Microgaming Software Review

In January 2003 Microgaming introduced a software update. As of this writing as far as I know only the Lucky Nugget casino uses the new software, all other Microgaming casinos still use the old version. One way to tell if a casino uses the old or the new software is the casino lobby. The new version has tabs for various kinds of games, like slots and table games, and the old version does not have the tabs. This section review shall address the new software.

Baccarat

Single deck. House edge on banker is 1.012% and on player is 1.286%.

Blackjack

Microgaming offers three blacjack games:
European blackjack, multi-hand blackjack, and progressive blacjack. The best game is the European blackjack with the following rules.

• Two decks

• Dealer stands on soft 17

• Double on 9 to 11 only

• No doubling after splitting

• No resplitting

• Player may draw to split aces

• No surrender

• Full no peek (player loses total amout bet against dealer blackjack)

• Insurance not resolved until end of hand

Following is the correct basic strategy for these rules.

The house edge under these rules is 0.39%.

Multi-Hand Blackjack has the same rules as European blackjack except five decks and player can play up to five hands at once. The house edge is 0.57%.

Progressive Blackjack has the same rules as multi-hand blackjack except only one hand may be played at a time and there is a mandatory $1 Triple Sevens side bet. I do not know what happens if the player splits two sevens. The following table shows the probability and return of each paying side bet hand.

The house edge on the side bet is 37.94%, less 3.45% for every $10,000 in the meter. For the side bet to have no house edge the meter would need to reach $109,862.

Craps

Microgaming craps players may not bet more than their original wager either buying or laying the odds. The combined house edge on the pass side is 0.85% and on the don`t pass side is 0.82%. Unlike the previous version winnings are rounded to the penny (previously winnings were rounded to the dollar).

A Place bet to win is called a "win bet" and a place bet to lose is called a "lose bet." The payoffs are the same on win bets as conventional place bets. The "lose bets" pay 2-5 on the 4 and 10, 4-7 on the 5 and 9, and 4-5 on the 6 and 8. The house edge on the "lose bets" are 6.67% on the 4 and 10, 5.71% on the 5 and 9, and 1.82% on the 6 and 8.

The proposition bets have the same high house edge as in conventional craps. The field bet pays 2 to 1 on both 2 and 12.

Cyberstud Poker

This is what Microgaming calls Caribbean Stud Poker. The pay table is the most generous I have seen online, paying as follows.

The strategy is still the same as for the conventional pay table game. The house edge under these rules is 5.01%.

There is also a progressive version with a mandatory $1 side bet. The side bet pays $50 for a flush, $100 for a full house, $500 for a four of a kind, $20000 for a straight flush, and a progressive jackpot for a royal flush. The house edge on the side bet is 36.06% less 1.54% for each $10,000 in the jackpot meter. For the side bet to have a player advantage the meter would need to exceed $234,290.

Keno

Microgaming offers a competitive keno game. The best game is the pick 13 with a return of 96.54%. Following is the expected return according to the number of picks.

Poker Persuit

This is the same game commonly known as Let it Ride, except the three highest payoffs are a slightly less. Microgaming pays 49, 199, and 999 to 1 on the three highest hands, compared to the conventional 50, 200, and 1000. This increases the house edge from the usual 3.51% to 3.57%. There are no strategy deviations relative to the standard pay table. Following is the complete Microgaming pay table.

Red Dog

Standard rules are followed. I do not know the number of decks. The house edge is 3.15% to 2.75% depending on the number of decks, the fewer the decks the greater the house edge.

Roulette

A single zero wheel is used. The house edge is 2.70%.

There is also a progressive roulette game with a mandatory $1 side bet. The side bet wins if the same number occurs atleast twice in a row. The side bet pays $15 if the same number occurs two times consecutively, $200 for 3 times, $3000 for 4 times, and a progressive jackpot for 5 times. The sequence starts when the side bet is made. Winnings are cummulative as long as the player keeps making the bet on every spin. For the casino to have no advantage the meter would need to reach $781,626.03. In general the house edge is 40.58% less 0.52% for every $10,000 in the meter.

Scratch Card

I have no information about this game. House edge is unknown.

Sic Bo

Microgaming offers very competitive Sic Bo odds. Of special note is that the single number bet pays 12-1 on a 3 of a kind, better than the usual 3-1 payoff, and the 6-1 payoff on a two number combination, better than the usual 5-1. Compared to their major competitors Microgaming offers equal or better odds on every bet except the 5 and 16 (Microgaming pays 31-1, Playtech pays 32-1). The following table shows the payoff and house edge for all bets.

The lowest house edge bets are on big, small, and any two number combination bets, all at 2.78%.

Slots

I don`t know exactly when return Microgaming slots are set to but according to the actual payout percentage reports of the River Belle casino the monthly average for all slots ranges from 95% to 95.5%. To view the reports yourself go to http://www.riverbelle.com/reports/index.asp.

Video Poker

The following table shows the expected return for all but two of Microgaming`s video poker inventory. Supajax and Jackpot Deuces I do not have the software to evaluate. The best game is good on Jacks or Better, either 1 or 4 play.

The following tables display the pertinent statistics for Microgaming`s video poker games.