Microgaming Offers Macro Choices for Casino Gamblers

The software has a good variety of table games including some games you won't find in other packages including Spanish 21 and Bonus Blackjack.  Multi-hand playing mode is available in some games, but not as many as you would find at Random Logic or Playtech casinos.  You also won't be able to chat with other players as the system doesn't offer multi-player functionality.

Microgaming Blackjack Table

Blackjack – There are two series of blackjack tables at Microgaming casinos. The original tables include Atlantic City Blackjack, European Blackjack, Vegas Downtown Blackjack and Vegas Strip Blackjack each with their own set of rules.  The software has recently been updated to now include a "Gold" series to these games. 

Microgaming Blackjack Gold Series

The Gold series offers the same rules, but has a new look and more sophisticated graphics than the original blackjack tables.   Here are the different rules variations and house edge for the standard single-hand blackjack offerings.

There are few extras at Microgaming casinos that will interest blackjack players.  If you want to play the game like a slot machine, you can use the autoplay button.  In this case, the decisions to hold, split, stand, and double are made by the computer.  From what I observed, the decisions were correct.  You also have the ability to adjust the strategy the computer follows.  Another perk is that each blackjack game has its own strategy table to consult.  This is a nice feature for those who don't have their basic strategy memorized. 

Bonus Blackjack – The concept behind this game is that the player can make a side bet on the first two cards.  A jack and ace of spades pays 50 to 1, Jack and Ace for other suits pays 25 to 1, and any 2 cards suited pays 5 to 2.  The game follows the same rules as Vegas  Downtown Blackjack.  The house edge on the side bet is hefty 6.5%

Double Exposure Blackjack – This game is for players who want to know what the dealer has before they bet.  Double Exposure reveals both dealer cards before the player has to make a decision.  With this advantage, it's natural the game designers changed the rules to even out the score.  Microgaming's rules give the house an edge of about 0.70%.  The game also provides a strategy table which you'll want to consult as it is different from regular basic strategy.

Triple 7 Blackjack – Microgaming offers a progressive jackpot on Triple 7 Blackjack.  If you are dealt two sevens, don't split and receive a third seven, you win the jackpot. It is not a good value to play this game until the jackpot is at least $110,000.

Spanish Blackjack – All the tens are removed from the deck in this game.  This games is also known as Spanish 21, and the house edge is 0.38%. The game has its own strategy.

Microgaming Craps

Microgaming's craps table is called Vegas Craps. You can take up to 3 times odds on the pass and come bets. This is also the case for don't pass and don't come. 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 on the winnings.  The layout has some extra information that you won't find on most craps tables including buy and lay payout odds.

Microgaming offers five versions of roulette: American Roulette, European Roulette, European Roulette Gold, French Roulette and Roulette Royale. The difference between them consists of two zeros for American Roulette, one zero for European Roulette and French Roulette.  The European Gold table has a number of interesting patterns that can be 'called.' The French Roulette table offers the la partage rule that is similar to the en prison rule, only in this case the player loses half the bet and does not have the option of leaving the bet en prison for another spin. The la partage rule cuts the casino edge on the 'even-money bets' in half.  All the tables have a meter for viewing past results.  Roulette Royale is the progressive roulette game.  This game will pay a bonuses is a number repeats.  If it repeats five times in a row, the progressive jackpot is won.  As the side bet is mandatory, it is best to stay away from this game until the jackpot is over $780,000.

Baccarat

The baccarat table offers the standard rules, rake and odds for the game. There is also a high-limit table which is played with 8 decks. 

Cyberstud Poker is Microgaming's name for  Caribbean Stub Poker.  The rules compared to Caribbean Stud in most casinos are altered slightly in the players' favor. The house has an edge of about  5.0%. And if you are considering the side bet for the progressive, keep in mind that the meter would need to reach nearly $235,000 for the bet to be even.

The dealer is always the banker, resulting in a house edge of 2.8%. There is a house way button but if the player clicks it the hand will immediately be scored, not giving the player the option to accept or reject the house way.  There is also a bonus bet with a house edge of 5.8%.

Microgaming's 3 Card Poker follows full-pay rules making it one of the better deals on the Internet for this game.  The house edge is 2.3% on the Pair Plus bet and 3.4% on the Ante bet.  There is also a multi-hand version available.  Both versions which has the added benefit of telling you quickly what your hand is.

Microgaming is the most prolific slot creator of the gambling software manufacturers.  It has a portfolio of over 120 classic and video slots, including fourteen progressive slots. The navigation for slots is well-executed after you've spent some time understanding how it works.  You first choose your category (reels, video, megaspin) and then the subcategory (number of lines, bonus game, free spin game).  There's a preview of each slot in the list with details including whether or not it's a progressive, what the top jackpot is, and if it features  scatters or bonus symbols.

StarScape Slots

The reel slots include 1, 3, and 5 coin-in games, some with multiple lines and bonus games. The video slots include go from 5 to 30 coin-in games and often come with wild, scatter and bonus features. Popular  slots include Wheel of Wealth,Harveys, Cashanova, and new slots Supe it Up and Bars and Stripes.  When it comes to slot variety, Microgaming is hard to beat. 

There is also a lot to choose from in video poker, with 16 different game types including two video poker progressives. The single hand versions include Jacks or Better, Aces & Faces, All American, All Aces, Deuces Wild, Bonus Deuces Wild, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Joker Poker and 10s or Better. Multi-hand games range from 100 hands to 4 hands for Aces & Faces,  Deuces and Joker, Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, Double Joker, and Joker Poker.

Microgaming Multi-hand Video Poker

Except for the anomaly of Deuces Wild single hand, the payout percentages for video poker are quite high.  Given the huge variety, there's a lot that's right about Microgaming's video poker offerings..

The software also has two progressive video poker machines, SupaJax (a jacks or better machine) and Jackpot Deuces (a Deuces Wild machine). SupaJax uses a 53 card deck and pays the progressive with four jacks and the special SupaJax card.  Jackpot Deuces pays the progressive if you hit a Diamond Royal Flush. 

Microgaming provides gamblers with a robust choice of slots and games.  The look and feel of the lobby is less casino-like than some of its competitors, but the navigation is helpful after a bit of practice.  Many of the games have built in strategy that you can rely on or turn off if you want to wing it.  The slot and game choices are immense and feature good sounds and graphics. It's no surprise that Microgaming leads the field in number of casinos using their software.