baglad
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« on: May 27, 2008, 05:21:08 AM » |
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Is it me or are the prizes in Bingo a fair representation of the amount that players invest in it?
Aside from the Jackpot prize which is designed to be the "hook" the other prizes in proportion to the amount of books sold seem to be much in favor of the house.
There does not appear to be any transparency in terms of the formula that determines prize value so rumors abound on the amount of profit this activity secures.
As a form of entertainment bingo has a wide following but when I see a prize of $120 cut up four ways, for instance, I have to wonder at the logic of the investment.
It used to be entertaining but now it seems to be business.
Maybe I would have a different view if I won the Jackpot but hell will freeze over before that happens.
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OceanMotion
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« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2008, 07:02:14 AM » |
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No, thanks. I haven't joined the bingo cult yet  But, I'm sure they are running it like a business. It does have a large following, is a form of entertainment under the guise of gambling - just not held in the ship's casino.  Keep waiting for that freeze! |
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 Princess Cruises: GRAND 2009 - Caribbean Collection EMERALD 2008-Eastern Caribbean Voyager; CORAL 2007 - Panama Canal Partial Transit; SUN 1998 - Caribbean; CROWN 1996 - Caribbean Cruises on Other Ships: Bermuda, Hawaiian Islands, Western Caribbean |
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f-mattox
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« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2008, 12:48:04 PM » |
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It's not a favorite topic of conversation with the cruise staff, but bingo is and always has been a major source of revenue. You are correct, baglad; even a cursory survey of the number or cards sold versus the amount of money paid out in any given session is very revealing.
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Princess Cruiser
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Cruising around Cape Horn
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« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2008, 05:41:34 PM » |
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The jackpot prize rarely, if ever, goes before the last game of the cruise. The jackpot game is always a blackout game. A friend of mine who worked at Creek Nation Bingo said it is extremely hard to get a blackout with less than 55 calls. You'll notice that all jackpot Bingo games played on Princess, other than the final game, require you to blackout with less than 55 calls.
In other words there is almost no hope of winning any jackpot money at Princess bingo until the final game is played. Many people know this so they wait to play bingo only on the last sea day. This means that, even if you win, the chance of having to split your jackpot prize is pretty high.
Princess bingo should only be played for fun and to listen to the jokes they tell and not for money.
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f-mattox
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« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2008, 07:20:45 PM » |
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And in all fairness, I think that is why most people play. Any winnings are just a bonus.
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RaeVynn
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Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
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« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2008, 02:33:40 PM » |
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Somehow, I think I'll find plenty to do without having to play bingo... |
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baglad
First Officer
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« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2008, 12:23:22 AM » |
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Even on the last day when that huge jackpot has to go?  |
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Sanibel*Gal
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« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2008, 08:17:21 AM » |
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I got hooked on our last cruise - bingo was after the "Wooden" horse races.....decided to stay & try it out! Was a lot more fun than losing $20 in the casino slot machine in 15 mins.!  Besides, someone has got to win that jackpot! |
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Sheltielady
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« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2008, 08:10:25 AM » |
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On my cruise last January on RCCL ship I won bingo a couple of times during the cruise won about $200 total and was one number away from the jackpot of $4,500. I plan to play again on our upcoming cruise but not as much as I did on my other cruise.
Christine
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 March 10, 2009 - Emerald Princess Heading back to the Caribbean for my 50th birthday 30th wedding anniversary and 20 year reunion with my sister |
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kohaladonah
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« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2008, 04:22:21 PM » |
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The jackpot prize rarely, if ever, goes before the last game of the cruise. The jackpot game is always a blackout game. A friend of mine who worked at Creek Nation Bingo said it is extremely hard to get a blackout with less than 55 calls. You'll notice that all jackpot Bingo games played on Princess, other than the final game, require you to blackout with less than 55 calls.
In other words there is almost no hope of winning any jackpot money at Princess bingo until the final game is played. Many people know this so they wait to play bingo only on the last sea day. This means that, even if you win, the chance of having to split your jackpot prize is pretty high.
Princess bingo should only be played for fun and to listen to the jokes they tell and not for money.
But it CAN happen, and did, two days before the final game on my last cruise! Was just walking by when it happened (having decided that Bingo was basically a rip off a long time ago) and everyone went nuts. |
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NSWP
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« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2008, 01:24:47 AM » |
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I heard on the current Sun Princess Cruise, the bingo jackpot was $5,000 and there was Bingo Rage', people lined up half hour for their bingo cards.  They also of course had 'the usual laundry rage' , 'tendering rage.' 'Embarkation rage' and god only knows what else rage. Cheers..Les  |
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« Last Edit: June 10, 2008, 01:26:23 AM by NSWP »
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CHEERS..Les from Batemans Bay, NSW, Australia
Princess Elite Cruiser, (282 days,) also cruised with P&O, Carnival and Sitmar.
Last cruise:
8 November 2011 - Coral Princess - Panama Canal - FL to LA - 15 days.
Next cruise:
9 March 2012 - Arcadia - Sydney - Southampton via Asia/Africa - 49 days.
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WeBeGone
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« Reply #11 on: June 19, 2008, 03:46:21 PM » |
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I only reason to play bingo is to drink bloody Marys ! |
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Caribbean Princess - Bahamas / May 08 Star Princess - Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco/TransAtlantic / Dec 07 Star Princess - Italy, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Italy / Nov 07 Tahitian Princess - Cook Islands / Dec 06 Tahitian Princess - Marquesas Islands / Nov 06 Sapphire Princess - Alaska Inside Passage / Sept 05 Coral Princess - Panama Canal / Feb 05 Star Princess - Eastern Caribbean / Nov 04 Coral Princess - Panama Canal / Dec 03 Grand Princess - Western Caribbean / Feb 03 Ocean Princess - Southern Caribbean / Jan 02 www.cruisesfrom.com |
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