The video poker edge, in short

For "the video poker edge", it often comes down to a rule that differs from table to table. The same game can follow different rules at two live tables in the same studio. Blackjack may let the dealer hit a soft seventeen at one table and stand at the next, roulette may add a second zero or random multipliers, and baccarat may drop its commission in exchange for a changed payout. Each change moves the house edge, and each is written in the rules panel of the table in question.

Side bets pay large multiples on rare events and carry a house edge several times that of the main game. Live blackjack side bets on pairs or poker hands are the common example, and their payout tables differ from studio to studio. Card shoes are changed or shuffled at a cut card placed by the dealer, so counting cards gains almost nothing in a live stream. The side bet table in the rules panel shows each payout next to its edge.

Baccarat tables differ mainly in how they treat a winning banker bet. The classic table takes a small commission on each banker win, while commission free versions pay banker wins in full except on one specific total, where the payout is cut. The two approaches give a similar edge on paper and feel different in play. Side bets on pairs or on the size of the win carry a far higher edge than the main bets.

Every live table publishes its own rules and return figures, usually behind an information icon in the corner of the video. The return is given for each bet, and the figure for the main bet is the one to compare between tables. Two tables with the same name in the lobby can carry different rules if they come from different studios. Opening the rules panel before the first round takes less time than a single hand.

Quick answers

How do multiplier roulette tables change payouts?

Random multipliers pay more on a few lucky numbers and less on every other straight bet, so an ordinary straight win returns less than at a standard table.

How does banker commission work at live baccarat?

Classic tables take a small commission on each banker win, while commission free versions pay banker in full except on one total, where the payout is cut.

How large is the edge on live side bets?

Side bets pay large multiples on rare events and carry an edge several times that of the main game; the rules panel shows each payout beside its edge.

How many zeros can a live roulette wheel have?

One, two or even three; a double zero nearly doubles the edge of a single zero wheel, and some tables add a triple zero pocket on top.