What is a slot pull on a cruise?

A Slot Pull is a fun activity for a group on a cruise – usually people who met through the online roll call or people who meet in person at the Meet & Greet. In a Slot Pull, a team of people invest equal amounts of money into a single slot machine, and each take an equal number of pulls.



A "slot pull" is a popular social gambling activity organized by cruise passengers, often through online "roll call" groups like Cruise Critic or Reddit. The concept is simple: a group of people (usually 10 to 30) each contribute an equal amount of money—typically $15 or $20—into a single pool. The group then heads to the ship's casino and selects a high-denomination slot machine. Each participant takes a set number of "pulls" or "spins" on the machine while the rest of the group cheers them on. After everyone has had their turn, the total remaining balance is split equally among all participants. While it's rarely a way to get rich, it's a high-energy way to meet fellow cruisers and enjoy the casino atmosphere without the risk of losing a large individual sum. In 2026, many ship casinos facilitate these by providing a dedicated "Casino Host" to help manage the group and ensure the machine is set up correctly, making it one of the most common "icebreaker" events on modern cruise itineraries.

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Can you win money in a cruise ship casino? Most cruise ship casino games operate under the same rules and payout percentages you would find in a land-based casino; therefore, the answer is yes, you can win money in a cruise ship casino.

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While the Casino is open in US Territorial or International waters, all US Citizens or Residents will be issued a W2G form and required information will be reported to the US Internal Revenue Service for the following events: Individual slot machine jackpot of $1,199.99 or more.

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Most cruise ship casino games operate under the same rules and payout percentages you would find in a land-based casino; therefore, the answer is yes, you can win money in a cruise ship casino.

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Unlike casinos on land, cruise ship casinos are normally not open 24 hours a day, but they are open late nights. Casinos and shops are generally closed while the ship is in port to comply with local gambling rules. Get more than just miles on your next sailing with American Airlines Cruises.

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Use the ship's safe, or bring your own. When not in use, your jewelry and cash should be kept in a safe. Every cruise ship cabin comes with a safe; there also are portable safes you can purchase for added security. (Crewmembers, like any hotel staff, have the ability to open your safe in the event you're locked out.)

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Generally, the highest-paying jobs on cruise ships are held by officers, department heads, and those working on commission. However, many other variables affect earning potential, such as cruise line, ship size, clientele, tips awarded, and prior job experience. Contracts are another factor.

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Is the cruise ship casino open 24/7? No. Cruise ship casinos are only open when the ship is out to sea or in port in a select few countries where gambling is permitted (at least on the cruise ship), such as Bermuda and Malta.

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Yes, my first cruise in 2009 on the fascination, I won a jackpot of $5000 on a 50 cent bet. I went on to win another 2500 during that 5 day cruise (one of them being 500 in the slot tournament)... walked off the ship with about 7300 in cash.

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How much do non-salaried cruise ship employees earn? Gratuities usually come into play for service-oriented crew members who earn an hourly wage. The base wage is usually low -- sometimes as little as a few dollars a day, leaving tips to represent as much as 95 percent of their total take home pay.

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As a benefit with Club Royale, complimentary drinks are offered in the Casino, during operating hours, to Prime, Signature and Masters guests.

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As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.

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What will happen is the cruise line will fly you home, but will deduct from your wages what you owe, Jim Walker, a Miami-based maritime lawyer who represents cruise workers and passengers, told Insider. So it's a very punitive type of step if you try to quit and go home.

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