Lady Luck was on Wilbur Merritt’s side as the Holyoke, Mass., resident sailed on the Carnival Victory and came home $304,090 richer after he hit the jackpot in the ship’s South China Sea casino.
Merritt’s big payoff came after playing MegaCash, a bank of slot machines that are connected to all 22 Carnival Cruise Lines ships, as well as vessels from sister companies Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard Line.
Carnival Cruise Slot Machines Denominations
- 25 Carnival Cruises Ships. Carnival Cruise Line Overview. Carnival Cruise Lines has earned its position as the World's Largest and Most Popular Cruise Line by offering more of what consumers desire in a vacation - a wide variety of on-board choices; a fun, relaxed atmosphere; outstanding value; and beautiful and exciting destinations.
- On cruise ships, you’ll most likely find the dreaded “6/5” machine. “6/5” video poker machines are common on cruises. Jacks or Better video poker paying back six credits for a full house and five credits for a flush have an expected return of 95.12% over the long-term.
Carnival Cruise Slot Machines
Land based casinos are regulated to ensure that the slot machines are both random and honest, however the situation is not the same aboard cruise ships. On land, the gambling laws are very clear, but at sea it is difficult to work out who exactly sets the laws to monitor the casinos and who enforces them.
Following his huge win, Merritt was the talk of the casino as dozens of people gathered around once they heard the commotion. Merritt was also presented with an oversized check representing his winnings.
Pictured here during the festivities are (from left): Casino Slot Manager Boris Fazlijoski; Casino Host Airguard Pamiloza; Casino Host Zoran Chekalov; Irene and Wilbur Merritt; Hotel Director Jan Rusin; Cruise Director Karl Bird; Casino Manager Gareth Millar; and Assistant Casino Manager Aiden Jones.
Carnival Victory operates year-round seven-day southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, calling at St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Maarten.