The following information is based on the "old" version of
Microgaming software, download only. You are on your own for the Flash games but
the rules are mostly the same I believe. As of this writing most casinos still
use this version. Information on the "new" version can be found here.
Visit these Fine Microgaming Casinos!
Baccarat
Single deck. House edge on banker is 1.012% and on player is 1.286%.
Blackjack
The rules are as follows:
- One deck
- 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 amount 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 0.13%.
There is also a multi-hand game in which the player may play up to five
hands. This has the same rules as above, except for five decks instead of one.
The house edge in this game is 0.57%.
A third option is "Triple Sevens Blackjack", which is the five-deck
game with a $1 mandatory side bet. Following is the side bet return table, based
on a meter of $41,227 (the amount on August 31, 2002).
| Microgaming Triple Sevens Side Bet |
| Hand |
Permutations |
Probability |
Pays |
Return |
| 1 seven |
1238400 |
0.07128 |
5 for 1 |
0.3564 |
| 2 unsuited 7's |
72000 |
0.004144 |
25 for 1 |
0.103605 |
| 2 suited 7's |
19200 |
0.001105 |
50 for 1 |
0.055256 |
| 3 unsuited 7's |
6600 |
0.00038 |
250 for 1 |
0.094971 |
| 3 suited 7's |
180 |
0.00001 |
1000 for 1 |
0.01036 |
| 3 diamond 7's |
60 |
0.000003 |
41227 for 1 |
0.142377 |
| Non-paying hand |
16037280 |
0.923077 |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
17373720 |
1 |
|
0.76297 |
If the player splits two sevens the connectivity is lost and the player
begins each hand with one seven for purposes of the side bet. The player should
never split sevens in this game at low bet levels ($40 or less). The house edge
on the side bet is 37.94%, less 3.45% for every $10,000 in the meter. When I
checked at the Golden Tiger casino on August 31, 2002, the meter was at $41,227,
for a return of 76.30%, or a house edge of 23.70%. For the side bet to have no
house edge the meter would need to reach $109,862. This does not consider the
0.0057% cost of deviating from basic strategy by not splitting two sevens.
Assuming the player is betting $2 on the blackjack hand (the minimum) the meter
would need to reach $113,196 for the combined game to have no house edge.
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%. Winnings always get rounded down to
the next dollar so be sure to bet in correct increments.
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 2:1 on both 2 and 12. Overall Microgaming's craps game is
rather stingy.
Cyberstud Poker
This is what Microgaming calls Caribbean Stud Poker. The pay table is
the most generous I have seen online, paying as follows.
| Hand |
Pays |
| Royal flush |
999:1 |
| Straight flush
| 199:1 |
| Four of a kind
| 99:1 |
| Full house
| 14:1 |
| Flush
| 9:1 |
| Straight
| 5:1 |
| Three of a kind
| 3:1 |
| Two pair
| 1:1 |
| Pair
| 1:1 |
| Ace/king
| 1:1 |
The strategy is still the same as for the conventional pay table game. The
house edge under these rules is 5.01%.
Keno
Microgaming offers a pay table to compete with any other game of keno,
whether on land or the Internet. The only game that comes close to Microgaming
is Unified Gaming. Overall the best keno bet on the Internet, among all software
brands reviewed, is Microgaming's pick 13. Following is the expected return
according to the number of picks.
| Pick |
Return |
| 1 |
75.00% |
| 2 |
92.09% |
| 3 |
93.04% |
| 4 |
93.79% |
| 5 |
93.87% |
| 6 |
93.79% |
| 7 |
96.35% |
| 8 |
92.90% |
| 9 |
92.86% |
| 10 |
94.54% |
| 11 |
93.10% |
| 12 |
94.22% |
| 13 |
96.54% |
| 14 |
95.42% |
| 15 |
95.19% |
Pai Gow
Microgaming has the only pai gow game I have seen online. For those
unfamiliar with the game it is an ancient Chinese game played with dominos. This
is not to be confused witn pai gow poker which is played with playing cards. Not
all Microgaming casinos offer this game but I have seen it at the English
Harbour, Caribbean Gold, and Silver Dollar. The dealer is always the banker,
which results in a hosue edge of about 2.39%. A button is available to set your
hand according to the house way.
Pai Gow Poker
Unlike the standard rules in Microgaming's game of pai gow poker the
joker may not be used as a singleton ace. It still may be combined with other
aces or used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush, otherwise it is
counted as a one. The dealer is always the banker results in a house edge of
about 2.86%. No advice feature is available.
Roulette
A single zero wheel is used. The house edge is 2.70%.
Roulette Royale
Roulette Royale is the same thing as regular roulette with a mandatory
$1 side bet. 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. When I checked on July 3, 2002, the meter was at $84,205, for a
house edge of 36.21%. In general the house edge is 40.58% less 0.52% for every
$10,000 in the meter.
Sic Bo
Microgaming offers the best Sic Bo odds online. See my Sic
Bo online section for a comparison to other software brands. 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. 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.
| Microgaming Sic Bo |
| Bet |
Pays |
Prob. Win |
House Edge |
| Small, Big |
1-1 |
48.61% |
2.78% |
| 4, 17 |
62-1 |
1.39% |
12.5% |
| 5, 16 |
31-1 |
2.78% |
11.11% |
| 6, 15 |
18-1 |
4.63% |
12.04% |
| 7, 14 |
12-1 |
6.94% |
9.72% |
| 8, 13 |
8-1 |
9.72% |
12.5% |
| 9, 12 |
7-1 |
11.57% |
7.41% |
| 10, 11 |
6-1 |
12.5% |
12.5% |
| Triple |
180-1 |
0.46% |
16.2% |
| Any triple |
31-1 |
2.78% |
11.11% |
| Double |
11-1 |
7.41% |
11.11% |
| Two die combination |
6-1 |
13.89% |
2.78% |
| Any number |
(1/2/12)-1 |
42.13% |
3.70% |
The lowest house edge bets are on big, small, and any two number combination
bets, all at 2.78%.
Slots
No information available.
Video Poker
Four out of six Microgaming video poker games have a return of at least
99%, however none are over 100%. The following tables shows the return of all
six gams available assuming optimal strategy. New versions of Microgaming also
offer five-play video poker.
| Microgaming Video Poker - Expected Return |
| Game |
Return |
| Jacks or better |
0.995440 |
| Aces and faces |
0.992556 |
| Tens or better |
0.991388 |
| Deuces and joker wild |
0.990677 |
| Joker poker |
0.985987 |
| Deuces wild |
0.967650 |
The following tables display the pertinent statistics for Microgaming's video
poker games.
| Jacks or Better - Microgaming |
| Hand |
Payoff |
Number |
Probability |
Return |
| Royal flush |
800 |
493512264 |
0.000025 |
0.019807 |
| Straight flush |
50 |
2178883296 |
0.000109 |
0.005465 |
| 4 of a kind |
25 |
47093167764 |
0.002363 |
0.059064 |
| Full house |
9 |
229475482596 |
0.011512 |
0.103610 |
| Flush |
6 |
219554786160 |
0.011015 |
0.066087 |
| Straight |
4 |
223837565784 |
0.011229 |
0.044917 |
| 3 of a kind |
3 |
1484003070324 |
0.074449 |
0.223346 |
| Two pair |
2 |
2576946164148 |
0.129279 |
0.258558 |
| Jacks or better |
1 |
4277372890968 |
0.214585 |
0.214585 |
| Nothing |
0 |
10872274993896 |
0.545435 |
0.000000 |
| Total |
|
19933230517200 |
1.000000 |
0.995439 |
| Deuces Wild - Microgaming |
| Hand |
Payoff |
Number |
Probability |
Return |
| Natural royal flush |
800 |
452009940 |
0.000023 |
0.018141 |
| 4 deuces |
200 |
3570521856 |
0.000179 |
0.035825 |
| Wild royal flush |
25 |
36624375216 |
0.001837 |
0.045934 |
| 5 of a kind |
16 |
62398218024 |
0.003130 |
0.050086 |
| Straight flush |
13 |
114654402804 |
0.005752 |
0.074775 |
| 4 of a kind |
4 |
1242075806484 |
0.062312 |
0.249247 |
| Full house |
3 |
418137265908 |
0.020977 |
0.062931 |
| Flush |
2 |
352258762272 |
0.017672 |
0.035344 |
| Straight |
2 |
1154033170176 |
0.057895 |
0.115790 |
| 3 of a kind |
1 |
5572718074608 |
0.279569 |
0.279569 |
| Nothing |
0 |
10976307909912 |
0.550654 |
0.000000 |
| Total |
|
19933230517200 |
1.000000 |
0.967641 |
| Joker Wild - Microgaming |
| Hand |
Payoff |
Probability |
Return |
| Natural Royal Flush |
1000 |
0.000026 |
0.026063 |
| 5 of a kind |
200 |
0.000093 |
0.018572 |
| Wild Royal Flush |
100 |
0.000107 |
0.010733 |
| Straight Flush |
50 |
0.000594 |
0.029694 |
| 4 of a Kind |
17 |
0.008497 |
0.144445 |
| Full House |
7 |
0.015604 |
0.109228 |
| Flush |
5 |
0.015975 |
0.079873 |
| Straight |
3 |
0.016877 |
0.050630 |
| 3 of a Kind |
2 |
0.133124 |
0.266249 |
| 2 Pair |
1 |
0.110483 |
0.110483 |
| Kings or Better |
1 |
0.140017 |
0.140017 |
| Nothing |
0 |
0.558604 |
0.000000 |
| Total Return |
|
1.000000 |
0.985987 |
| Deuces & Joker Wild - Microgaming |
| Hand |
Pays |
Probability |
Return |
| Five Wilds |
2000 |
0.000008 |
0.015458 |
| Natural Royal Flush |
800 |
0.00002 |
0.015832 |
| Four Deuces |
25 |
0.000149 |
0.003728 |
| Straight Flush |
12 |
0.002801 |
0.033607 |
| Five of a Kind |
9 |
0.005508 |
0.049568 |
| Straight |
6 |
0.00743 |
0.044578 |
| Four of a Kind |
3 |
0.081337 |
0.24401 |
| Flush/Full House |
3 |
0.055635 |
0.166904 |
| Straight |
2 |
0.066109 |
0.132218 |
| Three of a Kind |
1 |
0.284773 |
0.284773 |
| Nothing |
0 |
0.496232 |
0 |
| Total |
|
1 |
0.990677 |
| Aces & Faces - Microgaming |
| Hand |
Pays |
Probability |
Return |
| Royal Flush |
800 |
0.000025 |
0.019876 |
| Straight Flush |
50 |
0.000106 |
0.0053 |
| Four aces |
80 |
0.000196 |
0.015668 |
| Four Jack-King |
40 |
0.000587 |
0.023479 |
| Four 2-10 |
25 |
0.00158 |
0.039507 |
| Full House |
8 |
0.011515 |
0.09212 |
| Flush |
5 |
0.01086 |
0.054301 |
| Straight |
4 |
0.011212 |
0.044847 |
| Three of a Kind |
3 |
0.074474 |
0.223422 |
| Two Pair |
2 |
0.129318 |
0.258637 |
| Jacks or Better |
1 |
0.215399 |
0.215399 |
| Nothing |
0 |
0.544728 |
0 |
| Total |
|
1 |
0.992555 |
| Tens or Better - Microgaming |
| Hand |
Payoff |
Probability |
Return |
| Royal flush |
800 |
0.000026 |
0.020546 |
| Straight flush |
50 |
0.000103 |
0.005141 |
| Four of a Kind |
25 |
0.002358 |
0.058958 |
| Full house |
6 |
0.011497 |
0.068984 |
| Flush |
5 |
0.010654 |
0.053270 |
| Straight |
4 |
0.012357 |
0.049429 |
| Three of a Kind |
3 |
0.074265 |
0.222795 |
| Two Pair |
2 |
0.129007 |
0.258013 |
| Tens or Better |
1 |
0.254251 |
0.254251 |
| Nothing |
0 |
0.505482 |
0.000000 |
| Total |
|
1.000000 |
0.991388 |
|
