Gambling

[chowderbsk]

Greetings, I have a few questions regarding gambling on Celebrity, as I will be aboard Infinity in June. Just wondering what kind of slots they have - quarter,$1, just curious. Also, is it a total rip? Has anyone ever won big? :)

I would imagine they have crap's, roulette, and blackjack, but just was curious what gambling experiences others have had. Also, what hours are they open? Thanks for any replies. Ciao for now.

Brian

[Bethwte]

Hey there, I asked my father who is a slots fan, and he informed me that they had $.25, $1.00, and $5.00 machines. The odds seem about the same as land-based, maybe a bit better. (I know my father has been up $1000 just from slots some nights). The casino generally opens about an hour after you leave a port and will stay open until late at night (not sure exactly how late). I wish I could remember the sea day hours. I'm sure someone will chime in. Wish I could help more :)

 

Oh, and a cruiser I met on my past cruise on the connie walked away $6,000 richer from blackjack and a bit of roulette, so winning is possible! LOL

[chowderbsk]

Geez, that was the fastest reply I have had on here, Bethwte!!! Many thanks, I may just have to budget a tiny bit more and wear my lucky socks! LOL ;)

Brian

[Longboysfan]

From what I have seen and read - the slots on the ship would be considered tight.

[sweetair]

hi chowder,

As of March 2006: there are penny/nickel/quarter/dollar slot machines on the connie(i assume all m-class have the same type). They have craps/roulette/caribbean stud/3 card poker/BJ

 

hours of operation: sea days: about 9am for slots and table games around noon until about 2am

 

port days: 30 minutes after sailing (there are exceptions to this rule:there are some ports you depart late IE:caso d crappo DR We departed at 11pm but the casino opened at 6pm...all the information is listed on your dailies the night before).

 

odds: well its a crapshoot(pun intended) :D i think the slots are bit tight BUT there are plenty of machines that hit. Some are looser than others. I hit 1 slot for 5000 quarters(that was the jackpot)

as far as table games: its the same odds as land based: craps now has 2 times odds making it a better game. My friends won on 3 card poker over $2000.

 

have a fantastic LUCKY cruise!

*sweet*

[teedee]

hi chowder,

As of March 2006: there are penny/nickel/quarter/dollar slot machines on the connie(i assume all m-class have the same type). They have craps/roulette/caribbean stud/3 card poker/BJ

have a fantastic LUCKY cruise!

*sweet*

 

I don't remember seeing penny slots on the C Class ships, but they could be there. All the rest are definitely on them.

 

Terri

[Lorabelle]

I was on the Infinity last October. I don't remember seeing any penny slots, but they did have nickel video slots. (The kind with the bonus games when certain symbols come up.) There were also 25c and 1.00.

 

As far as winning, I saw a few people win jackpots of several hundred dollars on them. I played video poker and got a royal flush for a win of $1705.

 

I think the machines are set a bit tighter than comparable machines in Las Vegas, but I did see winners.

 

Lori

[Caris]

We were just on the Summit a couple of weeks ago. They didn't have penny slots, but they had the nickel video slots.

My mom was really lucky and seemed to win several $100.00 jackpots. I wasn't so lucky, but managed to win $155.00 on the last night on a nickel machine.

We mostly just played the nickel machines, we couldn't seem to do much on the quarters. The nickel machines at least paid pretty regularly.

 

As far a craps goes, they seemed to be training new dealers. The table would get full, then it would take them ages to pay out with lots of confusion. People wouldn't put up with it and the table was empty most of the trip. I saw them 'playing' amongst the crew at times, trying to get the new guys a little better at it, I think.

I love craps, but wouldn't play it after seeing what was going on.

[sweetair]

teedee i was referring to the constellation not c-class. Cant recall about the c-class casino.

 

there are 4 penny slots on the constellation located where the nickel slots are in the "hallway" area but back to back(not in a row). They look like nickels but are pennies. One i recall had a bonus with a railway car and you choose "left" or "right" sorry cant remember the name. another i think had a frog you had to jump lilypads.

*sweet*

[Salty Nuts]

Just got off the century Sunday and while playing craps on Monday a woman got a royal straight flush and hit for 28,500.00 they took pictures for at least an hour with and without the captain who gave her the payout. Nice way to start a cruise. :)

 

Hi sweet how have you been?

 

joe

[fouti123]

I was just on the Constellation for the last two weeks and played $20 on the video poker machine and hit for $2,700!!! I never gamble and I cried. It was kind of funny when you think about it. Everyone around me kept telling me it was a good thing. I was just so shocked. I thought it would hook me, but I never went back again. My friend told me I should have tipped the gentleman who handed me the money, but I didn't know. Now I feel bad. Oh well I'll know next time when I bring my lonely $20 onboard!!!

[chowderbsk]

Many thanks to everyone for these fun comments. I love all the stories, and they are just what I was looking. I like to gamble, but only get a chance every few years, and then only play with around $100. Not a high roller!:D But it is fun. Oh, I do play the lottery every few weeks as well. That counts, right? LOL

Any other stories?

 

Best,

Brian

[rjg41]

Here's some facts:

 

1) Video Poker odds are bad. The best Jacks or Better machine at a land based casino will pay 9/6. A moderate machine on shore will pay 8/5. Ship board machines pay 6/5.

 

2) Blackjack on ship the dealer hits on soft 17. Better odds for the house.

 

3) Celebrity is now experimenting with Texas Hold'em during the day. Playing $5/$10 with 10% rake and no max on the rake. A rip off.

 

4) They have finally gone to double odds on craps. A good deal.

 

As for the other stuff, considering the facts above, I seriously doubt that the slots pay back comes close to the better land based casinos.

[Michuck]

I think the slots on the cruises are pretty good! The biggest I've won is $3,600, and have won numerous $1,000 jackpots, and smaller ones. That's not to say I've won on every cruise, but they seem loose enough to me that it keeps my playing for a long while anyway. That's also not to say on the ones I did win, that I came home a winner in the long run, but it was sure fun playing with their money!

 

Michele

[BellaBaci4]

Hi,

 

I am not sure if this is true, but I have heard the slots are the loosest on the first couple of nights. It serves as as enticement for further play. Since the slots are not regulated, I very much doubt the payoffs would be the same as a regular casino. I would look at it as a form of entertainment, small stakes, and you should be fine.

Have Fun!

Bella

[dkjretired]

Hi,

 

I am not sure if this is true, but I have heard the slots are the loosest on the first couple of nights. It serves as as enticement for further play. Since the slots are not regulated, I very much doubt the payoffs would be the same as a regular casino. I would look at it as a form of entertainment, small stakes, and you should be fine.

Have Fun!

Bella

 

Bella:

 

There are a couple of stories like that however they are no true. If you know how slot machines work, it is possible to change the payout but it is not cost effective to do so. It requires the change of a very expensive chip and quite frankly the odds are with them, they don't have to do it. Additionally, to show how difficult it is to change the payouts, if it were done in NJ or Nevada they would have to report it to the local gaming commissions everytime they change it.

[mahdnc]

Apparently advances to slot machines in the near future will mean that they will not be as cumbersome to change as they are today. Here is an excerpt from a New York Times article published on April 6 (link to article):

 

....Mr. Beltram, a casino executive, is the point man in a high-technology experiment that could alter the face of slot machines, and their insides, too.

 

With a few clicks of his computer mouse, Mr. Beltram can reprogram the 1,790 slot machines on the casino floor, adjusting the denominations required to play, payback percentages, even game themes.

 

Las Vegas is constantly tinkering with its slot machines, which generate more than $7 billion annually in Nevada, roughly double that taken in by table games. Despite their growing popularity and an increase in overall gambling proceeds in recent years, casino operators want to win back more of the money their customers are now spending elsewhere — on food, lodging and other entertainment, or at Indian casinos or for online gambling.

 

In the past, changing out a slot machine was a complicated operation and entailed opening it, replacing the computer chip inside, then changing the glass display that markets the game's theme. The alteration usually took a day and could cost thousands of dollars, from ordering parts to modifying the machine.

 

"Now, I just come to my office, and select the program," said Mr. Beltram, the 28-year-old executive director for slots at Treasure Island, which is owned by the MGM Mirage. "With the technology, it takes 20 seconds."

 

The concept is being tested for the next few months under the gaze of state gambling regulators. If regulators approve, casino operators will be able to centrally adjust the slots to cater to different crowds — older players and regulars during the day and younger tourists and people with bigger budgets at night.

[dkjretired]

Apparently advances to slot machines in the near future will mean that they will not be as cumbersome to change as they are today. Here is an excerpt from a New York Times article published on April 6 (link to article):

 

....Mr. Beltram, a casino executive, is the point man in a high-technology experiment that could alter the face of slot machines, and their insides, too.

 

With a few clicks of his computer mouse, Mr. Beltram can reprogram the 1,790 slot machines on the casino floor, adjusting the denominations required to play, payback percentages, even game themes.

 

Las Vegas is constantly tinkering with its slot machines, which generate more than $7 billion annually in Nevada, roughly double that taken in by table games. Despite their growing popularity and an increase in overall gambling proceeds in recent years, casino operators want to win back more of the money their customers are now spending elsewhere — on food, lodging and other entertainment, or at Indian casinos or for online gambling.

 

In the past, changing out a slot machine was a complicated operation and entailed opening it, replacing the computer chip inside, then changing the glass display that markets the game's theme. The alteration usually took a day and could cost thousands of dollars, from ordering parts to modifying the machine.

 

"Now, I just come to my office, and select the program," said Mr. Beltram, the 28-year-old executive director for slots at Treasure Island, which is owned by the MGM Mirage. "With the technology, it takes 20 seconds."

 

The concept is being tested for the next few months under the gaze of state gambling regulators. If regulators approve, casino operators will be able to centrally adjust the slots to cater to different crowds — older players and regulars during the day and younger tourists and people with bigger budgets at night.

 

Interesting, I guess it all depends on what the regulators allow them to do. Cruise ships of course for the most part are not under any regulations. The hand held thing is interesting, I know they are starting to test them in Atlantic City.

[kellybean]

Does anyone remember what the minimum bet is for the craps table?

[Drew B]

On Millenium Class ships, approximately how many blackjack tables do they have? What are the typical minimum table bets?

[sweetair]

hey salty nuts how are ya? (sorry but is this a new name for you? where'd all your posts go?)

 

craps $5.00 min

blackjack $5.00 min (think there were 3 tables, 1 $25 table and 1 wheel of madness BJ)

3 card poker $5.00 min

carib stud $5.00 min

roulette $1.00 min

 

*sweet*

[adegner]

Minimum Blackjack bets are still just $5. Some tables have $10 minimums.

[Salty Nuts]

Sweet its the same salty from the Connie in 03.

I hadn't posted anything for a couple of years and for some reason they reset me to "0"

don't know why.

Id like to go back to Connie next year hope to bump into you again that group we had was the funniest ever we had a blast.

May the dice be good to you 7-11 :)