What happened to Poker in the Casino's on HAL ships

[iceman93]

25 minutes ago, ensredshirt said:

I honestly wish HAL had a learn how to play craps activity I would have really enjoyed that. 

I think they're missing an opportunity for things like this.  Give everyone who comes to the tutorial $100 in play money chips, teach them the game, then let them use their play money in several rounds of slowed-down gameplay with analysis and expert tips.  After an hour or so, collect the play money and open a table with min limits for the new players to dip their toes into with their own money (maybe even offer double-their-money for up to $100 buy-in or something like that).  Even if only 10% of the people come back and gamble later with their own money, that's 10% they wouldn't have had otherwise *and* it gets people into the casino having fun (who otherwise might not have).

[mcrcruiser]

12 hours ago, Thetideishigh2021 said:

I thought blackjack had the best player odds…

If you have expert players on the single deck table you can beat the house but with amateurs make too many mistakes . Forget the shoes & auto shuffling .Bertu much in the house fabor

[cwd79]

Just got off the Zaandam on an 11 day cruise and we played Craps every night in the casino. My hubby is a long time Craps player but this was only my second time playing. I quickly picked it up and frankly I'm not the quickest tool in the shed and if I can figure it out I am sure many other people could. Some nights we did very well and other nights not so much but in total we came out ahead and had a great time. The casino crew on the Zaandam are top notch. A very good idea about doing tutorials for Craps or other table games to bring in more business. 

[Boatdrill]

On 9/4/2023 at 2:39 PM, Hlitner said:

Consider, you can operate a casino full of machines with a cashier, manager, and mechanic.  And, in some cases, they can even eliminate the mechanic and simply have a manager with some ability to make minor repairs.  Once you start to add tables, the operating costs begin to soar.

Without tables and live dealers it sounds like the quality of the gambling experience goes down for guests. I'm not a gambler, so I don't know 🙂 . Even though a cruiseline casino vendor wants to keep costs down, don't  tables and dealers  make for a better casino experience, and attract more players  ? 

[Hlitner]

14 minutes ago, Boatdrill said:

Without tables and live dealers it sounds like the quality of the gambling experience goes down for guests. I'm not a gambler, so I don't know 🙂 . Even though a cruiseline casino vendor wants to keep costs down, don't  tables and dealers  make for a better casino experience, and attract more players  ? 

Perhaps.  But, we have been on many cruises when there will be a crowd playing slots and poker machines, and the table are mostly empty with dealers/pit bosses just standing around.  To be blunt, I have been known to spend time at Black Jack and/or Crap Tables, but I do not even bother going into cruise line casinos for varies reasons.  During our cruises we have met other folks who express the same attitude in that table games on ships hold little attraction.  The table atmosphere is just not what I enjoy (unlike a place such as Vegas).  Some cruise lines (especially HAL) have lately been pushing out casino deals (on HAL, some will cruise for near free) primarily to slot players (who are easily "tracked" since slots are a big money maker (for the cruise lines).

 

Hank

[mcrcruiser]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Perhaps.  But, we have been on many cruises when there will be a crowd playing slots and poker machines, and the table are mostly empty with dealers/pit bosses just standing around.  To be blunt, I have been known to spend time at Black Jack and/or Crap Tables, but I do not even bother going into cruise line casinos for varies reasons.  During our cruises we have met other folks who express the same attitude in that table games on ships hold little attraction.  The table atmosphere is just not what I enjoy (unlike a place such as Vegas).  Some cruise lines (especially HAL) have lately been pushing out casino deals (on HAL, some will cruise for near free) primarily to slot players (who are easily "tracked" since slots are a big money maker (for the cruise lines).

 

Hank

Yes Hank slots any where are big money makers .After all they are computers & can be rigged any way the house want them rigged , Eben in Las Vegas most flooe space is dedicated to slots in any casino because of the take .Then vlack jack ,roulette ,carribean  poker are next in floor space ,lastly would be crao tables & bacarat . The reasons should be obvious .

I have won a lot of money in Las Vegas on craps tables .I was there when the guy held the record for time on the craps table at the  Boyd California Hotel & Casino downtown LV many years ago  .guiness book of records .I was on business with the owners at the time .Still had silver dollars then 

[mcrcruiser]

We have seen computer dealing holdem tables but not on Koningsdam .Saw them on Celebrity shops

A word to the wise unless you know hand odds & pot odds stay far away from holdem tables .There is a lot to know when playing holdem .not all players have equal abilities 

[Hlitner]

2 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

We have seen computer dealing holdem tables but not on Koningsdam .Saw them on Celebrity shops

A word to the wise unless you know hand odds & pot odds stay far away from holdem tables .There is a lot to know when playing holdem .not all players have equal abilities 

Wise advice 🙂  Holdem is not for amateurs and gaining understanding of the odds and reading opponents is a life long obsession (for some).  Unlike other casino games, this is where you are competing with one another and not just dealing with luck of the deal.