Star Casino is a Loser!

[marluvs2go]

This was my ninth cruise, first on NCL. Just spent two weeks trying to "get lucky" and believe me it is impossible. I have never been in a Casino that was "so tight" either on land or at sea that it was impossible just to entertain one's self. Nobody really won, and it was mostley avoided by "smarter" folks than I. I never lose big time, I mostley just break even or come out a little ahead, but I kept thinking things would improve..well let me tell you they do not. They have a huge vacant area that nobody even ventures into called the high stakes area.

I did not lose anymore than I wanted to, but for those of you who may spend too much, I thought I would let you know at least for me it was not good. And it does not get any better, at least for me it did not.

The Roulette was fun and I seemed to win a hundred bucks each time I played. The staff were awesome, however. If you are like me you won't pay any attention to this post, and will gamble all you want! ha that's fine I just felt the need to inform since it may be of some interest to some and just maybe NCL will lighten up a bit?

[GPPhilly]

Casino's on cruise ships are not US regulated so the paybacks are much lower to begin. They will not lighten up because they will always have people that play. Once those people realize they arent winning and stop, then maybe the casino will loosen

[Walt724]

I know I shouldn't, but I have to.

 

A casino is a place that is designed to separate you from your money. If you go in looking to "get lucky", you will almost surely come out behind. The games and odds are set up to give the house an advantage EVERY time. As the word gambling, implies, you are going against the odds if you win. It is a "gamble", not a sure thing.

 

Without going into great detail here, the house has an advantage on every game and every bet. The typical range is somewhere between 0.28% up to a whopping 29%, depending on the game and the bet.

 

With table games, there isn't much NCL can do to "lighten up". Would you really want them to "rig" the roulette wheel or used marked cards?

 

The slots could be adjusted but that's about it. Unless you're a professional with a knowledge of the game you're playing, a casino should be looked at as entertainment and any "winnings" a bonus - IMHO.

 

That said, I spent a couple hours on playing blackjack on the Star last year and won enough to pay for our next cruise!

[kcwingwalker]

I know I shouldn't, but I have to.

 

A casino is a place that is designed to separate you from your money. If you go in looking to "get lucky", you will almost surely come out behind. The games and odds are set up to give the house an advantage EVERY time. As the word gambling, implies, you are going against the odds if you win. It is a "gamble", not a sure thing.

 

Without going into great detail here, the house has an advantage on every game and every bet. The typical range is somewhere between 0.28% up to a whopping 29%, depending on the game and the bet.

 

With table games, there isn't much NCL can do to "lighten up". Would you really want them to "rig" the roulette wheel or used marked cards?

 

The slots could be adjusted but that's about it. Unless you're a professional with a knowledge of the game you're playing, a casino should be looked at as entertainment and any "winnings" a bonus - IMHO.

 

That said, I spent a couple hours on playing blackjack on the Star last year and won enough to pay for our next cruise!

 

Enjoy your next cruise:)

[DirtyDawg]

This was my ninth cruise, first on NCL. Just spent two weeks trying to "get lucky" and believe me it is impossible. I have never been in a Casino that was "so tight" either on land or at sea that it was impossible just to entertain one's self. Nobody really won, and it was mostley avoided by "smarter" folks than I. I never lose big time, I mostley just break even or come out a little ahead, but I kept thinking things would improve..well let me tell you they do not. They have a huge vacant area that nobody even ventures into called the high stakes area.

I did not lose anymore than I wanted to, but for those of you who may spend too much, I thought I would let you know at least for me it was not good. And it does not get any better, at least for me it did not.

The Roulette was fun and I seemed to win a hundred bucks each time I played. The staff were awesome, however. If you are like me you won't pay any attention to this post, and will gamble all you want! ha that's fine I just felt the need to inform since it may be of some interest to some and just maybe NCL will lighten up a bit?

 

I read your title to this thread; "Star Casino is a Loser!" and thought it had lost money to you - too bad, I always cheer for the underdawg.;)

 

I guess your title should have been; "Star Casino is a Winner!"

 

Oh well, at least you made the cruise line and it's shareholders very happy. :D

[marluvs2go]

maybe that is a better title?

Please stop the gambling statistics and so on. Any half wit knows that gambling does not pay. If you had read my comments with any understanding, you could see I was just doing a public service announcement so to speak. Regardless of odds and regulations, the distinction of having a "fun" day at the slots can vary, I was trying to make the point that ALL OF THE SLOTS with few exceptions on this ship where nonpaying, non fun, non entertaining, non winnable. The Casino was not jam packed it was mostley vacant....Some slots (about 4) were fun and paid out a little. I was ahead a great deal but only on one day. :eek: Regardless of what you say I found this to be the worst Casino ever and that is based on not only my "luck" but others I spoke with.

[nets33]

I was trying to make the point that ALL OF THE SLOTS with few exceptions on this ship where nonpaying, non fun, non entertaining, non winnable.

 

I was on the Star last year and was up almost $500, after reinvesting for entertainment's sake I still walked out with over $350. A nice dent into our on-board charges.

[NMLady]

maybe that is a better title?

Please stop the gambling statistics and so on. Any half wit knows that gambling does not pay. If you had read my comments with any understanding, you could see I was just doing a public service announcement so to speak. Regardless of odds and regulations, the distinction of having a "fun" day at the slots can vary, I was trying to make the point that ALL OF THE SLOTS with few exceptions on this ship where nonpaying, non fun, non entertaining, non winnable. The Casino was not jam packed it was mostley vacant....Some slots (about 4) were fun and paid out a little. I was ahead a great deal but only on one day. :eek: Regardless of what you say I found this to be the worst Casino ever and that is based on not only my "luck" but others I spoke with.

 

I was just on the Star for 26 days last month, spent plenty of time in the casino, especially at various slot machines, and I have no complaints. The slots were definitely fun, many were very entertaining, and I'd like to know what you consider winnable. When $20 gets me $152 on a 'penny' machine, $10 gets me $160 on a different 'penny' machine and I also came out ahead several times on video poker, I consider that winnable. I saw a lady win over $4000 on a machine.

 

Even though overall I lost money, I had enough wins to consider the machines to be as winnable as those in any other casino.

 

The only time I saw the casino "mostly vacant" was during the day on sea days. At night the tables had lots of action and so did many of the slot machines.

 

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the Star's casino. My husband and I, as well as several other people on our cruise, also enjoyed it.

[OzCanuck]

Some slots (about 4) were fun and paid out a little

 

So only slots that pay out are fun?

[newmexicoNita]

This was my ninth cruise, first on NCL. Just spent two weeks trying to "get lucky" and believe me it is impossible. I have never been in a Casino that was "so tight" either on land or at sea that it was impossible just to entertain one's self. Nobody really won, and it was mostley avoided by "smarter" folks than I. I never lose big time, I mostley just break even or come out a little ahead, but I kept thinking things would improve..well let me tell you they do not. They have a huge vacant area that nobody even ventures into called the high stakes area.

I did not lose anymore than I wanted to, but for those of you who may spend too much, I thought I would let you know at least for me it was not good. And it does not get any better, at least for me it did not.

The Roulette was fun and I seemed to win a hundred bucks each time I played. The staff were awesome, however. If you are like me you won't pay any attention to this post, and will gamble all you want! ha that's fine I just felt the need to inform since it may be of some interest to some and just maybe NCL will lighten up a bit?

I totally agree. I have never been on any cruise with a decent casino, and I have been on every mass marketed line, but the two worst for us have been the Star and The Spirit.

[Inuvikcouple]

I was once on a shuttle heading from downtown Reno to the airport to fly home after a fun but losing 4 day mini vacation. The hostess asked how many were winners and 3 or 4 people cheered, how many lost money and of course everyone else then responded. I stood up and said to my fellow passengers that you are all a bunch of liars because when you get home your friends, co-workers and neighbours are all going to ask how you did and you are going to say "I made a little or I broke even". Everyone laughed because as we all know that by the time we get home we never admit to losing and I suspect that anyone that says they almost always make a little or break even is a very lucky individual and should be buying lottery tickets where the payout is even larger.

 

Just my thought for the day.

 

Signed,

3 times on the Star, never broke even, never made money but always had a good time.

[valleyvillage]

I was once on a shuttle heading from downtown Reno to the airport to fly home after a fun but losing 4 day mini vacation. The hostess asked how many were winners and 3 or 4 people cheered, how many lost money and of course everyone else then responded. I stood up and said to my fellow passengers that you are all a bunch of liars because when you get home your friends, co-workers and neighbours are all going to ask how you did and you are going to say "I made a little or I broke even". Everyone laughed because as we all know that by the time we get home we never admit to losing and I suspect that anyone that says they almost always make a little or break even is a very lucky individual and should be buying lottery tickets where the payout is even larger.

 

Just my thought for the day.

 

Signed,

3 times on the Star, never broke even, never made money but always had a good time.

 

A great big LIKE for my friends from the MR cruise!

[DMH15]

I know I shouldn't, but I have to.

 

A casino is a place that is designed to separate you from your money. If you go in looking to "get lucky", you will almost surely come out behind. The games and odds are set up to give the house an advantage EVERY time. As the word gambling, implies, you are going against the odds if you win. It is a "gamble", not a sure thing.

 

Without going into great detail here, the house has an advantage on every game and every bet. The typical range is somewhere between 0.28% up to a whopping 29%, depending on the game and the bet.

 

With table games, there isn't much NCL can do to "lighten up". Would you really want them to "rig" the roulette wheel or used marked cards?

 

The slots could be adjusted but that's about it. Unless you're a professional with a knowledge of the game you're playing, a casino should be looked at as entertainment and any "winnings" a bonus - IMHO.

 

That said, I spent a couple hours on playing blackjack on the Star last year and won enough to pay for our next cruise!

 

Agree. For me it is entertainment. I budget $x dollars. If I lose that I am done.

 

BTW, won enough on dollar slots on Norway to pay for cruise out of profits.

 

Have won BJ tourney. Cruise before last cruise came in 2nd. My mom won $460 on X winning slot tourney.

 

I look at it like an excursion or spa. Simply a vacation entertainment expense.

 

Since NCL casinos are smoky I usually avoid at night. That helps. :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[deladypilot]

As my father in law says..... Look what the losers built in Vegas. It was not winners that made those people rich.

 

Im not a gambler to begin with but my husband loves to play blackjack and he did ok on our Sun cruise this past summer

[kcwingwalker]

As my father in law says..... Look what the losers built in Vegas. It was not winners that made those people rich.

 

 

Like!

[Overdue4cruise]

So only slots that pay out are fun?

 

My sentiments exactly! ;)

[sdmike]

Sounds like the OP found the slots "tighter" than they are used to on land or on other ships. Fair enough. It could be statistically true, or maybe just bad timing/luck. I have no doubt that these unregulated machines are more difficult to win on over the course of time, but as noted, some were very successful.

 

That's why they call it gambling, and not winning (and why they call it "fishing" and not "catching").

 

I don't play slots anywhere unless I'm just waiting for someone for a little bit and have some pocket change to throw away. If you want to make money, learn craps and other table games with much better odds.

 

My two cents (soon to be 1 cent after putting 2 in the machine)

[jame_g]

I go in with a pretty strict budget and just looking for entertainment. I've come out a few bucks ahead a couple times, but usually lose and go in there expecting to lose what I budgeted.

 

My biggest beef is that I go to be entertained and there are some machines that just simply gobble the money up without giving you any play at all. When the slot machines just take my money like that, I'm going to stop early and quit without playing what I budgeted. If they have some play and let me win now and then so that I can sit around and enjoy myself a bit, then I don't mind spending what I budgeted. So when they make the machines too tight, they aren't going to get nearly as much of my money.

[luddite]

Casinos are funded by cheap electricity and people who cannot do simple math.

 

And this isn't news.

[kiyoko]

maybe that is a better title?

 

That totally cracked me up! Really funny! I can't believe some of the comments posted here in response to your helpful observations. Just ignore them--they just don't get it. Hopefully, the Star won't "suck" as much in a couple of months when I'll be a captive audience for two weeks on a Panama Canal sailing. Thanks for the heads up.

 

I noticed that you were on the same itinerary we will be taking. Was the casino that empty throughout the entire cruise? Regardless of the casino, hope you had a good time. Did anything else make up for the "suckky" time in the casino? Any other tips you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Edited November 15, 2013 by kiyoko

[triptolemus]

Agree. For me it is entertainment. I budget $x dollars. If I lose that I am done.

 

People that complain about the casino being "tight" tend to have no understanding of that very important concept.

 

The other part above about the machines being regulated is also correct. When I lived in Vegas, I used to love me some video poker. I won't play it anywhere else though. Why? Because I know that while the odds are still in the house's favor, I can at least be adequately assured that the program running in the machine is per state regulation. That doesn't happen outside of regulated gambling machines. The paytables are awful and who knows what code they are running.

[Coasty]

Over the past 50 years I have paid for a few of these in my favorite casino's.:D And it was not with my winnings:p

[keystoneboarder]

I know they have appetizers and some hot dishes late night at the Star Casino. I wonder if they served Sour Grapes on this cruise!

[kcwingwalker]

I know they have appetizers and some hot dishes late night at the Star Casino. I wonder if they served Sour Grapes on this cruise!

 

Very witty..............like:)

[njitalian76]

Played on star last year... Found it to be very loose! Won two to three hundred a night. Plus a Grand on a tear-a-way! The star treated me well!

 

 

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