This video details Chris Fantini's experience playing slots on the Utopia of the Seas cruise ship to maximize chances of earning complimentary cruises. He explains strategies based on the average daily theoretical (ADT) calculation used by Royal Caribbean casinos, focusing on time spent playing and machine selection.
Here's a list of the slot machines mentioned in the video, along with a summary of Chris Fantini's comments on each:
Press Your Luck: A fun game with various bonuses (pigs, Press Your Luck game itself, progressives). Offers a relatively low minimum bet (possibly 60 or 80 cents on a 1-cent denomination) and a surprisingly good return to player, allowing for extended playtime. However, bonus triggers can be slow.
Video Poker/Kino: Located on bar-top machines, these offer some of the highest return to player percentages in the casino. A good option if you're losing on other machines and need a break. Note: requires a $10 bet to earn a point, not $5 like regular slots.
Leprechauns and Dragons: Features three pots with progressive jackpots; a triple pop of all pots can result in a significant win. An 80-cent minimum bet. Fantini's strategy is to play only when one or more pots seem close to popping.
Dancing Drums: Fantini recommends the standard Dancing Drums (88-cent bet). Good payline returns, but he typically plays only when the pot is getting large, similar to his Leprechauns and Dragons strategy.
Tower Trio: Three games in one, with an 88-cent bet per game (264 cents total). Fantini advises against playing all three simultaneously due to the faster depletion of bankroll and shorter playtime, impacting ADT. He suggests playing only one game at a time.
88 Diamonds: Located in the non-smoking section on Deck 4. Generally has a good return to player and is good for stretching a bankroll.
Chili 3 Reels: Found in a roped-off high-limit area behind the bar. Traditionally known for good return to player and relatively easy bonus triggers.
Hot Pots: A fun game where bonuses can last a long time, benefiting ADT. However, the line hits aren't great, and the grand prize requires lighting up all letters in the hold and spin feature, which is often teased but not completed. Best played when already ahead.
Coin Combo: This is not the Coin Trio game (which Fantini dislikes). Coin Combo has three large coins that progressively grow and eventually pop. Fantini finds it has a good jackpot feature, free spins, and a lucrative Holden spin feature, plus solid line hits. He uses a similar strategy as with Leprechauns and Dragons and Dancing Drums, playing when pots are large.