Casino Slots - Real coins or cards only?

[F5Loar]

I like to hit the slots with my spare change rolls when cruising. Does HAL still have machines that take actual USA coins in quarters, nickels and dimes? Or can you only use the slots with your Sail/Sign card?

[sail7seas]

Cards only, no coins.

[KirkNC]

No coins, :confused: went away sometime about one year ago.

[TTFromSommersTown]

Have not been on a cruise since they change how the machines operate, do they still take notes?

[LordSpain]

Yes they do take USD bills. Here’s how it works: You will need to use your room key to in the slot machine to set up an on-board bank associated with your card. You’ll need to choose a PIN number as kind of a password. If you were for instance to put a $100 bill into the machine to play, and then decide to stop after losing $50, you would simply cash out to your room card which would now have that balance of $50. You can carry that balance to any other slot machine and use any portion of that credit. In the event you run out of credit on your card you can either put more cash into the machine you’re playing at, or you can charge up to $100 to your stateroom folio. Any unused credit at the end of the cruise will be presented to you in cash at the casino cashier – in fact at any time you can get the credit from your bank in cash at the cashier. There is no fee for any of these transactions at the machines. If you decide to charge cash at a gaming table from your room card there is a 3% service fee.

 

Bruce

[djhsolara]

But you need to made sure to cash out your casino credits on your card...they don't automatically get switched to credits on your stateroom account (at least based on my experience).

 

 

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[Typhoon1]

It is a quieter casino without all those coins clanging out of the machines.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When we got on the Westerdam back in 2008 or 2009 -- the machines on that ship had already been converted.

 

 

So it has been a while since you could actually use coins.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It is a quieter casino without all those coins clanging out of the machines.

 

I used to love hearing the coins clanging -- especially when someone won a decent amount and was cashing out.

[sail7seas]

Yes they do take USD bills. Here’s how it works: You will need to use your room key to in the slot machine to set up an on-board bank associated with your card. You’ll need to choose a PIN number as kind of a password. If you were for instance to put a $100 bill into the machine to play, and then decide to stop after losing $50, you would simply cash out to your room card which would now have that balance of $50. You can carry that balance to any other slot machine and use any portion of that credit. In the event you run out of credit on your card you can either put more cash into the machine you’re playing at, or you can charge up to $100 to your stateroom folio. Any unused credit at the end of the cruise will be presented to you in cash at the casino cashier – in fact at any time you can get the credit from your bank in cash at the cashier. There is no fee for any of these transactions at the machines. If you decide to charge cash at a gaming table from your room card there is a 3% service fee.

 

Bruce

 

 

No coins.

[tip]

No coins.

 

This is too bad, but I guess we are all victims of technology!

 

I am not a big time gambler, but always brought along a roll of quarters for the cruise, not really expecting to win anything. Somehow it hurts a little more to use folding money or see an entry on your sign/sail card account!

[F5Loar]

Wow! Pin numbers, better do this, don't forget that, add this, put in cash, get credits back, 3% serivce fees and no sound of the coins dropping!!! I think my cruise gambling habit has been cured. HAL won't be getting my $20 donation this time.

I will stick to Vegas and AC where the coins are still KING!

[sail7seas]

You described my exact reaction.

First time we saw the new slot system on the ships, I was expressing my displeasure with the change. The casino worker proceeded to tell me I had to get used to it, I had to stop thinking so old time, I had to pick a PIN, I had to........

 

I looked at him and said I didn't HAVE TO enter the casino ever again. He told me that was ridiculous.

 

Wrong answer..... ;)

 

[pam vessels]

I used to love hearing the coins clanging -- especially when someone won a decent amount and was cashing out.

You still get the sound of the coins being dropped when money is "cashed out" onto your card. Or at least it did on our last cruise.....have fun......

[sail7seas]

You still get the sound of the coins being dropped when money is "cashed out" onto your card. Or at least it did on our last cruise.....have fun......

 

 

:confused: What fun is that? I never expected to get rich or poor playing slot machines on a ship but I expect to have fun. I want to touch and hear coins on every winning spin. Big deal there's a 'canned noise' when you cash out. I never play the slots anymore on the ships and we used to always play at least a little after dinner each night. No more....

[Boytjie]

Those coins got my hands really dirty, so no longer any need for the towelettes at the cashier. I don't miss the coins. :D

[WriterOnDeck]

In the event you run out of credit on your card you can either put more cash into the machine you’re playing at, or you can charge up to $100 to your stateroom folio. Bruce

 

Of course, there is a third option. Remove your card from the machine and remove yourself from the casino! :D

[djhsolara]

Honestly, this is why I don't gamble anymore (on a ship or land casino). I don't like not winning actual coins, etc. There is something fun about winning those coins and that is gone now and just not fun for me anymore.

 

 

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[F5Loar]

You can give them your card in the slot machine or you can give them your card for a water downed fufu umbrella drink or a bottle of fancy water. Either way when you use your card they will get your money. At least with my own coins I got to see them disappear before my eyes and not show up 30 days later when the Credit Card bill arrives.

[jayteeaitch]

This is too bad, but I guess we are all victims of technology!

 

I am not a big time gambler, but always brought along a roll of quarters for the cruise, not really expecting to win anything. Somehow it hurts a little more to use folding money or see an entry on your sign/sail card account!

 

To say there are no coins in the casino is not quite true - because on the Zaandam that we sailed on last week - there are 2 machines that are coins only.

 

They are not the usual Pokies or fruit machines - but one of the old arcade type machines - that push coins towards a waterfall edge - an even bigger thief than the slots - and the coins were quarters.

 

With regard to the use of cards - DW - who has to be the most ignorant when it comes to computers and passwords etc - picked up the card use with no problems - and starting with a $10 entry on the card and no more - she finally drew $120 in cash on the last night and thoroughly enjoyed herself over 14 days - including the free V and Ts - they kept giving her.

 

My self ---- I spent the same time - sitting at the Casino Bar - drinking Aussie beer - and SMOKING my head off with like minded people:D

 

BTW - I am 76 and DW is 75 and we rarely went to bed before 12.;)

[JamesEM]

I was never a big gambler, but after the conversion to the "new system" I don't even go to the casino any longer.

[sapper1]

Honestly, this is why I don't gamble anymore (on a ship or land casino). I don't like not winning actual coins, etc. There is something fun about winning those coins and that is gone now and just not fun for me anymore.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Exactly. Why play the slots when the fun is no longer there? We very seldom bother anymore.

[Dive Master]

You described my exact reaction.

First time we saw the new slot system on the ships, I was expressing my displeasure with the change. The casino worker proceeded to tell me I had to get used to it, I had to stop thinking so old time, I had to pick a PIN, I had to........

 

I looked at him and said I didn't HAVE TO enter the casino ever again. He told me that was ridiculous.

 

Wrong answer..... ;)

 

 

 

We think very similar.I hate the new system in the casino too. I also hate ultimatums. I remember when the "clown" at Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Desk told me I had "no choice" but to pay their price increase (fuel surcharge).Again " Wrong Answer" ! I did have a choice. I told him to take his crown and his anchor and shove them up his smokestack and by the way---cancel the cruise booking too.

[cruise crazed]

I think many people prefer the old coin method. However, when I sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam in November the casino was very busy. As long as it does not impact their busines, they probably will not change back to the old method.

[mafig]

I will stick to Vegas and AC where the coins are still KING!

 

 

No they're not. When were you last there? Atlantic City hasn't had coins in machines for about 10 years now. We were in Las Vegas last year and found only one casino ~ downtown not the strip ~ that had a few machines that accepted coins.

 

I prefer this method. Those coins were a nuisence. What if you win something? You have to wait for the coins to drop (hoping they don't run out and you have to wait for an attendent to come). This way you can go from machine to machine all the while with clean hands.