Introduction

Expanse Studios is a Malta-based online betting group that launched in 2019 and is in the business of designing slot machines for the iGaming industry. Despite being new, Expanse has already pushed a healthy number of games out to their customers, with slot titles like Mayas Treasure providing a nice theme set and features for players. 

Interestingly, Expanse has put out some table games, but there's something weird about them. The company's slots look pretty decent, although the table games do seem to be really dated. I don't know why the production values are so different between the groups, but it definitely stands out. 

I am interested to see who Expanse will be partnering up with to distribute their games going forward. Having customers to provide some revenue could help with making games that don't look like they are straight out of 2003. I'll be keeping an eye on this group and reporting on new games as they're released.

Sic Bo

Expanse offers an outstanding odds in sic bo; I believe the best online. The house edge ranges from 2.50% to 3.24%, with most bets at 2.78%. The following table shows what they pay on each bet, the probability of winning, and expected return. Wins are on a "for one" basis.

Titan Dice

Titan dice is a simple game, based on the roll of two dice, a red one and a black one. The player may bet on either the total or outcome of a specific die. The following table shows the bets on the combined total. Wins are on a "for one" basis.

There are six bets each on the outcome of the red die or black die. Each pays 5.83 for 1, for a house edge of 2.83%.

Roulette

The roulette game is single-zero for a house edge of 2.70% on every bet.

Video Poker

Expanse offers one video poker game, kings or better, which they call Pixel Poker. Given the name and 1980's quality graphics, the retro look must be deliberate.

As the table shows, the 1-1-2-3-5-7-17-50-100-200-1000 pay table has a return of 98.09%. The auto-hold feature seems surprisingly good. I checked about a dozen non-obvious hands and it was correct every time. However, I am not saying it is always correct.

The following table shows the Video Poker games available in alphabetical order.

Hi Lo

Hi Lo is a simple card game based on predicting the next card in a deck. The rules vary among the difference software providers. Following are the Expanse Studios rules.

1. A modified 50-card deck is used, with no tens, but does include two jokers.
2. Aces are high.
3. A card is drawn at random and shown.
4. The card shown is replaced back in the deck.
5. The player may make various bets on the NEXT card to be drawn, including higher or lower than the last card drawn , except there are no bets that are impossible to win, like lower than 2.
6. Bets are resolved.
7. Go back to rule 4, with the "shown card" the same as the last card drawn.

As you can see, most bets have a return of exactly 96%. The exceptions, at a return of 95.76%, are:

• Higher than 4
• Higher than 6
• Lower than 9
• Lower than Q

My advice is to bet whatever you wish as long as you avoid the four bets listed above. Remember, every bet is based on a full 50-card deck, so there is no effect of removal.

Blackjack

The blackjack game has three betting spots and I would say average rules for the industry. My blackjack house edge calculator shows a house edge of 0.40%, although the game help file claims 0.35%. You may choose who to believe.

The following table shows the Blackjack games available in alphabetical order.

Slots

Expanse slots have a retro fun feel to them, as if they were made to be played for fun, as opposed to real gambling. I am not sure if the retro look is deliberate or they were just made in the early 2000's. The features are familiar, like cascading reels and free spins, but other bonus rounds can be rather involved and have nothing to do with spinning reels.

The returns are kindly disclosed in the help files, as follows:

• Maya's Treasure: 95.09%
• Piggy Party: 95.06%
• Sticky 777: 95.06%
• Gem Miner: 95.27%

Crazy Horses

Crazy Horses is a derby game, where the player bets on the outcome of a horse race. The presentation of this one is very simple, fast, and cute. In every race there are six horses. The only bet is on the winning horse. Assuming the expected return is always the same, which the help file seems to indicate at a flat 97%, then the following table shows the win, probability of winning, and expected return of all six horses. Wins are on a "for one" basis.

Emoji

Emoji is a difficult game to both explain and analyze. To start, the game has a 3 by 5 array of curtains, which the player pay pick from. Some reveal pieces of meat but others reveal a meat hook. The object is to not pick three meat hooks in a row. If the player gets through that he moves onto another level, which I won't get into, except to say it involves picking from 15 icons as well. The help screens indicate returns as follows:

• Level 1: 96.00%
• Level 2: 92.15%
• Level 3: 88.46%
• Level 4: 84.92%

The player has an option to cash out before advancing in level. Given the decreasing returns as the levels advance, this would seem the best decision. However, it is terrible in terms of game design. Who knows what is going on.

Bottom line is I like to give credit for doing something different and this game is definitely that. I don't know that everybody will like it and the return is not so great, so make your own mind about this one.

Circus Fever

Circus Fever is basically a Plinko kind of game, but the player bet on which spot the ball will land in. There is also a multiplier wheel to make things more interesting/confusing. I can say the help files states the return is 95.24%, which implies the odds are the same regardless of what outcome you bet on. Much like Emoji, the whole game seems kind of creepy, but in a fun house kind of way. At this game is something different, which is a refreshing change in an industry known for copying each other.

External Links

Corporate web site