Slot Pull Ethical Question

[birdylady]

I have run a number of slot pulls.  I list the way I run it from the start.  I state I put my card in from the beginning.  Yes, it takes a lot of work.  Keeping track of all the participants and their wins, working with the casino to get swag for the high winners, ensuring everyone agrees the total in and out is correct.  Getting change and ensuring everything is on the up and up.   I don’t allow people to switch cards as they sit down to play.  Last slot pull I had was over 50 people. Switching cards would take to much time.  One reason I offer to organize is because I find them to be fun.  Plus I usually find it makes the cruise extra special.  Sorta like a meet and mingle where you get to know other people you’re cruising with.   If people don’t want to participate, I’m fine with that.  It’s everyone’s vacation to do as they please.

 

Erika

[Wink87]

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

It can be a lot of work, so fine with me

Agree!

[Bailey & Sophie]

 

On our cruise next March, I signed up to participate in the slot pull. Never done one, not a gambler.

I do think I will use my own card tho when it comes to my turn. 

What can I purchase with my 4 points? Looking for suggestions.😁

[sailor05]

3 hours ago, RoperDK said:

 

Full disclosure, I have never participated in a slot pull.  I do gamble and spend a lot of time in the casino.  I do enjoy meeting people, but don't like to commit to anything onboard.  Once onboard, I tend to get involved with our family's activities and all pre-planned events go unattended.  

I'm 100% with you. I've not done a slot pull but did do a pub crawl which sounded great before the cruise but once on the ship it became a pain and an obligation that interfered with other activities that were unknown before the cruise. Someone is actually asking us now on FB and I said I would pass...

[Blur]

2 hours ago, brillohead said:

I thought the points were per dollar, not per button-press?

So a $20 buy-in with 50 people would be $1000, so 1000 points, no?

My last few cruises have had 1-3 slot pulls organized, with at least one of them being a $100 buy-in. (Not sure how many people participated, because I don't gamble with anything other than the free $8 that Royal gives me each cruise.)

With the current casino offers, I think you get a free cruise at 1500 points... doesn't take many high-dollar slot pulls for the organizer to get a free cruise (or two!).

For casino royale, slots you only get 1 point for every $5 played so $20/5=4 points.

 

If you're worried about points, you can get more points playing video poker in the same amount of time by yourself at $10 per point... You get less points playing video poker cause odds are better than slots if you know how to play.

Edited May 11, 2022 by Blur

[ONECRUISER]

6 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

That has been happening for years and caused a major rift on one of our cruises.

Yes, think even remember this discussed on few Threads though not in while

[xxHadleyxx]

Slot pulls aren't my thing, but I can imagine that they take a lot of effort to organize AND that running everything through one card speeds up the process so that it can be enjoyable for all.  I would think so long as the organizer is very transparent about the process it's fine.

10 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

FWIW, not uncommon for folks who organize shore excursions to get something back from the tour operator.😉

 

Is that unethical?

And that's one that I think IS often unethical.  

I've done tours where the organizer is simply booking a van for eight and hoping a few others join to lower the price per person, and everyone benefits equally.  Those are generally work for the organizer as the main contact with the tour provider and often the person assuming the risk of paying if there are no shows, etc.   

 

But then I have cruises where someone floods cruise critic threads promoting their tours (and post basically nothing else), the tours are fairly large groups and the "organizer" does nothing but promote (they tell people to contact the tour operator directly to book, and give their name) and never mention they're getting kickbacks, but when I mess around on the tour operator website then I learn for each twelve bookings there's a free organizer slot, etc.  I think that's unethical...by not mentioning the (sizeable) kickback they're getting (and it ought to be in the wording they repost over and over so it's not missed) and just rude to flood a meet thread with nothing but promotions for your gain.

[Merion_Mom]

I would guess that in 95% of the cases where people say that it wasn't disclosed up front that the organizer would be using his/her card in the machine, it was disclosed and they just didn't pay attention.

 

😛 

[NC State]

We had our first group Slot Pull in April. It was a lot of fun. We vested $20 and we all walked away with $37. I explained to my husband how the guy got all the points but we were OK because we never play so we have no clue how to play.  RC was OK with it because they gave him 5 t-shirts for the top 5 players. 

[rolloman]

Someone else mentioned it before I could but it can be a losing proposition for an organizer if a jackpot is hit which requires the 1099 tax form. Unless you have a friendly Canadian in the group willing to take credit for the big win...the organizer takes the tax hit.  So hard work, possible tax consequences...yeah... IMO they can keep the paltry points they earn for the effort. 

 

[Mikew0805]

On 5/10/2022 at 7:48 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

800 points was worth a free cruise a few months ago😉

Yep... glad that is over. Now it is still reduced but at 1600 points instead of the original 2500. (2400 pre pandemic) I am happy with anything to free up machines that I want to play in the casino. 😂 It has been packed in there for the past 6 months.. with the exception of a few sailings when there was no smoking. I could get on any machine I wanted anytime then. 

 

 

[trey420]

I can't say I'd care about the points.  If you are why join a group in the first place?  Just do your own thing.  

[John&LaLa]

7 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

Yep... glad that is over. Now it is still reduced but at 1600 points instead of the original 2500. (2400 pre pandemic) I am happy with anything to free up machines that I want to play in the casino. 😂 It has been packed in there for the past 6 months.. with the exception of a few sailings when there was no smoking. I could get on any machine I wanted anytime then. 

 

Laura likes the flying pizza game.🤣

 

I think it's called Fireball. Used to play Dancing Drums and before that WoF

[kpark895]

I'm not going to comment on the ethics of this, as everyone has their own opinion.  However, to all of those that say, just have everyone use their own card, how would you address the issue that I know it would cause on Norwegian (not sure about the other lines)?  If you take your card out of the machine, the credit on the machine gets transferred to your card.  So, for example, the first person puts in their card and their $20, 4 pulls, ends up with $25.  Takes their card out, machine resets to zero credits and that person has the $5 they won.  Now you have to what?  Keep track of  everyone cashed out with, if they get any, then have them all contribute that amount back at the end of the pull, at which time the organizer then has to divide all of that?  Way too much bookkeeping in my opinion.

[cured]

I learn so much from this site. This week I learned that I need to be offended when someone who puts in a ton of work and takes some personal risk with organizing a slot pull gets a few minor benefits.

 

Never crossed my mind before.

 

Edited May 12, 2022 by cured

[Mikew0805]

6 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Laura likes the flying pizza game.🤣

 

I think it's called Fireball. Used to play Dancing Drums and before that WoF

I like anything buffalo, Lightening link, and 88 fortunes (all variations)

 

I cannot think of the flying pizza game LOL.

[Mikew0805]

39 minutes ago, kpark895 said:

I'm not going to comment on the ethics of this, as everyone has their own opinion.  However, to all of those that say, just have everyone use their own card, how would you address the issue that I know it would cause on Norwegian (not sure about the other lines)?  If you take your card out of the machine, the credit on the machine gets transferred to your card.  So, for example, the first person puts in their card and their $20, 4 pulls, ends up with $25.  Takes their card out, machine resets to zero credits and that person has the $5 they won.  Now you have to what?  Keep track of  everyone cashed out with, if they get any, then have them all contribute that amount back at the end of the pull, at which time the organizer then has to divide all of that?  Way too much bookkeeping in my opinion.

The cash in the machines do not follow the card when pulled out if the machine, unless it is free play. It just stays in the machine.

[edrussell]

10 minutes ago, cured said:

I learn so much from this site. This week I learned that I need to be offended when someone who puts in a ton of work and takes some personal risk with organizing a slot pull gets a few minor benefits.

 

Never crossed my mind before.

 

 

Never underestimate the abilities of members here on CC to be petty and to find almost anything to b__h and complain about (again tongue in cheek).  I just don't get why someone would come in here that clearly does not gamble and clearly cannot stand gambling just to give their 2 cents.  Oh well, I've always believed humans are vastly overrated.

 

[John&LaLa]

6 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

I like anything buffalo, Lightening link, and 88 fortunes (all variations)

 

I cannot think of the flying pizza game LOL.

 

Cheese pizzas 

[CaroleSS]

It looks like you have to have 2,500 points to get a free cruise (interior). Sooo, 1 point for every $5 = 2500 points equals $12,500

 

That seems like a lot of planning of slot pulls (plural!) for an interior cabin! I think they should be allowed to keep the benefits. If you don't like it, organize your own or don't participate. (MHO)

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/casino/casino-royale-rewards-table.pdf

[Tiggerontheseas]

31 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Cheese pizzas 

 

Ha!  Now I am never going to be able to see the fireballs as anything but pizza!  Although, they look more like pepperoni pizza to me. 

[Mikew0805]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Cheese pizzas 

Ah yes.. Fire Link. Yep, I like those too. 

[CasinoCruzGirl]

On 5/10/2022 at 8:48 PM, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

On our cruise next March, I signed up to participate in the slot pull. Never done one, not a gambler.

I do think I will use my own card tho when it comes to my turn. 

What can I purchase with my 4 points? Looking for suggestions.😁

Is this a joke or are you serious?

[Merion_Mom]

24 minutes ago, CasinoCruzGirl said:

Is this a joke or are you serious?

Are  you?

[MrMarc]

I'm surprised that the casino allows this. They are looking for people who gamble their own money, not other peoples'.  But I see nothing unethical about it if it is stated upfront.  Not making it clear and then insisting on it is inviting a disaster.