How to play slot machines at cruise ships: 4 strategies
Cruise ship slot machines, just like any other slots found on land have similar features wherever you happen to play. However, there are at least 4 rules that I follow whenever I’m playing slots on a cruise ship.
1. Plan gambling sessions
Gambling is quite easy to do since the cruise ship is a small and self-contained environment, but this also encourages a lot of gamblin gambling without a lot of plans. A suggestion is giving yourself certain days you want to gamble instead so you are able to better manage it.
For example let’s say you are taking a week long cruise from Sunday through Saturday, you could choose two days to gamble on, like on Monday and Thursday telling yourself to wait till then to play. Doing this also allows you to participate in different activities. This greatly reduces the amount of time played and potential amount lost.
2. Limit the amount of time and money that you want to gamble with.
In gambling without a set limit, you will not be able to control yourself. So set a loss limit. While this is incredibly useful so you do not lose control, time management does help make it reasonable as well: like setting an agreeable time slot for the session in order to considerably limit loss accumulating time.
Example By gambling, you are ready to risk $200 that you can divide into two portions on Two separate days where you must spend a maximum of 2 hours in each session. If during any session you manage to lose the amount you are willing to lose or the time limit is at hand then quit whatever be the case. This is important so that one does not continue to sit on the table for long because statistically, it is to the relevancy of the casino.
3. Recognize volatility
As much as possible use the slot machine that you are familiar with and you know how volatile they are. Slots classified as high-volatility are said to be more rewarding but the opportunities to win them are few. On the other hand, low-volatility slots provide more opportunities to win, but the winnings are generally smaller. So, depending on the risk level you are comfortable with and the playing style you have opted for, pick the most suitable type of slot machine.
Example: For example, for those who want to hardly lose funds while engaging with gaming machines for prolonged periods, they can settle for low volatility slots. Yes, there will be some restrictions in terms of winnings but otherwise you will be able to play for a longer term without depleting your funds.
4. Player higher denominations, avoid nickel slots
It is advisable to ask the house for the higher at one point. For instance, eliminating nickel slots should be ideal once on a cruise. Higher payout percentages can be found in higher denomination slots by contrast to a nickel slot. Therefore, it follows that the more one plays slots, the better the chances of a big payout, for example - playing a quarter, or a dollar machine, or even higher ones. Yes, investing more per spin might feel scary, but the rewards can be tremendous.
Example: In the example, instead of playing nickel machines where you might make 4000 5-cent bets for a total of $200, you can make 200 dollar bets of 1 dollar on dollar machines. The potential benefit of this strategy is that dollar slots tend to payback higher than nickel ones- which increases your potential winnings!
Slot machines on Celebrity Cruises Equinox
Why do cruise ship casinos feel tighter?
Many veteran cruisers often wonder how machine gaming can offer services in the same way as cruise ships which makes it impossible not to be perceived as cut-throat. Part of this perception stems from various structural and enterprising aspects which evolve around machine gaming in particular.
Because of this, cruise lines tend to favor high volatility slot machines, which offer less frequent payouts. This approach effectively reduces the casino's payouts, allowing them to focus on games that generate more revenue, even if they result in a net loss for players. While this strategy may seem slow to generate immediate acclaim, the data-driven approach does offer some significant advantages and insight into consumer preferences, although it may not earn widespread recognition.
For a player, the experience can feel restrictive because, unlike other venues with tighter control over volatility, cruise casinos offer a limited scope of betting options. This limitation creates a challenge, as it contradicts some traditional betting strategies and influences the choice of cruise-sponsored machine games. As long as the most popular games remain challenging and attract frequent play, any potential profits are unlikely to be noticeable, especially when considering the overall strategy's impact.
Best slot machines on cruise ships: Low volatility
When it comes to enjoying slot machines, playing low volatility slots ensures that the bankroll lasts a little longer. More wins are sure to come, but they will be smaller wins. That means enjoying the game for a longer time frame, and who doesn’t like that? This strategy allows a player to balance their passion for the game along with reasonable bankroll management.
Double Diamond
Double Diamond Deluxe
Triple Red Hot 777
88 Fortunes
Are slot machines on cruise ships regulated?
There always seems to be a bit of speculation surrounding the role of slot machines on cruise ships, whether it's regarding how 'rigged' they are or how easily a player can get a ‘bad’ gaming experience. The truth, as many ardent slot players may know, is that slot machines on cruise ships are not that much different from the ones found in a land based casinos. One is often registered and certified while the other isn't, because slot machines on cruise ships are not a localized aspect.
It comes from the fact that cruise boats are usually classified under some countries with little to no restrictions on gambling activities, also referred to as ‘flags of convenience’ programs, such as in Panama or the Bahamas. To keep a consistent and good gaming experience throughout both, international gaming standards have been implemented by organizations like the CLIA (Cruise Line International Association). This guarantees that machine connected matters such as percentage targeting all the way to the source code follow international standards for a fair payback ratio.
Common myths about slot machines on cruise ships
Myth
Cruise ship slots are manipulated during the voyage.
Fact:
The entire trip, the machine remains untouched in terms of its settings. When a machine is configured by its manufacturer, it stays that way, it cannot be opened up when the entity onboard the cruise is different from the entity that configured the machine. Moreover, the cruise lines are also obligated to comply with CLIA regulations which means that the set rules must not be deviated from in any way possible. This means that the slot machine can be played in a right manner during the entirety of the trip.
Myth
Payback percentages can affect short-term play.
Fact:
A slot machine is also able to tell its owners in a glance the relevance in profit or revenue making it possession for millions of months meaning that their guidance in a short span of time is next to useless. Numbers may vary when discussing the absolute relevance of a machine which is offering RTP of 98% and a machine offering RTP of 85%. For a short span, the percentage meaning does not have relevance and hence the machine has to be spun for millions or trillions of times.
Myth
Cruise ship casinos feel tighter.
Fact:
his perception stems from the limited variety of machines available on the relatively small casino floors of cruise ships. To maximize profitability, cruise lines often feature high-volatility games that are popular but less frequent in payouts. This focused selection can make the gaming experience feel more restrictive compared to large land-based casinos with more diverse options.
Myth
Cruise ship casinos feel tighter.
Fact:
This viewpoint comes about because clusters of cruising ships are factored with a few granules of machines on the casino floors. This stems from the fact that, in order to attain maximum profits, cruise lines tend to offer only a few games that are very high in volatility but infrequent in pay outs. This focused selection can make the gaming experience feel more limiting as opposed to the land based casinos which have more options to choose from.
Frequent asked questions about casinos and slot machines on cruise ships
Slot machines are many peoples favorite casino games and I often get questions about slots on cruises. Here are some common questions I get:
No, cruise ship slot machines are not rigged. They regulated to the same standards as land-based casinos, specifically following the guidelines of the Nevada Gaming Control Board through CLIA regulations. These regulations ensure fair play and consistent payout percentages.
No, cruise casinos cannot change the odds of slot machines once the cruise has started. The machines are set according to manufacturer settings, and CLIA regulations prevent any alterations during the voyage to ensure fairness and compliance with Nevada's gaming standards.
Most cruise lines typically offer high-stakes tables and machines rather than completely separate rooms. High roller areas provide an exclusive atmosphere for higher-stake gambling but are not necessarily separate rooms.
No, the slot machines on cruise ships are standalone RNG (Random Number Generator) based units, similar to Class III slot machines found in land-based casinos. They do not operate on any external systems like bingo or lottery.