Grand Princess Casino Antigua - Beware!

[hans2468]

Visitors to Antigua should exercise some caution when venturing into the casinos there. Certain casinos, including the Grand Princess in Jolly Harbour are host to a game known as Rainbow Jackpot. DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME!

Unsuspecting punters are enticed with the offer of a free turn to get them started. The game is played with a set of numbered ping pong balls. The object is to accumulate 100 points by scooping out balls and adding the numbers. A substantial cash prize is used as bait if you can get to 100 points.

Starting at $10, each successive turn requires you to double your bet. The game operator will actively encourage you to continue playing and may say that you are bound to win. When you run out of cash he will offer to take your credit card. Invariably the points scored become smaller and smaller as you fall just short of the 100 points required.

In a short time the player's credit card is maxed out. Since you cannot continue the operator will sadly inform you that have lost. Some persons have been taken for many thousands of dollars in a very short time. Clearly this is not a casino game in the generally accepted sense.

Several victims have posted their experiences on the web. Just Google on "antigua rainbow jackpot" to get their details.

If you conclude that Grand Princess is being less than forthright with its Rainbow game then perhaps you should feel a certain skepticism regarding the more conventional games being played under the same roof.

You can expect to enjoy your vacation in Antigua just as long you steer well clear of this casino minefield. By all means do others a big favor by sharing this warning with your travel agent and fellow travelers.

You should also know that the Grand Bay casino near Sandals on Dickenson Bay is owned and operated by the same people as the Grand Princess

 

[vinylweatherman]

Is there any evidence that the game is actually rigged, rather than playing on the need to double the bet every time.

If not rigged, a "whale" would be able to take this game to the cleaners, so I would suspect the casino is cheating in some way, and this would not look good for Antigua who are trying to look like a legitimate host nation for online casinos.

Such scams here in the UK turn up at travelling fairgrounds, and some booths in seaside resorts. We would NOT expect to see such a scam operating in a "proper" gaming establishment such as a casino, as it would be presumed that the authorities would shut it down very quickly indeed. If the authorities are turning a blind eye to this operator in Antigua, then why should we trust them to properly regulate any online operation based there?

 

[hans2468]

Hello vinylweatherman,

I encourage subscribers to research the available postings online for themselves using the search arguments "antigua rainbow jackpot". This avoids any notions of foul play or suggestions of personal rantings by one individual. Some posters have already observed that this game is based on an established carnival scam and does not belong in any bona fide casino.

To answer your questions which are all entirely valid here is an example of what is out there. I do know for a fact that several persons have complained directly to the Antigua chief of police, the attorney general, and the prime minister without result. There is a government appointed gaming inspector constantly on duty at each casino in Antigua. If they are turning a blind eye to this blatant abuse of the gaming concept in full view of the public how confident can one be that online gaming based in Antigua is being properly regulated? I notice that a high percentage of complaints against Antiguan based hosts are already named in the rogues gallery on this site.


PittPanthers
Pittsburgh, PA
5 Jul 2006
10/11 found this review helpful
We encourage you to visit Antigua and the fine resorts, includng the neighboring Jolly Beach Resort. It is an absolutely beautiful vacation destination. However, we HIGHLY recommend that you avoid the Grand Princess Casino completely during your visit. In our opinion, the Rainbow Jackpot game at this casino is virtually criminal and was our only lasting negative impression of the wonderful island of Antigua.

This game involves players randomly scooping numbered ping pong balls from a bin with a long pole. The game will appear very easy initially and then turns absolutely impossible as players approach the jackpot. The apparant reason for this is because numbers on the balls are often not as they appear to the player.

The numbers on the balls are so small and widely spaced that the very quick glimpse of the ball that that the dealer gives to the players can make the ball's number appear to be much different. The way the ball is rotated as it is displayed to the player can make the number appear far different than it is. For example, if a '12' ball is a beneficial number for the player to draw, the dealer will show 12 as the player begins working toward the jackpot. However, this doesn't mean the player is actually drawing a 12 ball. They may be drawing a 12 ball or any 'losing number ball' from 120 to 129' or a losing '112' ball. These 'losing' balls are rotated to appear as a '12' ball in the early stages, as they are quickly flashed by the dealer. Few players are going to question the dealer at this point, when they appear to be doing well'. This keeps the interest of the player and encourages them to invest more bets since the jackpot seems easily obtainable. No winnings are paid until the jackpot is reached, but the sunk cost of bets as the player works toward the jackpot are lost. As the player nears the jackpot, the jackpot grows, but the amount required for each bet also grows. The increasingly attractive jackpot prize distracts players from the actual size of new bets and sunk costs of prior bets. As the player closes in on the jackpot, if a 'losing 120' ball is drawn, it will be shown as the losing '120'. If you review the odds posted far above the player's head, you will see how very few 'winning' balls are really in the bin. If by chance, the 'winning' 12 ball is drawn at this point, it will be rotated to appear as a 'losing 2' or even claimed to be a 'losing 112' and displayed so quickly that it is not humanly possible for the players to clearly see that it was, in reality, the winning '12 and not '112'. The ball is VERY quickly tossed back into the ball bin and lost in the mix. This scam cycle continues so that the player NEVER reaches the jackpot. The player eventually quits or runs out of funds, at which point all costs of mounting bets to reach that point are lost.

When I plainly caught the dealer in this scam, he obviously denied it, refunded a few prior bets and give us a few free plays to try to keep us at the table. Fortunately, we caught the scam far earlier than many other unfortunate guests and were robbed of 'only' $60 versus thousands that could be very quickly be lost. We did not attempt any other table games at the resort, but the slots did not pay out to anyone in our group of 15.

It's a shame that such an unfortuanate situation is allowed to exist and sour this otherwise wonderful vacation experience in Antigua.
Scams at Antigua Casino

 

[GrandMaster]

Several victims have posted their experiences on the web. Just Google on "antigua rainbow jackpot" to get their details.

Well, the hits for "antigua rainbow jackpot" are copies of this message.

 

[winbig]

The most relevant hit I saw was from Tripadvisor:

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Besides one comment regarding poker and another complaining about there not being any ATM's in the joint , there were 5 reports of this game dating back to 2006; all the same - with a warning to stay away.

 

[SlotsWizard]

In order to truly determine if this is a scam, more information is needed, such as:

1. Are the balls physical or virtual?
2. What is the largest number available on any given ball?
3. What is the distribution of the numbers that are available?
4. How many balls are chosen per turn?
5. Are the balls selected by the player or a machine?

Seven consecutive losses will cost $1270. Ten in a row will set you back $10,230. But one cannot conclude that cheating is involved without knowing the specifics of the game. You seem to have the demeanor of someone who lost a lot of money playing it. I'm not saying you are right or wrong, but more details are needed in order to accurately size up the game.

It seems that this game could teach a valuable lesson to people who think that the Martingale system is a good idea.

 

[winbig]

Whether or not it's rigged is irrelevant IMO. It's the operator(s) that should be drug out in the street for merely suggesting (let alone "persuading") people keep playing - even if it means taking out a cash advance on their credit card and/or maxing it out.

 

[SlotsWizard]

Whether or not it's rigged is irrelevant IMO. It's the operator(s) that should be drug out in the street for merely suggesting (let alone "persuading") people keep playing - even if it means taking out a cash advance on their credit card and/or maxing it out.

I agree that it's a horrible tactic by itself, one which would never be allowed here in the states. But at the same time, it takes two to tango. The players voluntarily handed their credit cards over to the casino.

 

[hans2468]

Thanks to all for taking time to respond. I'll try to answer as best I can.

tripadvisor.com certainly has several posts on Rainbow Jackpot, none of them good. There are some others out there but they may not show at the top of the search hit list. Here's one -

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June 2006
Posted by golf47cart

"Also, Grand Princess Casino was a beautiful casino on the outside, with an empty atmosphere on the inside. There was also a corrupt game called "Super Rainbow Jackpot". If you are looking to give your money away, then play it. If you want to win, stay away. They took cash and credit at the table, which we thought was very odd to take credit at the casino table."


here's another (It also references tripadvisor but I don't remember seeing this one before now. This is really interesting because it appears that there are also several locations in Dominican Republic running similar operations. I had no idea!) -

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Comments by From Trip advisor page on Thursday, March 10, 2005 at 21:09 IP Logged

RIPOFF!! Beware of the Grand Princess Casino in Antigua located at Jolly Harbor. This place is a ripoff. As you walk in you will be greeted and directed over to a "progressive" game. Where after a one sentence explanation of the way the game is played, you find yourself in the middle of the game. I lost over US$6,000 in a space of one half hour. With this game you use a four foot pole with a scoop at the end to get a ping pong ball. The balls have a number which correspond to the other numbers on the table. The dealer is very good about directing your eyes and attention to the table, so you almost never get to see the numbers on the balls. The dealer also lies to you by telling you that certain numbers are good for you, but in reality they are the ones that put you in a hole really fast. In essence those numbers required you to continue to double your bet, until you run out of money. Stay away from this place, and tell all your friends.

United States


1. Are the balls physical or virtual?

A. Real live ping pong type balls

2. What is the largest number available on any given ball?

A. Not entirely certain but apparently the set includes the numbers 112 and 120 thru 129 which all cause you to lose.

3. What is the distribution of the numbers that are available?

A. I don't specifically know that. What I can say is that players invariably draw a number between 50 and 80 on their first turn and then get progressively smaller numbers on each successive turn. This doesn't seem like random chance when every player reports getting consistently diminishing numbers.

4. How many balls are chosen per turn?

A. Exactly one ball.

5. Are the balls selected by the player or a machine?

A. The player uses a pole to scoop out one ball as they are all blown around in a jet of air. HOWEVER - it is grabbed and read off by the dealer/operator before being quickly tossed back into the machine.

Imagine a ping pong ball. Now put the number 120 onto the ball in black ink but space out the numbers - 1 2 0

What one player is suggesting is that the operator is using sleight of hand to conceal either the 1 or the 0 in order to manipulate the score. Its not too hard to imagine how this could be done by a skilled operator. He actually claims to have caught him doing it.

I don't know how I can "prove beyond any reasonable doubt" that the game is a cheat. I do know that I have been hearing horror stories for years and years about visitors to Antigua leaving in tears after a visit to the Grand Princess. It is true that their own greed got them into a mess.

There is a newsgroup site at

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Some years ago there were dozens of posts on the site about Rainbow Jackpot and for a time these could be searched and located from the archives. They appear to be no longer available which is really unfortunate. However, the game and its history are quite well known to the regular subscribers. If anyone here wants to get an independent opinion then by all means post a query to the group asking for any information on the Rainbow Jackpot at Grand Princess Casino.

Hans

 

[SlotsWizard]

Definitely sounds like a good game to avoid. Especially with all the 3-digit numbers, that adds a whole new twist.

Fair or not, it seems like a good candidate for "World's Worst Casino Game".

 

[winbig]

In essence those numbers required you to continue to double your bet, until you run out of money.



You have to double your bet in the middle of the game???

 

[hans2468]

Hello winbig,

A big part of the problem with this game is that the actual complete rules are shrouded in mystery. Yeah, yeah, why would anyone would ever play any game without knowing the rules? It sounds stupid, and it is. Remember it all starts with the offer of "a free turn". Seriously, if an attractive girl smiling ever so sweetly came up to you in a strange casino and offered you a free turn at a game where you could win instant cash, what would you do? From there its all down hill as the game operator makes it sound as if he's really on your side and wants you to win. The whole thing is designed as a psychological mind twist. If you've ever seen Derren Brown on T.V. you have an idea of the implications (he has a great web site at

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)

To answer the question, yes you have have to double your bet in the middle of the game. You have to double your bet with each new ball. Players typically only really find this out after their second turn. The first $5 bet is "free". You pull one ball and get lets say 78 points. The dealer says congratulations that's a good score, you only need a few more points to get to 100 and win a $100 cash prize. You will have to pony up $10 to pull the next ball. Sounds like a good bet! You hand over the $10, scoop a ball out and the dealer takes the ball and reads you the number, say 17. Great! now you've got 95 points. Almost home and dry, right? Now the dealer says the jackpot has increased to $250, you only need to pony up $20 to pull one more ball. How can you refuse? The next ball is a 3. Now you've got 98 points. The jackpot is raised again to $500 but one more ball will cost you $40. Well you've come this far and done really well to get 98 points so how silly is it to walk away when you are this close to winning the big one?

The next ball you pull has one of those numbers above 100. Huh? The dealer patiently explains that its effectively a no score ball so you still only have 98 points. He might refer to this as a free turn just to confuse matters even more. The good news is - the jackpot is now $1,000 and you only have to cough up another $80 dollars to win really big! Yes, we do take VISA, Mastercard, and AMEX. Thanks, I'll just send that card over for authorization right now.

By now all the sane people really should have gone home to lick their wounds. The reality is that by deliberately targeting young couples and persons who have consumed some alcohol the dealer can manage to talk a certain percentage of them into continuing. Its always "you just need one more turn to win big". Sickening, isn't it?

The next ball is likely to be a 1 so now you've got 99 points. Gee! just 1 more point you need to get the new improved $2,500 jackpot. An absolute bargain at only $160 to pop the ball! How can anyone refuse? You'd have to be mad! Right?

Strangely, the elusive 1 ball never appears. For all I know there isn't a 1 ball anywhere in Antigua! You can continue to play and you will learn new rules about the game and the true meaning of all those mystery balls but you will never win. You might pull a "losing number" but more likely your credit card will eventually max out. And then you finally quit.

"Worlds worst casino game". Yes, I'd certainly give it my vote.

hans

 

[Mousey]

Seriously, if an attractive girl smiling ever so sweetly came up to you in a strange casino and offered you a free turn at a game where you could win instant cash, what would you do?

Ummm... tell her to go take a flying leap, and then walk away?

Seriously... Regardless of the OP's personal stake (or lack thereof) in this ... this is a carnival game and should be avoided at all costs.

 

[hans2468]

I just went back to the superkenoscam web site to rummage around. They have a remarkably consistent description of the game as it is played in D.R. and I thought someone might be interested. I really wish I'd known about this earlier. Anyway, here's the URL -

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How is Super Keno played?
The game consists of 305 balls of the size of a ping pong ball with non-sequential numbers between 11 and 149 on them contained on a transparent plastic-like box like the one you would see on the loto. The balls are barely popping inside the box.

For example, there is 15 balls with the number 141. If you draw one of this ball it causes the jack pot and your next bet to double. This means that if the jackpot was $200.00 its now $400.00 and if your bet was $5.00 it is from now on $10.00 if your want to continue playing.

The idea is that with each bet you buy a ball. Each ball has a black stripe in which there is a small white number. Located somewhere on the table is a chart in which every number that is painted on the ball is listed with it meaning in the game.

The goal of the game is to accumulate and reach 100 points and then you win the jackpot. Your reach 100 points by drawing balls with points until you reach 100 or if you draw the balls 36, 117, 125 or 126 (there is only one of each among the 305 balls.

Along the game you may also win small prizes between $5.00 and $25.00 and if you get four of the kind of the blue, silver or gold you may also win a cash prize.

When you first arrive at the table you are asked to place a bet which usually is between a $5.00 or a $10.00. Initially the dealer will place the house bet or jack pot equivalent to 40 times your bet. If you bet $5.00 the casino will place $200.00 as the initial jackpot.

Once you have placed your bet you are allow to withdraw one of the ball from its container using a stick with a small basket at the end, big enough to fit one ball. The dealer will quickly take the ball and announce the number, its meaning, execute its meaning, all this while he places the ball back in the container. Things happen so fast that you are not able to see what has just happened just to see the result of it on the table and only because the dealer tells you.

Once the ball is drawn it is quickly returned to the container without giving you the opportunity to verify the number.

As the game progresses the jackpot will continue to grow as well as the minimum bet. The game proceeds rather quickly and you will find yourself within striking distance of the jackpot. Most people we have spoken with tell us that they reach the 90 point range very quickly.

Once you have run out of cash you will be invited to use your credit card (Visa or Master Card only). After all, the dealer, in a most assuring tone, will assure you that you are only minutes away to win the jackpot. Once you have given your credit card the game goes into automatic mode, as it were, as from now on is the dealer who controls your bet.

What is the reality of the game?

Once you have lost all your money or have had the good sense of leaving before it gets worst, most people initially feel that they were the subjects of bad luck and go away to lick their wounds.

But the truth is that you really never had a chance. The game seems to be rigged from the very beginning, from the odds to the way the game is handled by the dealer.

In most cases the victim arrive at the table because they were approached by an attractive young lady that, after asking where you are from, invites you to test a new game. To motivate you in this harmless test you are offered free chips to try it out. If you accept you will be escorted to the Super Keno table where you will be received by an engllish speaking dealer.

Once the game start the only thing you do is place the bet (while you have cash only), pull the ball and watch the dealer do the rest. He takes the ball, he reads the ball, he tells you what the balls means and he places it back before you had a chance to see what is really in the ball. All this in a matter of 30 seconds or less.

The truth is that you really dont know if all the balls are in the container, or how many of each number. You never are shown or able to see the number on the ball every time you pull one. You must blindly trust the dealer and the casino that they are "honest". This is a "blind trust" of the worst kind as casinos at the Dominican Republic are not supervised by anyone.

But the main question is, why every person is able to reach the 90s at lightning speeds and never reach the remaining points to win the jackpot?

While investigating the game I went to one of the casinos that offer it and was able to experience what hundreds of people have experienced. I too reached 76 points within the first 12 balls So it stand to reason, or so it seems, that if I am able to reach 76 points so fast then, why wouldnt I be able to get the remaining 24 points the same?

It seems that everyone I have spoken with that have fallen victim of the game have "great luck" at the beginning and as soon as they reach 99 points their luck completely runs out.

Why is that so many get to 99 points but never get the last point? Why is so easy to get the fist 99 points but not the last one? Could it be due to the way the ball is handled by the dealer? Or that the balls arent all there?

Remember, Casinos are not supervised by anyone in the Dominican Republic. Yet, everyone we have spoken with there acknowledge that it is known that the Super Keno is a scam. Hotel managers acknowledge that they receive many complaints yet they refuse to do anything about it.


What happens when you have reached the limit on your credit card?

Once your credit card is max out your will be asked to settle your debt to the casino. Usually one or two security agents will stand behind you when this happens. Couples will be split while one goes to the managers office the other one will remain at the table.

What just happened is that your liberty, in a foreign country, will be restricted until you pay off.

You will be asked to make phone calls to your credit card and sign credit card checks. Only then you will be free to go.

After all this, you will be given the opportunity to come the next day and continue your game exactly where you left it.