Money for Casino

[oaky]

Going on a cruise next month and I like to gamble in Atlantic City, so I am really looking forward to gambling (with my head not over it) on the ship. I do have a couple of questions:

Do I have to bring my own money to use in the casinos or can I just use my ship card?

Can I use my credit card?

Are there any fees if I use my card for gambling (3% serivice fee) or (casino exchange fee?

Does the casino accept travlers checks

If you do win big say over $1000 do they make you fill out a lot of paperwork?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Oaky

[codyody]

I can answer part of this; you can get an advance at the casino but there is a % service charge.

[fivechip]

The only way you can get money is to charge it to your room.They charge 3% and will give you up to $1000.00 a day.If you hit a slot for more than $1200.00 they will take your name and send you a 1099 at the end of the year.They don't take the taxes out of your winnings

[noblepa]

Both the casino and the pursers desk will cash travellers checks for no fee. The 3% service charge only applies when charging to your room, since most people use a credit card for that, and the cruise line pays 3% to the cc company.

 

And I think that ANY winning over $1,200 will trigger the 1099, at least for US citizens. That's an IRS regulation, not HAL's. Unfortunately, I can't verify this from personal experience.

[JDOUGLEJ]

You will definitely get a 1099 for any winnings of $1200.00 or more. I am sure you know since you go to Atlantic City that winnings can be offset by verifiable losses up to the total winning amount. Don"t worry about getting the money to gamble. I assure you every cruise line has a way for that to happen. RCCL will gladly give you money on your shipboard account while my experience with Carnival is they will give you chips. Of course things can change, but they will accomodate you some way. Have a great cruise, and good luck in the casino. Last year on Princess DW and I both hit a jackpot the same night. Mine for $2000 on quarter video poker and hers $740 on nickle slot. Our lucky night as very unusual.;) :) :D :p

[bermuda triangle]

The only way you can get money is to charge it to your room.They charge 3% and will give you up to $1000.00 a day.If you hit a slot for more than $1200.00 they will take your name and send you a 1099 at the end of the year.They don't take the taxes out of your winnings

 

FYI this is also true of Bingo, as dear BF knows first hand. If you win the jackpot and it is over $1200.00, you need give your name, ssn, and you will receive a 1099. It takes about 5 minutes or less. No biggie!

 

Laura

[Pilot70D]

There also is an option to buy casino chips in advance through ship's service.

 

Go to that part of HAL's website for prebooked passengers and then navigate to the part dealing with precruise gift purchases. In addition to wine, sail away gift packages and so forth you can purchase casino chips prior to your cruise.

 

The process is easy and we have done this before each our cruises. By so doing there are no percentage surcharges nor do you have bring traveler's checks or carry lots of cash on board. Furthermore you can download and print the form to order things and then FAX it back to HAL or you can call them on the appropriate 800 number and make the purchase verbally. The purchase amount will be immediately charged to your credit card.

 

Upon boarding there should be an envelope in your cabin containing a certificate for the chip prepurchase. All you have to do is take the crtificate to the casino and sign for your chips.

 

Hope this info is useful and that you enjoy the casino on board as much as we do.

[stungazed]

I'd like to make a small correction of multiple posts above. If you hit a jackpot on a slot machine or video poker machine you will NOT receive a 1099. What you will receive is a W2 - G.

 

While both need to be reported on your returns they are different. With a W2 - G you can use losses to offset wins on your federal return. With a 1099 you can't.

[Solo Cruiser]

I'm sitting here looking at my cruise bill from this past week. I was NOT charged the 3% service fee to load money from my onboard account to my player bank by using my room card to play on slots. Ask a casino host to help you on the first day and it's smooth sailing (and gambling) after that LOL.

[scottydawg]

I was toying with the "Casino Chips" on the gift section of HAL's website and it charges tax for this purchase (about 5.8%) IF you want it delivered in port. Soooo make sure you click "while dining" or "at sea" ;)

Does anyone know if I purchase "Shipboard Credit" can that be used in the casino?

[iamwiz82]

I'm sitting here looking at my cruise bill from this past week. I was NOT charged the 3% service fee to load money from my onboard account to my player bank by using my room card to play on slots. Ask a casino host to help you on the first day and it's smooth sailing (and gambling) after that LOL.

 

You are not charged if you do it off of a debit card or ATM (or cash from your shipboard account) but are if it is a credit card. This is in my experience.

[LegalSailor]

Oaky, I like to gamble as well! It has been my experience that the above advice is correct, you can get money on board the ship, and you will be given the appropriate forms. However, I would advise you to bring your "casino money" in cash form, and stick to that amount. There is a time to play to win, and a time to play for the fun of it. I usually take 300 dollars of gambling money on each cruise, and I've found that I can stretch that to over 20 days. I've had the fortune to hit a jackpot on a video poker game, and the 8000 dollars I won off that came with a 1099 - took less than 3 minutes.

Otherwise, your table winnings (or losses) are up to you. Personally I wouldn't report it, because at the end of each fiscal year, its usually a wash anyways.

Have fun, and don't take out a second mortgage!

[osiebosie]

We just got off of the Maasdam. We gambled fairly often.

 

We never hit for 1200.00up, so we didn't have the opportunity to fill out a form, but I believe you will on HAL. But, interestingly enough, on our last X cruise, if you hit for over 1200.00, and we did, you did not fill out paperwork. I questioned the casino host about it, and they said it was up to the cruise line, not IRS, since the ship in in international water.

 

Also, the Maasdam is still using coins in their slot machines. I don't know if any of the other HAL ships have been changed over yet to putting balances on the room key. I don't like dealing with coins.

 

We just take cash down to the casino. And we take only what we want to gamble: $300 or $400. When it's gone, we leave. By the time we get to the cabin, we are past the urge to gamble any more money. It works for us!

 

Hit the big one! The casino host on Maasdam told us he's paid out 80,000.00 plus before on one slot machine's winning combination. Wow! Wish it had been me!

 

Shay

[osiebosie]

We just got off of the Maasdam. We gambled fairly often.

 

We never hit for 1200.00up, so we didn't have the opportunity to fill out a form, but I believe you will on HAL. But, interestingly enough, on our last X cruise, if you hit for over 1200.00, and we did, you did not fill out paperwork. I questioned the casino host about it, and they said it was up to the cruise line, not IRS, since the ship in in international water.

 

Also, the Maasdam is still using coins in their slot machines. I don't know if any of the other HAL ships have been changed over yet to putting balances on the room key. I don't like dealing with coins.

 

We just take cash down to the casino. And we take only what we want to gamble: $300 or $400. When it's gone, we leave. By the time we get to the cabin, we are past the urge to gamble any more money. It works for us!

 

Hit the big one! The casino host on Maasdam told us he's paid out 80,000.00 plus before on one slot machine's winning combination. Wow! Wish it had been me!

 

Shay

[HAPPY RETIREES]

You are not charged if you do it off of a debit card or ATM (or cash from your shipboard account) but are if it is a credit card. This is in my experience.

 

I am interested in this ,Was this on HAL Too Bad there is no live texas holdem or Poker , The most fun I have had is getting a private game going Dealer choice & low limits, looking forward to the World on Jan 4 Graham