What Is "The Floor" on Deal or No Deal Island? The Classic Game Term, Explained
We've seen the floor be very low for some players on DONDI's second season.
While the various challenges that the contestants must go through on Deal or No Deal Island all have different rules and obstacles to overcome, the briefcase-opening gameplay that ends every episode is essentially the same as it was on the original Deal or No Deal show. It’s both incredibly simple (pick a briefcase at random and hope there’s a big number inside) and extremely complex (a keen understanding of statistics is a valuable skill).
There are some gameplay-specific terms you’ll hear while watching Deal or No Deal Island, but there are also just some colloquialisms that come up. For instance, viewers of Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 might’ve heard mention of “The Floor.” If you’re confused about what that means, don’t worry: we've got you.
What is "The Floor" on Deal or No Deal Island?
The floor is not some island-specific term. Instead, the floor is just another way of saying it’s the lowest possible amount of money a contestant can win in a given round. Likewise, the highest possible amount of money a contestant can win in a given round might be called “the ceiling.”
RELATED: How Do Deal or No Deal Island's Challenges and Classic Briefcases Work?
Let’s use the premiere episode of Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 as an example. Luke Olejniczak, who ended up being the first person eliminated, at one point had eliminated all but two cases — and neither was high in value. He had the $1 case and the $500 case left, and the Banker had made him an offer for $300. In this instance, $1 was “the floor,” meaning it was the lowest possible amount he could win. Had things gone differently and Olejniczak eliminated all but the $350,000 and $1,000,000 cases, then $350,000 would’ve been his “floor.”
Olejniczak was not so lucky. He had a pair of low-value cases left, and he rejected the Banker’s offer, instead taking the 50/50 chance that he’d pick the $500 case. Instead, he ended up with the $1 case, which led to his elimination from the game.
Boston Rob thinks Deal or No Deal Island’s first player out made a “terrible” decision
The floor for Olejniczak was about as bad as it could be, and things did not go his way. During the official aftershow, Survivor all-star and DONDI Season 1 veteran Boston Rob assessed Olejniczak’s decision to reject the Banker’s offer.
"OK, like, I wouldn't have done it," Boston Rob said. "It's terrible. I'm not gonna sit here and tell you it was a good decision because that would be bad. But at the same time, you went with your feeling. But, you know, you're going against math, and you're going against the odds. So that's hard."
And, in Olejniczak’s further defense, he got so unlucky with his briefcase picks that it's hard to fault him. The Banker’s offer of $300 wasn’t exactly enticing. That $300 offer could be touted as the Banker’s lowest offer ever, though in February 2010 on the original U.S. Deal or No Deal, the Banker gave contestant Michael Levine an offer of a mere $0.50.
RELATED: What to Know About Deal or No Deal Island Season 2
Watch Deal or No Deal Island After Show with Boston Rob on Peacock, NBC's YouTube, and NBC.com every Wednesday following new episodes of Deal or No Deal Island Season 2, which air Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
