Now you might be wondering what the word malafit means. When you work a full-time job and you get medical insurance, eye insurance, dental insurance, pension payments and the like we call those additions to your salary benefits. This comes from the root “bene,” which means good.

The opposite of “good” is bad or “mal” in Latin. If you had a full-time job but your bosses didn’t give you lunch, that absence of lunch would be a malafit. Malafit is simply the opposite of a benefit. 

I invented the word because I think the English language needs an opposite of a benefit. Sometimes language can be somewhat stultifying. Most people have many malafits in their lives but we never had a way to express that. Now we do.

If your spouse is an annoying bully, she/he is a malafit for you. The word just goes with such things. Yes, indeed, you have me to thank for the word. Use it wisely.

[ Please note: True, our greatest writer William Shakespeare added some 3,000 new words to the English language but so far, I only have one – malafit. Obviously, I am not in Shakespeare’s league but at least I am now swinging for the fences; a term right out of baseball.]

Blaise Pascal Creator of Roulette

Scientist, philosopher, and mathematician Blaise Pascal invented roulette in the 1600s. He was looking to discover a perpetual motion machine but failing that (as have thousands of failing inventors throughout history), he came up with the roulette wheel. Soon this wheel became a game; a game that has lasted the centuries and is still played just about all over the world.

Roulette means “little wheel” and the game quickly became a big favorite of aristocratic gamblers ever since it was invented. In fact, it has been a casino mainstay for several centuries among the millions of high and low rollers who try to conquer it.

Just go into any casino in the world and there will be happy or unhappy gamblers enjoying the benefits and malafits by engaging the roulette wheel. 

The Two Standard Roulette Games

Until recently, we have had two standard roulette games offered in the casinos, the double-zero game (0, 00) and the single-zero game (0). The wheels had 38 numbers for the double-zero game, 1-36 plus those two zeroes, and 37 numbers for the single-zero game, 1-36 and that single zero. These numbers are actually pockets in which the ball can fall into and the pocket that captures the ball wins that round.

 

 

The house edge for the double-zero game is 5.26%, a relatively high edge. Still, roulette is not such a fast game so that 5.26% is not as devastating as it could be, say, on some slot machines, which are more often played far more quickly. The faster the game the more decisions for the casino, the worse for the player. 

The house edge on the single-zero wheel is 2.7%, a far better deal than the double-zero wheel.

The double-zero game is known as the American game, while the single-zero game is known as the French or European game. Strangely enough, the American game was developed in France and Europe while the French and European game was developed in America (yes, international relations can be so weird).

Usually, the minimum bet for the French or European game is higher than for the American game. The reason? With a lower house edge, the casino wants to make its money so it charges more to play the better game. Therefore, low rollers tend to go with the double-zero game which extracts more from the low-rollers’ bankroll.

As most roulette players know, there are a legion of bets that can be made at both games. Players can bet single numbers, or groups of numbers, and various proposition bets. Roulette is a wide-open field for players to explore.

Indeed, roulette has been the third-most favored game in the casino (tied with craps) behind slots and blackjack. It’s been this way for decades.

The roulette-playing world even has a favorite number, the 17, based on Sean Connery, the James Bond actor who in years past played that number. It is thought to be a lucky number. Is it? Tonight maybe. Tomorrow night, not.

Roulette, which is available on 888casino, is strictly random if the game’s wheel is perfectly balanced. Today’s casinos have perfectly balanced wheels. Oh, certainly, you will see wild swings in numbers and propositions but that’s the nature of random. Things might look like what they aren’t and players who suppose that such malafits are meaningful are making a big mistake in their playing strategy. 

But now, my friends, a true horror has been visited upon the roulette playing public, a new roulette game has crashed into the casinos and is starting to crush players who play it. The game is known as the triple-zero roulette. Or, just call it the economic blob that might just signal the end of the popularity of the game in many of our lifetimes. Oh, yes, roulette might be in danger of losing its perpetual motion in our beloved casino world.

Here's why:

The Triple-Zero Game: The Roulette Malafit!

Okay, we have the double-zero game and the single zero game, but the triple-zero game now has those 1-36 numbers with a zero (0), a double-zero (00) and a triple zero (000) added to the mix.

That’s 39 numbers but the payout for a winning number is still just 35-to-1. A player’s risk is far greater but the reward is still the same. I do not think of that as a great bargain. It is a true malafit for aficionado roulette players.

What is the house edge on this game? Take a deep breath, folks; it is an enormous 7.69%! Yikes!

Translating House Edges into Money

Many casino players know that the house has an edge on all of its games but many of those do not know how those edges are created. Indeed, just go to any table game or slot machine and you will not see any indication of what the edges are on any of the games.

True, players can read sites such as this or books or articles in magazines (or on the 888casino blog) to find this information out but most players don’t bother to do that. They just want to play the game and bet their money. The casino prefers to keep its malafits to itself and it has been very successful in doing that.

Let me take a quick look at how the edges at roulette are created. There will be some little changes in each game but generally speaking the overall edge will remain 2.7% on the single-zero wheel, 5.26% on the double-zero wheel, and (heaven help us!) 7.69% on the triple-zero wheel.

The casino short changes the payoff from the true one. The casino edge or the house payoff is a created one, not a natural one in relation to the math. 

[Please note: Some casino games or bets do give out the correct payouts but these games have the casino winning more bets than the players. The pass line bet at craps is one such bet.] 

On the single-zero wheel, the chance of hitting a winning number is one in 37 but the payoff is not 36-to-1 as the true math would indicate but 35-to-1. The casino keeps a small amount for itself and shortchanges the player. Making the house edge 2.7%. In terms of losing potential that means a loss of $2.70 per one-hundred dollars wagered.

 

On the double-zero wheel which has 38 pockets, the single-number payoff is still 35-to-1 but instead of paying 37-to-1 on a winning hit, the casino keeps two units for itself thereby creating a 5.26% edge. In terms of losing potential that means a loss of $5.26 per one-hundred dollars wagered.

On the triple-zero wheel, the single-number payoff is still 35-to-1 but instead of paying 38-to-1 on a winning hit, the casino keeps three units for itself thereby creating a 7.69% edge. In terms of losing potential that means a loss of $7.69 per one-hundred dollars wagered.

[Please note: I put the losing expectation based on $100 wagered. If you are betting $10, the losing expectation becomes 27 cents per bet at single-zero roulette; 53 cents per bet at double-zero roulette; and 77 cents per bet at the triple-zero roulette. You can see the amazing increase in potential losses for the player over time on that triple-zero wheel.]

Any Benefits to the Triple-Zero Game?

Proponents of the game have pushed the idea that a player can bet more options at the triple-zero wheel. That’s true but seriously betting more money into more options is not a benefit; it is a true malafit. It just gives you more ways to lose your hard-earned dough. 

How about getting more comps? Yes, you should get more in comps. You will get more comps because you will be losing more money! That’s a monstrous malafit. The casino does not give you more for free because you bet more money. It merely returns some small percentage of your expected losses.

The entire triple-zero roulette game is a malafit. There is no reason to play it. The house edge is ridiculously too high, right up there with many slot machine games. 

What to Do with Triple-Zero Roulette?

Pass it by as in “bye-bye you nasty malafit game!” If the casino where you play has the double-zero game and/or the single-zero game but charges more for them as they will probably do; what should you, the wise casino player, do?

Don’t bet every spin of the wheel! 

If triple-zero has a $10 minimum bet and double-zero has a $15 minimum bet and the single-zero has $25 as its minimum, you can get a better game for your pocket or purse by skipping some spins of the wheel. That is an easy solution to the money problem. Decrease the number of bets and dollar amounts you make. 

You can keep your expected losses as low as you want to keep them. No one is forced to bet every spin of the wheel. You, the player, is in control of how money is spent at playing; not the casino.

If the casino does not offer the traditional options but only has triple-zero roulette, what now? Go to a different casino that offers a better game. Or drastically reduce the number of bets you make to make up for the high house edge at the game if that game is triple-zero roulette. Losing more money is not the best way to structure your betting approach.

Human Malafits

People often anthropomorphize non-human objects by subjecting them to human names, emotions, and motives. “Sally is my favorite canoe” or “Gretel is my fastest honey. Best car in the world. She loves me, I can tell.”

In the casino world there are (maybe) dozens upon dozens of human malafits playing the games. There are (maybe) dozens upon dozens of methods of play which are truly the province of those malafits. 

Let us say you win your very first bet and then you go, “Parlay that, dealer! This wheel likes me today! I can tell.” That player could be called a malafit because moments of good luck are thought to be compounded by more lucky play against a game that has a distinct and rather large edge over the players. Why bet more into such a game that is structured to take a percentage from every bet of theirs over time? Makes no sense.

What about players who are complete and utter malafits? What about such malafits who put their bets on the layout by aggressively knocking over other players’ chips? What about them? 

What about roulette malafits who want only their particular chips on a given number and resent it when you dare to join them on that number? “This is my number; can’t you bet somewhere else?” Folks, such players are out there and they are, in human terms, malafits.

The Bottom Line

The triple-zero roulette will not pay you more for extended play. It will not give you more comps per dollar lost. If it were an animal, it could be considered a savage predator. 

All the best in and out of the casinos.

As promised, at the end of this article you will find the questions with answers to the challenging 21-question test given to the elite blackjack pros at the 2023 Blackjack Ball. Give yourself one point for each correct answer. (If you get 12 or more correct, you did better than all the blackjack pros who took the test.) 

(Note: Several active players listed below used pseudonyms to protect their identity.)

The players with the most correct answers from the 21-question test were:

11 Correct Answers: Frank B, WRX, and Virginia

10 Correct Answers: Marty, Handyman, and Justin

(As an aside, I came close again to possibly advancing to the next round. The person who graded my answer sheet gave it back to me with  8 correct answers. He said my answer to question 21, which was “splitting the profits,” was disallowed. (The correct answer was Chopping.) I had a senior moment and couldn’t remember the name of the casino to question 12, which was the Golden Gate, where I had played their profitable 2 to 1 blackjack promotion every year that they offered it.) 

Since there was a three-way tie for the second most correct answers, there was a run-off. Each contestant in turn had to name a state that had a Native-American casino. If someone named a state that had already been named or answered an incorrect state, he or she was eliminated. 

Result: Justin was eliminated, and Marty and Handyman advanced to the final table with Frank B., WRX, and Virginia.

Next up was the skills competition on a blackjack table with Richard Munchkin as the moderator and dealer.

BLACKJACK TABLE SKILLS COMPETITION

(Note: An overhead camera projected the competition on the blackjack table onto the large screens located throughout the ballroom.)

Round #1.

In the first skills test, Munchkin spread a shuffled single deck of cards face-up on the layout and each contestant had 30 seconds to memorize the sequence of cards. Each player had his deck of cards and he or she had to place face down on the layout what the first card was from the shuffled deck (suit and card value).  Each player then revealed what they thought the first card was. Surprisingly, WRX and Marty got the first card wrong and both were eliminated.  This left Frank B., Virginia, and Handyman advancing to Round #2.

Round #2.

The second test involved card counting a double deck of cards with speed and accuracy being important. Each contestant had two decks of cards. Munchkin randomly removed three cards from each contestant’s double deck and placed them face down in front of them. Each contestant counted down their decks and based on their final count, stated what the three cards were. (A high card, low card, or neutral card.) Bottom line: Virgina was eliminated for incorrectly naming the three cards. The two contestants that advanced to Round #3 were Handyman and Frank B.

(I found this tidbit from Munchkin after the fact. It turns out Virginia never played a hand of blackjack in her life … she was a guest of one of the blackjack pros in attendance. Therefore, it was not surprising that she was eliminated in this round of the competition.)

Round #3.

This round involved knowledge of the basic blackjack playing strategy. Munchkin was going to deal 21 consecutive hands to one of the two remaining contestants. If that player stated the correct basic playing strategy for each hand, he would be the winner. However, his opponent had a bell and if the player stated an incorrect basic strategy play for any hand, he could ring the bell. If he gave the correct basic strategy play, then he would be declared the winner.  

Since Frank B. counted down the cards quicker than Handyman in Round 2, he had an advantage in Round 3 because he got to select the number of decks of cards, the playing rules, and whether he would play the hands or let Handyman play them. 

Since Frank B. has played extensively in Atlantic City, he selected a six-deck game with s17, das, and no surrender and he declared to play the hands.  Munchkin dealt the first hand, which was a pair of 3s against a dealer’s 8 upcard. Frank B. called out split, which was incorrect. However, Handyman didn’t ring the bell so the round continued. Frank B. then correctly played the remaining 20 hands and was declared the winner.

Frank B. won the Grosjean Trophy as the “World’s Greatest Blackjack Player” with full bragging rights. The award was a very large bottle of Luc Belaire Rose Champagne imprinted with “The Grosjean Trophy Awarded to the World’s Greatest Blackjack Player at the 26th Annual Blackjack Ball” (see photo.). Handyman, who finished second in the competition, got a plaque engraved with “The Munchkin Award,” with the date, event, etc.

(As an aside, if Handyman would have rung the bell on the first hand and then correctly stated to hit the pair of 3s against the 8, he would have won.)

 

BLACKJACK BALL TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

Note: The following are the 21 test questions with answers is as shown on the screens in the ballroom via PowerPoint slides. I did NOT edit any question or answer for style or grammar.  What you see is exactly what was projected on the screens.

Number 1 
True or False? 
Arnold Snyder’s “Give Greed a Chance” Sermon was filmed OVER 100 days BEFORE Wall Street and the “Greed is Good” speech premiered. 
True.

Number 2     
Which of these is NOT TRUE About Arnold? 
A.     He Shuffle Tracked on the Gulf Coast 
B.    1st Publisher to Accurately Explain the Values of Deck Depths 
C.     He and LSD took a Lot of Trips together 
D.    1st to Write Accurate HPH on 21 Games
E.    1st Publisher of an Unbalanced Count
F.     His RGE Publishing Store-Front in Oakland is Still There 
A. He didn’t shuffle track in the South.

Number 3 
Arnold Published This “Deep Penetration Technique” that Relied on “Card Eaters” Depleting Single-Deck Games 
Depth Charging.

Number 4 
True or False? 
You’re Playing Full Pay DD at Stations, Betting in Spots One & Two.  
Off-The-Top, You see the Dealer turn over an 8-Up, True or False: 
BEFORE YOU LOOK AT YOUR CARDS, You already Know that Your E.V. on Both Bets Combined is More Than 5%?
When the Dealer has an 8-Up Off the Top, Your Unseen Cards have at Least a 5.2% E.V.  #4 is True

Number 5
Who is the First Person to Introduce the Illustrious 18?
A.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Arnold Snyder
B.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Julian Braun 
C.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Ken Uston 
D.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Ed Thorp
E.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Don Schlesinger 
F.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Peter Griffin
This one is A or E. Don created it and Arnold Published it in Blackjack Forum Magazine. Either or Both are Correct. 

Number 6
You’re getting a 25% Loss Rebate. Pennsylvania Rules. The Max Bet is $100,000—aka “a Johnson” on One Spot. When You’re Winning, Within a Quarter Million Dollars, What is Your Win/Stop Playing One Hand on This Trip? 
In Other Words, When Should You Quit Playing if You’re Up?  Within $250,000
$2,250,000. With a Quarter-Million Buffer. $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 is Correct. 

Number 7 
True or False? 
The Las Vegas Sphere measures 150’ Wider than it is Tall. 
Not 149’ or Less. Not 151’ or More.
150 Feet On The Money. True or False? 
The Las Vegas Sphere is 516 Feet Wide and 366 Feet Tall. #7 is True

Number 8 
The Washington Tribal Max Bet is $125 on These Games. If You KNEW that the First Card Dealt to You would be an Ace, Which Game would Give You the Highest Possible Expected Profit?   
A.    Blackjack
B.    Mississippi Stud
C.    Three Card Poker 
D.    Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em `
a. Blackjack—53%
b. Mississippi Stud—69%
c. Three Card Poker—64%
d. Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em—85%

Number 9    
NAME THAT CASINO.
For Some, This “Dream Stream” in Northern Cal Has Graciously Taken BIG BETS For Over 20 Years
Cache Creek

Number 10 
True or False? 
Donald Trump tried to get a casino in Las Vegas and wasn’t able to. The only state that he’s ever Owned or Managed a casino in is New Jersey. 
For a brief while, he had a joint in Michigan and in the early 2000’s, a small Sweat Shop called “Trump 29” was Open in the Coachella Valley. #10 is False

Number 11 
You’re on a Special Team of Four that Needs a $100,000 Bank for a Single Play. You have One BP and Three Play Callers for Five Hours Each. Up $27,200,  Investors and Players get ½ the Win.
You put in $12.5k How much did you earn?
A.    $3,100     
B.    $5,850     
C.    $3,900   
D.    $6,800        
E.    $3,400            
F.    Not Enough Information
 B. $5,850    $3,900 + $1,950 = $5,850

Number 12    
Las Vegas’ Oldest Casino That’s Still Operating Once had a Hotel Called the Sal Sagev  (That’s Las Vegas Sorta Backwards.) NAME IT.  
The Golden Gate Casino has been Open Since 1907
The Sal Sagev Hotel was from 1931 to 1955

Number 13    
True or False? 
IF you were playing DD at Barona, which we know none of you would, and got a 9/8 off the top with a Dealer Ace up, you should Surrender that hand? 
Yes, you should. Since none of you ever play at Barona, the LS rules don’t matter. Except Maybe Later. # 13 is True. 

Number 14     
The closest casino to Amarillo, TX featuring legal Blackjack is the: 
A.     Lawton Apache Casino, Lawton, OK
B.     Lucky Star Casino, Clinton, OK 
C.     Inn of the Mtn. Gods, Ruidoso, NM 
D.     Red River Casino, Red River, NM 
E.     Taos Mtn. Casino, Taos, NM 
F.     Boot Hill Casino, Dodge City, KA 
B. Lucky Star Casino, Clinton, OK

Number 15 
This technique has Made Money For Half-a-Dozen Blackjack Hall of Fame Members, among others who are with us tonight.
BOTTOM STEERING

Number 16
True or False? 
Istanbul is in Both Asia and Europe. The Bosporus Strait Splits the Cities. To the South, Blackjack is Illegal Throughout All of Asian Turkey, Including Istanbul. You Can ONLY play Blackjack on the European side of Istanbul. 
The Answer is FALSE. You Can’t Play ANYWHERE in Istanbul, Even In Europe! 

Number 17 
Which two-card Starting Blackjack Total will Lose More Money for All the Blackjack Players in the Casino than Any Other Two-Card Hand? 
A.    17 
B.    16 
C.    15 
D.    14 
E.    13 
F.      7
E #13 (14, 15 & 16 will actually lose a bit more money on a hand-to-hand basis but due to the frequency in which you receive 13, it is the biggest money loser in the game.)

Number 18 
This Casino Has Been a Pit Stop On The Tour For Almost 25 Years (Southwest of Vegas)
Agua Caliente 

Number 19 
True or False? 
Resorts World in NEW YORK CITY has over 600 Blackjack Betting Spots that stay open from 9:00-5:00 a.m. every day.  EVERY GAME pays 3/2 for Naturals.
They’re Machine Games. You Earn Valuable Comps. For “Real Aficionados” of the Game, It IS Blackjack. Ask Them. #19 is True

Number 20 
You’re playing a 3:2  H17  6-Deck Game Online. 
Just as the initial cards get dealt, you Lose your Internet Connection, meaning that the Website will auto-Stand on your First Two Cards, no matter what they are. 
What is YOUR Percentage Edge on that hand? 

a.    Minus  15.75%
b.    Minus  45.25%
c.    Minus     9.37% 
d.    Minus     5.40%
e.    Minus   62.25%
f.    Minus   37.78%
Standing on Your First Two Cards has a –15.75% EV
a.    Minus  15.75%

Number 21
A Mouth-Watering Event for Everyone on Blackjack Teams.
THE CHOP

To read Part 1 of this article, click here.

Acknowledgement: I want to acknowledge the assistance of Michael Dalton, Anthony Curtis, Richard Munchkin, and Max Rubin for reviewing this article and providing me with some additional details prior to its publication.
 

In the glory days of video poker, many players sought to make a living playing the game. Games were loose: comps, bonus point multipliers, special promotions, and come-back cash were easy to find and earn.

As regular video poker players know, those perks have been tightened or eliminated.

In today’s casino environment, is professional video poker play realistic? Let us find out.

1. Why choose video poker for professional play?

• Many of the same features of video poker that lured video poker fans to consider playing professionally years ago are still there today. The return is still high compared to other casino games. One can find video poker games with returns over 100%. They may be more difficult to locate, but they are out there.
• Unlike blackjack and other casino games where players can obtain an advantage, video poker players tend to be left alone – there is generally little casino heat while playing.
• Unlike blackjack, there is no need for camouflage to be a successful professional player (although it might be wise to ditch the strategy card while playing).
• It is extremely rare that video poker players are banned from casinos.
• Others are not involved in video poker play – just the player and the machine.

2. Tips for success in professional play

• Play the highest return games and pay tables.
• Buy or produce from an app the playing strategy charts for the game and pay table combinations being played.
• Practice the strategy until it is played perfectly.
• Have an adequate bankroll. Playing professionally means playing more often with longer sessions. Make sure the bankroll is large enough to handle any severe drawdowns that are almost certain to occur.
• Unless the player has a huge bankroll, it is best to keep the denomination at the 25-cent level. The variance at the dollar denomination can wreak havoc on a bankroll.
• Play only when alert, focused, and relaxed. Playing when not at your best will cost real money.

3. Consider all costs

Professional play is significantly different from recreational. Recreational play is discretionary. It is less stressful, less rigorous than play that requires wins to survive.

• Requires additional playing time to be successful. This means several sessions a day and several days a week throughout the year.
• If the player does not live within easy access to a large gambling destination such as Las Vegas, there will be travel expenses which must be covered by winnings. Recreational players can use funds from the “day” job to pay for travel expenses.
• The same is true for meals and hotels. These expenses must be covered by winnings from video poker play.
•  

4. Cautions for professional video poker players

Professional video poker play is quite different from recreational play. Things that are trivial to recreational players are potential killers when playing professionally.

• Additional pressure on the player because winnings are required to survive. The professional cannot simply go home for several days or weeks before heading back to the casinos. This is the professional player’s job – no play, no pay.
• Casinos like occasional winners. They can induce additional gamblers into the casino. They despise consistent winners, however. As consistent winners, professional video poker players will have comps reduced or eliminated. The free nights and free food can dry up. This adds to the overhead of a professional player which must be covered by additional winnings.
• If consistently winning players concentrate on just a few games and pay tables, casinos can – and do – change the games. They may eliminate the game(s) altogether, or they may reduce the returns by changing pay tables.
• Professional players must make sure to not overstay their welcome at one casino or casino brand. Spreading play over several different casinos and brands can help minimize unwelcome game and comp changes.

5. What about player’s club cards?

Player’s club cards can offer additional rewards such as cash back, free food and lodging. They can also be the ticket to free promotions and tournaments. These all help add to the bottom line of a professional player.

The freebies provided by player’s club membership are required, or at least extremely helpful in becoming a successful professional player.

6. How much can a professional video poker player earn?

As with any profession, the net amount is what matters. That is, winnings plus comps (such as cash back, free food, lodging, and similar items) minus losses minus expenses. Free play can also be included at the rate of return for the game played. For example, $100 free play on a 99.9% return game would be $99.90 – over time with perfect play.

Currently, player-positive games are an endangered species. Some of the best player-positive returns on the more common games available are:

• Double Bonus Poker Full-pay (10/7) – 100.1725%.
• Double-Double Bonus Full-pay (10/6) – 100.067%.
• Deuces Wild Full-pay (25/15/9/5) – 100.762%.

Note: many casinos offer no player’s club bonus points for games with these return rates.

Listed below are some of the better game returns, followed by some of the better typical cash back or free play.

Game returns:

• Jacks or Better Full-pay (9/6) – 99.544%.
• Bonus Poker Deluxe (9/6): 99.641%.
• Double Bonus (9/7): 99.106%.
• Deuces Wild (25/16/10 – (“Not So Ugly”) 99.763%.

Cash back or free play:

• 0.1% – One of the best available gives one point per dollar played with 1,000 points good for $1 in cash back or free play.
• 0.05% – More typical good video poker rate gives one point per two dollars played with 1,000 points good for $1 in cash back or free play.

Earnings per hour:

• Full-pay Deuces Wild games earn 0.762% of the amount played. At $1.25 per hand and 1,000 hands per hour, the total earned is 0.00762 times $1.25 times 1,000 = $9.525 per hour**
• Full-pay Double Bonus games earn 0.1725% of the amount played. At $1.25 per hand and 1,000 hands per hour, the total earned is $2.15625 per hour**

** These full-pay games usually do not qualify for player’s club points.

• Full-pay Jacks or Better games earn (99.544 minus 100%) or a loss of 0.456% of the amount played. At $1.25 per hand and 1,000 hands per hour, the total loss is $5.70 per hour.
• With a 0.1% cashback, play is still a loss of $4.45 per hour.

7. Progressive video poker

Profits can also be taken from the casino by playing certain progressive video poker games. One or more winning hands on a progressive game increase as the game is played. These can include the royal flush, certain four-of-a-kind hands as well as other hands.

A full discussion of progressive games is beyond the scope of this article. 

8. Summary

• Video poker returns and comps have dramatically diminished over the years.
• Profits can still be achieved playing video poker.
• Professional play has additional costs.
• Professional play adds the pressure of needing wins to survive.
• Casino heat for long-term video poker winners is not as severe as heat for advantage players of other games.
  • Pay table changes to reduce return.
  • Some games are eliminated entirely.
  • Reduced or eliminated comps.
  • Video poker players are rarely banned.
• Even under the best circumstances, earning a living as a full-time professional video poker player is difficult.

Look at the numbers in Section 6. Even with the very rare full-pay Deuces Wild game, the earnings are less than working at a fast-food joint. In addition, the rate is not guaranteed. There will be losses and there will be wins. Sometimes the losing streaks will be very long. Add the probable additional costs of travel, food and lodging and the decision whether to play full time as a professional seems obvious.

Playing on a less rigorous schedule for supplemental income, however, is certainly an option. Some cautions, however:

• Realize there will be ups and downs.
• Have an adequate, dedicated video poker bankroll.
• Do not allow the pressure to win to spoil the fun of the game.

Conclusion:

Video poker is an enjoyable and potentially profitable game – but it is nearly impossible to live solely on video poker play.

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Inside Bets

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• Split: A bet on two numbers adjacent on the table.
• Street: A bet on three numbers in a horizontal line.
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• Six Line (or Double Street): A bet on two adjacent horizontal lines.

Outside Bets

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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What multiplier range does 888 Auto Mega Roulette offer?
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Where can I play 888 Auto Mega Roulette?
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When it comes to entertainment on slot machines, the symbols are part of the fun. Far from just a backdrop, they’re important in enabling game designers to give us an exciting experience that leaves us wanting to come back for more.

There are many different types of symbols. Let’s compile our own slot symbol dictionary.

 

 

A-K-Q-J-10: These symbols suggest playing card denominations, but aren’t depicted on playing cards. Instead, they’re used to make frequent low-paying combinations on games where the less frequent but higher-paying combinations use themed symbols.

Bars: Consisting of elongated rectangles, bars, like fruit symbols have been with us since they early days of slots and are said to derive from the logo of the Bell Fruit Gum company. Machines that use bars usually also use double bars and triple bars, with two or three bars stacked on top of each other.

Bonus symbols: These are the symbols everyone wants to see on modern video and online slots. Bonus symbols trigger a bonus event. When they show up, you might get free spins, you might get to spin a prize wheel and you might get to touch icons on a screen, playing a game within a game to collect bonus credits and build your bankroll.

In the ever-popular Cleopatra, for example, three Sphinx symbols take you to a free spin bonus. In the U.S., the big breakthrough for video slots came in the 1990s on Reel ’Em In, where three fishing lures take you to a game within a game where you choose a fisherman who you hope will land a big fish worth bigger credits.

Bonus events bring much of the fun to slots, giving you a chance to take a break from the main game, do something a little different and win extra credits without risking extra money.

Double symbols: Instead of one character depicted on a themed symbol, the same character is pictured twice. When one of those symbols lands on the screen, it counts for two in a row all by itself.

One notable game with double symbols is Shadow of the Panther. If you have a double panther followed by a single panther, you have three in a row to make a winning combination. Two consecutive double panthers is four in a row, and so one.

That makes it possible to have up to 10 in a row, and gives game designers a great deal of flexibility in creating pay tables with enough volatility to give you a chance at big wins.

Fruit symbols: Symbols depicting cherries, plums, watermelons, oranges and lemons have been part of the slot experience since the early 1900s. The Mills Novelty Co., manufacturers of early slots, copyrighted the symbols in 1910, but they’ve long since passed into public domain and have been slot machine staples ever since.

Multipliers: Multipliers are just what they say: They multiply your winnings.

The classic example is Double Diamond, a three-reel slot that for many years was the most-played machine game in American, land based and online casinos. The prime symbol is the Double Diamond – an oval containing two diamonds.

Three Double Diamonds in a row wins the top jackpot. However, with other symbols, the Double Diamonds double payoffs. If three bars in a row pay 10 coins, then the payoff is 20 if you have two bars and a Double Diamond. If you have one bar and two Double Diamonds, then your payoff is doubled twice, so the total is 40 coins.

That concept has been extended to many other games, such as 10 Times Pay, where instead of doubling wins each of the special symbols multiplies wins by 10. Two 10 times symbols mean your win is multiplied by 100. That makes for some real excitement.

Scatter symbols: Most symbols must line up on a payline to pay off. Not scatter symbols. If you have enough scatter symbols, you win even if they’re not on the same line. Usually it takes three or more scatter symbols to form a winning combination. Sometimes two will do it. On Cleopatra, the same Sphinxes that launch free spins if you have at least three of them will bring you a scatter pay if you have two.

7s: Another common slot machine symbol that has been with us for decades, 7s have had entire games built around them.  Two of the most enduring three-reel games around are Bally’s Blazing 7s and IGT’s Red, White and Blue, where the big payoff comes from lining up Red, White and Blue 7s.

Stacked symbols: Repeating symbols of the same type, stacked one on top of the other, can lead to some huge wins. Stacked symbols can take up an entire column. Three or more stacks in a row give you winners on every payline. That’s when your credit meter goes into overdrive.

I once had a session saved on a game called Cherry Magic when I had Q symbols stacked on every reel. As on many video slots, the Q symbol was a low payer, but when every symbol on the screen is the same and you have five in a row on every payline, the payoff pads your budget nicely.

Themed symbols: In the age of video slots and online slots, slot games usually have symbols designed to fit in with the theme of the game. You can expect to see stampeding dinosaurs in Dinosaur Stampede and animated fruit with an attitude in Freaky Fruit.

Wild symbols: Symbols designated as “wild” match other symbols to help form paying combinations. If you have two of the same symbol lined up with a wild symbol, that counts as three in a row.

There often are restrictions on wild symbols. They usually don’t match bonus symbols, scatter symbols or multipliers, and sometimes don’t match high-paying symbols such as 7s.

The wild symbol concept is borrowed from poker. Wild-card games usually aren’t played in casino card rooms, but many a home game has had players choose games with deuces wild, jokers wild or one-eyed jacks wild. That idea transferred over to video poker and eventually to slot machines.

A subset of wild symbols is called “expanding wilds.” Something that just wasn’t possible until video slots and then online slots game along, expanding wilds grow to fill multiple reel positions.

The most common format is to have the wild expand vertically, so that it fills an entire column, but there have been games where they expand horizontally. The extra wild symbols can mean extra winners on extra paylines, making expanding wild a nice extra to have, indeed.

It's the dream of many roulette players to catch a hot number or number set. A short streak of winning single-number bets with 35-1 returns can bring a big payday.

Casinos feed right into streak players' dreams with tote boards that post the last 12, 18 or24 winners at live tables. Online casinos and electronic tables at live casinos often enable you to see longer-term results. A touch of the screen can bring a display of number history.

Getting Streaky

What to do with that information? When recent results show the same number coming up twice or more in a row, or several times within a short period such as five or 10 spins, the streak players go to work.

There are several approaches:

●    Bet the hot number until it loses several times in a row.
●    Bet the hot number and those surrounding it until there are several misses in a row.
●    Ignore the supposed hot number. Continue betting your usual favorites confident that there is no tendency for a hot number to stay hot or a cold number to stay cold.

That last approach squares with what the casino expects from the game. In a live game or a live feed to online casinos, as long as the wheel is properly balanced and the dealer is alert and well-trained, the odds are the same on every spin. Streaks are a part of normal probability, but past outcomes have no bearing on future results.

The same goes for online games and electronic games in which results are driven by random number generators. As long as there's no programming glitch, the most you can say about a streak is that there has been one. Streaks are not indicators of more winners to come. 

But what if there has been a programming glitch? What if a wheel has not been properly maintained and is out of balance, or has a slight groove worn into the wood through repeated play? What if a tired dealer has fallen into a rut, releasing the ball in the same way at the same speed time after time?

Streak players live in hope, and there is no harm in playing hot numbers. With the random results the casino strives to insure, the odds of continuing to win on hot numbers are the same on any other number.
 

Grabbing Numbers on the Wheel

Making single-number bets on hot numbers is easy enough. But what about playing combinations and betting on surrounding numbers as well as the one that has won several times in recent play?

There's a trap. The numbers surrounding a hot number on the betting layout are not the same as the numbers surrounding it on the wheel. Should you encounter the rare situation where there is a bias in favor of an area on the wheel, it's the wheel numbers you want to heed.

Imagine the ball has landed on No. 17 twice in a row and four times within 10 spins. You want to take a chance on there being a wheel bias and decide to bet 17 and its surrounding numbers.
On the layout, including horizontal rows, vertical columns and diagonals, 17 is in the middle of 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21.

There are several ways to approach that. You could bet all nine as single numbers. You could put extra emphasis on the hot number by betting on 17 by itself while betting the three-number streets of 13-14-15 and 19-20-21, while accounting for 16 and 18 in a street that repeats 17 or in two-number splits. You can bet splits including 16 with 13, 19 and 17 and splits with 18 and 15, 21 or 17.

You also could approach the combinations with four-number corners, with 13-14-16-17, 16-17-19-20, 14-15-17-18 and 17-18-20-21 all as viable corners.

Regardless of how you build your combination, the house edge is 2.7% on a single-zero wheel or 5.26% on a wheel with 0 and 00 as in standard American roulette.
The streak player is counting on a wheel or dealer bias in favor of the hot numbers and those that surround it to swing edge in favor of players.

 

Adding Numbers for Streak Wagering

➔    Problem: Even if there is a wheel bias, there is no physical cause that would increase the frequency of the ball landing on numbers that surround the hot number on the layout.

Roulette wheels are set up so consecutive numbers are approximately opposite each other on the wheel. They're not perfectly opposite. Perfectly opposite isn't even possible on a single-zero wheel that has an odd number of slots with 1 through 36 plus the zero.

On a single-zero wheel, 16 is not adjacent to 17. There are 12 numbers between them. Likewise, 18 is not next to 17. In the shorter trip around, there are 15 numbers between them.
On the wheel, the numbers on either side of 17 are 25 and 34. If you wanted eight additional numbers, such as those surrounding 17 on the layout, the four numbers clockwise from 17 are 34, 6, 27 and 13, and the four numbers counter-clockwise from 17 are 25, 2, 21 and 4.
Those numbers are not adjacent on the layout. There's no easy betting pattern of splits, streets and corners that will cover everything.

If you want to bet the numbers closest to the hot number on the wheel, you're looking at several single-number bets. Streak players might be well advised to limit extra bets to the two or four numbers closest to the hot number rather than the eight numbers surrounding on the layout.

Numbers are rearranged a bit on a double-zero wheel to accommodate the extra slot for the 00. There are 14 numbers between 16 and 17, and 18 between 17 and 18.

The numbers closest to 17 are 5-22-34-15 going clockwise, and 32-20-7-11 going counter-clockwise.

As on the single-zero wheel, there is no easy combination of combinations such as streets and corners that will cover all the numbers in a minimal number of bets. If you want to take a chance on a bias or a programming glitch and want to bet the hot number and those closest to it, single numbers are your opportunity.

Should you decide to take a chance on building a streak with a hot number, start with the knowledge that actual wheel biases are very rare. Do not increase bets in an attempt to catch a streak. Bet your normal amount, using the streak numbers instead of your usual bets. Hope for the best and enjoy the streaks when they come, but understand the house edge almost always will take its toll.
 

All casino games are based on a random event to determine the results. Standard slot machines are an excellent example of games where winning or losing relies totally on luck. 

A few games on the casino floor can be influenced by the player, however. Video poker, blackjack, and craps are some examples.

This article explores the role of luck and skill in video poker. 

1. Where luck plays the strongest role

The cards dealt for each initial hand and for draw cards are selected randomly based on the results of the game’s Random Number Generator (or RNG for short).

The RNG runs constantly. It cycles through a thousand or so numbers every second.

When the player hits the Deal or Draw button, five numbers are selected. On the deal, they are translated into the initial five cards. For draws, the number of cards discarded by the player are selected and translated into a card for each slot created by a discarded card.

This method of selecting cards has changed over the years. Originally, 10 numbers were selected when the Deal button was hit – the original hand along with a replacement card for each original card. This was called the parallel method. Later, five numbers were selected for the original hands along with five numbers to replace any discards starting with the sixth and continuing through the 10th, if needed.

Notice that every card selected for play is randomly selected – or “pseudo-randomly” - as randomly as a software routine can do it. Even though the trigger for selecting numbers from the RNG relies on action by the player, there is no amount of skill that can be applied to favor any cards. These numbers change every millisecond or so which is far too often to skillfully improve results.

Because no amount of player skill can influence the results in any meaningful manner (there is no way to improve the results), luck is 100% involved in the cards that are selected.

2. Where skill enters the picture

Even though there is no skill involved in the cards that the random number generator selects, skill is involved in successful video poker play.

Since all cards are dealt (pseudo) randomly, the laws of probability can be applied to determine how often the various hands will occur. Knowing this information allows discard (playing) strategies to be developed that will maximize the return of every possible initially dealt hand.

The playing strategies are based on:

• The number and type of winning hands in the pay table (game type). Some examples are:
  • Jacks or Better
  • Bonus Poker
  • Double Bonus Poker
  • Double-Double Bonus Poker
  • Deuces Wild
  • Joker Wild
• The amount paid for each of the winning hands. These can vary from machine to machine, or by denomination even for the exact same game.

A skillful video poker player will know the game and pay table and have the proper playing strategy to extract every last credit possible from his or her play. This is where skill enters the picture.

3. The ever-changing luck/skill balance

As seen above, video poker has elements of luck and elements of skill.

Bankrolls will sometimes expand. Bankrolls will sometimes be drained. This is the luck aspect of video poker.

Even players who play perfect strategy for the specific game and pay table being played (the skill aspect), will not have consistent results. There will be periods where they win hand after hand. There will also be periods where they lose many hands in a row.

There is a balance between luck and skill.

At the beginning, luck will be the major factor with skill coming in a distant second. A funny thing happens, however. As more hands are played properly, the average return will approach the mathematical return. After tens of thousands of hands of proper play, results should be very close to the mathematical return.

4. How to tilt play to favor skill versus luck

Obviously, most players would like to get the best returns possible. This requires skill. Skill requires work.

Here are the steps players can take to fully tilt results in their favor:

• Scout the video poker games and pay tables that are available in their casino.
• Determine which games and pay tables are worth playing. Higher returns are favored.
• Find (or generate using an app) the proper playing strategy for the game/pay table combination. If the playing strategy is too complicated, consider playing a different game.
• Practice the playing strategy at home until it can be played (nearly) perfectly. The closer to perfect, the better the results.
• While playing the game either in the land-based casino or online casino, make sure to maintain control:
  • Bring an adequate, discretionary bankroll. Concern about running out of money can cause mistakes in play.
  • Refrain from drinking alcohol.
  • Only play when alert. Take a break when tired or lacking focus.
  • Do not play when under stress. Take a break.
  • Maintain a low-key attitude while playing. If a losing streak is affecting play, take a break.

5. Summary

• Video poker play is a mixture of luck and skill.
• Luck is involved in the actual cards that are dealt or drawn.
• Skill is involved in:
  • Determining and selecting the best video poker game to play.
  • Having the proper playing strategy for the game(s) and pay table(s) being played.
  • Practicing the playing strategy at home until adept at it.
  • Having an adequate bankroll.
  • Maintaining alertness while playing – no alcohol, take a break when tired.
  • Maintaining composure while playing – take a break when stressed.

Follow these guidelines and your video poker results will be the best that they can be.

In a previous article I explored how to mathematically evaluate the results of any given casino game that the player is attempting to gain an advantage over. In that discussion I explored how one can relate their theoretical win with their actual win. From this we were able to determine whether our results, good or bad, were in range of the standard deviations of gaming theory. The application was then able to be spread across any game in the casino. It was a universal approach.

The purely mathematical evaluation is vital to determine whether or not we are a consistent winning player, yet it is only one variable in a multivariable equation, or when you ask yourself “Am I truly beating the casino?”

Here I will review some additional factors that need to be considered when asking that question. Some will be obvious, while others are not so straight forward. 

What to Review

Here are just a few important things you should ask yourself when doing a postmortem of a trip. 

●    What are the financial advantages and disadvantages of the game besides the theoretical edge?
●    What is the casino offering me to come and play there?

These can take the form of comps and promotions associated with playing at a particular venue. There is nothing theoretical about getting $100 cash in a promotion. These promotions will come via mailers after your first one or two trips and usually within 90 days of visit.

When the mailers come will vary from property to property and what they offer will also vary. Some properties offer a complimentary room and a food allowance, while others will give you a room and promotional chips. In some cases they may even offer you show tickets. The point is that the comp system varies for each resort. 

Another aspect to consider is how friendly are the dealers and the pit? Are they consistently searching for advantage players or are they relaxed? What is the aesthetic experience?

You have to put a value on "fun" and "pleasure" because you would otherwise spend time (and money) doing something else like watching a movie, going to a club, or traveling to another destination. These are the things that the casino marketing team thinks about, so you have to think about them too.
 

 

The Costs of Playing

Next you have to consider the expenses of playing. What are the real costs? This includes travel, lodging, food and other incidental expenses besides the cumulative price of the house edge.

Usually the proximity of the casino plays a huge role in determining whether or not a game is worth playing. Driving more than an hour or staying in a non-complimentary hotel often negates a game’s theoretical advantage. An edge of less than 1% at moderate stakes is oftentimes swamped by the value of a promotion or the simple advantage of playing in a casino that serves great but expensive food.

This means you shouldn’t ignore edge calculations and just play without a strategy. Should you accept whatever rules are forced on you by the greedy casinos? No. But don’t base your decisions entirely on theoretical advantages. Be honest with yourself about the real peripheral costs and advantages of giving a casino your action.

An extreme example of this occurred when I was playing blackjack in Europe. The house edge was 0.62%, but that didn’t include the fee of €10 for getting into the casino, or the 12% conversion fee charged by my bank for changing dollars into euros and then back into dollars (about 6% each way).

Strictly speaking, I would have been better off going to a local casino and running my money into a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. On the other hand, I was in Europe for business anyway. And a casino just happened to be close by. 

For a more local example consider this; If you had to drive two hours to play at a casino near San Diego then the following would have to be considered. Drive 150 miles one-way or 300 miles round-trip at 30 miles per gallon, and each gallon costs $6. That’s $60 in gas, not including the value of my time, nor food, nor wear on my vehicle.

If my average bet was $200, then after four hours I might be able to squeeze out $240 in average gross profit with a 0.5% positive edge. Or $200 net, assuming the tap on the shoulder never came. Or it would be -$40 if … well … you get the picture.

If we stay in our home base near Los Angeles, all the games use continuous shufflers and casinos charge a vig (fee) per hand. Sounds awful, right? But wait, you can play/bank the dealer’s hand! That’s right. You can bank the blackjack dealer!

So, the effective edge can be solidly positive, up to 2%. It varies depending on the skills of the players, the size of their bets relative to the vig, the size of your bets when you play against the dealer, and how often you bank. Let’s be conservative and say the positive edge is effectively only 0.5% and my bets are $200. Then L.A. beats Barona. No counting required. Even if it’s 0%, L.A. beats San Diego in some circumstances.

In other words, basic edge calculations are just the beginning. Those numbers are only one factor to consider when you choose to play or pass.

 

A Quick Review

Now that we have an understanding of the numbers are away from the game, let's quickly review what to look for at the blackjack tables. Ideally you should scout the tables before you sit down to play. Make sure the game you are playing pays 3:2 on player blackjacks. Rare as it may be, there are a few casinos that now vary the game from table to table (the Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas is an example of this).

Know the rules and seek out the best combination you can possibly find. Stick to games that allow DOA and DAS. Ideally you should be able to split and re-split Aces up to four times. If you have a choice, stick with S17 versus H17 and play games that offer late surrender and use it when necessary. 

Be sure you know the table minimums before you sit down to avoid overplaying your bankroll and to save yourself some embarrassment. Know how many decks are offered. Most casinos offer a choice; generally two or six decks. Know which one you want to play before-hand. If there are only a couple of tables offering the number of decks you want to play, be prepared to play the other game or to walk-away.

These are decisions to make before you enter the casino. Assuming equal rules and payouts, the fewer the number of decks the better. Play in manually-shuffled games rather than games dealt with an automatic shuffler or the uncountable, speed-demon, continuous shufflers. 

There you have it. These are the basics on what to look for in evaluating a casino for blackjack play. As discussed other factors like geography, whether pit personnel will rate your action (and how accurately), players' club promotions, comps, future mailers, loud music, and comfort level with other patrons are factors too. I'm sure you can probably think of a few others to add to the list. 
Here I have covered many of the factors I take into account when evaluating my play. You may have more or less but, each variable of the multivariable equation needs to be evaluated and combined.

The object here is to get things down to one number. The higher the positive number the better it is. The easiest way to evaluate the total play is through a spreadsheet. Make a column for every variable that adds to or takes away from your trip totals. And then simply use a sum function to determine where you stand.

As you take more trips to various casinos your totals will increase not only because your number of hands increase but because you are also learning how to play the comp to a higher advantage. 

When you hit hard 16 against a dealer's 10 in blackjack, you're playing probabilities. You don't know if the dealer has a pat hand or has to hit and chance busting. You don't know what you'll draw. You just know the percentages favor hitting.

In a blackjack variant called Double Exposure, the guesswork is gone. All dealer cards are dealt face up. You know whether that dealer 10 is accompanied by a 10, a 6, or something else. You have a lot more information as a basis for your play.

There are tradeoffs, of course. Ties don't push -- the dealer wins unless the tied hands are blackjacks. At some casinos, tied blackjacks push, but at some players win blackjack ties.

That means you have to be prepared to make some uncomfortable plays. If you have 20 and the dealer shows 20, you have to hit or you lose the hand. You never face a 21 vs. 21 situation. A two-card 21 is blackjack, and dealer blackjacks stop play. And dealers can only build 21s of three or more cards after player draws are finished.

Winning player blackjacks pay only even money instead of the 3-2 or 6-5 in standard games. At most tables, you can split pairs only once. And some tables restrict doubling down to totals of 9 through 11 or just 10 and 11.

Still, the allure of seeing all dealer cards is strong. You won't see Double Exposure in all casinos, but it sometimes pops up in large live casinos as well as in online casinos that give their players plenty of options.

Details on the Game

Double Exposure first appeared in the late 1970s at Bob Stupak's Vegas World, a casino on the Las Vegas site where the Stratosphere stands today. It spread to tribal casinos, especially those under the Grand umbrella, and later found homes online.

Sometimes alternate names are used, including Dealer Disclosure, Face Up 21, and some games branded with the Grand name.

Even with the compensating rules favoring the house, the ability to see all dealer cards gives the players enough that the house edge is lower than most casino games.

The specific edge depends on which optional rules are in play. In a six-deck game in which the dealer hits soft 17, double downs are allowed on hard 9 through 11, doubling after splits is allowed, multiple splits are permitted, and players win tied blackjacks, the house edge is 0.68%.

If the dealer stands on soft 17, doubles are restricted to hard 9-11, doubling after splits is not allowed, only one split is permitted, and players win tied blackjacks, the house edge rises to 0.96%.

According to Michael Shackelford at wizardofodds.com, the following optional rules can affect the house edge: Dealer stands on all 17s cuts the edge by 0.39%, double after split by 0.32%, and player wins blackjack ties by 0.22%. On the opposite side of the ledger, restricting splits to one time increases the edge by 0.71%, limiting double downs to hard 9-11 by 1.04%, and restricting doubles to hard 10 or 11 by 1.44%.

Basic strategy has to be expanded to give you the average best plays against all dealer two-card totals through 20. It has to account for dealer soft totals.

A Look at Double Exposure Basic Strategy

Let's do a little overview of basic strategy for Double Exposure in the common configuration where the dealer hits soft 17.

Player Hard Totals Strategy:

• Player has a hard 5, 6, or 7 – Note there is no hard 2, 3, or 4, which are soft totals or pairs. So with hard 4-6, double down when permitted against dealer 14, 15, or 16. If doubles aren't allowed, hit. Hit against all other totals, including soft hands.
• Player has hard 8 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs. hard 12-16. Hit against all other totals.
• Player has hard 9 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs. hard 5, 6, and 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 10 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs., hard 4-8 and 12-16, and vs. soft 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 11 – Double if allowed, hit if not, vs. hard 4-9, 12-16, and soft 13-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 12 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 12-16, and soft 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 13 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 12-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 14 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 11-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 15 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 10-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 16 – Stand vs. hard 4-6, 8-16, and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has hard 17-20 – With one exception on these hands, hit if the dealer total can beat or tie yours. If you have 19, you need to hit regardless of whether the dealer has 10-9 or Ace-8. Both are standing hands.

The exception is when you have 17 and the dealer has soft 17. Since the dealer has to hit, it's best for you to stand and let the dealer take a chance at a bad draw. But if the dealer has a hard 17, you need to hit your 17.

Player Soft Totals Strategy:

If your soft total consists of three or more cards and strategy calls for double down if permitted, use the "If not permitted" strategy listed below.

• Player has soft 13 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has soft 14 or soft 15 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 6 and hard 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has soft 16 or soft 17 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 5, 6, and 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has soft 18 – Double if permitted, hit if not, against hard 4, 5, and 13-16. Double if permitted, stand if not, against hard 6 or 12. Stand against hard 7 or 17 and soft 17. Hit all others.
• Player has soft 19 – Double if permitted, stand if not, against hard 12-16. Hit against hard or soft 19 or 20. Otherwise, stand.
• Player has soft 20 – Double or stand against hard 13-16. Hit against hard or soft 20. Otherwise, stand. Note that we do not double against hard 12 here, as we do on other soft hands.

Splitting Pairs

That leaves one more segment of adapted strategy for Double Exposure. Splitting pairs can get a little tricky. The basics for regular blackjack don't always apply. In standard blackjack, players are told to always split Aces and 8s and to never split 5s or 10s. That doesn't apply when you can see all dealer cards.

Let's break it down:

• Player has 2, 2 or 3, 3: Split if double downs after splits are permitted, hit if not, against hard 4-5. Also split against hard 6 and 12-17. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 4, 4 – Split against hard 6 and 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 5, 5 – Split if double downs after splits are permitted, double down if not, against hard 16. Also double – not split – against hard 4-8, 12-15, and soft 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 6, 6 – Split against hard 4-6 and 12-17. Stand against hard 14-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 7, 7 – Split if double downs after splits are permitted, hit if not, against hard 4. Also split against hard 5-6 and 12-17. Stand against hard 11 and soft 12-16. Otherwise, hit.
• Player has 8-8 – There are many more twists and turns than the standard "always split 8s" rule. Instead, split against hard 4-8 and 12-17 and soft 16-17. Stand against hard 9-11 and soft 12-16. Hit against hard 19-20 and soft 18-20.
• Player has 9-9 – Split against hard 4-6, 8, 12-16, 18 and soft 16-17. Stand on others except hit against hard 19-20 and soft 18-20.
• Player has 10-10 – Split against hard 13-16. Stand against others except hit against hard or soft 20.
• Player has Ace, Ace – Split against hard 4-10 and 12-16 and soft 12-17. Otherwise, hit.

Summary

If that seems a little more complex than basic strategy for standard blackjack, it is. There are more possibilities to prepare for. But many of those extra possibilities are easy to cope with once you've come to grips with the ties lose rule and are prepared to hit 17s against 17s, 18s against 18s, 19s against 19s and 20s against 20s.

Football Studio Dice is a hot new attraction from Evolution Games. This ramped-up version of Football Studio delivers dice action in a football-themed live casino game. Available at 888 Live, this casino game features Bac Bo dice, intuitive gameplay, and authentic entertainment.

Unlike the original game, which used cards, Football Studio Dice features four dice – 2X red and 2X blue in carefully constructed pockets on the football pitch. Specifically, that means 2X red dice for one team and 2X blue dice for the other.

The gameplay mechanics are simple enough: pick a team that will roll a higher combined dice total, or pick a draw. Naturally, the highest total you can roll is 12 (6+6), and the lowest total you can roll is 2 (1+1).

How to Play Football Studio Dice

The live game studio is set up so that the HOME team is positioned to the left (from the player's perspective), and the AWAY team is positioned to the right (from the player's perspective). The football field takes centre stage on the screen, with the live casino host acting as the referee. The dice shakers complete their actions within seconds, and winners are declared once the totals are tallied.

Football Studio by Evolution is somewhat similar to Football Studio Dice, but there are many differences between the two games. This ramped-up game features two dice for each side. Players are not required to shake the dice. Not even the dealer shakes the dice. A dice shaker automatically does it. Place your bets and wait for the shaker to complete its job.

• Football Studio Dice plays out in two halves – just like a typical football match. That means the 'score' at half-time isn't necessarily the result of the Football Studio Dice match. If your 'team' gets lucky (HOME or AWAY), you can still come from behind to win the match.
• While the betting action is underway, all four dice are automatically shaken simultaneously. But here's the kicker: the dice stop shaking at different points. This boosts player engagement and enhances the excitement in the live game show.
• There are two dice shakers for HOME and two dice shakers for AWAY. The top shakers for each respective side stop first. The bottom shakers stop last. As soon as the shakers have stopped, the totals for each side will be calculated. The side with the highest dice total wins that half or the whole game.
• If you bet on a draw, the payouts can be a staggering 80X your bet amount on a 12-12 result. Other payout values include: wins pay even money (1:1) and standard draws pay 8:1.
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Bet Types in Football Studio Dice

This entertaining football-themed game features three distinct bet options. These include the following:

• HOME – winning bets pay even money
• AWAY – winning bets pay even money
• DRAW – winning bets pay 8:1 up to 11:11 but pays 80:1 for 12:12 results

This entertaining live casino game features hundreds of possible outcomes. That's because each die has six sides, and there are two of them for each team. The stats gurus have determined that the HOME and AWAY teams have 133 possible outcomes, with 11 draw possibilities on the field of play. While the number of potential outcomes is significantly less than in slot games, it's still challenging to correctly pick a result.

Like roulette with red and black bets, the probability of HOME or AWAY winning is approximately 48%. The probability of a draw is around 4% (that’s similar to the Green Zero in Roulette). That means it's almost the equivalent of a coin flip (50/50) every time you place a home or away team bet.

The ever-present probability of a draw adds additional volatility to the mix. Given the payout odds at even money for HOME or AWAY wins, larger wagers tend to get rewarded with equivalent payouts.

FAQs

• What is Football Studio Dice?
  Football Studio Dice is a football-themed live casino game by Evolution Games, available at 888casino.
• How is Football Studio Dice played?
  Players bet on a team (Home/Away) that will roll a higher combined dice total.
• What is the range of dice totals in Football Studio Dice?
  The highest dice total possible is 12 (6+6), while the lowest is 2 (1+1).
• On what platforms can Football Studio Dice be played?
  Registered players can play Football Studio Dice live on PC, Mac, and mobile devices.
• What are the bet types in Football Studio Dice?
  The game features three bet options: HOME, AWAY, and DRAW, with varying payouts.
• What are the similarities between Football Studio Dice and Football Studio?
  Both are live football-themed casino games by Evolution, but the Dice version uses dice instead of cards.
• How are the results calculated in Football Studio Dice?
  The dice are shaken, and once stopped, the side with the highest total wins the half or the game.