCL ships are exactly the same as nearly every land-based casino. NCL does limit the "odds" bets to 3/4/5, but still, with full odds in play, the house edge at craps is less than half a percent.

 

Can't say the same for slots or the other table games where they have tweaked the returns and the payouts….

 

~Bob

[shapatack0]

How do you avoid that? Baring bringing more cash.

 

There are ATM's on the ship.

[Sizzlechest]

Really? Last time the $5.00 BJ table was paying out $6.00 for blackjack!

 

Harriet

 

Yes, that's true. Keep in mind most casinos that offer $5 tables have worse odds like dealer hits on soft 17.

[jethrojam]

10% rake up 25$! Per hand in poker. Robbery

[bruadhin]

There are ATM's on the ship.

 

I suspect those fees would be more than the 3% the casino charges?

[bruadhin]

Yes, that's true. Keep in mind most casinos that offer $5 tables have worse odds like dealer hits on soft 17.

 

No one really wants the $5 BJ player anymore. It can be hard to find in many land casinos, and if offered it may have worse rules and 6:5 payout for BJ.

 

The craps table or roulette table are probably the best bets in a ship's casino. Both have pretty fixed rules and odds. Other than double zero and changing the payout on hardways and prop bets, I cannot recall ever seeing the odds changed on these games.

[Sizzlechest]

No one really wants the $5 BJ player anymore. It can be hard to find in many land casinos, and if offered it may have worse rules and 6:5 payout for BJ.

 

The craps table or roulette table are probably the best bets in a ship's casino. Both have pretty fixed rules and odds. Other than double zero and changing the payout on hardways and prop bets, I cannot recall ever seeing the odds changed on these games.

 

I agree completely. I've been practicing craps and it seems like a pretty good game providing you take full advantage of the maximum allowable free odds bets and have a large enough bankroll.

 

I was told the Gem has the electronic/mechanical craps that allow $1 minimum on single number bets. Rather than play the slots, I'm encouraging my wife and friend to play that using the "dopey experiment" method. Completing a cycle will use up an hour of their time and they only have a 40% chance of losing the $35 outlay.

[shapatack0]

I suspect those fees would be more than the 3% the casino charges?

 

No, unless you're withdrawing a very small amount of money at a time. I think they're around standard to moderately expensive flat fees for an ATM, something like $3-$5 per transaction. So if you're withdrawing less than $100, then yes it's more expensive, but if you're withdrawing more than $200 at a time then it's cheaper to use the ATM.

[bruadhin]

I agree completely. I've been practicing craps and it seems like a pretty good game providing you take full advantage of the maximum allowable free odds bets and have a large enough bankroll.

 

I was told the Gem has the electronic/mechanical craps that allow $1 minimum on single number bets. Rather than play the slots, I'm encouraging my wife and friend to play that using the "dopey experiment" method. Completing a cycle will use up an hour of their time and they only have a 40% chance of losing the $35 outlay.

 

I love craps, but it is such a volatile game. If it gets choppy, it can go through your bankroll in a hurry if you are placing bets and taking odds.

 

One advantage of craps, I have never seen a full table in a ship's casino and generally the dealers aren't very good. Now that does mean you need to watch them for mistakes, but the game is never very fast, you get lots of chances to be the shooter and there is always room for one more.

[bruadhin]

No, unless you're withdrawing a very small amount of money at a time. I think they're around standard to moderately expensive flat fees for an ATM, something like $3-$5 per transaction. So if you're withdrawing less than $100, then yes it's more expensive, but if you're withdrawing more than $200 at a time then it's cheaper to use the ATM.

 

Good point. I honestly cannot recall the last time I used an ATM.

[Sizzlechest]

Here's another tip. There are banks (usually online) that refund ATM fees. I have a non-interest checking account at such a bank. I'm transferring money to it so in case I need more cash, I can withdraw it from any ATM and not worry about the fee.