Gambling Novice

[Butterbean1000]

I have only "dabbled" in the casino.  I've played a little Caribbean Poker and some Computer Black Jack.  What do you suggest for someone that knows little about gambling.  I've never played the slots.

[tallnthensome]

I would try and ask this in the "ask a cruise question forum"  but if you admit you know little about gambling that certainly isn't going to help your chances of winning rather than losing. Slots take no personal skill and just luck ....... I guess roulette doesn't either ..... 

[coevan]

decide on how much you want to lose and budget accordingly. I like real blackjack and slots. It's amazing how many people here on CC say they win all the time. That really is not how gambling works. Cruise or Vegas I bring X amount of dollars to lose, anything I go home with is a bonus.

[BoozeCruizeNoWay]

Butterbean1000:

 

Two rules I live by for casino play (slots) --

1)  Bring/play the amount of money you are willing to lose; and

2)  Remember that the House always wins.

 

I play the slots and there is NO skill whatsoever needed....it's all luck.  My last cruise, I was given $50 cruise money in the casino and at the end of Day 1, had racked up a $900 win from that $50 "free" money.  I proceeded to loose/win during the week and then finally played with the money I brought ($1000.)  I play for the thrill of winning and to rack up my points (here's where I get free drinks as long as I'm playing in the casino -- no drink package for me!)  I don't frequent casinos when I'm home so I have fun only when I cruise (1 or 2x a year) or go to Vegas (at least once a year).

 

Also, I believe the casino offers lessons on how to play the various table games.  You could always check in with the Casino Host and have him/her explain how the various slot games work.  May Lady Luck be kind to you!

[lenquixote66]

28 minutes ago, coevan said:

decide on how much you want to lose and budget accordingly. I like real blackjack and slots. It's amazing how many people here on CC say they win all the time. That really is not how gambling works. Cruise or Vegas I bring X amount of dollars to lose, anything I go home with is a bonus.

I have been on 20 plus cruises and have only lost twice playing slots .I would venture to say that I win ninety percent of the time in land casinos.I have never won more than $900 on any day/night.

If I am up $800 after cruise day one I take it home.

[SmoothFlying]

9 minutes ago, BoozeCruizeNoWay said:

lso, I believe the casino offers lessons on how to play the various table games.  You could always check in with the Casino Host and have him/her explain how the various slot games work.  May Lady Luck be kind to you!

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL !! My wife had a funny saying about this 'When the casinos in Vegas teach you HOW too play' technique' She'd slyly grin and say, 'Yea, they teach you HOW to play. but don't teach you the secrets HOW too win'.Enough said.😀

 

Mac

[c-boy]

for a novice stick with machines and 21.

[TxCityKat]

You might want to research the Cruise Casinos forum at https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/455-cruise-casinos/.

[clo]

1 hour ago, coevan said:

anything I go home with is a bonus.

We live in Reno.  If I put in $20 and cash out $20 I consider that I won $20 🙂

 

At OP, I'd play slots.  I like video poker.  I take two $20s and when that's gone I am (usually) also.

 

Have fun.

PS:  We don't call it gambling.  We call it making our donation to the local economy.  Guess that's not true at sea?

[BoozeCruizeNoWay]

LOL....I like that "making our donation to the local economy"....whether in Vegas or on cruise ship casino, I always tell folks that I'm "leaving a deposit" 🙄

[navybankerteacher]

Anyone who claims he “always wins” is either a liar or someone who has only played a very few times and has strangely beaten the odds.

 

The more you play the more you will CERTAINLY lose—- period.  As long as you understand that, you can probably enjoy the casinos.  If you cannot understand that (or if you truly believe that you can walk on water), you are the sort that Gamblers Anonymous is here to help.

[George C]

I play every thing but craps, one of the simplest games is roulette, you can bet on odd or even or black or red or your favorite number. Slots and video poker are also simple. 

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, George C said:

I play every thing but craps, one of the simplest games is roulette, you can bet on odd or even or black or red or your favorite number. Slots and video poker are also simple. 

 

Aw, but craps has much excitement.  Just stick to number(s) and bet the odds.  Don't make the sucker bets.  Or, toss some chips in the center of the table and yell "Little Joe!".  haha

[SRF]

6 hours ago, SmoothFlying said:

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL !! My wife had a funny saying about this 'When the casinos in Vegas teach you HOW too play' technique' She'd slyly grin and say, 'Yea, they teach you HOW to play. but don't teach you the secrets HOW too win'.Enough said.😀

 

Mac

 

Actually they do.  Or at least some do.

 

In Black Jack, the secret is, buy the card, and PLAY the card.  It offers you the best odds of winning.

 

7 trips to Vegas, 3 cruises, I am ahead on 5 Vegas trips and 2 cruises.  Up overall more than down.

[davecttr]

The simplest game to play is roulette, it is a game of pure chance, the only skill in roulette is knowing when to stop playing.

 

My favourite game is blackjack. They have sessions where they will teach you the rules but you will still make lots of mistakes because you won't know the correct decision to make with each hand. You gain that skill through research and lots of practice but it only means you will lose more slowly. It is called basic strategy. I don't play slots aboard.

 

Play the casino for pleasure with money you can afford to lose.

Edited July 23, 2019 by davecttr

[George C]

You will get lots of very dirty looks playing blackjack if you do not know what you are doing since what you do can change the game. 

[gooch47]

We call the money we lose in a casino our "Entertainment Fee."

 

I've only come out ahead on one cruise.  We don't risk a lot on a cruise because we don't play enough to get perks on the cruise ship and the play doesn't apply to our land based casino VIP levels.

[navybankerteacher]

58 minutes ago, George C said:

You will get lots of very dirty looks playing blackjack if you do not know what you are doing since what you do can change the game. 

Aside from a novice taking so many hits that he speeds up going through the decks - possibly making card counting more difficult - how can another player’s mistakes change your game?

[George C]

11 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

Aside from a novice taking so many hits that he speeds up going through the decks - possibly making card counting more difficult - how can another player’s mistakes change your game?

If player is sitting next to dealer and dealer has a 2 to 6 showing and player has same most players will not take a hit . Example of both have 15 player takes card that is a ten , then dealer takes next card and it’s a six every one loses. 

[davecttr]

A novice player making the wrong play is just as likely to help the other players as be bad for them. Best to ignore them and play your own game.  Over here in the UK there are few on a cruise who play blackjack properly. Contrast this to NCL where in a week of playing blackjack I only saw one person who did not know how to play.

 

Stick to roulette, it can be fun

[SantaFeFan]

13 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Anyone who claims he “always wins” is either a liar or someone who has only played a very few times and has strangely beaten the odds.

 

The more you play the more you will CERTAINLY lose—- period.  As long as you understand that, you can probably enjoy the casinos.  If you cannot understand that (or if you truly believe that you can walk on water), you are the sort that Gamblers Anonymous is here to help.

 

Agree. No way could casinos stay in business if people, even a few, consistently won. Claiming to have won 90 percent of the time on 20 plus cruises is pure puffery. 

Edited July 23, 2019 by SantaFeFan

[clo]

3 minutes ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

Agree. No way could casinos stay in business if people, even a few, consistently won. Claiming to have won 90 percent of the time on 20 plus cruises is pure puffery. 

On a related note, I've never figured out how someone could bankrupt a casino.  It's like having a money printing press in the basement, isn't it?

 

I've also figured that the machines are 'tighter' on a ship.  Since they're the 'only game in town,' it's not like you can go next door.

[cb at sea]

Slots are pretty fool-proof....put your money in,  hit the button...and you win or lose...usually it's lose!  There's no strategy to it.

 

Many times, there will be a "teaching session" sometime in the morning...take advantage of that, if offered.  Craps and sometimes Blackjack are offered.  

 

If you decide to play BJ, get one of those "how to play" cards...they are totally allowed and your fellow gamblers will appreciate you playing by the "odds", rather than having you split 10's!  Learn a bit about the  table games before you join, or find an empty table (good luck with that) and the dealer will be happy to give you tips on the rules and best way to play.

[Butterbean1000]

Thanks everyone.  I usually bring $150 for gambling.   Only once did I use it all. I played computer blackjack for 5 days.  During that time I got many free drinks.  In the end, I lost the 150, but I had 150 worth of fun plus the "free" drinks.  I just want to expand my gambling experience. 

[GrJ Berkshire]

Enjoy cruising and enjoy lots of future cruises

 

AVOID THE CASINO as a novice, as my Gran used to say I have never yet seen a poor bookmaker !!!

Its a mugs game !! have another beverage and dream of a long voyage if you do not play you will afford it

 

100+ days on Regent never gambled, its for MUGS  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!