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Heads or Tails
Introduction
I first wrote about Heads or Tails in 2005 when Playtech introduced a game based on the toss of a coin. Ten years later SOFTSWISS created another coin flipping game. Then, in 2019, I noticed another version by Evopolay. This page shall address all of them.
Playtech Version
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Playtech Rules
The player chooses heads or tails and then bets on 1, 2, or 3 flips.
Playtech Analysis
The following table shows the probability of winning and expected return for the three available bets.
Playtech -- Return Table
| Bet | Probability | Pays | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| One flip | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.95 |
| Two flips | 0.25 | 3.8 | 0.95 |
| Three flips | 0.125 | 7.5 | 0.9375 |
SOFTSWISS/BGaming Version
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Rules
The player makes a bet and then predicts the flip of a coin — a Bitcoin to be specific. Wins pays 198 for 100.
Analysis
The following table shows the probability of winning and contribution to the return for both outcomes. Wins are expressed on a "for one" basis. The lower right cell shows a return of 99%. In other words, a house edge of 1%.
SOFTSWISS/BGamin -- Return Table
| Event | Probability | Pays | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 0.50 | 1.98 | 0.99 |
| Loss | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total | 1.00 | 0.99 |
Evoplay Version
Evoplay returns 1.96 for 1 on a win. It is easy to see this results in an expected return of 0.5 × 1.96 = 98%, or a 2% house edge.