Shuffle Master Virtual Blackjack / Royal Match 21

I apologize if something like this has already been posted, but I couldn't find it.

The pari-mutuels in South Florida have recently introduced these machines at their slot-only casinos in an attempt to woo some BJ players away from the local indian casino which permits card-based table games.

I have found some sources claiming these machines are fair, in that they operate with a random card distribution, which is shuffled after each player.

Yet other sources I have found, including one article which interviews a casino manager, state they are based on a RNG, which determines a win or loss prior to being dealt.

I have grown quite wary of these machines after repeated 3 and 4 card dealer deals to 20 and 21.

So is this like a slot machine? What exactly is going on here? If it is a RNG, what implications do surrender (which is offered), double down, and split introduce?

Normally, gaming laws state that a video game that simulates a dealt deck must replicate a dealt deck. The RNG knows the cards it is dealing but your play can affect results and the odds. It should be the same odds as a normal blackjack game.

There are exceptions: some machines are defined as Class II Video Poker machines (such as Indian casinos in New York) and therefore the draw you receive is not random but matches a set payout percentage (no matter how you play, you would get the payout you receive).

The articles stated there is a random number generator that calculates a fixed payout percentage...

That would mean that it is pre-determined, which does seem interesting given the fact that you do have some control over those machines with doubling and the like....

Here is a post where we were discussing those machines...

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/other-casinos/631-sports-book-blackjack-dover-and-harrington-in-delaware

Quote:

I have grown quite wary of these machines after repeated 3 and 4 card dealer deals to 20 and 21.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Shufflemaster... My last time at Dover Downs, Delaware, I was witness to a 7 card dealer 21 that included 4 aces. The next hand included two aces.

At first I was irritated, I am now amused.

In any event, be wary of the Royal Match. In Delaware, at least, the low level match pays out at 2.5 to 1 when the odds are 3 to 1 against (I believe this drills down to a house advantage >5%).

The mere option of being able to double or surrender means it's impossible for the machine to operate like a slot machine with some predetermined outcome the moment you hit deal. Further, shufflemaster does not manufacture such a game. The article is wrong.

What IS likely is that they use seperate shoes for each player and the dealer, which often skirts the laws of what a 'table game' is and makes it in the same realm as video poker. In this case, you are able to make decisions, but your decisions in no way affects other players or the dealer. You are completely playing your 'own' game.

And as others have stated, any video representation of cards must be fair. If they aren't, its no different than dealing from a short deck or dealing seconds and these machines would certainly be illegal (assuming there is any kind of gaming regulation in florida). Of course these machines do use a RNG, but they are only used to shuffle and generate on order for the virtual deck(s) of cards.

I really think the casino manager quoted was confusing the fact that it has a RNG and a specific house edge with payback as it applies to slot machines, which actually isn't all that different. But you do make decisions that will affect things, blackjack is impossible otherwise.

I found an interesting (long) document, which is a declaratory statement from the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel wagering which states, among other things that unlike blackjack, the machine will pay out at around 97%.

For this to be the case, and given the fact that the machine pays 3-2 on BJ, allows surrender, doubling, splitting (aces once), and S17, something must be off with the RNG, right? If it truly was at least partially player-decision outcome determinative, wouldn't the payout have to be higher.

I'm not sure of the rules regarding posting links, but here is the aforementioned document:

http://www.floridagamingwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/dec-statement-ppi-shufflemaster-10-6-09.pdf

I scanned through the decision you just posted. I'm pretty sure the machine operates like the card game. They bent over backwards arguing it didn't 'replicate' blackjack, but they used arguments like (i) other players couldn't influence your outcome, and (ii) you can't count it.

Notice that the 97% payback was mentioned in the same sentence as "traditional blackjack ranges from 75-91%" on page 6. This makes me think the 'payback' is actually more like the hold. Something doesn't add up, but I'm pretty sure, based on other parts of the decision, that the game is a fair representation of blackjack

what are the rules for delaware VBJ? the laws i mean. someone here swears by law all video machines must pay 87%-95% and this includes BJ. however some of the VBJ machines here state they shuffle every hand, and others state they shuffle at 2.3rds of a 6 deck shoe. i dont see how that can and i dont see how its possible to make a good player at a fair BJ game only get 95% instead of 98% or better with great rules.