Any questions about how casinos work

[jetwet1]

It's down to dealer preference, in the good old days it the balls were switched up to get a different bounce around the wheel if it was felt someone was trying to track the wheel.

 

Now days however it is simply because so dealers are more comfortable using large balls, some with small balls.

 

Btw, dealers make it look easy, spinning that ball so it goes around more than 2-3 times is an art.

[Candy]

The only game I play is Craps. On the ships I sail, the table isn't open 'til 8 pm, so I can only play after dinner (I miss a lot of shows that way).

 

• I won't play alone, or when the players are all newbies with $5 on the pass line and no clue what they're doing.
  
• I need to see green on the table!
  
• I need action.
  
• I need NOISE!
  
• I need enthusiastic croupiers with catchy jargon who help me by reminding me to take the odds and remember my repeat bets.
  
• Oh, and they must be able to 'catch' my chip backhanded (I only demand this when the action is fairly slow).
  

I'm a fairly heavy tipper. On the first night I ask the dealers how they want their tokes, and they usually prefer the bet to the chip. Some nights they make more than I win, but that's how the dice roll.

 

Here's a poser... occasionally my husband will win a jackpot which must be paid off by a floorperson. We have been told that it's customary to tip the person who does this. If this is true, how much is appropriate? Also, should I also tip the host, supervisor, or Ocean Players Club rep if they have given exceptional service?

 

Candy <-- just call me 'George'

 

[klfrodo]

Blackjack question/comment?

 

Continuous Shuffeling Machines - When will the cruiselines get rid of these machines. Personally, I refuse to play. Vegas had them for a short while. I would imagine their revenue dropped because I see they are back to shoes.

[Casino Player]

The only game I play is Craps. On the ships I sail, the table isn't open 'til 8 pm, so I can only play after dinner (I miss a lot of shows that way).

 

• I won't play alone, or when the players are all newbies with $5 on the pass line and no clue what they're doing.
  
• I need to see green on the table!
  
• I need action.
  
• I need NOISE!
  
• I need enthusiastic croupiers with catchy jargon who help me by reminding me to take the odds and remember my repeat bets.
  
• Oh, and they must be able to 'catch' my chip backhanded (I only demand this when the action is fairly slow).
  

I'm a fairly heavy tipper. On the first night I ask the dealers how they want their tokes, and they usually prefer the bet to the chip. Some nights they make more than I win, but that's how the dice roll.

 

Here's a poser... occasionally my husband will win a jackpot which must be paid off by a floorperson. We have been told that it's customary to tip the person who does this. If this is true, how much is appropriate? Also, should I also tip the host, supervisor, or Ocean Players Club rep if they have given exceptional service?

 

Candy <-- just call me 'George'

 

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO Candy: Craps is certainly my favorite game and it is my game of choice. It is the only game where you could have real interaction with other players and dealers. You won't play alone? I've had some of my best rolls either when I opened the table or was there by myself. Many times I will be at a table and other players might be there and they don't want to be the shooter. Somebody has to start the game.

Won't play with $5 bettors. I used to start with a $5 Pass Line bet and full odds. Then made some Come bets also with full odds. As my numbers started to hit I made more $5 bets taking full odds. Then when I had most numbers covered and was hitting more of my numbers I would up the bets to $10 Pass Line and Come bets. With full odds. When the shooter sevened out then it was back to the $5 bet and start over again. However, I don't play that way any more.

Ah you are a green chip bettor. I have noticed that most players aren't green chip bettors. Also, I have noticed that if numbers aren't hiting you may have to reduce the size of the bet then when the numbers start hitting again up the bets.

I've been playing for about 20 years now. I have noticed that many players that are good as shooters are self discribed new to the game. Beginners luck? Who knows, but, I'll take a good shooter any way they come.

[Candy]

...snip...I used to start with a $5 Pass Line bet and full odds. Then made some Come bets also with full odds. As my numbers started to hit I made more $5 bets taking full odds. Then when I had most numbers covered and was hitting more of my numbers I would up the bets to $10 Pass Line and Come bets. With full odds. When the shooter sevened out then it was back to the $5 bet and start over again.

Hey, Casino Player... I used to start out with a $5-10 pass with full odds on 6 or 8, then placed $5-6 inside. Never did like the 4&10. When I start playing with their money, I'll go to $25-50 pass & $25-30 place, then press one or two units. I rarely take center action except for a new shooter, when I'll bet a $5 any. Occasionally if I have the dice, and 6&8 placed, I'll call them working on the come out. Of course, a 7 wins the pass, but loses the 6&8. Oh well, dice, like life, is a crap shoot.

 

I usually do pretty well, until a dealer advised me to use the come line instead of placing bets, so I'd get the full odds. I'm making more money, but it's harder to keep track of my bets. I like to know exactly where my bets are, and the come bets are put on a different line, so when the table is crowded I must be really sharp to make sure I'm paid. I get to know the dealers pretty well, and they look out for me. The tips help, too.

 

[quote]However, I don't play that way any more.

 

So, how do you play now?

[Casino Player]

Hey, Casino Player... I used to start out with a $5-10 pass with full odds on 6 or 8, then placed $5-6 inside. Never did like the 4&10. When I start playing with their money, I'll go to $25-50 pass & $25-30 place, then press one or two units. I rarely take center action except for a new shooter, when I'll bet a $5 any. Occasionally if I have the dice, and 6&8 placed, I'll call them working on the come out. Of course, a 7 wins the pass, but loses the 6&8. Oh well, dice, like life, is a crap shoot.

 

I usually do pretty well, until a dealer advised me to use the come line instead of placing bets, so I'd get the full odds. I'm making more money, but it's harder to keep track of my bets. I like to know exactly where my bets are, and the come bets are put on a different line, so when the table is crowded I must be really sharp to make sure I'm paid. I get to know the dealers pretty well, and they look out for me. The tips help, too.

 

[quote]However, I don't play that way any more.

 

So, how do you play now?

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO Candy: Using the Come area instead of placing bets will allow you to get the odds. However, a Place bet could be called off where as a Pass Line/Come bet can't be called off. You are stuck with it. However, you can call off the odds portion.

What advantage is calling off bets? I like to think of craps as flucuations in probability. If you go through a bunch of rolls where you numbers aren't coming up then call them off. If a seven is rolled while off then you don't lose. There have been some horrible days at the craps table and having the ability to call off a bet has saved me money. That allows me to then put the money at risk on a shooter with a decent chance of making some numbers.

Keeping track of your bets on the Come area after a number is made is not that difficult. It is in a postion inside the box to where you are on the table.

Today, I mostly use Place bets and Buy bets. Sometimes I even use Lay bets. Craps is truly a game of opposites.

[Candy]

When the hair stands up on my dice-throwing arm, I sometimes will call off my bets, and have saved mucho dinero!

 

Tell me this: I always have a pass bet, but have seen 'kids' jump in in the middle of a hand, throw a field bet in, double their money and vanish to another table. So, which bets can only be made if you're on the pass/don't line, or which bets can be made without a pass/don't?

 

Candy

[AndyTheK]

Tell me this: I always have a pass bet, but have seen 'kids' jump in in the middle of a hand, throw a field bet in, double their money and vanish to another table. So, which bets can only be made if you're on the pass/don't line, or which bets can be made without a pass/don't?

 

Candy

 

The only bets that require a flat bet are the odds bet that go alomg with it. All other bets on the table are independent and stand on their own.

 

But, you can't shoot without making a pass/don't bet. If you always pass your turn as shooter, you never have to put up a flat bet.

[Candy]

The only bets that require a flat bet are the odds bet that go alomg with it. All other bets on the table are independent and stand on their own.

 

But, you can't shoot without making a pass/don't bet. If you always pass your turn as shooter, you never have to put up a flat bet.

 

Thanx, AndyTheK... then I'm making a pass bet to get the true odds? What's the difference between that and the 7:6 or 6:5 on a place bet?

 

Candy <-- the more I know the more I need to know

[Casino Player]

Thanx, AndyTheK... then I'm making a pass bet to get the true odds? What's the difference between that and the 7:6 or 6:5 on a place bet?

 

Candy <-- the more I know the more I need to know

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLOOOOO Candy: You are making a Pass Line/Come bet so you could place the odds that the Casino will allow. A Place bet does not pay at true odds. They pay at House odds. Once the shooter makes the point you are stuck with it. It is best to take the full odds the casino will allow. A Place bet allows you to call off your bets. Example: I am playing at a craps table. When I get to the end of the five count I place my bets. Usually I drop them on the Come area and in an audible mumble tell the dealer what my bets are. If the shooter does not hit any of my numbers within five rolls I shout out, "place and buy bets are off." The dealer then comes up with an off button and places them on top on one of my stacks of money. After a few rolls if the shooter doesn't seven out then I say, "my place and buy bets are working again." Dealer takes away the off button.

The reason you have to bet in units of six on the six and eight is because the casino does not deal in change. They can be paid off exactly in units of six on those numbers. The 5 and 9 get paid off at 7-5. The House has a big edge on these bets because of the amount they take out. You are better off with just six and eight as your place bets. Four and Ten are best for Buy bets. Pay a dollar commission and you can bet $25 to win $50. In Atlantic City you can buy the four and ten for $35 for a $1 vig.

I hope this helps.

[Float&Bloat]

The dealers in the places I play in Las Vegas all share tips. In fact, the games on the ships are run by contractors and I have been told by the dealers that they must share tips with other ships!

[gpeters93]

This is more like an etiquette question. If the blackjack table is full, how do you indicate that you want the next available seat? Does the dealer have anything to do with this, or is just a musical chairs game where you take your chances about being in the right spot at the right moment?

[Lisa&Neb]

This is more like an etiquette question. If the blackjack table is full, how do you indicate that you want the next available seat? Does the dealer have anything to do with this, or is just a musical chairs game where you take your chances about being in the right spot at the right moment?

 

 

not a dealer here.... but I have seen it handled 2 ways

 

1. squat behind the table... if you stick around long enough the dealer whould notice and as someone is packing up or colouring up or busts out they will look over, ask if you want the spot and hold it for you.

 

2. I have seen people ask the pit boss for the next seat. this is more common if they are a) a regular and know the boss or b) they are really wanting to play at that table, but to kill time for an opening are willing to play another table game or a slot in the area.

[Prof Peg]

Knowing that all workers don't get tipped the same, how much would you suggest for tipping casino workers after a big win? Is there a percentage that you should remember? Have to keep this in mind, 'cause I want to know how to act when I set off all the bells and whistles in the casino. :D

[grod19]

I had a thought last night and I think the people here might be able to help out.

 

How much "number crunching" does the casino really do. Can they really tell how much each table profitted in a day? Whether a table was operating within the correct percentages etc. Essentially what I am asking is, besides the eye in the sky what else does the casino do to determine revenue and catch cheaters.

[jetwet1]

The dealers in the places I play in Las Vegas all share tips. In fact, the games on the ships are run by contractors and I have been told by the dealers that they must share tips with other ships!

 

Not true on Carnival owned ships, don't know about RCL or NCL, but Carnival (the company not the line) employees are on contracts directly with each line. As for the tips, also not true, just think of the logistics, however certain lines (Princess comes to mind) guarantees that each dealer will make X amount of tips per day.

 

In Vegas yes the dealers split the tips, except the poker dealers who keep their own. Let's thank the IRS for killing that part of the job.

 

Knowing that all workers don't get tipped the same, how much would you suggest for tipping casino workers after a big win? Is there a percentage that you should remember? Have to keep this in mind, 'cause I want to know how to act when I set off all the bells and whistles in the casino. :D

 

It depends on how quickly they pay you and how you are treated, at the Riverside in Laughlin I won $25k on a machine one night, they people were there in minutes, my stay got comped and in general I got some great service.

 

The two ladies that were "helping me" with paperwork got $500 each.

 

Another time at the Orleans I hit for $10k, it took over an hour before someone even stopped by to say hi and close to 3 hours in total, I ended up grabbing a floor person and pointed out that their tip was going down every minute I was kept waiting, 2 hours later I left with $10k in my pocket.

 

I have really only ever won big on the craps tables on ships, at a certain point "the boys" get a line bet with full odds and I start playing the hard ways for us both.

[Prof Peg]

I've been reading with great interest posts that were made by people fairly well experienced in blackjack - they appear to have difficulty with "newbies" or "foolish betters" sitting at the table. I can appreciate that, but it's kind of scary for someone who wants to give the big people's table a try. I've done recreational blackjack if you can call it that, but I've never played the real table and would not want to affect other players by my stupid move.

 

Okay, here comes the question to any experienced blackjack players: If I sat at your table (being very polite, of course) and pulled out a color-coded blackjack cheat card....what would your reaction be? Should I move to another table?

[Ukulele JJ]

I've been reading with great interest posts that were made by people fairly well experienced in blackjack - they appear to have difficulty with "newbies" or "foolish betters" sitting at the table.

 

I have absolutely zero patience for the kind of uptight player you describe. Anyone who gives you guff for the way you're playing is an idiot, plain and simple.

 

The actions of another player do not really affect you. You're just as likely to help the table with a so-called "wrong" play as you are to hurt it. For that matter, you're just as likely to take the dealer's bust card with a correct play as with an incorrect one.

 

That said, if you want to avoid the perception of hurting the table, unfounded though that perception may be, you might want to choose a seat as close as you can to "first base" (the seat that gets dealt cards first). Newbies on third base (last seat to get cards) are more likely to catch heat from ignorant, superstitious players.

 

Okay, here comes the question to any experienced blackjack players: If I sat at your table (being very polite, of course) and pulled out a color-coded blackjack cheat card....what would your reaction be?

 

I personally would be happy to see you do it. I like to see a player take an interest in learning the game. Heck, I'd probably ask to borrow it a few times. :D

 

In my experience, hardly anyone cares if you use a reference card, as long as you use it quickly. People don't like it when you slow down the game too much, and that's true whether you have a card or not.

 

Good luck!

 

JJ

[grod19]

I've been reading with great interest posts that were made by people fairly well experienced in blackjack - they appear to have difficulty with "newbies" or "foolish betters" sitting at the table. I can appreciate that, but it's kind of scary for someone who wants to give the big people's table a try. I've done recreational blackjack if you can call it that, but I've never played the real table and would not want to affect other players by my stupid move.

 

Okay, here comes the question to any experienced blackjack players: If I sat at your table (being very polite, of course) and pulled out a color-coded blackjack cheat card....what would your reaction be? Should I move to another table?

 

I highly doubt anyone would mind. I just dont like when a player completely slows the game to look at their card. For example, I have a guy playing second to last seat, he waited till the dealer got to him for a decision to look at his card. Drove me insane. He should have been looking as soon as the dealer flipped her card face up.

[sailor_jimc]

Actually I would prefer it if a "newbie" had the cheat sheet card. It saves a lot of discussion on "what the correct play is". If asked "what should I do" by a new player I always answer "if those were my cards I'd...." Because many times the correct play can make them loose. I also temper advice giving with letting them know that I am willing to give them advice as long as they know that the correct play doesn't mean they will win...

 

So I guess I am saying that I don't mind a new player at the table as I firmly believe that your play has no effect on my play. The number of times that it does (i.e. taking the dealers bust card) is probably equaled by the number of times that it has let me win too. Many experienced players only remember the times when it causes them to loose. As long as we are all having fun, I don't care who sits at the table.

[Prof Peg]

Thank you all so much, you've made me feel better about it. I can fully appreciate players wanting the newbie to move it along and I think that if newbie is paying attention (perhaps only a drink or two) that they should be prepared for their next move.

 

I'm already practicing....some moves are easier than others Feels so good to win -- so sad to lose, because I know when I'm on the cruise that it will be time to "walk away."

[jlocole]

I'm really looking forward to my port day at the Atlantis resort in Nassau.

 

Have any of you been in their casino? I bet it's gorgeous....

[dfields1814]

Sorry if this has been asked previously, but I am just curious.

 

We are Americans that sail on Princess which is registered in Bermuda. If by chance (yeah right) we win big, does Princess report our winnings to the USA IRS for taxes like a casino in Vegas. Or do they not report it because we won the money on the open sea in a ship registered in a different country.

 

I doubt I will ever win enough to have this problem.

[Host Kat]

Sorry if this has been asked previously, but I am just curious.

 

We are Americans that sail on Princess which is registered in Bermuda. If by chance (yeah right) we win big, does Princess report our winnings to the USA IRS for taxes like a casino in Vegas. Or do they not report it because we won the money on the open sea in a ship registered in a different country.

 

I doubt I will ever win enough to have this problem.

Click here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1005130 for the thread titled 1099. Hopefully, you will find information there to help you.

Kat

[owl61]

OP,

Are cruise ship casinos subject to any particular jurisdiction's regulations in general or specically regarding minimum payouts or publication of payout % for the machines?

 

Do ship casinos ever comp big bettors like shoreside casinos do? In what way? Who has the discretion?

 

Do cruise ship casinos 86 inebriated players or others who are obviously betting irrationally and wildly? What about players who are otherwise behaving foolishly/ suspiciously with their money (grossly excessive tipping etc or nonsensical play)? Are there established procedures to deal with these cases.

 

How often do people sue claiming they were improperly allowed to gamble while under the influence?

 

Can you disclose the normal relationship between the casino concessionaire and the cruise line? How are profits split?

 

Premise...........I am not opposed to casino gaming or gambling in general despite the fact that it can become an addiction and dramatically disrupt some people's lives. I like to play poker, bridge for money, even bet at the track (where the odds are not applied uniformly to the universe of betters), but to be perfectly frank I can not fathom the mindset of those who spend their $ and time at the machines and the tables in cruise ship casinos (except perhaps for the card counters who can eke out favorable odds against the house at 21). I have no objection to their gambling, mind you, because their play helps to underwrite the cost of my cruise. No doubt the casino revenue enables the cruise line to hold down the basic price of a cabin.

I am incapable of wrapping my mind around the concept that someone could enjoy a game of chance knowing the odds were stacked against them. The response frequently offered by gamblers as to why they indulge, to wit, "it's fun" or "it's worth the expense for the entertainment it affords" often combined with "and I only play with a set amount of money" fail to convince me. How can someone have fun knowing they are sure to lose if they continue playing. In the long run there are NO winners in a casino except the house.

Question.........How do you justify casino gambling to someone who has a choice of ways to spend their disposable cash?