In a previous article we discussed some of the rules the cruise lines voluntarily agree to abide by when it comes to their onboard casinos. But buried in that write-up was an answer to a question we get asked a lot:
What is the return rate of slot machines at sea?
Susan K.
Just like the physical casinos on land, the slot machines themselves generally don’t offer any indication as to payout. So we have to go by the things we can confirm, and work from there.
For one, modern slot machines come with an array of payback percentage options, and the ones sold to casinos on cruise ships are no different.
We shared in that previous article that cruise lines voluntarily abide by the regulations of various jurisdictions like Nevada and New Jersey. This includes things like minimum payback percentages.
But the widespread belief that captive audiences and lack of competition means the gamble might be less player friendly is also fair to assume as well – why set paybacks higher when you don’t have to?
So with most slot machines usually starting at about 85% payback, that’s what we’d expect cruise ship slots to pay. And we’ve seen the odd picture over the years when a machine’s been opened up, and that’s what’s showing on the screen. We wouldn’t say it’s an absolute, as we haven’t looked at all of them, but we’d say it’s a fair assumption.
On the other hand, another thing that’s often true on land, that paybacks increase with higher denomination, is not something we’d expect to port over to cruise ships. While some high denomination slots don’t have an 85% payback option, meaning payback has to start higher, some do go that low, and we’d expect the cruise ship casinos to take advantage of it when offered.
If that return to player (RTP) sounds low, some land-based casinos do dip that low too, particularly on penny slot machines. That data is affirmed in some of the payback reporting that break out payback by casino and denomination.
So ultimately that means a cruise ship casino won’t pay any worse than the land-based casinos that dip that low, but there will be land based casinos that pay better (and sometimes, considerably better) than a cruise ship.
Like anything, play with an entertainment budget and only what you can afford to lose, and remember that the trade-off can be discounted or even complimentary cruises, which may justify the trade-off for many.
Have a question? Submit yours here!
I have won more money on a 5-day cruise than I have ever won on land!
That’s wonderful! While slots at sea might not have the same long term payback, it doesn’t mean you can’t win! Our editor won his biggest jackpot of his life on a cruise ship.
I have better luck on slot machines on the cruise ships and my jackpots were over $2000.
This is certainly great to hear! You can certainly win on cruise ship slots, and that’s one thing we think some people lose track of in the conversation about slot payback.