Electronic table games, or ETGs, have never been more popular. Some casinos replaced some or all pits with these games. Electronic table games offer some advantages over live ones, like lower limits and faster play. However, several possible disadvantages may exist that are not easy to catch.
Video Blackjack Rules to Avoid
Electronic blackjack games tend to have the most potentially unfriendly rules compared to the live version. The easiest one to catch is the payout. Unfortunately, short blackjack payouts have become normal on ETGs. Multiplayer versions often pay 6/5. A few only pay even money. Heads-up Game King versions also pays even money. Interblock heads-up electronic blackjack often pays 6/5.
There are other bad ETG blackjack rules, like splitting and double down restrictions. Read more in our Video Blackjack article.
Blackjack payouts may be displayed in a nonsensical way. That is because the original bet is included. An even-money blackjack game will say that blackjack pays 2/1. That sounds great, but half of that money is the original bet.
Some Video Roulette Games Short Pay
Sneaky payout rules plague some video roulette games. Always check the paytable before playing. This is found by clicking the help button. You may find a terrible surprise.
The paytable may look odd, even if it is the same as a live table. That is because the bet is returned as part of the payout, like in video poker games. Even money payouts on bets like red and black will show two coins instead of one because one of those coins is the original bet. The list below shows proper video roulette payouts to account for the bet inclusion.
Proper Video Roulette Payouts
- Straight Up: 36
- Split: 18
- Street: 12
- Corner: 9
- First four (single zero only): 9
- Basket (double zero only): 7
- Line: 6
- Columns: 3
- Dozens: 3
- Red/Black: 2
- Odd/Even: 2
- High/Low: 2
Most video roulette machines offer the correct payouts shown above. Old Bally upright machines sometimes short-pay straights and splits. Those games may pay as low as 32 on straights and 16 on splits. Since one of those coins is part of the original bet, the payout is actually 31 on the straight-up and 15 on a split. The house edge is worse than receiving the standard payout on a wheel with five zeros.
Video roulette short-pays are most likely to be on single zero machines. However, some double-zero ones also do this, making the payout as bad as six-zero roulette on straights and splits. You can read more about this at US Casino Advantage.
Video triple-zero roulette exists. While it was installed at many Las Vegas casinos a few years ago, only two machines remain. One is at Caesars Palace near the food court, and the other is in Terminal 3 at the airport. These machines may be in other markets. Always check the number of zeros on the wheel and the paytable before playing video roulette.
Roulette X is a video version of the game that changes the straight payouts to 30 and introduces multipliers on certain pockets. These multipliers may look like it offsets the lower payout, but they do not. While the wheel only has two zeros, the house edge on straights may be like wheels with three or four zeros.
Video Craps
The main video craps difference when compared to live games is that the odds often cap at two times. Live craps games are usually 3-4-5 times, 5 times, or 10 times. This may only apply to Pass Line and Come bets. Some video craps machines do not calculate maximum Don’t Pass and Don’t Come odds properly. The maximum lay may only be two times the Don’t bets, making it as low as single odds on the 4 and 10.
Another inconsistency is improper calculations of buy bets. At most live craps tables, the player only pays the 5% commission when buying the 4 and 10 on the amount of the bet. Some craps machines take the 5% commission on the win. This doubles the commission. For example, a winning $20 Buy 4 wins $39 at a live craps table as 5% of $20 is $1. At some video craps games, a $20 Buy 4 wins $38 because the 5% is taken from the $40 win, not the $20 bet.
Payouts on the felt may look higher than they are. For example, hopping the 2 and 12 often shows it pays 31. However, it is not the better deal it seems. Like in the other games discussed above, one of those coins is the winning bet getting returned.
If your favorite casino pays triple on a Field 12 in the pit, you may not get the same return on its electronic table games. Most video craps machines pay double on a Field 12. Conversely, there are a few instances where the Field pays triple on 12 on the ETG but only double at the casino’s live tables.
Three Card Poker Ante Bonuses
Video Three Card Poker is mostly a thing of the past. There is one version of it on Quartz stadium games. These games may be entirely video or have a live dealer. Those devices have normal payouts.
The previous generation of video Three Card Poker, manufactured by Shuffle Master, had a setting where the house could omit Ante bonus payouts. This adds more than 10% to the house edge. Ensure the video Three Card Poker game has an Ante bonus that is correct. Also, double-check that losing hands are paid the bonus.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Like Three Card Poker, modern Ultimate Texas Hold’em machines are on Quartz stadiums. The Blind payouts may be altered on these machines. One setting removes the straight from the payout and decreases the full house by one coin, exponentially increasing the house edge. Ensure the Blind pays one coin on straights and three on full houses before playing.
Shuffle Master made older multiplayer video Ultimate Texas Hold’em games last decade. A few are still on casino floors. The payouts on these devices are always proper.
Player Ratings
At a live table game, players hand their loyalty cards to the dealer or pit supervisor. At electronic table games, players cards are entered into a reader like a slot machine. There may be a disclosure that the game earns no slot points. Do not let that discourage you from using your slot card. While you may not earn points, casinos often rate electronic table game play like live ones. This also tracks your wins and losses. This may help you earn better mailers with free play, dining vouchers, and complimentary hotel rooms.
Most Importantly, Have Fun
The point of going to a casino is to have fun. The chance of winning money is part of the entertainment. Stick to a plan when playing electronic table games and any other form of gambling. Try to find the best payouts and comps while sticking to your budget. This ensures you can get the most action for your bankroll.
