Gambling in Aruba?
May 17th, 2013 at 4:55:32 PM
permalink
Anyone ever gamble in Aruba? I am headed there the first week of July. I know there are only a couple of sports/race books there, and I love the ponies, but I also love Craps, the wife loves to feed the machines.
Any feedback on the casino's there would be appreciated.
Any feedback on the casino's there would be appreciated.
May 17th, 2013 at 5:00:28 PM
permalink
Rumors are that Russ Hamilton, the admitted cheat in the UB scandals, is at the very least employed by Occidental Grand Aruba Poker Room & SportsBook. Some think he may have some ownership or management level. That is enough for me to stay away, though I suppose the reports could be false.
May 17th, 2013 at 5:10:02 PM
permalink
I have no current first hand knowledge however AP's and some non AP's that I know will not play blackjack there. Claims of casino cheating have been around for years.
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
May 17th, 2013 at 5:21:39 PM
permalink
I have been there and played there before. The nicest (and largest) casino far and away is the Crystal Casino in Oranjestad. The resort ones are relatively tiny and only open limited hours daily. Here's what I remember from Crystal Casino:
Craps is $5 min, 2X odds. Not very busy.
Blackjack had $10 and $25 mins, nothing higher than that. Blackjack was 3:2 shoe games, H17, I believe DAS. Crystal casino tables do not take a hole card at blackjack, but if the dealer has a blackjack, only the initial bet loses. Hand shuffled.
Roulette was 00, I believe $5 min or less.
Interestingly enough, the most lively tables at Crystal Casino were mini-baccarat, $10 min, $300 max. As I noted in a previous post, if you have never seen the (very) elaborate traditional baccarat hand shuffle, this place did it when I was there. These tables are only open at night. The tables have 7 spots (they're blackjack style tables, not the oversized tables common in the US), but if more players can squeeze in, they'll allow it.
They had the carnival poker games too, but I didn't play those.
The slots are your typical mix of video and reel machines. I do remember very few, if any, licensed themes (Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune, etc) on those at Crystal casino.
Craps is $5 min, 2X odds. Not very busy.
Blackjack had $10 and $25 mins, nothing higher than that. Blackjack was 3:2 shoe games, H17, I believe DAS. Crystal casino tables do not take a hole card at blackjack, but if the dealer has a blackjack, only the initial bet loses. Hand shuffled.
Roulette was 00, I believe $5 min or less.
Interestingly enough, the most lively tables at Crystal Casino were mini-baccarat, $10 min, $300 max. As I noted in a previous post, if you have never seen the (very) elaborate traditional baccarat hand shuffle, this place did it when I was there. These tables are only open at night. The tables have 7 spots (they're blackjack style tables, not the oversized tables common in the US), but if more players can squeeze in, they'll allow it.
They had the carnival poker games too, but I didn't play those.
The slots are your typical mix of video and reel machines. I do remember very few, if any, licensed themes (Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune, etc) on those at Crystal casino.
May 17th, 2013 at 5:28:41 PM
permalink
The closest I've been is Curacao, the C of the ABC islands, Aruba being the A. On Curacao there were about five hotels large enough to support a small casino. A lot of the players were American, so the look and game selection was similar to what one would see here. Caribbean Stud was quite popular there. I've heard Aruba is similar, but with more and larger casinos.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
May 17th, 2013 at 5:30:34 PM
permalink
Quote: JW17Anyone ever gamble in Aruba?
Wow! Two posts in a row where I get to plug the Casino Chip of the Day thread. I was only in Aruba for one day -- a stop on a cruise -- and I spent it running around the town trying to find open casinos where I could collect souvenir chips. I did not spend much time in any of the places, so I don't have much of a review of any of them, but you could check what I posted in that thread. The link is to post #1, which includes an index. Scroll down just over half way until you come to the section on Caribbean Islands.
May 17th, 2013 at 5:36:44 PM
permalink
Quote: WizardThe closest I've been is Curacao, the C of the ABC islands, Aruba being the A. On Curacao there were about five hotels large enough to support a small casino. A lot of the players were American, so the look and game selection was similar to what one would see here. Caribbean Stud was quite popular there. I've heard Aruba is similar, but with more and larger casinos.
Funny, I am taking a day trip there. Leaving early and coming back at night. I live in AZ aand the long haul clear over there we thought, what the hell, lets head over there for a day. I will eventually end up in a few casino's there also.
To everyone who has answered, thank you for all of the info.
May 18th, 2013 at 6:31:29 AM
permalink
Quote: JW17Anyone ever gamble in Aruba? I am headed there the first week of July. I know there are only a couple of sports/race books there, and I love the ponies, but I also love Craps, the wife loves to feed the machines.
Any feedback on the casino's there would be appreciated.
I've never been there, but the owner of the hotel I used to manage has been there and said you can find some really soft poker tables.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
May 18th, 2013 at 7:41:31 AM
permalink
I played there as a drunken ploppy 19 years ago. Sorry I'm unable to offer any advice/info.
"I am a man devoured by the passion for gambling." --Dostoevsky, 1871
