Introduction

 

Playtech is one of the oldest and biggest software providers of Internet casino software. The company was founded in 1999 and, as of 2014, employs about 3,500 people in ten countries (source: Wikipedia). Playtech is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol LSE: PTEC.

It takes a big budget to open a Playtech casino, so players can generally expect a professional experience. However, Playtech seems to have more than its share of casinos with questionable reputations in the player community. Complaints about some Playtech casinos include:

• Seizure of funds for reasons of "bonus abuse."
• Putting winners of large progressive jackpots on payment plans, due to monthly withdrawal limits.
• Retroactively changing affiliate terms.

However, there are a lot of Playtech casinos out there, and most of the problems seem to be caused by a few bad apples.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention between 2002 and 2009 I designed many of Playtech's slot machines and arcade games. Maybe I am biased in saying this, but between the games I designed, and Playtech evidently learning the art of slot machine design from them, that most of their games are outstanding (especially the ones I did!). A major problem with the industry, in general, is games that are buggy or don't conform to the rules and norms of land casinos. You usually won't find this problem with Playtech games.

What follows is a description of the rules of most of the Playtech games. This review was mostly based on the Omni casino. However, not every casino offers every game, and some of the games were not available at the time I did this review in November, 2014.

Where I may miss any rules, Playtech does a good job of explaining the rules of all their games in the help files, which can be found by clicking on the wrench in the lower right corner of any game. However, they aren't perfect. For years, readers have been arguing with me about what constitutes a "lo royal" in their game Two-Way Royal. As far as I know, they still don't disclose this important rule in their help file on the game.

Playtech does deserve applause for disclosing the theoretical return of all their games.

American players will be unhappy to learn that they are strictly forbidden from all Playtech casinos. Non-Americans can't even play from the U.S., as all casinos check and block American I.P. addresses. The way I bypassed all this security to do this review was with a proxy server.

There are three ways you can play — downloadable casino, Flash instant casino, and live dealer casino. Sorry, I don't know anything about the live dealer casino, as it wasn't available at the Omni casino. This review is mostly based on the download casino only at the Omni casino. However, just because a game is listed here doesn't mean Omni has it. This page still has remnants of a previous review, done around 2004.

There is a comp point system equivalent to 0.1% cash back.

Following are the games available, in alphabetical order.

Around the World

See my section on Around the World.

Blackjack

Playtech has a nice variety of blackjack games as explained below. In all games the cards shuffled after every hand. Table limits, based on the Omni Casino, are $1-$300. Split aces get one card only. Otherwise, here are the specific rules of each different blackjack game.

Unavailable Blackjack Games

At the Omni casino at least, where I based this review, a few blackjack games were listed, but when I clicked to play I got a message that the game was "currently unavailable." These games are:

• Half Double Blackjack
• 21 Duel Blackjack.
• UK Blackjack.

Pontoon was also listed as unavailable, but I had information about it from a previous version of this review.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Blackjack Switch

For the general rules, please see my page on Blackjack Switch. Some of the variable rules at Playtech are:

• Six decks.
• Dealer hits soft 17.
• Double after split allowed.
• Switched blackjack is an immediate winner.

The house edge under these rules is a low 0.17%.

Playtech also has the Super Match bet with the 40-8-5-1 pay table for a house edge of 2.55%, which isn't bad for a side bet.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Bonus Bowling

See my section on Bonus Bowling for information on this game.

Caribbean Poker

The standard rules and pay table are used for a house edge of 5.22%. When I checked on May 12, 2002 at Casino Mapau, the progressive meter for the side bet was at $10,286 for a house edge of 60.75%. For the side bet to have no house edge the meter would need to reach $218,047.37. For any given meter the house edge on the side bet is 63.76% less 2.92% for each $10,000 in the meter.

Casino Hold 'Em

This poker-based table game is found in some casinos in Europe, Africa and Asia. The rules and odds can be found in my section on Casino Hold 'Em. Playtech players will be happy to know that if the dealer doesn't qualify and the player has a flush or better, then the player is paid the full Ante bonus, unlike RealTime Gaming's Caribbean Hold 'Em. Playtech follows the Ante pay table number 3, with a house edge of 2.16%. The AA+ side bet follows my version 2, with a house edge of 6.26%.

Casino War

The correct rules are followed with six decks. The player should always go to war, as opposed to surrender. The house edge is 2.88%.

Craps

The player may take three times odds on the pass and come bets. The multiple allowed on the don't pass and don't come is also three times, relative to the amount bet. The combined house edge is 0.47% on the pass and come and 0.46% on the don't pass and don't come.

Buy and lay bets are allowed, and the 5% commission is charged up front. The player may also make place and place to lose bets. The following table shows all the ways you can bet on and against the numbers:

To achieve the lowest house edge on the numbers, bet the place and place to lose on the 6 and 8. On all other numbers, make buy and lay bets.

On the proposition bets, the usual stingy odds are paid. To be specific, 7 to 1 on the Hard 4 and 10; 9 to 1 on the Hard 6 and 8; 15 to 1 on the 3 and 11; 30 to 1 on the 2 and 12; and 7 to 1 on any craps. The field is the stingy version, paying 2 to 1 on both the 2 and 12.

Derby Day Horse Racing

This is a very well done horse racing game. There are six horses in each race. The player may make win, place, show, exacta, pick 4 and pick 5 bets. Statistics and reviews are available on each horse.

According to the help file, the average return is 95.00%.

Dice Twister

See my section on Dice Twister for information about this game.

Heads or Tails

See my section on Heads or Tails.

Jackpot Darts

Please see my section on Jackpot Darts.

Keno

Playtech has two ways to play keno — Keno Xperiment (sic) and Fortune Keno. Both have exactly the same pay tables and odds. The player may bet $0.10 to $2.00 and play one or five games at a time. There is also a quick-pick feature in Keno Xperiment only. Following is the pay table:

Based on this pay table, the following table shows the return by number picks. Note the best bet is on the pick two at 92.96%.

Let Them Ride

The same thing as Let it Ride. The conventional rules are followed. The side bet has a house edge of 13.77%.

Mahjong

Playtech has two different Mahjong games — Solo Mahjong and Solo Mahjong Pro. I tried this game once and had no idea what I was doing. Sorry, but you're on your own with this one.

Mega Ball

See my section on Mega Ball for information about this game.

Pai Gow Poker

The dealer is always the banker, resulting in a house edge of 2.85%. There is a house way button, but, if the player clicks it, the hand will immediately be scored. The player loses out on the option to accept or reject the house way.

Pachinko

Playtech has the only pachinko game I am aware of online. It's called Dolphin Paradise. Just click "play," and the game shoots balls at a rate of about one per second until you click "stop." Sometimes, the game goes into a slot machine type of bonus. I'm not a pachinko expert, but it looks very nicely done.

Penalty Shootout

See my section on Penalty Shootout for information on this game.

Poker Three

This is the same thing as Three Card Poker. Full pay rules are followed. I believe Playtech is the only software brand to feature the original and most generous pay table. The house edge is 2.32% on the Pairplus bet and 3.37% on the Ante bet.

Pontoon

This is the American Pontoon, in which the player gets paid 2 to 1 for a 5-card winning hand. It is not Australian Pontoon, which is what we call Spanish 21 in the U.S. Playtech uses eight decks, dealer hits a soft 17, and it pays a pontoon after splitting aces 2 to 1. In other words, the rules are the same as those at Cryptologic and Real Time Gaming. The house edge is 0.38%. For more information, please see my pontoon section.

Red Dog

A single deck of cards is used for a house edge of 3.155%. For more information, please see my Red Dog page.

Rock Paper Scissors

See my section on Rock Paper Scissors for information on this game.

Roller Coaster Dice

See my section on Roller Coaster Dice for information on this game.

Roulette

Playtech has no fewer than 12 roulette games to choose from. Why they need so many, I have no idea. They have differences in the layout and graphics but who cares about that? We here at the Wizard of Odds care about the rules and odds, which brings us to this table showing the rules of each option.

Here is an explanation of each set of rules:

• Double zero: Two-zero wheel. House edge is 5.26% on every bet except the 0-00-1-2-3 combination, which is 7.89%.
• Single zero: One-zero wheel. House edge is 2.70% on every bet.
• La partage: One-zero wheel. Players loses half only on any even money bet if the ball lands in zero. House edge is 1.35% on even money bets and 2.70% on all others.
• Unknown: Game unavailable at the Omni casino at the time I did this review.

Sic Bo

The following table shows what each bet pays and the house edge.

The lowest house edge bets are on big and small bets at 2.78%.

Please see my Sic Bo online section for a comparison of sic bo odds among other software brands.

Slot machines

Playtech really shines when it comes to slot machine games. The graphics and designs are sleek, modern and fun. There is a long list of games to choose from, ranging from Playtech's own themes to brand names like Iron Man and the Pink Panther.

The return of every game is indicated in the help file, so always check that before you play. The theoretical return seems to range from 93% to 97%, so always look for a game around the high end of that range. I sampled some of the games, to give you an idea of the range. Here they are listed, from highest to lowest return:

Some Playtech casinos publish their monthly return percentage audits. The return for slots (not including video poker) for various months I checked are as follows. Figures are for the Carnival Casino in 2005 and the Omni casino afterward.

The average of these monthly averages is 95.47%.

Tequila Poker

In April 2006 Playtech introduced Tequila Poker. As far as I know Playtech is the only software to offer the game. As of this writing not all casinos offer it yet.

See my Tequila Poker section.

Wild Viking

Wild Viking could loosely be described as a combination of roulette and poker. Five cards will be drawn and the player can bet on either the poker value of all five or just the last card. As in roulette, there are lots of bets available. For information about this game, please see my page on Wild Viking.

Baccarat

Playtech uses six decks in baccarat, as opposed to the usual eight, although it doesn't make much different in the odds. Side bet players will have six different ones to choose from. The following table shows the odds and expected return of all nine bets available.

You may wonder what some of these side bets are. Here are some quick explanations of the unusual ones:

• Either pair: Either Banker's or Player's first two cards form a pair.
• Perfect pair: Either Banker's or Player's first two cards form a suited pair.
• Small: Total number of Banker and Player cards is four.
• Big: Total number of Banker and Player cards is five or six.

 

For more on baccarat side bets, please see my baccarat appendix 5.

Bingo

Playtech calls their bingo game Pop Bingo, evidently because it sounds like the bingo balls pop out of the hopper like popcorn. This form of bingo is played on a Latin American card with three rows and nine columns. On this card, 15 numbers from 1 to 90 are indicated, five on each row. After placing a bet the game will choose all 90 balls in random order. As it does, if any match the numbers on the players card they will be circled. The player wins according to how quickly it takes to catch all 15 numbers on the card. The following table shows what the player wins according to the number of balls needed to cover the card, the probability, and contribution to the return. The lower right cell shows a total return of 97.0% to the player.

Blackjack Surrender

This is Playtech's best standard blackjack game, so I'll start with this one. Following are the rules for Blackjack Surrender:

• Six decks.
• Dealer stands on soft 17.
• Dealer always peeks for blackjack.
• Double after split allowed.
• Late surrender allowed.
• No re-spltting.
• Seven-card Charlie.

The basic strategy house edge under these rules is 0.39%.

As the best Playtech standard blackjack game, I think it merits a custom basic strategy card.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Blackjack/American Blackjack/Perfect Blackjack

As near as I can tell, the rules for the plain 'ol "blackjack" game, "Perfect Blackjack" and "American Blackjack" are exactly the same, as follows:

• Six decks.
• Dealer stands on soft 17.
• Double after split allowed.
• Late surrender NOT allowed.
• No re-spltting.
• Ten-card Charlie.
• Dealer does NOT peek for blackjack.
• If player doubles against a dealer 10 and the dealer gets a blackjack, then the player will lose the original bet only.
• If player doubles against a dealer ace and the dealer gets a blackjack, then the player will lose everything.
• What happens if the player splits and the dealer gets a blackjack is unknown because the online rules don't address the situation.

 

The player shouldn't lose any sleep over the unstated rule about splitting against a potential dealer blackjack because he shouldn't play this game in the first place. There is no downside to playing Blackjack Surrender, which has the same rules, except the dealer always peeks for blackjack, surrender is allowed, and there is a seven-card Charlie rule instead of ten cards.

I have to add that the title of the game is a misnomer because here is America the player can never lose more than his original wager if the dealer gets a blackjack.

Assuming that splitting against a dealer ace will cause the player to lose everything against a dealer blackjack, then the house edge would be 0.47%.

Perfect Blackjack does add the "Perfect Pairs" side bet. They follow the 25-12-6 pay table for a house edge of 6.11%. For more on that, and a host of other blackjack side bets, please see my section on blackjack side bets.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Blackjack Pro

• One deck.
• Dealer hits on soft 17.
• Dealer always peeks for blackjack.
• Player may double 10 and 11 only.
• Double after split NOT allowed.
• Late surrender NOT allowed.
• No re-spltting.
• Seven-card Charlie.

The basic strategy house edge under these rules is 0.58%.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Double Attack Blackjack

For the full rules, please see my page on Double Attack Blackjack. Some of the variable rules at Playtech are:

• Eight decks.
• Dealer stands on soft 17.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Player may re-split to up to four hands.

The house edge under these rules is a low 0.62%. There is a lot of raising in this game, for an Element of Risk of 0.35%.

Playtech also has the Bust It bet with the 200-50-15-10-8-6-3 pay table for a house edge of 8.01%.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Lucky Blackjack

For the full rules, please see my page on Lucky Blackjack. Some of the variable rules at Playtech are:

• One deck.
• Dealer stands on soft 17.

The important this to know is the best bet is on an 18, paying 6 to 1, for a house edge of 3.36%. The bet on a blackjack, paying 19 to 1, is not far behind at a house edge of 3.47%.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Casino Reels

Casino Reels is based on a three-reel slot machine. What is different is the player may bet on the specific outcome. There are ten bets to choose from, ranging in wins from 2 to 100 for 1. The help screen says the return is 96.5% to 97.0%. They don't disclose the reel stripping, so I guess we'll have to take their word on that.

Video Poker

Playtech has a strong video poker offering. The following table summarizes the available games. For progressive games, the return shown does not include the jackpot. The denomination range is in whatever currency you're playing with.

Following are comments on some games unique to Playtech.

2 Ways Royals

A unique game to Playtech is 2 Ways Royals. This pays 800 per coin bet, based on a max bet, for both a royal flush and a six high straight flush.

Jacks or Better 10-Line Progressive

 

This game normally follows the 7-5 Pay Table, for a return of 96.15%. However, a royal flush on the bottom pay line only pays a progressive jackpot.

To calculate the return for any given jackpot, take 95.95% plus 0.50% for each 10,000 coins in the meter. To reach break-even, the meter would need to have 81,387.41 coins. The game is played in quarters, so the game reaches break even at 20,436.85 $/€/£.

Mega Jacks

This is 9-6 Jacks or Better with a progressive on the royal. Normally progressive games are on low pay tables, so kudos to Playtech for putting it on the "full pay" pay table. Because of this, it gets hit frequently.

For any given jackpot, the return can be calculated as 97.56% plus 0.50% for each 1,000 credits in the meter. The break-even point is a jackpot of 4,921.10 coins. The game is played in quarters, so the game reaches break even at 1,230.28 $/€/£.

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

Here is the same list in returns range, choose your game wisely.

Final Score

This is a very nicely done simulation of a soccer game. First, the player picks a soccer league and then two teams within that league. Then, the player can bet on all kinds of things, such as:

• Winning team or draw.
• Exact score.
• Number of scores.
• Number of red cards.
• Missed penalty shot.
• Successful penalty shot.
• Something about an injury goal (I don't know enough about soccer to understand what that is).

After the player is done making his bets, the game will start and announce every significant event. When the game is over, the player may go double or nothing on any winnings based on predicting a successful or missed penalty shot.

The help files list nicely the return of every single bet, which range from 96.43% to 79.26%. The greatest return is the proposition bet on a red card.

If you can't go to London and watch a Chelsea Football Club game live, this is the next best thing.

Genie's Hi Lo

There are two versions of this game of card prediction. There's too much to explain here, so I made a separate page for Genie's Hi Lo.

Knockout

This is a simple boxing game. First, you pick your fighter. Then, you pick one of five places to punch your opponent. With a head shot, you do more damage, but he has a greater chance of blocking that punch.

The following table shows what each punch pays, on a "for one" basis, if the punch makes contact, the probability of success, and return. The returns are also available in the help files.

Wheel of Light

Remember that arcade game where there is a circle of light bulbs and if the player can stop a moving pointer on a particular one then he wins a poop load of tickets? My daughter is an expert at this game, I might add.

The creative minds at Playtech now let you play this game for real money. There is a circle of 30 numbered and colored circles plus one dreaded black one. There are various bets to choose from, but they all lose on black. The following table shows all your options:

Quantum Roulette

Much like Lightning Roulette by Evolution Gaming, Quantum Roulette is a live dealer roulette game. Where it differs from conventional roulette is single-number bets have random payouts. Every other bet has the conventional roulette pays.

Unless something special happens, the win on a single-number bet is 29 to 1 (or 30 for 1). Every spin the game will pick some random numbers that pay more than 29, up to 499 to 1. Unlike Lightning Roulette, there is also a "Quantum Boost" feature that adds more to the win for the chosen numbers. There is also a "Quantum Leap" feature, that randomly multiplies such wins. However, everything is subject to a maximum win of 499 to 1.

All things considered, Playtech says the return of the game is 97.3%, the same as conventional roulette. So, if you want more volatility in your roulette game, Quantum Roulette will deliver on that.

Greatest Cards Show

The Greatest Cards Show is a wheel-based game played with a live dealer. There are three different bonus rounds to make it more interesting. For more details, please see my page on The Greatest Cards Show.

Spin a Win

Playtech's version of Wheel of Fortune is similar to the traditional casino game but features multipliers added to the wheel. You can find detailed rules and analysis on the game, with the table showing the house edge for each betting option.

Live Dealers

Playtech has a state of the art live dealer studio. Some other affiliate sites seem to indicate they have studios all over the world, but I'm skeptical of that and will list games that are preceded by the Playtech logo when you open them only. These confirmed games are:

• 3 Card Brag — For our US readers, this is almost the same thing as Three Card Poker. Just some changes in terminology and a little in the hand order. They follow the 1-4-5 Ante Bonus for a 3.35% house on the base game and the 1-4-6-30-40 pay table on the Pair Plus, for a house edge of 2.14% on that side bet.
• Baccarat — In addition to the standard bets, they offer some side bets and all ten egalities. It is possible the side bet selection varies from client to client. The following table shows the bets and house edge of the game at Bet365.

   

  Playtech Live Dealer Baccarat

  Bet	Pays	House Edge
  Player	1	1.24%
  Banker	0.95	1.06%
  Tie	8	14.36%
  Player pair	11	10.36%
  Banker pair	11	10.36%
  Either pair	5	13.71%
  Big	0.54	4.35%
  Small	1.5	5.27%
  0-0 tie	150	12.45%
  1-1 tie	215	11.42%
  2-2 tie	220	11.54%
  3-3 tie	200	10.52%
  4-4 tie	120	12.14%
  5-5 tie	110	11.87%
  6-6 tie	45	11.50%
  7-7 tie	45	6.39%
  8-8 tie	80	11.07%
  9-9 tie	80	10.63%

   

• Blackjack — The game is actually titled Unlimited Blackjack, I think because an unlimited number of players can bet behind the seated players. The help files were not entirely clear, but I believe the rules are as follows:
  • Eight decks
  • Dealer stands on soft 17
  • Dealer does not peek at hole card. If player doubles or splits against a 10 and the dealer gets a blackjack, then the player will lose the original bet only. However, against an ace up, the player will lose the total amount bet.
  • Player may split once only
  • Double after split allowed
  • Double on any two cards
  • Ten-card Charlie — Player ten-card hand is an automatic winner, except against a blackjack (this is extremely unlikely)
• Football Card Showdown — This is a glorified version of Casino War. For all the details, please see my page on Football Card Showdown.

Internal Links

• Another Mediocre Playtech Casino Victimizes Player

External Links

• Playtech official web site.
• Wikipedia entry.
• London Stock Exchange entry.