Microgaming Software Review

Last update: Jan. 27, 2008

Disclaimer: Let it be known that in July 2002 my wife and I accepted a luxury vacation to Monte Carlo from Microgaming. While this review was originally written before the trip I do update it from time to time. While I feel comfortable there is no conflict of interest I think it is appropriate to disclose that I have a friendly relationship with Microgaming.

Microgaming offers both a downloadable and a Flash casino. The rules seem to be the same both ways. New players may play for free in "fun mode." However, if and when you upgrade to a real money player, you can never go back and play in fun mode.

Many games have a normal and a "gold" version. The gold games seem to have the same rules, but a different presentation. The standard games are from an angle looking straight down at the table. The gold games look at the table from a sharper and more realistic angle.

Effective 2008, all Microgaming casinos prohibit U.S. players. Thus, I can no longer keep this page up to date.

Following is a list of the games you may play, the rules, house edge, and strategy advice. The names of the games may vary from one casino to another.

Baccarat

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

Baccarat - High Limit

8 decks. 1.06% house edge on the banker, 1.24% on the player, and 14.36% on the tie. The high limit baccarat also allows the player to peek at the cards slowly, as Asian players tend to do.

Blackjack

There are many different blackjack games. Many are listed below but the best rules are the Classic Blackjack, the rest can be safely ignored.

Classic Blackjack

Rules

• Single deck
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Dealer does not peek for blackjack. Player will lose total bet against a dealer blackjack, including on doubles and splits.
• Double after split not allowed
• Player may split only once
• No surrender
• Player may draw to split aces

Following is the correct basic strategy for these rules.

The house edge under the classic blackjack rules, using the total-dependent strategy above, is 0.13%. To shave 0.04% off this house edge use my composition-dependent basic strategy.

European Blackjack

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
• One bet position

Following is the correct basic strategy for these rules.

Key to basic strategy:

H

Hit

S

Stand

D

Double if allowed, otherwise hit

P

Split

The house edge under these rules is 0.39%.

Multi-Hand Blackjack

Rules

• 5 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
• Five bet positions

Following the the basic strategy for this game.

The house edge is 0.57%.

Vegas Strip Blackjack

Rules:

• 4 decks
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Double on any first two cards
• Double after split allowed
• Resplit to three hands
• Dealer peeks for blackjack
• One bet position

The house edge is 0.3606%.

Here is a basic strategy for the Microgaming Vegas Strip rules:

Key to basic strategy:

H

Hit

S

Stand

D

Double if allowed, otherwise hit

Ds

Double if allowed, otherwise stand

P

Split

Vegas Downtown Blackjack

Rules:

• 2 decks
• Dealer hits on soft 17
• Double on any first two cards
• Double after split allowed
• Resplit to three hands
• Dealer peeks for blackjack
• One bet position

The house edge is 0.40%.

Here is a basic strategy for the Microgaming Vegas Downtown rules:

Key to basic strategy:

H

Hit

S

Stand

D

Double if allowed, otherwise hit

Ds

Double if allowed, otherwise stand

P

Split

Atlantic City Blackjack

Rules:

• 8 decks
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Double on any first two cards
• Double after split allowed
• Resplit to three hands
• Dealer peeks for blackjack
• Late surrender allowed
• One bet position

The house edge is 0.365%.

The strategy is the same as that for Vegas Strip Blackjack except surrender on 16 against 9, 10, and ace; and 15 against a 10.

Bonus Blackjack

Bonus Blackjack has the same rules as Vegas Downtown blackjack. There is also an optional side bet that pays up to 50 to 1. The following return table shows the house edge on the side bet is 6.46%.

Triple Sevens Blackjack

Progressive Blackjack has the same rules and strategy as multi-hand blackjack except only one hand may be played at a time and there is a mandatory $1 Triple Sevens side bet. The following table shows the probability and return of each paying side bet hand. Wins for three sevens must be based on the first three cards and in the same hand. Thus splitting will void the chance for a three sevens win.

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. On December 19, 2003, the meter at the Grand Hotel casino was at $16,852.

The basic strategy is the same for this game as multi-hand blackjack except when the player has two sevens and the dealer has a 7 or less. Normally the strategy advises splitting, which in this game will avoid a three sevens win. In most cases the player should hit any two sevens. If the player's bet is $42 or less then he should always hit two sevens. Otherwise the following lists show the lowest blackjack bet at which the player should split.

Player has unsuited sevens:

• Dealer has 2: $97
• Dealer has 3: $73
• Dealer has 4: $58
• Dealer has 5: $54
• Dealer has 6: $43
• Dealer has 7: $75

Player has suited sevens (except diamonds):

• Dealer has 2: $149
• Dealer has 3: $112
• Dealer has 4: $89
• Dealer has 5: $82
• Dealer has 6: $66
• Dealer has unsuited 7: $118
• Dealer has suited 7: $103

Player has diamond sevens:

• Dealer has 2: $80.67 plus 0.071707 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 3: $60.71 plus 0.053968 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 4: $47.77 plus 0.042464 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 5: $44.19 plus 0.039283 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 6: $35.3 plus 0.031377 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has unsuited 7: $74.78 plus 0.058653 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 7 of diamonds: $74.78 plus 0.039102 times jackpot meter

Let's look at a couple examples. Suppose the player bet $200 and got two seven of spades against a dealer 2. The player should split because his bet is greater or equal to $149. Secondly, suppose the player bet $500 and got two seven of diamonds against a dealer 4 and the jackpot meter is at $20,000. Multiplying $20,000 by 0.042464 and adding $47.44 we get $897. The players bet is under this amount so the player should hit.

Casino War

Six decks are used. The standard rules are followed, including the bonus on a tie after a tie in which both ante and raise pay 1 to 1. The house edge is 2.33%.

Craps

I understand this version of craps is being phased out in favor of "Vegas Craps" (see below).

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 paytable is more generous than the standard one found in the land casinos.

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.

Double Exposure

This is a blackjack variant with the following rules:

• Both dealer cards dealt face up
• Dealer wins all ties except on blackjack
• All player wins (including blackjack) pay 1 to 1.
• Blackjack tie pays 1 to 1
• 8 decks
• Dealer hits soft 17
• Player may resplit to four hands
• Double on hard 9 to 11 only
• One card to split aces
• Double after split allowed

The house edge is 0.69%.

The basic strategy and more information about double exposure can be found in my double exposure section.

Free Ride

This is the same thing as Let it Ride. The U.S. pay table is used for a house edge if 3.51%.

Unlike in the land casinos, Microgaming has a progressive jackpot for the side bet. The pay table on the side bet pays 100% of the meter for a royal flush, 10% for a straight flush, $500 for a four of a kind, $100 for a flush, and $50 for a straight. The house edge is 63.762% less 2.924% for every $10,000 in the meter. On September 15, 2005, the meter at the Crazy Vegas casino was at $113,152 for a house edge of 30.495%.

Hold 'Em High Poker

This is a new poker variation. It is addressed and analyzed at VPgenius.com. According to VPgenius, the house edge is 5.03% and the element of risk is 2.28%.

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.

Pai Gow Poker

The basic rules apply except the dealer is always the banker. The house edge is 2.85%.

There is also a Bonus Pai Gow Poker game with a manatory $1 side bet as follows.

This is very similar to the Fortune Pai Gow Poker side bet except the second highest win is a royal with a pair of deuces instead of a royal with a royal match. The Microgaming hand is easier to attain, which lowers the house edge from Fortune's 5.85% to Microgaming's 5.79%, not counting the envy bonus.

Poker Pursuit

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.

The rules of pontoon are explain in depth in my pontoon section. Unlike Real Time Gaming, Playtech, and Cryptologic there are two important rule changes under the Microgaming rules. The first is that the dealer stands on a soft 17. The second is that split aces get one card each (no drawing, doubling, or resplitting). Overall the house edge is 0.39% with the correct strategy below.

Red Dog

Standard rules are followed with one deck of cards. The house edge is 3.15%.

Roulette

There are four different roulette games as follows.

I have an unconfirmed report that Microgaming no longer has European roulette. As a U.S. citizen, I have no way to personally confirm or deny this.

Scratch Card

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

Sic Bo

Microgaming offers very competitive Sic Bo odds. 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. 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 Crazy Vegas casino the monthly average for all slots tends to run about 96%. To view the reports yourself go to www.crazyvegascasino.com/language/english/review/index.asp.

Spanish Blackjack

This is the same thing as Spanish 21. The rules follow the "double double down" rules as explained in my Spanish 21 section. The house edge is 0.38%. The "double double down" strategy can also be found in my Spanish 21 section.

Super Fun 21

Super Fun 21 rules and strategy can be found in my Super Fun 21 section. The house edge is 0.94%.

Three Card Poker

Microgaming uses the "full pay" pay tables. In other words bonuses of 1,4, and 5 on the Ante bonus, and 1,4,6,30, and 40 on the Pairplus. This results in a house edge of 3.37% on the Ante and 2.32% on the Pairplus. The correct strategy on the ante bet is to raise on Q/6/4 or higher. More information can be found in my section on Three Card Poker.

Vegas Craps

3X odds are offered. The odds bet is always relative to the bet amount, including when laying odds. The combined house edge is 0.471% on the pass and 0.455% on the don't pass.

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 field bet pays 3 to 1 on a 12, for a house edge of 2.78%.

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

Here is a screenshot of a Royal Flush I earned at the Maple Casino on 10-play Jacks or Better. Click on the image for an enlargement.

Since the prohibition of Nevada players, I have received an unconfirmed report that the "Viper" casinos offer the following Double Double Bonus Poker game, or what I'm told they call "All Aces."

Double Bonus - Microgaming "All Aces" Pay Table
Hand	Pays	Combinations	Probability	Return
Royal flush	800	509641656	0.000026	0.020454
Straight flush	60	2060183136	0.000103	0.006201
4 aces	400	4733652936	0.000237	0.094990
4 2-4	100	10801068864	0.000542	0.054186
4 5-K	50	32507032500	0.001631	0.081540
Full house	7	210553126956	0.010563	0.073940
Flush	5	216788152068	0.010876	0.054379
Straight	4	252520338408	0.012668	0.050673
3 of a kind	3	1509206036580	0.075713	0.227139
Two pair	1	2458035568692	0.123313	0.123313
Jacks or better	1	4233392465364	0.212379	0.212379
Nothing	0	11002123250040	0.551949	0.000000
Total		19933230517200	1.000000	0.999195

See my casino index for a list of sites that use Microgaming software. Here's Microgaming's website.

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