Casino Games

[kmgl]

Some members of our group like to play Texas Hold'em Poker. Is this game available at the casino, and if so, what is the minimum buy-in? Thanks.

[Randyk47]

Texas Hold'em is an exploding card game and I'd really like to see it added to HAL casinos but I don't know that it has happened yet. I've read, though I can't find it right now, that one or two ships might have a game but my most recent experience on HAL was the Oosterdam in March 2004 and they didn't have a sponsored game. I can't speak to somebody conducting a private game in the card room or some other place but I don't count that as being offered by HAL. I think the problem is limited floor space in the casinos against the fact that poker is a rake game without a big edge for the casino. If they have to give up floor space and do away with a game where they've got a big edge and profit then I'd say they'd resist setting up a Texas Hold'em table. On the other hand, due to the popularity of the game, they just might go that way to make folks happy and maybe draw more into the casino. I know that the Ryndam played host to a WPT event not too long ago and totally filled the ship with players.

[kmgl]

Randyk47 & elmorejj - Thanks for your replies.

 

It makes sense that they would not make as much money from Texas Hold'em as they do on all the games that are played against the dealer like blackjack. Since it is so poplular, maybe they will reconsider at some point. I heard that NCL does not advertise that they have it, but if at least four people sign up to play, they will accomodate them in another room away from the main casino.

I don't know any other details.

[FeliciaLee]

HAL wrote me that the Ryndam has one real poker table now. I haven't been on the ship since Nov 2002, so I don't know for sure, but they did say it is a real table, not a house game like Caribbean Stud or Three-Card Poker. I have heard from Jan at Cardplayer Cruises that the rake is prohibitive, but others say it is only 10% to a max of $5.00, so go figure.

 

Most minimum buy-in's are ten small bets. So if you are playing 5/10, your buy-in would be $50.

 

Since poker is new on cruise ships, monitor the game carefully. Watch the dealer count down the deck and spread the alternate deck when a dealer is pushed. Make sure there are no counterfeit cards and there are exactly 52. Make sure the dealer is not exposing cards upon dealing or burning/turning. Watch for players that cheat via collusion (raising and rersaising with poor hands in order to squeeze out an innocent player trapped in between).

 

Poker is not a house game, it is player vs. player, so you must be very diligent in order to protect yourself. New games have a break-in period and can actually be a dishonest game for a short time period, until management fixes the problem.

[vette96gs1]

I just got off the Zuiderdam and they do have one table of Hold Em and play events by signup only usually twice daily.

[Candy]

Some members of our group like to play Texas Hold'em Poker. Is this game available at the casino, and if so, what is the minimum buy-in? Thanks.

The Texas Hold'em room on Zuidy is great. Stakes are $2/4 or $3/6 and there is always a waitlist of about 20 for the two daily games. The dealers are wonderful... Paul Thomas from Carnival was there training when we sailed in August, and the male dealers on rotation were personable and efficient. Damian, the casino host, is an excellent dealer, however it was painfully obvious that two of the female dealers were still in training.

 

It's on deck 2 between the Explorer's Lounge and the aft elevators. You'll recognize it by the nerve-wracking squeeky door. It's only open when the ship is at sea; from 1:00 to about 5:00 and 9:00 until there are less than 5 players.

 

Candy <-- now know what a 'quiet room' is (was politely ejected for talking too loud)

[kmgl]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

[FeliciaLee]

I was given false information. Ryndam does NOT have a poker room, nor even a poker table. I was told they have no plans to add poker in the future on the Ryndam (small ship, older passenger base).

 

HAL wrote me that the Ryndam has one real poker table now. I haven't been on the ship since Nov 2002, so I don't know for sure, but they did say it is a real table, not a house game like Caribbean Stud or Three-Card Poker.

[mina]

go to oceanplayersclub.com for status of adding Hold em to cruise ships. Oosterdam does not have it yet -- only the Z. They have added to two more princess ships -- hubby is said that the O will not have it for our Dec cruise. Thanks!

[stanford's girl]

They didn't have it on the Oosterdam so we got together with some people from our roll call and had our own game a couple of days. We went down to the casino and bought rolls of quarters for chips. It was a lot of fun. :D