Playing the slots

Henry43 · #1 (**permalink**) June 14th, 2011, 10:04 PM

If you play the slots or video poker do you spend your entire alloted casino time playing one machine or do you try as many as possible ?

Paul B · #2 (**permalink**) July 10th, 2011, 07:03 PM

Staying with one machine is financial suicide! I have played slot machines
( pennies, nickles and quarters) for many years whenever I have had an opportunity to visit a casino. There aren't any here in Texas.

If I play a machine four or five times without getting anything back I leave it. If I get ahead on a machine and then play it a few more times, losing each time, I take my winnings and go somewhere else. I gamble as a minnow not a whale, but I do it for fun, and usually come out a bit ahead. Over the last 20 years or so, I am about $1000 ahead and have enjoyed myself.

Kuki · #3 (**permalink**) July 10th, 2011, 07:10 PM

If I get an urge to play slot machines, I roll down the window in the car, throw my money out the window, and pull on the gear shift.

Slot machines on land generally pay out between 96-97% of their gross. At sea the payout is closer to 70%.

And they built all those casinos on the 3 or 4 % profit

Doug S · #4 (**permalink**) July 10th, 2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Staying with one machine is financial suicide! I have played slot machines
( pennies, nickles and quarters) for many years whenever I have had an opportunity to visit a casino. There aren't any here in Texas.

Not entirely true. Texas does have the Lucky Eagle in Eagle Pass (Kickapoo Reservation). Not very 'Vegas like' from what I've heard... Most I know head to Kenner LA, or just across the border in OK.

On the original question, I've never dropped a dime in a cruise ship casino. So that makes me "even", which is better than most cruise ship gamblers have done.... I hate losing a lot more than not playing...

Henry43 · #5 (**permalink**) July 10th, 2011, 09:47 PM

My friends who live in Texas often go to Louisiana .

I enjoy an occasional day/night at the casino

johnthed0g · #6 (**permalink**) July 11th, 2011, 06:55 AM

I was told that they alter the odds during the cruise, you are less likely to win as the cruise progresses....

zdgp · #7 (**permalink**) July 11th, 2011, 10:17 AM

The biggest problem with slots is you can never know what the house percentage is. On the other “big three” we can be precise. The house percentage is 5.26% at roulette and 1.414% on the come bet at craps. The house edge at blackjack depends on the rules and the skill of the player. The “basic strategy” player is usually looking at a house edge of less than 1%, and closer to ½% with good rules.

Paul B · #8 (**permalink**) July 11th, 2011, 10:56 AM

Doug, I have been to the Lucky Eagle, and I don't consider it worth the name of "Casino."

Incidentally, Peggy and I both won $500 on the same quarter slot machine on a Carnival ship a few years ago. They probably immediately retired it!

Manuel · #9 (**permalink**) July 11th, 2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnthed0g

I was told that they alter the odds during the cruise, you are less likely to win as the cruise progresses....

I have done on the last evening of a cruise twice. Once on the Carvival Liberty and another time on the Celebrity Solstice.

I don't stick with a particular slot machine. If I am not doing well I move on.
I have done better on land than on the sea.

TM

Henry43 · #10 (**permalink**) July 11th, 2011, 04:42 PM

The most interesting casino I ever went to was in Calif .I believe it was Santa ,Inez .

Aboard a cruise ship I did pretty good on a Carnival cruise .

My better half is looking forward to our cruise next week to hit the slots .

tropicalrez · #11 (**permalink**) April 10th, 2012, 11:21 AM

GOOD LUCK, I never win... I might just start throwing my money out the car window too lol

Manuel · #12 (**permalink**) April 10th, 2012, 12:18 PM

Yes, most people lose, but there are allways some winners.

TM

Henry43 · #13 (**permalink**) April 10th, 2012, 07:45 PM

In 2012 I am way ahead in my gambling .

Marsdude · #14 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnthed0g

I was told that they alter the odds during the cruise, you are less likely to win as the cruise progresses....

This is unlikely. I used to work at a casino. It is quite a process to change out the odds on a machine, it requires changing a chip. You might be able to do this on the new sever based machines but I don't think they have those on board ships yet.

The problem with knowing the payback on the machines is that the casinos are not really regulated by any agency. The casinos are loosely "overseen" since 1999 by an organization called the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), whose members include most of the cruise lines. In terms of facilities and equipment, the ICCL guidelines call for all equipment purchased and installed on cruise vessels to "meet the regulatory standards of the Nevada Gaming Control Board or other licensed jurisdiction for payback and internal software."

I have played in the casino on the NCL Dawn. It seemed the slots paid back about as much as most casinos. The odds on the tables were not so good.

Queen of Oakville · #15 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2012, 09:54 AM

I don't play the slots - I play the blackjack tables. Even if losing, I will stick with a table if the tablemates and the dealer are personable. There is nothing I hate more than losing money to a grumpy dealer or grumpy table. There is no point in giving my money away if I am not having fun. I will also leave a table if there are smokers there, even if I am winning.