Boss Media Software Review

Boss Media, based in Sweden, is one of the most professional organizations in the world of online gambling. Members of their staff I have met were very professional. The software of Boss Media is very impressive. I'm not good with adjectives but the graphics and sound in their multi-player games are the best I have seen. Players may also check their account history for purchases and withdrawals. Upon opening an account with a Boss Media casino a PIN will be sent in the postal mail which takes about 10 days. The PIN is required to make a withdrawal. There are two versions of Boss Media software, single player and multi-player. Some casinos offer one and some both. Not all games are available in the multi-player format. The blackjack rules are better in the single player version. For the player that puts an emphasis on an enjoyable gaming experience a Boss Media casino would make a good choice. The bet range at the table games is $5 to $500, the slots and video poker accept coinages from 25 cents to $5.

Baccarat

One deck is used. Tie pays 8:1.

Blackjack

The multi-player rules are as follows:

• 6 decks
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Double on any first two cards
• Double after a split
• No resplitting
• U.S. hold card rule
• Player may not draw to split aces
• Player may play up to three hands.

The house edge under these rules is 0.46%.

The Cryptologic basic strategy is also correct for these rules.

The single player rules are the same as above with the following exceptions:

• 1 deck
• If the dealer has an ace showing and the player declines insurance then the player will lose the total amount bet if the dealer has a blackjack.

Following is the basic strategy for the single player game. To use the basic strategy look up your hand along the left vertical edge and the dealer's up card along the top. In both cases an A stands for ace. From top to bottom are the hard totals, soft totals, and splittable hands. In the body of the chart are color coded cells that indicate the best play: H=hit, S=stand, P=split, D=double if allowed otherwise hit, Ds=Double if allowed otherwise stand, Di=Take insurance then double, Pi=Take insurance then split.

The player edge in the single deck game is 0.07%.

Caribbean Poker

This is the same game as Caribbean Stud Poker. The rules and the pay table are as usual.

A $1 progressive side bet is available. The side bet pays $50 for a flush, $100 for a full house, $500 for a four of a kind, 10% of the meter for a straight flush, and 100% of the meter for a royal flush. On December 13, 2000 the meter at the Cowboy Casino was at $7849. The house edge on the side bet for a meter this small is 61.47%!

Craps

In terms of graphics and feel Boss Media did a fine job with craps. The player is allowed to bet three times a line bet on the odds, both buying and laying odds. Unlike conventional rules the limit laying odds is not relative to the amount the player can win. The buy and lay bet player will be happy to learn the 5% commission is only payable if the player wins! The commission is correctly applied to the amount bet on the buy bet and the amount won on the lay bet. For example a $100 buy bet on the 4 would win $195 and a $100 lay bet on the 4 would win $47.50. The rare place to lose bets are also offered. These pay 5:11 on the 4 and 10, 5:8 on the 5 and 9, and 4:5 on the 6 an 8. Place to win and proposition bets are offered according to the usual rules. The field bet pays 2:1 on both 2 and 12. Following is the house edge on some of the unique Boss Media bets:

• Combined pass/come and buyings odds: 0.47%
• Combined don't pass/don't come and laying odds: 0.45%
• Place to lose on 4,10: 3.03%
• Place to lose on 5,9: 2.50%
• Place to lose on 6,8: 1.82%
• Buy on 4,10: 1.67%
• Buy on 5,9: 2.00%
• Buy on 6,8: 2.27%
• Lay on 4,10: 1.67%
• Lay on 5,9: 2.00%
• Lay on 6,8: 2.27%

Keno

Boss Media's keno is rather stingy. The following table shows the expected return according to the number of marks chosen.

Pai Gow Poker

The dealer is always banker. Cards are not arranged in order and advice is not available.

Roulette

The usual American double-zero wheel is used. No half back on even money bets if the ball lands in zero.

Slots

I have no information on the theoretical or actual return of Boss Media slots.

Video Poker

There is only one video poker game available, jacks or better. The pay table and return statistics are as follows.