Casino Comps

[sadiwest]

7 hours ago, Babblespeak said:

Nice!  My wife hit a major for about $900 on the Symphony in September 2022. It definitely happens.  Someone also popped a $7500 jackpot on our Adventure sailing last week. They announced it over the intercom. 

Happy for the winners but jealous for sure. Lol

[Babblespeak]

25 minutes ago, sadiwest said:

Happy for the winners but jealous for sure. Lol

Indeed.  My wife didn’t share her hit either.  🙂

[sadiwest]

44 minutes ago, Babblespeak said:

Indeed.  My wife didn’t share her hit either.  🙂

Hahaha. Sorry but at least you're smiling about it?  The one time I hit for anything significant ($700+ on NCL) I paid our onboard account.  At least we both benefitted. Lol

[bouhunter]

On 12/3/2023 at 9:47 AM, schooner_Drinker said:

 

 

it’s not how much you put in it’s how much you play though 

 

 

Exactly 🙂  

[villageidit]

On 12/3/2023 at 8:47 AM, schooner_Drinker said:

Not quite accurate 

you DO NOT need to wager $10,000 per cruise to get decent offers 

 

If what you said was true every PRIME member who plays slots would have had to have wagered  form their own money 

$12,500.00

 

I bet you everyone on here who is PRIME did not take $12,500 with them on the cruise to just become PRIME

 

Anyone can find a machine that has great play through value and had only spent an initial $100 or less 

I see people playing the same TITO voucher all week , adding to it or losing on it , but sat at the same machine all week

Last week a nice gentleman who I sat beside was on 3900 points after 4 days 

His ticket was only $1040 and he said he only came on the cruise with $500

But played everyday the casino was open

 

I understand the math and this is where those that don’t get it, just don’t get it 

 

it’s not how much you put in it’s how much you play though 

 

Nancy

This is why my wife earns some great offers. Rarely spends more than $400 - $500 on slots but keeps that money going all cruise. Racks up points by keeping that money in play.

[shellunderwater]

On 12/2/2023 at 6:55 PM, tvo7 said:

Do you think 25 dollars a hand , 3 to 4 hours a day on craps or baccarat,  will get me to some free cruises?

I'm not an expert on this so if others have corrections, please do.

Be aware, there is a difference between table games and slots.  I've played some craps.  For me it was a good bit; several hours $300.  When I checked my points, I had gotten 25.  Thats all.  So much variation and subjectivity in table games.

If your goal is to get offers with a level of play, the most consistent way I think is the slots.

Tony Barnette on his YT vids did  a test with his wife, each gaming $1,000.  She used slots, he was table games.  She got the offers, he didn't.  Clearly not scientific, but offering as info for OP to consider.

I hope to do this in the last half for 2024, so I'm reading along in this thread for the great info.

[shellunderwater]

On 12/17/2023 at 10:49 AM, Wanna Be Retired said:

I'm new to the Casino so I am making a ton of mistakes.  My husband plays on his card and I play on mine and I think we should just play on one card.  He has over 600 points and I have 799.  We also have spent very little of our own money.  We put in $20 and when we win over we cash out, put the winnings in our pocket and put the $20 back in the machine.  We keep our casino money separate, and we have more than we started out with but I don't know what I am doing so I haven't tried to do anything else other than what we are doing.  We stay on low bets and just spin the slots.  We do have a really good time though.

yes, get the casino host to combine points on the cards for you.  They can do that.  Cabin offers are generally for two people so combining is good for cabin offers.

[PhillyFan33579]

2 hours ago, villageidit said:

This is why my wife earns some great offers. Rarely spends more than $400 - $500 on slots but keeps that money going all cruise. Racks up points by keeping that money in play.

I am not doubting your experience, but it seems everyone posts online that they always win or rarely lose more than a few hundred dollars every cruise. On the other hand, every month I talk to dozens of passengers at the casino bar on whatever ship I am on and almost all of them have experiences similar to mine…they have had cruises where they won money, but on most cruises they lose hundreds to thousands of dollars in the casino. 

[Wanna Be Retired]

18 minutes ago, shellunderwater said:

yes, get the casino host to combine points on the cards for you.  They can do that.  Cabin offers are generally for two people so combining is good for cabin offers.

Really?  I’m going in a few days so I will ask!  That is the best news ever!  Thank you!

[shellunderwater]

1 minute ago, Wanna Be Retired said:

Really?  I’m going in a few days so I will ask!  That is the best news ever!  Thank you!

We had them create a separate card that duplicates one of them.  But we've also had them combine them for us.  The table game folks didn't like to duplicate card, made me use my original seapass.

Talk to the host, see whats best.

 

Check "Chris Wong Vlogs" on youtube.  He is a casino host.  He has a video about this.

[Babblespeak]

13 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I am not doubting your experience, but it seems everyone posts online that they always win or rarely lose more than a few hundred dollars every cruise. On the other hand, every month I talk to dozens of passengers at the casino bar on whatever ship I am on and almost all of them have experiences similar to mine…they have had cruises where they won money, but on most cruises they lose hundreds to thousands of dollars in the casino. 

Full transparency here.  I needed 1300 points to renew Prime (wife was already Prime) on out cruise on the Adventure last week.  I got a little under 2000 and lost about $900.  At one point I was down about $1500, but hit a few times and put the winnings against the room bill as we were charging the room to get credit card points.  So almost $10k coin in on net $900 for an instant certificate and another one next year.  Plus free drinks through March 2025. 

[Wanna Be Retired]

1 hour ago, shellunderwater said:

We had them create a separate card that duplicates one of them.  But we've also had them combine them for us.  The table game folks didn't like to duplicate card, made me use my original seapass.

Talk to the host, see whats best.

 

Check "Chris Wong Vlogs" on youtube.  He is a casino host.  He has a video about this.

Well, the worst thing that can happen is that they don't do it, but they certainly won't if I don't ask!  Thank you for at least giving me the idea to ask them!  We have several cruises at the first of the year so maybe we can move up if this works!  I appreciate you tell me to give it a try!

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, Babblespeak said:

Full transparency here.  I needed 1300 points to renew Prime (wife was already Prime) on out cruise on the Adventure last week.  I got a little under 2000 and lost about $900.  At one point I was down about $1500, but hit a few times and put the winnings against the room bill as we were charging the room to get credit card points.  So almost $10k coin in on net $900 for an instant certificate and another one next year.  Plus free drinks through March 2025. 

That’s more in line with my experience and friends I cruise with who gamble often during a cruise. I am always happy if at minimum I get 1 point per dollar lost, although sometimes that doesn’t happen and sometimes I do better than that. If everyone won all the time they would not be giving away free cruises. No doubt there are some people who are lucky, or if they are playing table games, know what they are doing and possibly win more than they lose. But there would not be a casino “program” if they were not making money overall giving away free cruises, free drinks, free WiFi, etc. 

[villageidit]

20 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I am not doubting your experience, but it seems everyone posts online that they always win or rarely lose more than a few hundred dollars every cruise. On the other hand, every month I talk to dozens of passengers at the casino bar on whatever ship I am on and almost all of them have experiences similar to mine…they have had cruises where they won money, but on most cruises they lose hundreds to thousands of dollars in the casino. 

My wife is a minimum bet type of slot player. The kind that wins a little and loses a little. Keeps it up until her initial money is gone. This can be several hours of play. She then "reinvests" puts more money in to keep playing. Like I said usually up to $500 a cruise. She has spent up to $700 on longer cruises though. She doesn't spend on jewelry. fancy purses or clothes though. Saves her money to spend at the casino. I see the same players as you who lose thousands. My friend is one of them. 

[spunks]

One thing to realize...every square, oval, triangle or coin slot on felt in a casino is a "sucker bet" Even the most astute gambler knows that he can play expertly and he is still looking at just shy of 50% chance to win. That does not mean you cannot win. Every now and then someone hits a big jackpot. The general rule of thumb is this....someone will hit a big jackpot....just not you.

 

You can watch the slot players and see how many points they are earning ( it says right on the machine for all to see.) You can also see how much they are betting each spin. For the table games you can go to the host as often as you like and ask to see your table totals. Some ships show table and slot play added together so you can check your total on any slot machine anytime. Ask the Host.

I have watched some players playing $10.00 a spin and hitting the button as fast as they can.

 

You will get nowhere playing $20.00 a day....but you might have fun and that is what it is all about.

Doug

[yogimax]

1 hour ago, spunks said:

You will get nowhere playing $20.00 a day....but you might have fun and that is what it is all about.

Doug

$10 a day also works... especially if accurately playing video poker.

[spunks]

slots yield one point for every $5.00 you put in....to get a point at video poker you have to put in $10.00

[yogimax]

16 hours ago, spunks said:

slots yield one point for every $5.00 you put in....to get a point at video poker you have to put in $10.00

True, but I'm talking about having a bit of fun not collecting points.

[sdear]

On 12/2/2023 at 7:00 AM, Biker19 said:

Most reporting suggests comped cruises do award C&A points.

I can attest to the fact you do get points on comped cruises.  

[Pinballs83]

On 12/20/2023 at 3:38 PM, yogimax said:

$10 a day also works... especially if accurately playing video poker.

maybe in vegas.  every video poker machine on a cruise ship is set to the worst payout table i have seen, so I don't play them.  The slots are probably set just as bad, but at least they are not in your face about how bad they are. I see very few people playing video poker on ships anymore and the number of machines seems to be dwindling.  Seemed to be very few on Symphony and they where all older models.  I was surprised to see Princess rolling in banks of new video poker machines instead of slots, so its not going away.

Edited December 22, 2023 by Pinballs83

[neverbeenhere]

Bet the farm. Either you get two farms or you get to live with your kids. Are either really a win?

[yogimax]

51 minutes ago, Pinballs83 said:

maybe in vegas.  every video poker machine on a cruise ship is set to the worst payout table i have seen, so I don't play them.  

I was talking about playing for enjoyment, certainly not profit or getting free cruises.

 

BTW, not all cruise ship video poker machines have the same odds.  You just have to know where to look.

[HappyTexan44]

On 12/2/2023 at 2:42 PM, schooner_Drinker said:

I bet you my last $ Those big winners will get free cruises - Royal want them back ASAP to try and win their money back

 

It’s funny how it works,, but you actually get comped more when you are winning, crazy hey 🤪

 

That is how casinos work.   They want to comp the winners, not the losers.  They want a crack at getting that money back.   

 

[sadiwest]

32 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

 

That is how casinos work.   They want to comp the winners, not the losers.  They want a crack at getting that money back.   

 

They're also going to get money from people willing to play even when they don't have money to lose.  

That is how they work.

[Pinballs83]

About 800pts on my last cruise .