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Beat the Dealer
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Introduction
I first heard of Beat the Dealer, a dice game, in February 2012. It was spotted at the Turning Stone casino in New York state. I used to think Casino War was the most simple game in the casino, but I think we have a new winner in that category with Beat the Dealer.
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Rules
- The player makes a wager.
- The dealer will roll two dice and note the total.
- If the dealer did not roll a 12, then the player will roll two dice.
- If the player's total is greater than the dealer's total, then the player's wager shall be paid even money.
- If the dealer's total is greater or equal to the player's total, then the player's wager shall lose.
Obviously it would waste time for the player to roll against a dealer 12, since it would be impossible to win.
Analysis
The following table shows the possible outcomes. The lower right cell reflects a house edge of 11.27% (ouch!).
Beat the Dealer
Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|
Win | 1 | 0.443673 | 0.443673 |
Loss | -1 | 0.556327 | -0.556327 |
Total | 1.000000 | -0.112654 |
Comparison to Other Even-Money Games
For a fast even-money game, Beat the Dealer's house edge of 11.27% is quite high. To make the point a little better, here is a chart showing the house edge of other even money bets I know of from other games.
Even Money Bet Comparison
Game | Bet | House Edge |
---|---|---|
Baccarat | Player | 1.24% |
Roulette (European) | Red, black, etc. | 1.35% |
Craps | Don't pass, don't come | 1.36% |
Craps | Pass, come | 1.41% |
Roulette (single zero) | Red, black, etc. | 2.70% |
Sic Bo | Low, High | 2.78% |
Two Up | Heads | 3.13% |
Roulette (double zero) | Red, black, etc. | 5.26% |
Big Six | $1 | 11.11% |
Boule | Red, black, etc. | 11.11% |
Beat the Dealer | Beat the Dealer | 11.27% |