Bingo Ripoff?

[ar1950]

It's so much fun to be judgmental and tell other people how to spend their own money, I guess they couldn't resist the chance. :rolleyes:

 

Not concerned at all about judgmental opinions. However, it is fun to read opinions of folks over a span of time about certain venues that are on-board the cruise. Also, don't care how people spend their money. My money is all that counts to me and I may sometimes choose to give an opinion about how those venues consume my money. Good luck and have fun whatever anyone cares to do. I know that I do.:cool:

Edited November 29, 2015 by ar1950

[pris993]

Just got off the Star, and noticed something very disturbing about the Bingo games. It appears the payoffs are not based on a percentage of sales, but are instead fixed at an extremely low amount, independent of actual ticket sales revenue. My quick order of magnitude guess (based on attendance observations and estimates) for our 10 day cruise was that Princess sold about $50,000 worth of tickets, and gave away about $5,000 total in prizes. What's worse is that if they managed to sell $100,000 in tickets, they would still only payout $5,000! Every ticket sold after the first 200 or so is 100% profit for the cruiseline! I'm sure most people assume that the bingo offered is the traditional scheme where the more people play, the bigger the jackpot, but it does not appear to be the case. Even if the house kept 50 cents of every dollar I could still enjoy a game, but the fixed payout model is so outrageously unfair it almost seems borderline unethical to me... any other thoughts?

 

I have been cruising for 30 years, only play the last day, final game. I have won twice doing that and only play one card. The chance of winning anything except for the last change is nill.

 

I was on the Cunard recently for a 14 day cruise... if you think Princess payout are poor ... I was surprised that Cunard's were worse. Of course very few even played the last game, so that says it all.

[thistledoo]

I bet the woman who won $4,000+ at the last Bingo session on our recent Diamond Princess cruise didn't think the odds were too high! No, it wasn't me.

[dandonna]

Last day of our cruise on the Ruby Princess last year the wife dragged me to bingo on the last day. I was bored and told her this is stupid at least until I won the cover all and split 2000 with another passenger.. By the way his wife dragged him too. I immediately paid off our cruise bill and will never ever put down Bingo again. LOL

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

We sailed recently on the Ruby Princess RT Hawaii and the Bingo was no longer "Snowball Jackpot Bingo" as it was in the past. Now on the Ruby it was $5,000 if you got the cover all in 50 numbers or less (almost impossible). They used to increase the number each day and then give away the Jackpot on the last day no matter how long it took.

 

This was not the plan on the Ruby Princess. After the first couple of days when I realized what the new game was about, I stopped going. Also, the crew doing the bingo games were boring and did not make it fun in any way.

[Gwendy]

Bingo fills in the time. If you don't like the odds don't play. I don't complain about people sitting in the Casino all day or drinking alcohol. Whatever floats your boat!

[pablo222]

If you don't like the odds don't play. I don't complain about people sitting in the Casino all day or drinking alcohol.

 

I'm sorry ... this is cruise critic. You MUST complain about anyone doing

anything of which you don't approve.

 

This is a requirement of maritime law.

[floridalover5623]

Just got off the Star, and noticed something very disturbing about the Bingo games. It appears the payoffs are not based on a percentage of sales, but are instead fixed at an extremely low amount, independent of actual ticket sales revenue. My quick order of magnitude guess (based on attendance observations and estimates) for our 10 day cruise was that Princess sold about $50,000 worth of tickets, and gave away about $5,000 total in prizes. What's worse is that if they managed to sell $100,000 in tickets, they would still only payout $5,000! Every ticket sold after the first 200 or so is 100% profit for the cruiseline! I'm sure most people assume that the bingo offered is the traditional scheme where the more people play, the bigger the jackpot, but it does not appear to be the case. Even if the house kept 50 cents of every dollar I could still enjoy a game, but the fixed payout model is so outrageously unfair it almost seems borderline unethical to me... any other thoughts?

What else is new. :D

[Iamcruzin]

This thread was started in 2008. I find it hysterical that members are chewing people out over comments made 7 years ago.

 

So......has the bingo situation changed any since 2008?

[latebloomer56]

I play once or twice each trip. Why when the odds are against me because I can. I like it and I get the largest package available. I also know it's a crap shoot but allow when I plan to lose X amount between casino & bingo. I did win the first game at the second bingo held this last time which is a first for me on Princess. I got a huge payout all alone of $69.00 it cost me $40.00 to play. I never play at home just on a cruise it's fun for me and that is what I want on my vacation to enjoy different things I don't do at home.

Sorry for those who feel robbed or ripped off. Guess maybe you shouldn't play.

[RiotAct]

I saw the thread title and immediately thought "Well, yeah.... duh".

[MTJSR]

It's like many other things on a cruise these days. it goes towards keeping down cruise prices. If they dropped this and many other money making activities on the ship the cost of a cruise would double.

 

 

Im ok with paying more if necessary. I'd like a chance to Escape Completely or Come Back New. Short of Chiclets gum or sacks of oranges, the Atrium is a little like walking thru the streets of Tijuana :D

 

 

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Edited November 30, 2015 by MTJSR