Ties Win Blackjack -- March 2, 2005

The Wizard's News

March 2, 2005

From the Wizard..

Ties Win Blackjack

The most exciting announcement in this newsletter is the launch of my innovative casino game, Ties Win Blackjack. Currently, it's being tested at the Edgewater Casino located in Laughlin, Nevada, and it is expected to be available for online players at Harrods Casino later this month.

Many players are already familiar with the gameplay of blackjack and poker; thus, most successful new table games have drawn inspiration from these classics. In my view, variations of blackjack hold greater promise due to the oversaturation of poker-related games in the market. Commonly, I notice that blackjack offerings tend to lure players with favorable yet rarely applied rules or bonuses that seldom materialize, often resulting in negative trade-offs, such as losing on ties or the removal of specific cards. My aim was to create an experience that flips this idea around, providing players with a straightforward, fair game that has a minimal house edge.

The title Ties Win Blackjack is intentionally designed to pique the interest of those who are already acquainted with tied win parlay cards. I hope this will entice players to come to the table out of curiosity, allowing them to discover what the twist is—which you might be curious about too. The game follows standard blackjack rules except for:

1. Ties pay 1 to 2 (or half the bet)

2. Players only choose between hit or stand (there's no option for double down or splitting).

3. Winning blackjack pays even money

That's it! The game can be played with any number of decks; at Edgewater, they utilize six decks. Depending on the casino's rules, the dealer may hit or stand on a soft 17. At Edgewater, the dealer opts to hit. With these regulations, the house edge stands at a mere 0.49%, which is lower than that found in most blackjack variants. The fundamental strategy mirrors that of traditional blackjack with only two adjustments needed (hit 12 against 4 and 13 against 3).

The pilot phase kicked off on February 11, and as of this date (March 2), the game is drawing respectable player interest but is just about breaking even in terms of casino finances. I attribute this partly to the advantageous house edge and the fortune some players have experienced.

In 60 to 90 days, I can apply for a full gaming license. After that, I need to market the game effectively. Honestly, my sales ability is so questionable that I couldn’t sell a bag of peanuts to a hungry elephant. Consequently, I may never recover the investment of time and money I’ve put into this venture. However, to have a shot at success, I have to at least step up to the plate and take my swing.

For additional information, please check out my new section on the website. Ties Win Blackjack . You can also play my free Ties Win Java game .

No more new consulting clients

Speaking of game development, there’s been a significant shift in my consulting business. Since launching my website in June 1997, I’ve been inundated with requests from individuals wanting me to assess their game concepts to help them get a foothold in casinos. This has become almost a daily occurrence. I’ve tried to dissuade many aspiring game developers by emphasizing the significant challenges and costs involved in getting a game to the testing phase, let alone establishing it in multiple casinos.

Despite my efforts to deter them, many were undaunted and still engaged my services. However, a large number of these games didn’t gain traction, with only a few witnessing moderate play in land-based casinos. I believe the primary issue with most of these games is their complexity. If you can’t explain the game’s rules in approximately 15 seconds, players tend to lose interest.

Recently, I made the decision to cease accepting new game design projects, except from my current customers and established gaming organizations. This change means I no longer need to spend excessive time advising aspiring designers on why their ideas may not succeed, and I don't have to feel guilty about taking their money if they ignored my advice. Now, my focus is primarily on serving my existing clientele, including various land and online casinos, as well as a reputable game design firm, while also updating the website.

My Super Bowl bets

I dedicated a considerable amount of time analyzing and wagering on Super Bowl props, with a total of $48,118.48 placed, excluding partnerships. The downside is that I incurred a loss of 7.31%. While this is a manageable loss under the circumstances, especially with an average edge of around 10%, it stings nonetheless. I placed numerous bets favoring New England, such as them scoring first, last, and in the second quarter, but despite their victory, their scoring timings did not align with my bets. Additionally, many of my bets predicted a low number of interceptions and passing touchdowns, both of which exceeded my expectations.

On a brighter note, I achieved roughly a 20% profit during the regular season through these props, maintaining an overall profit margin. Therefore, I fully intend to keep placing bets when the next season arrives.

Michael Bluejay visits

During February, my advertising consultant, Michael Bluejay, was in Vegas. Whenever he’s around, there’s never a dull moment. Having him here has also been beneficial for home repairs, an area where I lack proficiency. For instance, we’ve been dealing with a bathtub that drains slowly. I prefer to avoid harsh chemicals wherever possible as they are often recommended only for complete clogs. As a solution, Bluejay set up a portable stove in the bathroom and boiled a five-gallon pot of soapy water, which he then poured down the drain. The result? The clog vanished, and the tub now drains like new. He also taught me how to get the electric gate in my neighborhood to recognize my bicycle by leaning it over the magnet instead of having it stand upright, which was out of reach. I even managed to synchronize all the clocks on his devices and set the timer for his lawn watering system. You’d think someone with a “Wizard” reputation could handle simple tasks like these! :) What other gambling newsletters provide such practical advice? However, I must refrain from calling him the "Wizard of Ads" anymore due to a recent letter we received from an advertising agency alleging trademark infringement. My lawyer and I are currently reviewing this situation, so we may have to discontinue that title on the website.

From Michael Bluejay..

Can we survey you?

Occasionally, I like to gather feedback from our readers to improve the website. For instance, not long ago, I inquired whether you would prefer to eliminate all blinking banner ads in favor of a higher total number of ads on the site. A resounding eighty percent of you expressed approval.

Recently, however, the Wizard advised against further polling, suggesting it made us appear indecisive and we should confidently make decisions for the site. I contended that my polling wasn’t due to uncertainty, but rather an attempt to value our readers’ input, demonstrating our willingness to listen and enhance our service.

Eventually, the Wizard and I reached a middle ground: I can ask you if it’s acceptable to conduct future polls, and if half or more of those who vote agree, I can continue. Of course, participation will always be optional for anyone who wishes to abstain from polling.

News Update : Following the closure of polling, the poll itself was subsequently removed.

We’ve fallen behind on delivering these newsletters, so this edition will feature an advertiser that is no longer showcased on the site. We assure our banner advertisers we’ll recognize them in the newsletter, so here it comes—better late than never.

Today’s highlight is King Solomons Casino . Powered by Real Time Gaming software, they offer a fantastic feature that I find essential: you can play for both free and real money using the same account. Unlike some casinos that require you to juggle four separate accounts depending on whether you’re playing for fun or real cash, along with distinctions between flash and download games—how ridiculous! King Solomons simplifies this process with just one account for everything.

The Wizard remarks: "King Solomons is one of the oldest and most reputable Internet casinos around. From my experience with three different software providers, their reputation has consistently been strong. Personally, I have never encountered any issues.\"

King Solomons offers a generous 100% signup bonus. If you deposit $100, they will match it with an additional $100 in bonus chips. Moreover, if you use NETeller for the deposit, the bonus increases to $120. To cash out, simply wager a total of 20 times the original deposit plus the bonus. For further details regarding King Solomons' bonus offerings, please refer to the (link removed).

Bluejay's helpful tip this month: How to tackle drain clogs.

In this section, I typically provide an internet-related tip. Who could forget gems like optimizing Firefox usage?

tabbed web browsing , The www is optional , and Instead, today I’ll share a household hack: unclogging drains. This knowledge could save you from incurring a $50 plumbing fee someday. To start, the adage holds true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you don't already own simple strainer cups for your sink and tub drains, get some right now. They typically cost around $2 and can be found at most major supermarkets if the thought of big home improvement stores intimidates you. Failure to use strainers will guarantee a clog—it’s simply a matter of time!

Now, if you find yourself dealing with a clog because the store visit for strainers hasn’t happened yet, don’t worry—fixing it is straightforward. Under the sink, you’ll find a U-shaped pipe known as the 'trap,' likely the culprit behind your clog. First, place a bucket beneath it, then use a large wrench to unscrew the nuts that hold the trap, turning counterclockwise. Clear out any debris from the trap, then reattach it. Voila! Your issue should be resolved.

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Gossip about the Wizard

Exciting Slot Tournaments with Huge Prize Pools a recent story The highlight of this newsletter is the introduction of my latest casino game, Ties Win Blackjack. Currently, it's undergoing testing at the Edgewater Casino located in Laughlin, Nevada, and it is expected to be available for online play at Harrods Casino later this month.

Most players are already acquainted with the fundamental rules of blackjack and poker. As a result, many successful new table games have drawn inspiration from these classic games. Personally, I believe that variants of blackjack have more potential than poker variants, mainly because the market is already flooded with poker-based games. Many blackjack variants feature enticing, yet infrequently used rules or bonuses, which come with drawbacks, such as losses on ties or limited scoring for aces. My goal was to create the opposite: offer players a straightforward, honest game that comes with a minimal house edge.

What's new on the website

I named my game Ties Win Blackjack to attract those who are familiar with tie win parlay cards. I hope it sparks curiosity among players, leading them to the table to discover what makes this game unique, which you may also be pondering. The gameplay is fundamentally the same as regular blackjack, but with some key differences:

• 2. Players only need to decide whether to hit or stand (no options for double-down or splitting).
• A new Java game: Ties Win Blackjack .
• That's all there is to it. The game can be played with any number of decks; at Edgewater, they use six decks. The dealer's choice to hit or stand on a soft 17 varies by casino preferences. In Edgewater's case, the dealer hits, resulting in a house edge of 0.49%, which is lower than the majority of blackjack variants. The basic strategy resembles that of traditional blackjack, with just two slight adjustments needed: (Hit on 12 against 4 and 13 against 3.)Wnternetradiomercedes.com/play/gamename. For example,The testing phase commenced on February 11, and as of this moment (March 2), the game is being played reasonably well, although it’s only breaking even for the casino financially. I think this is due to the low house edge and some good luck on the part of the players..
• New strategies: New info pages for 90-Number Bingo , Extreme 21 , and Anything's Wild video poker.
• Once 60 to 90 days have passed, I can apply for a complete license. After that, it will be time for me to go out and promote the game. Honestly, I struggle with sales – I’d probably have trouble selling peanuts to a very hungry elephant. Due to this, I'm unsure if I will ever recover the time and investments I've made in this game, yet if I ever strive for a great success, I need at least to step up to the plate and take a swing. video poker For additional information, check out the new section on
• While discussing game development, I should highlight a significant shift in my consulting business. Since launching my website back in June 1997, numerous individuals have reached out to me for game analyses to help get their concepts into casinos. Recently, I’ve been receiving such requests almost daily. I’ve done my best to dissuade aspiring game designers by pointing out that it is incredibly challenging and costly to even initiate a field trial for a game, let alone have it implemented in multiple casinos. Ask the Wizard questions.

Written by: Michael Shackleford