Casino Question

[CruiseTee]

Hi All!

 

Casino Question...On my last HAL cruise, I received a certificate for a free cruise plus $500 in casino free play (yes, I was quite shocked, too!). I must have lost count as to how much I was spending in there...LOL. I am bringing the certificate with me on my next cruise (next month) and was wondering if they will give me a voucher for the free play? My mother won one once (a long time ago) and they literally just handed her the cash to play with! I am sure this has changed. Anyone know? 

 

Thanks! 

[Laminator]

2 hours ago, CruiseTee said:

Hi All!

 

Casino Question...On my last HAL cruise, I received a certificate for a free cruise plus $500 in casino free play (yes, I was quite shocked, too!). I must have lost count as to how much I was spending in there...LOL. I am bringing the certificate with me on my next cruise (next month) and was wondering if they will give me a voucher for the free play? My mother won one once (a long time ago) and they literally just handed her the cash to play with! I am sure this has changed. Anyone know? 

 

Thanks! 

You have to book the cruise thru that specific offer. Cruises booked outside that offer do not count. 

[Djptcp]

You have to access the Free Play on the slot machines. When I logged into my first slot machine on my last cruise, the Free Play didn't show up. I had to go to the Casino Cage and show them the certificate I received on the previous cruise to show that the current cruise was booked through the offer. They verified that it was and then I had to wait until the next day for the Free Play to show up when I logged into a slot machine.

[DaveOKC]

As stated, you have to book through the original offer and within the stated time period to get the free play.  Of course, you can always ask onboard, but be prepared to be turned down.  However, you never know, they just might honor it - you are in a casino so you might get lucky!

[fkfad]

You can use the Free Play either in the slots or at the tables (you have to choose).  If you choose the tables, they will hand you a stack of special chips.  The amazing thing about playing with these chips is the fact that you can play the same chip many times if you keep winning -- they don't take it until you lose it...  If you choose slots, they simply load that amount onto your cabin key for access when you play.  We always find the casino host as soon as the ship sets sail to make sure our free play is in order.  One time there was a disconnect between what the Players' Club had given us versus what the casino host thought we had.  I had the offer and the email from the Players' Club to help resolve the disconnect.  After one day, I received the amount committed to by the Players' Club (which was significantly more than what the casino host said I was entitled to)...  Have fun and have a great cruise!!

[CruiseTee]

Thanks all! I did book the cruise through the casino offer, it was a great deal. Glad they will load the amount on my card and I can use it for the cruise. I will bring the original certificate I received to prove that I should receive the $500. I hope to have a little more self control on this cruise! It's very easy to rack up a big balance now that you can charge casino money to your shipboard account! 

[FlorenceItaly]

16 minutes ago, CruiseTee said:

Thanks all! I did book the cruise through the casino offer, it was a great deal. Glad they will load the amount on my card and I can use it for the cruise. I will bring the original certificate I received to prove that I should receive the $500. I hope to have a little more self control on this cruise! It's very easy to rack up a big balance now that you can charge casino money to your shipboard account! 

Did you book another casino cruise offer?  If so, were you able to combine?  Your post reminded me of my Come Back and Play Offer.  I did book within the required time frame but I booked another casino offer.  

[CruiseTee]

11 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Did you book another casino cruise offer?  If so, were you able to combine?  Your post reminded me of my Come Back and Play Offer.  I did book within the required time frame but I booked another casino offer.  

Yes, the offer was Come Back and Play. It was on my bed the last night of the cruise. I had to book it within 30 days to receive the offer, so I did. This is the only offer I received from them, but it came with $500, so I'm taking it! 

[FlorenceItaly]

8 minutes ago, CruiseTee said:

Yes, the offer was Come Back and Play. It was on my bed the last night of the cruise. I had to book it within 30 days to receive the offer, so I did. This is the only offer I received from them, but it came with $500, so I'm taking it! 

Deleted as I read more carefully and you answered question.  Thank you.

Edited August 10, 2023 by FlorenceItaly

[DuckInntheH2O]

When you charge your casino chips to your room, do you pay an additional percentage? 

We are thinking of taking HAL digital gift cards purchased through AARP. We can buy a $500 card for $450. We understand we can add them to our onboard account at Guest Services as needed.

[PigsCanFly]

53 minutes ago, DuckInntheH2O said:

When you charge your casino chips to your room, do you pay an additional percentage? 

We are thinking of taking HAL digital gift cards purchased through AARP. We can buy a $500 card for $450. We understand we can add them to our onboard account at Guest Services as needed.

I believe that HAL Casino does charge a fee to use room charge (3% or 5%), but I am not certain. We used our AARP gift cards to buy Casino chips and OBC pre cruise.  I expect chips when we board, but someone suggested that they actually got cash at the casino cashier for their pre-purchased chip amount.  I will know in 9 days how it works.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

10 minutes ago, PigsCanFly said:

I believe that HAL Casino does charge a fee to use room charge (3% or 5%), but I am not certain. We used our AARP gift cards to buy Casino chips and OBC pre cruise.  I expect chips when we board, but someone suggested that they actually got cash at the casino cashier for their pre-purchased chip amount.  I will know in 9 days how it works.

There is no charge to buy chips you will use in the casino.   There will be a charge if you purchase chips and immediately cash them out without playing.   

 

When you prepurchase chips before the cruise-  they give you a voucher they will exchange for cash.

[PigsCanFly]

Just now, The-Inside-Cabin said:

There is no charge to buy chips you will use in the casino.   There will be a charge if you purchase chips and immediately cash them out without playing.   

 

So, if I use my card at a table game to purchase Chips to play at that table, there is no 'fee'.  That is great.  My experience is mostly with Royal and I am not charged there due to my casino tier.  I did not remember the details on our last HAL cruise last summer.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

6 minutes ago, PigsCanFly said:

So, if I use my card at a table game to purchase Chips to play at that table, there is no 'fee'.  That is great.  My experience is mostly with Royal and I am not charged there due to my casino tier.  I did not remember the details on our last HAL cruise last summer.

If you sit at a blackjack table and ask for $500 in chips - you will get $500 in chips with no fee.   If you play one chip they get up and go to the cage and cash out - they may charge you a 3% fee.   There isn't any fee unless they think you are trying to use the casino as an ATM to avoid the fee.   If you are gambling - no fee.

 

Some folks tried this using a slot machine.  Loaded up their card with $500.   Spin the wheels once for a quarter then take your card to the cage to cash out - that will cost you 3%.    The exact amount you must play etc is subjective.   As long as you are playing in good faith - no problem.  

Edited September 1, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[GatorMomInNC]

I don't normally even go into the casino on a cruise, but I am seeing all these posts about these great cruise deals that are offered if you have played in the casino.  How much do you think I need play in the casino to get an offer on a reduced cruise??

[CH_ca]

So there's no 3% charge if you play with cash instead of charge to your room? When you play with cash in the casino, how do they know who you are and what stateroom you're in? By facial recognition?

[Laminator]

1 hour ago, CH_ca said:

So there's no 3% charge if you play with cash instead of charge to your room? When you play with cash in the casino, how do they know who you are and what stateroom you're in? By facial recognition?

There is no 3% charge if you charge money to your cabin. If you are playing tables they will track your play by swiping your cabin card at the table. If you're playing a slot machine you will put your cabin card in the machine.

[PigsCanFly]

10 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

If you sit at a blackjack table and ask for $500 in chips - you will get $500 in chips with no fee.   If you play one chip they get up and go to the cage and cash out - they may charge you a 3% fee.   There isn't any fee unless they think you are trying to use the casino as an ATM to avoid the fee.   If you are gambling - no fee.

 

Some folks tried this using a slot machine.  Loaded up their card with $500.   Spin the wheels once for a quarter then take your card to the cage to cash out - that will cost you 3%.    The exact amount you must play etc is subjective.   As long as you are playing in good faith - no problem.  

Thanks, The-Inside-Cabin, I have no intention of using the casino as an ATM.  I dug up my 2020 Zuiderdam statement and , as you stated, there were no fee charges from my casino buy-ins.  Even if I won big on my first hand, I know that I would not be cashing in the rest of my buy-in.  I would still be there til closing.😉

[Dobby36]

Agree, there are no fees as long as you cycle money through the tables or slots in sufficient amounts related to what you charge your room account.  I’ve often used it somewhat as an atm…but after a dozen rounds at the roulette wheel in the hopes of doubling my “atm withdrawal” 😛 

 

the amount lost/gambled needn’t be in the thousands to garner good discounts on future cruises or free rooms. I’ve often (and my mother, partner, friends sailed with) gotten some freebies and future offeres or discounts and none of us would be considered high rollers in a land casino.  I assume more helps, however!