Tournaments in the Casino

[jakesnana]

I just wanted to make other people aware, in case they didn't know, when you win a tournament (or anything for that matter) in the casino, your "winnings" are in the form of "promotional chips" or "free play" added to your onboard account.  While this, in an of itself, is not a problem they do not advertise it that way.  When I entered the blackjack tournament everything I read and heard stated the "prize" was $500.00.  When I DID win the tournament, the prize was $500 in "promotional chips".  These chips had no cash value and could not be cashed out at the cashier cage.  The ONLY way they had any value is if you played (and lost) them on the tables.  I WAS paid my winnings in "real" chips and got to keep the promotional chips until I lost them, however, that is not the same as having cold, hard cash in my hand.  I paid to enter the tournament with REAL cash and I tipped out the dealer of the tournament with REAL casino chips (I hadn't gone to the cage yet to get my "winnings").  I wonder how THEY would have liked it if I tipped them with "promotional chips"?

 

Additionally, one of my travel companions was in the casino when they did their "hot seat" promotion.  Over the PA they were stating people would win "gift cards", however, when he won he was given money on his account to spend (lose) in the slot machines.  He could not cash out any of the money he won from Celebrity, only the winning he derived by playing.

 

Am I the only one who feels that this is a deceitful practice?

[dkjretired]

15 minutes ago, jakesnana said:

I just wanted to make other people aware, in case they didn't know, when you win a tournament (or anything for that matter) in the casino, your "winnings" are in the form of "promotional chips" or "free play" added to your onboard account.  While this, in an of itself, is not a problem they do not advertise it that way.  When I entered the blackjack tournament everything I read and heard stated the "prize" was $500.00.  When I DID win the tournament, the prize was $500 in "promotional chips".  These chips had no cash value and could not be cashed out at the cashier cage.  The ONLY way they had any value is if you played (and lost) them on the tables.  I WAS paid my winnings in "real" chips and got to keep the promotional chips until I lost them, however, that is not the same as having cold, hard cash in my hand.  I paid to enter the tournament with REAL cash and I tipped out the dealer of the tournament with REAL casino chips (I hadn't gone to the cage yet to get my "winnings").  I wonder how THEY would have liked it if I tipped them with "promotional chips"?

 

Additionally, one of my travel companions was in the casino when they did their "hot seat" promotion.  Over the PA they were stating people would win "gift cards", however, when he won he was given money on his account to spend (lose) in the slot machines.  He could not cash out any of the money he won from Celebrity, only the winning he derived by playing.

 

Am I the only one who feels that this is a deceitful practice?

 

Need more info, what were the rules when you joined the tournament, you know, the fine print.  I can see deception if they said they were giving out gift cards and then did not do so.

Edited November 16, 2018 by dkjretired

[cruisestitch]

What kind of “gift card” did your friend think they were playing for?  

[jakesnana]

2 minutes ago, dkjretired said:

 

Need more info, what were the rules when you joined the tournament, you know, the fine print.  I can see deception if they said they were giving out gift cards and then did not do so.

 

The "rules" of the tournament are not what's in question, as different cruise lines have different rules for tournament play.  I didn't see any "fine print" in the advertisement that was posted throughout the casino nor in their announcements about the tournament.  Everything simply stated that first prize was $500.00.  I have played in blackjack tournaments on many different cruise lines (Carnival, RCCL, NCL, MSC and Princess) and also won said tournaments on Carnival, NCL and MSC.  I have NEVER been paid with anything other than REAL chips (which I could take and convert to cash).  Now that I know, I'm not sure I would ever compete in any type of tournament on Celebrity again.

 

Truth be told, the casino itself was a bit of a disappointment.  They were severely understaffed at the cage, some of the dealers were not very friendly, their table minimum was higher than most cruise lines and they usually only had one table at that minimum.  While I don't normally mind playing $10 blackjack, sometimes I just want to go to the casino and "kill time", so I look for the "cheap seats".  There were no cheap seats to be found on Celebrity.  Also, on other cruise lines when you get to $10 or higher minimum blackjack the payout for a blackjack is the normal 3:2 however on Celebrity you could not get that payout unless you went to the $25 minimum table.

 

While my first Celebrity cruise was overall a good time, things like my experience in the casino stand out.  My DH and I enjoy spending time in the casino as our entertainment, hence the reason why we've never sailed (and probably never will) on Disney, so this would definitely color my opinion about a future Celebrity cruise.

[jakesnana]

17 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

What kind of “gift card” did your friend think they were playing for?  

 

Something similar to ship OBC that could be used ANYWHERE on the ship and/or applied to their onboard account.  I've actually one gimmicks such as this "hot seat" promotion on other cruise lines. They have given me a grossly exaggerated sized check, which I could take to the cage and get cold, hard cash for.

Edited November 16, 2018 by jakesnana

[jsf]

I won a slot tournament on RCCL last Dec. and I was paid $500.00 in CASH

[ghstudio]

I suspect this is another case of Celebrity's consistent inconsistency.  I am just off the Reflection and tournament prizes were paid in real chips (blackjack/texas holdem)....as has every other Celebrity cruise I've sailed on.  I suggest you name the ship here and contact Celebrity because HQ probably has no idea that a ship is paying off tournaments with promotional chips.

[jakesnana]

3 hours ago, ghstudio said:

I suspect this is another case of Celebrity's consistent inconsistency.  I am just off the Reflection and tournament prizes were paid in real chips (blackjack/texas holdem)....as has every other Celebrity cruise I've sailed on.  I suggest you name the ship here and contact Celebrity because HQ probably has no idea that a ship is paying off tournaments with promotional chips.

 

It was the Celebrity Infinity and I will contact Celebrity HQ as advised.  Thanks.

[jakesnana]

3 hours ago, jsf said:

I won a slot tournament on RCCL last Dec. and I was paid $500.00 in CASH

 

EXACTLY....  I have won my share of BJ and Slot tournaments on many different cruise lines and ALWAYS been paid in real chips or a check that could be cashed for cash at the cage.

[jelayne]

DH won a Blackjack Tournament on the Reflection 2 years ago and was paid in cash.

[swigso]

I was in the Reflection in September and was too paid in cash, 

i will never load OBC onto my account though, even though I was 

charged 5% they would only give me promotional chips.

the casino staff were very unfriendly  and unco-operative, 

lesson learned.

 

[Paulras]

23 hours ago, jakesnana said:

I just wanted to make other people aware, in case they didn't know, when you win a tournament (or anything for that matter) in the casino, your "winnings" are in the form of "promotional chips" or "free play" added to your onboard account.  While this, in an of itself, is not a problem they do not advertise it that way.  When I entered the blackjack tournament everything I read and heard stated the "prize" was $500.00.  When I DID win the tournament, the prize was $500 in "promotional chips".  These chips had no cash value and could not be cashed out at the cashier cage.  The ONLY way they had any value is if you played (and lost) them on the tables.  I WAS paid my winnings in "real" chips and got to keep the promotional chips until I lost them, however, that is not the same as having cold, hard cash in my hand.  I paid to enter the tournament with REAL cash and I tipped out the dealer of the tournament with REAL casino chips (I hadn't gone to the cage yet to get my "winnings").  I wonder how THEY would have liked it if I tipped them with "promotional chips"?

 

Additionally, one of my travel companions was in the casino when they did their "hot seat" promotion.  Over the PA they were stating people would win "gift cards", however, when he won he was given money on his account to spend (lose) in the slot machines.  He could not cash out any of the money he won from Celebrity, only the winning he derived by playing.

 

Am I the only one who feels that this is a deceitful practice?

I remember them specifically saying it was promo chips or free play on Reflection in June. Not sure if it was mentioned that way in every ad. 

 

So when you played the promo chips, did you turn it into $500 in real chips? Or more? Less? 

Edited November 17, 2018 by Paulras

[jakesnana]

3 hours ago, Paulras said:

I remember them specifically saying it was promo chips or free play on Reflection in June. Not sure if it was mentioned that way in every ad. 

 

So when you played the promo chips, did you turn it into $500 in real chips? Or more? Less? 

 

I ended up playing it in 2 different sessions. In the first session I made $150.00 and in the second session I broke even, so I guess I wasn't really out any "real" cash, it's just the idea that playing in the casino was the only opportunity I had to "use" my winnings.  While I DO like spending time in the casino, I'm not sure I would have spent as much time as I did, if it wasn't for those promotional chips. There were other things I wanted to see/do onboard that I didn't get done because I knew I had to use or lose those chips 😞