Question for the gamblers

[davemorton]

On my last cruise, they gave out letters to some people who used the tables in the casino offering them varying amounts of free chips if they were on another cruise within 6 months.  Was this a one off, or re they still doing this?  Anyone know?

Edited February 20, 2020 by davemorton

[wowzz]

32 minutes ago, davemorton said:

On my last cruise, they gave out letters to some people who used the tables in the casino offering them varying amounts of free chips if they were on another cruise within 6 months.  Was this a one off, or re they still doing this?  Anyone know?

I'm not a gambler  (apart from when I married Mrs W), but I did notice on the last day the casino staff were handing out envelopes to certain customers in the casino. The fact that the crew knew these passengers by name, and were very friendly with them, would indicate that they were regular patrons, and I would guess they were being offered some form of future incentive. 

[Harry Peterson]

1 hour ago, davemorton said:

On my last cruise, they gave out letters to some people who used the tables in the casino offering them varying amounts of free chips if they were on another cruise within 6 months.  Was this a one off, or re they still doing this?  Anyone know?

Never been a gambler, but it’s a classic ploy by the gambling industry to keep people hooked - so P&O will be following suit. It’s the profitable gamblers who are targeted, and it’s seen as a very questionable practice.

[wowzz]

Yes, it does seem to be saying, " Thanks for giving us your money on this cruise,  here's £50, please come back and give  us some more"

[davemorton]

12 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Never been a gambler, but it’s a classic ploy by the gambling industry to keep people hooked - so P&O will be following suit. It’s the profitable gamblers who are targeted, and it’s seen as a very questionable practice.

But if you are going to use the tables regardless, then its a win-win.  The amounts given out on my last cruise were not small amounts (a third of the cruise price for some) and the amount given out did not equate to the amount won/lost.  Also, from the people who I saw getting the letters, none were 'big' gamblers, just frequent gamblers.  

I already had my next cruise booked, and the amount my letter was for will cover my casino spending for the whole cruise if I dont win at all. 

On another point, I dont gamble at all on land, and I go to the casino at sea not to win, but as a form of entertainment/social interaction.

 

Edited February 20, 2020 by davemorton

[wowzz]

2 minutes ago, davemorton said:

But if you are going to use the tables regardless, then its a win-win.  The amounts given out on my last cruise were not small amounts (a third of the cruise price for some) and the amount given out did not equate to the amount won/lost.  Also, from the people who I saw getting the letters, none were 'big' gamblers, just frequent gamblers.  

 

If the chips were free, could you transfer them into cash, or did they have to be spent in the casino? 

[davemorton]

Yes, you would be able to transfer them into cash.  It might be best not to do it straight away and obviously though 🙂

[daiB]

53 minutes ago, davemorton said:

Yes, you would be able to transfer them into cash.  It might be best not to do it straight away and obviously though 🙂

Ahh, only it doesn’t work that way. They come as matched bets and are a different colour.

 

They are not that daft.

[davemorton]

11 minutes ago, daiB said:

Ahh, only it doesn’t work that way. They come as matched bets and are a different colour.

 

They are not that daft.

Ahhh, is that how it works?  So in theory (I would not do this, as I dont like roulette) you could put 30 on red, 30 on black and 2 on green to almost cash out the lot?  

I had presumed it would just be x amount of chips.  Ah well, will still come in handy. Owt for nowt. 

[davecttr]

3 hours ago, davemorton said:

But if you are going to use the tables regardless, then its a win-win.  The amounts given out on my last cruise were not small amounts (a third of the cruise price for some) and the amount given out did not equate to the amount won/lost.  Also, from the people who I saw getting the letters, none were 'big' gamblers, just frequent gamblers.  

I already had my next cruise booked, and the amount my letter was for will cover my casino spending for the whole cruise if I dont win at all. 

On another point, I dont gamble at all on land, and I go to the casino at sea not to win, but as a form of entertainment/social interaction.

 

Never heard of that happening on P&O and I am a regular at the blackjack table. they used to buy you free drinks but that seems to be no more.

 

Maybe on American lines

[davemorton]

19 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Never heard of that happening on P&O and I am a regular at the blackjack table. they used to buy you free drinks but that seems to be no more.

 

Maybe on American lines

We were getting free drinks and got these letters on P&O in October. 

[simonpjd]

Does the roulette on P&O have one zero like in British casinos. So %age wise not a bad bet. 
 

 

[davemorton]

I think they might have 2 no to be fair, but could not say for sure.

[9is]

I received one of theses letters on my oceana cruise in October.  If I remember correctly it had to be used with 6 months of issue.  Luckily I was back on for Christmas.  At the end of the Christmas cruise I was given another letter but the terms had changed.  In order to get my “free play £250” I need to book a new cruise and use by October 2020.  Interestingly it says any further information to contact P&o players club, I can’t seem to be able to find anything regarding this. It did have phone number which turned out to be just P&o booking telephone number and placed me in a queue I was too busy to waitin. I may give them a call at some point as I book most cruises well in advance, booked right up to April 2022 so can’t really book any more. 

[funinhounslow]

58 minutes ago, davemorton said:

I think they might have 2 no to be fair, but could not say for sure.

I thought it was single zero. The blackjack is “British” rules (dealer stands on soft 17, bj pays 3:2) so I assume the roulette would be too. I’ll check in April...

[daiB]

21 hours ago, davecttr said:

Never heard of that happening on P&O and I am a regular at the blackjack table. they used to buy you free drinks but that seems to be no more.

 

Maybe on American lines

Does now Dave, had two vouchers now. And still getting drinks at the table.

[daiB]

1 hour ago, funinhounslow said:

I thought it was single zero. The blackjack is “British” rules (dealer stands on soft 17, bj pays 3:2) so I assume the roulette would be too. I’ll check in April...

Two zeros. 

[daiB]

2 hours ago, 9is said:

I received one of theses letters on my oceana cruise in October.  If I remember correctly it had to be used with 6 months of issue.  Luckily I was back on for Christmas.  At the end of the Christmas cruise I was given another letter but the terms had changed.  In order to get my “free play £250” I need to book a new cruise and use by October 2020.  Interestingly it says any further information to contact P&o players club, I can’t seem to be able to find anything regarding this. It did have phone number which turned out to be just P&o booking telephone number and placed me in a queue I was too busy to waitin. I may give them a call at some point as I book most cruises well in advance, booked right up to April 2022 so can’t really book any more. 

Just hand it in and use it.

[9is]

7 minutes ago, daiB said:

Just hand it in and use it.

That’s what I was thinking. Worse case get nothing!

[davemorton]

I was just about to say the same as daiB, I cant see how the casino manager will be able to see when you booked. Next I need to work out how they determine how much they give you, as everyone on the table I was on got different amounts, and it did not seem to relate to how much they won/lost/played, so thinking perhaps it may relate to how much you have changed into chips.  If it is, then it is going to be better to cash in chips every night, instead of just keeping hold of them. 

[funinhounslow]

On 2/21/2020 at 3:10 PM, daiB said:

Two zeros. 

 

Ouch! Naughty...

[Harry Peterson]

Bonuses such as this by the gambling industry are carefully targetted at those who make money for operators. That’s to say people who, overall, lose enough to merit courting.

 

They don’t, obviously, get handed out to winners.  Sprat to catch a mackerel!

[davemorton]

4 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Bonuses such as this by the gambling industry are carefully targetted at those who make money for operators. That’s to say people who, overall, lose enough to merit courting.

 

They don’t, obviously, get handed out to winners.  Sprat to catch a mackerel!

Speaking from experience, or just what you think? 

Perhaps they target the winners so that they can recoup some of their losses? 😉

[daiB]

6 minutes ago, davemorton said:

Speaking from experience, or just what you think? 

Perhaps they target the winners so that they can recoup some of their losses? 😉

They target winners and losers as big winners attract more people to give it a go. They want people playing at the tables and on the bandits. Big winners are treated very well. 

[Harry Peterson]

7 minutes ago, davemorton said:

Speaking from experience, or just what you think? 

Perhaps they target the winners so that they can recoup some of their losses? 😉

Not from experience - it’s a mug’s game.  But I am aware of the way the industry operates, and the way the Gambling Commission regulates it. Whether it has jurisdiction over P&O ships though is another matter - I rather doubt it.