CRUISE SHIP CASINOS…(SIGH)

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!

My family and I recently went on a cruise after not having been on one since before the pandemic. Simply put, we had a blast! And, I intend on planning my next cruise immediately. We were able to get away from our daily demands and relax for an entire week. The service, drinks, food, entertainment, accommodations, and excursions were incredible. Even the weather cooperated! My experience was just as superb now as it has always been in the past.

Let me spend some time commenting on the cruise ship’s casino. I will admit the atmosphere was much nicer as there appeared to be far less smokers than on previous cruises and an absence of button smackers and all-around violence against slots. Perhaps the smokers aren't cruising anymore and there was less anger because everyone was on vacation!

Now, as we always tell you, your luck will vary. You win, you lose, the house has the edge, play within your budget, and have fun. However, I have several favorite slots I like to play in land based casinos. And, I’m pretty good at memorizing reel strips, recognizing average bonus wins, and other important aspects of a slot’s math and game behavior. So when I chose to play a handful of those favorite slots onboard the cruise, I got a nasty surprise! The games were so tight I didn’t even recognize the reel strips or other game behavior. Plus, my average bonus wins were basically zero, all the time, across multiple games. Essentially, I was more unlucky on the cruise than on any previous casino trip. My bankroll vanished so quickly it was ridiculous!

I recall winning on previous cruises, even getting jackpots requiring a W2-G. So, winning is possible on cruise ships. My next thought is just how unlikely is it? I guess I’ll have to wait and see what my experience is like on a future cruise and I’ll report back to you then.

Here’s my concern. Twenty years ago, computing power was nowhere near to what it is today. In order for a slot’s mathematics to be designed, verified, implemented, and tested meant days of running computer simulations and exhaustive analysis, for each payback percentage the manufacturer was willing to offer customers. On average, that meant around six payback variants ranging from roughly 86% (14% hold) to 96% (4% hold). For some specialty games, there were higher, and lower turer and later by a third party laboratory, plus at times an individual gaming jurisdiction, meant time. Lots of time.

Now, computing power being where it is at, the time to perform testing is greatly reduced. The math for one payback percentage may only take minutes to verify rather than days. As our team has noticed the complexity of slot machine math models increase on casino floors, manufacturers are obviously taking advantage of today’s enhanced computing power.

I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to come to the conclusion there are far more payback percentages available to casinos than in years past. Ultimately, casinos are restricted by the minimum payback percentages dictated by the respective gaming jurisdictions. In Arizona, “each game shall theoretically pay out a minimum of 80% for games requiring no skill [Editor’s Note: a slot machine] and 83% for games of skill.” In Nevada, a slot must “theoretically pay out a mathematically demonstrable percentage of all amounts wagered, which must not be less than 75% for each wager available for play on the device.” Ouch!

Cruise ships have the luxury of operating in international waters where “rules of play shall generally follow those established for casinos in Nevada, New Jersey, or England,” according to the Cruise Lines International Association. We know the minimum payback for Nevada, in New Jersey it’s 83%, and in England the requirement is to post the payback percentage on the slot (there is no minimum!) Hmm...75% payback anyone?

What has your experience been playing in casinos on cruise ships? You can write me at Sami@AZGamingGuide.com. Thanks for your letters and emails! Have fun and good luck! $