Online Best Bets

The following list indicates which software brand offers the best rules for the most popular games. Brands of software considered are Boss Media, Cryptologic, Microgmaing, Real Time Gaming, Starnet, and Unified Gaming. The criteria for judging is the lowest house edge among all bets. For example when judging baccarat I only considered the banker bet, which is the best bet on the table. In the event of a tie on the best bet, as was the case in craps, the second best bet was used to break the tie.

Sometimes an operator is allowed to set their own rules to some games. For purposes of this article I used what I found to be the most common, or default rules. All house edge figures used are based on basic or optimal strategy.

• Baccarat: Boss Media, Microgaming, Starnet (tie)

  All of these brands offer single-deck baccarat, with a house edge on the banker bet of 1.0117%. Note that the house edge is higher on the player and tie bets on the single-deck game as opposed to a shoe. Since the banker is the best bet

• Blackjack: Unified Gaming

  Unified Gaming continues to allow incredible blackjack rules with a player edge of 0.57%.

• Caribbean Stud Poker: Microgaming.

  Microgaming offers a more generous pay table than the usual one, lowering the house edge from 5.22% to 5.01%.

• Casino War: Starnet.

  In the event of a tie after going to war Starnet pays 3:1 on the total amount bet, cutting the house edge to a mere 0.66%.

• Craps: Boss Media.

  Boss Media allows 3X odds, always based on the amount bet. Their closest competition allows 2X odds. Although Unified Gaming only allows 2X odds the player may lay odds relative to the amount the player can win, unlike Boss Media. This coincidentally makes the combined house edge on the don't pass side equal between Boss Media and Unified Gaming. However the 3X odds makes the combined house edge on the pass side lower in the Boss Media game.

• Deuces Wild: Unified Gaming.

  The Unified Gaming pay table returns 98.91%. Note that Casino Merlin (Real Time Gaming) has full pay dueces wild (return of 100.77%) but this is an exception to the usual Real Time Gaming pay table.

• Jacks or Better: Microgaming, Real Time Gaming (tie).

  Both offer full pay jacks or better with a return of 99.54%.

• Joker Poker: Real Time Gaming.

  The Real Time Gaming pay table returns 100.18%. Note that this game involves a sequal royal jackpot.

• Keno: Microgaming.

  The best return on keno is Microgaming's pick 13 with a return of 96.54%.

• Let it Ride: Starnet, Cryptologic, and Real Time Gaming (tie).

  All three of these brands follow the usual rules.

• Pai Gow Poker: Unified Gaming.

  Only Unified Gaming allows player banking (every other turn).

• Red Dog: Cryptologic.

  The greater the number of decks the better the odds are for the player. Cryptologic uses 8 decks for a house edge of 2.75%.

• Sic Bo: Microgaming.

  Microgaming offers slightly better odds on some of the sucker bets. The best bet is still on the high and low, which pays even money.