Gambling for Dummies

[LEMJMcC]

I can barely spell casino and have never played any kind of game of chance, except Blackjack with my brother-in-law in which I lost $14 when I was like 12 years old ☹️- which explains my ignorance of such activities.

 

That said, the lovely wife has voiced some curiosity about taking part in some casino games (she too is a tee-totaler when it comes to gambling), but since neither of us have any idea how to start, we never have.  So, what would you reccommend to a couple who want to dabble with some games just for fun - I'm pretty tight, so my allowable "expendable cash" limit is low - like maybe $20 per visit.

 

By the way, are you always playing for money at the casino or are there other possible prizes like OBC, drink packages, specialty restaurant vouchers, etc.?  What denomination of currency should I use, quarters, dollar bills??

 

Thanks all.

[Biker19]

Just now, LEMJMcC said:

So, what would you recommend to a couple who want to dabble with some games just for fun

Attend a casino lesson.

[cruiseguy1016]

Go to a table and watch for a little while. Most games are easy learn if you watch for a little bit. Most players and the dealer will be answer questions about how the game is played.

[sandebeach]

As Biker mentioned, check the Royal app (or check once aboard) for what times the casino will be offering free lessons. It is usually 30-45 minutes before the casino opens after leaving a port. Once playing in an actual game (table games, card games), it is dollars, and there is a minimum for each table. My husband was thrilled to find a $6 blackjack table last week on the Freedom, minimums are usually much higher. Slot machines are in a variety of denominations per machine, for example, a machine can go from a minimum of eight cents to a maximum of $8.80 per bet. Hope that helps. 

Edited July 22, 2021 by sandebeach

[martikus]

The free lessons on the ship are great.  We find roulette the only thing we’re comfortable playing.  Easy to pick up and don’t feel a fool.  We are also cheap and find the other table

buy ins too high.  Our $20 goes too fast unless we can get $1 buy ins for roulette.

 

and slots.  We put in a $20 and when it’s gone it is gone.

 

and no you aren’t playing for prizes real money only.  Bills not coins.

Edited July 22, 2021 by martikus

[Hogbay]

Take your $20 to GS get them to change to singles  then walk around the ship and give those staff cleaning your ship $2 😇

[yogimax]

Roulette looks simple but has the worst odds in the casino.  Slots are easier to figure out than table games.  Begin by looking for penny machines where you don't have to bet much.  Put $5 in and spin.  Then pick another game until you find one you enjoy.

 

Do you play poker?  If so, look for the poker machines which offer somewhat better odds.

 

Remember always that gambling is entertainment not investment!

[ZoeyVictoria]

It is difficult to stay in a table game with $20 unless you get very lucky very quickly; you probably will not be able to play long enough to learn the game.  I recommend going on the third day with $60 instead.  You will have a better chance of playing long enough to learn and enjoy the game while staying within the $20 a day you are willing to invest.  
 

My use of the word “invest” rather than “lose” should tell you something about me!

[jakeil7]

Going to classes is a great suggestion. However, let me suggest a few specific games for you:

 

- Slot machines are by far the easiest but there is little interaction other than insert money, push button. On a cruise ship, the house advantage (basically, the difference between what people put in versus what they win) is pretty high. 
 

- Roulette is a great, social game that is very easy to understand but the house edge is high

 

- Craps is busy, but it is very simple to play the pass/no pass line. The house edge is pretty good as long as you stay away from the bets in the middle of the table. 
 

- You have already played blackjack so…. But playing it at a level where you might win requires memorizing a few tables, so that is something to consider

[Sea Dog]

Craps is my favorite and has the lowest house advantage of any of the games provided you stick with pass/don't pass. I never play the proposition bets (side bets) and always put a place bet on the 6 & 8.

[CSHS1979]

Play 3 card poker and never fold

[orville99]

Three suggestions:

1) The cruise lines have casino classes at the start of the cruise - attend one of those, and

2) Never walk into a casino with more cash than you can afford to lose, and

3) Never go into a casino with any other way to access cash other than the cash that was in your pocket when you walked in.

[George C]

If you know nothing about gambling I would do slots or roulette l gave my wife 20 to play video poker two weeks ago on Edge cruise and she won a thousand on a royal flush . 

[George C]

1 minute ago, orville99 said:

Three suggestions:

1) The cruise lines have casino classes at the start of the cruise - attend one of those, and

2) Never walk into a casino with more cash than you can afford to lose, and

3) Never go into a casino with any other way to access cash other than the cash that was in your pocket when you walked in.

I gamble a lot , love poker etc, but for your # 3, I was shocked on the people getting a thousand in chips on there card and blowing it in less than 30 mins.

[orville99]

1 minute ago, George C said:

If you know nothing about gambling I would do slots or roulette l gave my wife 20 to play video poker two weeks ago on Edge cruise and she won a thousand on a royal flush . 

And hopefully if she went back in the next evening she only brought the original $20 with her...😉

[orville99]

1 hour ago, LEMJMcC said:

What denomination of currency should I use, quarters, dollar bills??

Slots no longer accept or give back coins. You need to bring bills in and on the off chance you actually win anything, you will get a paper receipt from the slot machine to redeem at the cashier's window. Table games are all chips, and you exchange $$ for those. There are people who put their chips on their sea pass cards, and it is sort of fun seeing them at guest services at the end of the cruise trying to figure out how their credit cards could possibly be maxed out.

[George C]

5 minutes ago, orville99 said:

And hopefully if she went back in the next evening she only brought the original $20 with her...😉

She actually won a 300 dollar jackpot on a slot machine next night , this was one of the very rare cruises that we left the cruise with more money than we entered cruise with.

[George C]

1 minute ago, orville99 said:

Slots no longer accept or give back coins. You need to bring bills in and on the off chance you actually win anything, you will get a paper receipt from the slot machine to redeem at the cashier's window. Table games are all chips, and you exchange $$ for those. There are people who put their chips on their sea pass cards, and it is sort of fun seeing them at guest services at the end of the cruise trying to figure out how their credit cards could possibly be maxed out.

I wish rccl did what celebrity does you can pre buy chips or slot play and they will give you a extra ten percent so I bought 600 in chips and got 660 ( we had 600 in on board credit) 

[orville99]

2 minutes ago, George C said:

I wish rccl did what celebrity does you can pre buy chips or slot play and they will give you a extra ten percent so I bought 600 in chips and got 660 ( we had 600 in on board credit) 

You used to be able to purchase chips pre-cruise from their online store. We used to do that as an "enjoy your cruise" gift to our adult children when they sailed on RCL. Haven't done that in years however.

[Nado44]

Blackjack is my recommendation.

 

1. Download a free Blackjack app onto your phone.

2. Print out a basic Blackjack strategy chart (you can find one via Google).

3. Play for hours on your phone and while following the rules of the chart.

4. Attend a free beginners blackjack session prior to casino opening.

 

Hint: You can bring the basic blackjack strategy chart with you to your table.

 

 

[birdylady]

As others have stated, plan on your money being used for entertainment purposes. If you win, awesome, if you lose, join the club.

 

as others stated, roulette is easy and it goes quickly.

 

slots are also easy.  I would suggest if you choose this, choose a penny machine, but make sure you play all lines.  Do pay attention the cost. Some penny machines could be 2 cents, not one.  And if max lines (not to be confused with coins per line) is 100, that could be a $2 bet per spin.  Also, if you choose to play slots, be careful not to hit ‘max bet’.  That could be a lot more per spin than you plan.   Generally, most players are happy to help if you have a question.

 

when it comes to craps, personally I find it very confusing.  Hubby loves it.  I don’t get it.

 

lastly, if you win, know that it is sheer luck so don’t assume you will always win.  Or your odds are you will win next time.  That’s a slippery slope.

 

Good luck.
Erika

[ZoeyVictoria]

36 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

Play 3 card poker and never fold

That is my favorite gam (actually my only game other than slots), but if I don’t have $200 to start, I don’t usually last too long.

[crusnbee]

1 hour ago, CSHS1979 said:

Play 3 card poker and never fold

My favorite game also. For more fun, look at one card at a time. Once you can open, stop looking. I have been surprised by three of a kind several times and that is fun.

 

Craps is also fun and decent odds. Often times not open though.

 

Always stay away from blackjack as there are many newbies who do not know the rules of the table and tend to mess things up.

[George C]

1 minute ago, crusnbee said:

My favorite game also. For more fun, look at one card at a time. Once you can open, stop looking. I have been surprised by three of a kind several times and that is fun.

 

Craps is also fun and decent odds. Often times not open though.

 

Always stay away from blackjack as there are many newbies who do not know the rules of the table and tend to mess things up.

Agree newbies will get some dirty looks if they don’t know what there doing playing blackjack, also original poster mentioned starting with 20 dollars which is not enough , most blackjack tables have a minimum bet of ten.

[neverbeenhere]

Give me $ 100.

Your bet is whether I will give it back.

 

 

Edited July 22, 2021 by neverbeenhere
At least there is a "chance" to break even.