Cryptologic software review

Last update: June 29, 2001

Note: This review is for Cryptologic version 3. For the verion 4 review please click here.

Cryptologic is a Toronto based company providing downloadable online casino software. The company was founded in 1995, went live with their first casino in 1996, and was the first to provide multi-player games in 1998. Depending on the casino, the player may earn monthly deposit bonuses, random prizes, or cash back incentives.

After opening an account a letter will be sent in the postal mail containing a PIN and account number. You will need the PIN to cash out and the account number for customer support, so don’t lose this information. Based on my experience Cryptologic casinos are very professional and offer fast and efficient customer service. The playing experience strives to be realistic, offering sound effects and voice narration. Multi-player and single player games are offered. The Cryptologic game rules are often modeled after those found in Atlantic City.

Following are my comments about the games that Cryptologic has to offer.

Blackjack

With the exception that splitting after splitting is not allowed Cryptologic blackjack rules are the same as the standard in Atlantic City. The complete rules are as follows:

• 8 decks
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Player may double on any first two cards
• Player may double after splitting
• Player may split only once
• No surrender
• Dealer checks hole card for blackjack

The following table shows the correct basic strategy according to these rules. It may also be correctly used in Atlantic City and with Boss Media’s multi-player software.

S

Stand

H

Hit

D

Double

P

Split

This table does not display some obvious hands. For example always hit on a hard 8 or less and always stand on a hard 17 or more. Following this basic strategy the house edge is 0.49%. This is 0.05% higher than in Atlantic City where resplitting is allowed.

Cryptologic’s craps game offers rules that are close to those found in physical casinos. All place and proposition bets pay according to standard rules. Buy and lay bets are not offered. The player may bet up to two times any line bet on the odds. The double odds are always relative to the bet made. This departs from conventional rules in which laying odds after a don’t pass or don’t come bet is relative to the amount the player can win. Finally, winning bets get rounded down to the nearest dollar so be sure to bet in correct increments.

Caribbean Poker, otherwise known as Caribbean Stud Poker, takes one small deviation from the normal rules. This deviation is on a royal flush, which pays 200:1 rather than 100:1. Assuming optimal strategy this lowers the house edge from 5.22% to 5.21%.

Cryptologic keno payoffs are about equally as generous as land based casinos, paying between 71% and 75%. The following table shows the expected return according to the number of spots chosen.

Let it Ride

Cryptologic follows the usual Let it Ride rules. Unlike Atlantic City, however, Cryptologic features a $1 side bet. The house edge on Let it Ride is 3.51% and on their side bet is 22.61%.

Cryptologic follows conventional pai gow poker rules, including the rule that the ace-2-3-4-5 is the second highest straight. In their game the dealer is always the banker giving the house a 2.86% house edge, assuming both player and dealer play by a standard house way.

Cryptologic's Red Dog rules are conventional, featuring eight decks with a house edge of 2.75%.

Atlantic City’s version of the European imprisonment rule can also be found in Crypologic’s roulette game. Under this rule if the ball lands in 0 or 00 half the bet is returned on all even money bets (red, black, 1-18, 19-36, even, and odd). For example if the player bet $10 on black and the ball landed on 0 then the player would get $5 of his bet returned. The house edge on the even money bets is 2.63%, on the five number combo is 7.89%, and on all other bets is 5.26%.

At least three Cryptologic casinos state their actual slot machine payback percentages on their web sites. The following are the monthly returns for two of them.

In addition the Safari casino indicates their return to date for 2000 is 92.42%.

The following table shows the video poker games available at Cryptologic and their expected return assuming perfect strategy.

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