A staggering 10% house edge on certain roulette games and a significant drop in blackjack payouts are just some of the alarming changes observed in Las Vegas’s electronic table games (ETGs). While these digital alternatives were once a haven for players seeking better odds than live tables, the landscape has drastically shifted. It appears that what was once a player-friendly option has been transformed into a less favorable one.
As discussed in the accompanying video, the era when electronic table games offered superior rules and lower house advantages compared to their live counterparts has largely passed. Originally, these machines saved casinos money on dealers and other overheads, allowing for more generous payouts. Now, a different trend is being implemented, with many electronic games becoming noticeably worse.
Understanding Electronic Table Games: A Shift in the Sands of Vegas
The allure of Las Vegas is often found in its vibrant casino floors, with a plethora of gaming options available to visitors. Among these are the electronic table games, which have gained popularity for their solo play potential and often lower minimum bets. However, a significant transformation has been witnessed over the past few years, particularly in the rules and payouts offered on these machines. These subtle, yet impactful, adjustments mean that what might appear to be a convenient way to play could actually be draining one’s bankroll much faster.
Historically, an expectation existed that ETGs would provide an edge, perhaps by offering rules such as 3:2 blackjack payouts, which typically favor the player more. Yet, this sentiment no longer holds true across the board. The goal of understanding these changes is not to deter play entirely, but rather to equip players with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and identify games that still offer a fair experience, if any.
The Truth About Electronic Roulette in Las Vegas
Roulette is a classic casino game, celebrated for its simple premise and exciting potential. Nevertheless, the electronic versions of this game have seen some of the most drastic and concerning alterations. It has been observed that some electronic roulette machines now present conditions that significantly increase the house edge.
Quadruple Zero Roulette: An Unseen Threat
Perhaps the most shocking discovery made by experts at Vegas Advantage concerns what is colloquially known as “quadruple zero roulette.” While traditional roulette wheels feature one or two zero pockets, this particular version introduces a new level of house advantage. Instead of actual zeros, these Interblock machines display “four gems.” If the ball lands in one of these gem pockets, a bonus round is triggered on a secondary wheel, offering multipliers. However, analysis showed the overall payback was exceptionally poor. The house hold on this game was determined to be a staggering 10%.
Initially, this type of machine was identified at the Palazzo, prompting an investigation. Following reporting by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the machine was removed. Despite this, similar machines have been found elsewhere, including Planet Hollywood, indicating that this highly disadvantageous game is still available to unsuspecting players. It is critical for players to be aware that such an astronomical house edge drastically reduces their chances of success, turning a game of leisure into a swift pathway to depletion.
Triple Zero Roulette: A Growing Trend
Another worrying development is the proliferation of triple zero roulette wheels on electronic platforms. As the name suggests, these games add a third zero to the wheel, immediately increasing the house edge compared to double zero (American) or single zero (European) roulette. While double zero roulette holds approximately 5.26%, triple zero roulette typically has a house edge closer to 7.69%.
These machines have been spotted in various prominent locations, including Caesar’s Palace, Terminal 3 at the airport, and on Casino Wizard machines at Sahara. It is worth noting that some triple zero machines that were once at Plaza and Circa have since disappeared, suggesting a fluctuating presence of these higher-edge games. Players are strongly advised to avoid these games, as the added zero significantly tilts the odds further in the casino’s favor.
Subtle Payout Adjustments on Bally Upright Roulette
Even on older, upright Bally electronic roulette machines, which have been around for two decades or more, vigilance is required. It has been found that about half of these machines do not offer the full, standard payouts for straight bets or split bets. A standard straight-up number should pay 35 to 1, while a split should pay 17 to 1. On these problematic machines, straights might pay 30 or 32 to 1, and splits could pay 15 or 16 to 1. Such seemingly minor adjustments can accumulate to a significant difference in player return over time.
A key indicator of these altered payouts is often the presence of a single zero on the wheel, which, paradoxically, usually signals a better game in live casinos. On these older electronic versions, however, a single zero might be paired with these terrible payouts, making it a trap. Players might also notice that the machine “includes” the bet in the payout display, meaning if it says “35,” it has actually kept the original dollar wager, effectively paying 34 to 1. This subtle wording can easily mislead players into believing they are receiving a standard payout.
Blackjack ETG Red Flags: When 6:5 Becomes the Norm
Blackjack, often considered one of the best games for players due to its low house edge with optimal strategy, has also seen its electronic versions deteriorate. The most prevalent change is the widespread adoption of 6:5 payouts for a natural blackjack, replacing the traditional 3:2 payout.
A natural blackjack paying 6:5 instead of 3:2 significantly increases the house edge by approximately 1.39%. For instance, a $10 bet on a 3:2 table would yield $15 for a natural blackjack, while on a 6:5 table, it would only pay $12. This difference dramatically impacts a player’s long-term profitability. It is estimated that roughly 90% of electronic blackjack machines in Las Vegas now feature this unfavorable 6:5 payout structure.
However, some exceptions exist. Machines at the Rio, Orleans, a specific machine in the back of Palazzo, and even stadium games at Treasure Island have been noted to still offer the more player-friendly 3:2 payout. On the other hand, an extreme example of poor value was identified at Excalibur, where an old Shuffle Master machine pays even money for a natural blackjack, on top of a $5 minimum bet, making it an exceptionally poor choice for players.
The Deceptive “Free Bet” Blackjack ETG
An electronic version of “Free Bet” Blackjack, once seen at Cosmopolitan, provided free doubles on 9, 10, or 11, and free splits on pairs (excluding 5s). While the idea of not having to risk extra money on these advantageous situations sounds appealing, a trade-off was implemented: the dealer pushing on a total of 22. This rule alone adds a substantial house edge. When combined with a 6:5 payout for blackjack, the house edge on this specific electronic variant was calculated to be around 2.4%, which is even worse than a standard 6:5 game (around 2%). In contrast, live Free Bet Blackjack tables that pay 3:2 can have a house edge closer to 1%, highlighting the disparity in electronic game offerings.
Craps and Crapless Craps Changes on Electronic Machines
Craps, with its dynamic table atmosphere, is also available in electronic formats, often referred to as “bubble craps.” While traditional bubble craps machines largely maintain standard rules, the game of crapless craps, in its electronic form, has seen concerning modifications.
Crapless craps is typically considered a worse game than regular craps due to a higher house edge on the pass line (5.38% versus 1.41%). However, players could traditionally find some value by buying certain numbers (like 2, 12, 3, 11, 4, 10, 5, 9) where the 5% commission on buy bets was only collected if the bet won. This made buying the 2 and 12, in particular, a relatively good bet with a house edge of approximately 0.7%.
In a significant change, it has been discovered that 80% to 90% of crapless craps machines in Las Vegas now demand the 5% commission upfront when placing a buy bet. This means that if a player makes a $20 buy bet on a number, an additional $1 (the 5% commission) is immediately taken by the house, regardless of whether the bet wins or loses. This upfront commission dramatically increases the house edge on all buy numbers to around 4.75%, eliminating the strategic advantage previously found in buying specific numbers. For instance, on a 4 or 10, which typically loses two out of three times, players are now losing an additional dollar each time they place the bet, leading to a much faster depletion of funds over multiple rolls.
Interestingly, Interblock also offers a game called “Easy Craps,” which is described as an even worse version of crapless craps, as it removes the ability to buy numbers and place come bets, further limiting player options and increasing the house’s advantage.
Other Electronic Card Games to Watch Out For
Beyond roulette and blackjack, other electronic carnival games also warrant careful scrutiny. These games often rely on specific pay tables for bonus payouts, which, if altered, can drastically change the game’s overall appeal and player return.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker
Electronic versions of games like Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker have been found with significantly modified pay tables. For example, a Quartz machine that featured both Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker was once available at Poker Palace. While it had proper payouts there, a similar or identical machine at Rio was found to have shorted blind payouts. This meant that a royal flush, typically a huge payout, only paid half of its usual amount, and a full house payout was also reduced. Furthermore, it was noted that payouts for a straight might be entirely absent. These changes increased the game’s house edge from a typical half a percent to approximately 4%, making it a highly unfavorable game.
Similarly, on electronic Three Card Poker, crucial elements like the ante bonus payouts have been observed to be missing or reduced on some Shuffle Master machines. The ante bonus typically rewards players for having strong hands like a straight, three-of-a-kind, or a straight flush, even if their hand loses to the dealer. The absence of these bonuses, or shortened payouts (e.g., 4:3:1 instead of 5:4:1), significantly impacts player expectations and returns. However, some “Triple Card Poker” games on Casino Wizard machines (found at Rio, Sahara, OYO) have been verified to have standard payouts, holding about 2%, which aligns with live table versions.
The Electronic Big Six Wheel: Already Bad, Now Worse
The Big Six Wheel is generally known as a high house edge game, even in its live version. Electronically, these games hold about 8% to 10% for players, which is still considerably better than the live game’s double-digit hold. However, changes are being implemented to make even these electronic versions less appealing. Many electronic Big Six machines, including those in Wheel of Fortune stadiums and Interblock’s “Super Spin,” now incorporate “weighted” multipliers. While a live wheel must be mechanically fair, electronic wheels can be programmed with specific probabilities, allowing casinos to weight certain outcomes or multipliers to their advantage, further diminishing player returns. This adjustment takes an already poor game and renders it even less player-friendly.
Spotting Bad Payouts on Electronic Table Games
With so many variations and subtle changes, how can a recreational gambler identify these problematic electronic table games? A proactive approach is absolutely essential. The fundamental principle is that players must always check the specific rules and pay tables displayed on the machine before playing. This seems like a simple step, yet it is often overlooked amidst the excitement of the casino floor.
Here are key takeaways to remember when approaching electronic table games:
- Roulette:
- Avoid any machine with “gems” instead of zeros or that mentions a bonus wheel for multipliers; this is likely quadruple zero roulette.
- Steer clear of triple zero roulette. Look for machines clearly labeled with only one or two zero pockets.
- On Bally upright roulette, verify straight and split payouts. Ensure a straight pays 35 to 1 and a split pays 17 to 1. Be wary if a single zero is present alongside these poor payouts.
- Confirm if the payout “includes” your bet or if it’s “to one” (meaning your original bet is returned in addition to winnings).
- Blackjack:
- Prioritize machines that explicitly state a 3:2 payout for a natural blackjack. Avoid 6:5 tables at all costs.
- Be extremely cautious of even money payouts for blackjack.
- For games like “Free Bet” Blackjack, understand the trade-offs (e.g., dealer pushing on 22) and how they impact the house edge.
- Craps/Crapless Craps:
- For crapless craps, confirm whether commission on buy bets is paid upfront or only on winning bets. Only play if commission is paid on wins.
- Avoid “Easy Craps” due to its limited betting options.
- Other Card Games (Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, etc.):
- Thoroughly examine the pay tables for blind bets and bonus payouts. Any missing or significantly reduced payouts for strong hands (royals, straights, three-of-a-kind) are red flags.
- Ensure ante bonuses are paid correctly where applicable.
- Big Six Wheel:
- Be aware that electronic versions can be weighted to favor the house more. Generally, these games offer poor odds regardless.
It is important that players empower themselves with information. Consulting resources like Vegas Advantage, as mentioned in the video, can offer invaluable data and analysis to help navigate the evolving landscape of electronic table games in Las Vegas. By understanding where the house advantage is being increased, players can make more informed choices about where to spend their gambling dollar, potentially preserving their bankroll and enhancing their overall casino experience when playing electronic table games.
Thinking Twice: Your Electronic Table Game Questions, Answered
What are Electronic Table Games (ETGs) in Las Vegas?
Electronic Table Games are digital versions of classic casino games like roulette, blackjack, and craps. They often allow solo play and can have lower minimum bets than live tables.
Why should I be careful when playing ETGs in Las Vegas now?
The rules and payouts on many electronic table games have changed, making them less favorable for players. This means the casino now has a higher advantage on these machines.
What’s an important thing to check on electronic roulette machines?
You should check how many ‘zero’ pockets are on the wheel. Avoid machines with triple-zero or ‘quadruple-zero’ roulette, as they significantly worsen your odds.
What should I look for when playing electronic blackjack?
Always try to find machines that pay 3:2 for a natural blackjack. You should avoid electronic blackjack games that only pay 6:5, as this gives the casino a much higher edge.
