Casino Dominoes

Introduction

Casino Dominoes is the first game I encountered that uses dominoes, not counting other variations. pai gow I was introduced to this game during the Cutting Edge table games expo in 2017, where I had a conversation this video with the developer of the game. It utilizes images of dominoes printed on playing cards and includes two types of bets, requiring no special skills. The game's first testing took place at the Plaza in Las Vegas on September 18, 2018, and I decided to try it out just two days afterward.

Rules

1. The game utilizes two decks of 28 cards, where each card represents one domino from a standard set ranging from 0-0 to 6-6.
2. Players can make two different types of bets: the main Casino Dominoes wager and the side bet known as Doubles.
3. Once players have placed their bets, the dealer distributes three cards to each player along with one Community Card.
4. The Casino Dominoes wager rewards players based on how many points can be created between the Community Card and each of their three cards.
5. One by one, each of the three player cards is compared to the Community Card to look for matching sides. If there's a match, these cards are combined to form a 'Train'.
6. The total pip count on both ends of this train is calculated. If the result is divisible by five, the player earns that many points.
7. In cases where either the player card or the Community Card is a double (showing the same number on both sides) and matches the other card, they are arranged in a T-shape. The intersection of the T must share the same number of pips on all three domino ends. The total of the pips on these ends is then checked; if it's divisible by five, the player receives that many points.
8. If two of the player’s doubles are identical, they can also be arranged in a T-shape (just once), allowing the endpoints to be totaled as per the previous rule.
9. If the Community Card happens to be the 2-3 domino, it's mathematically impossible to get a total that’s divisible by five. In this situation, the Casino Dominoes bet pays out at 2 to 1.
10. Otherwise, the sum of the points formed by the three player cards and the Community Card will be considered, and if that sum is divisible by five, the player will be compensated based on the amounts in the pay table below.
11. The Doubles bet primarily pays out based on how many doubles can be formed from the player’s three cards and the Community Card, according to the pay table.
12. The highest payout for the Doubles bet is 300 to 1 if the four dominoes create what is known as the Maiden's Hand, consisting of one each of the 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, and 3-3.
13. The second-highest prize for the Doubles bet is called Double Doubles, and it is awarded when a player has two pairs of identical doubles.

If my explanation was unclear, I’ve included images of the rule card. Just click on either image to view a larger version.

Casino Dominoes Analysis

The table below presents a detailed analysis of the Casino Dominoes bet, with the lower right cell indicating a house edge of 2.90%.

If you’re curious about achieving 40 points, you can do so with a 6-3 connector along with the 6-6, 6-6, and a 4-3 from the player’s dominoes.

Doubles Analysis

The subsequent table gives a detailed analysis of the Doubles bet, showing a house edge of 7.79% in the bottom right cell.

Written by: Michael Shackleford