Errors in Microgaming BJ autoplay

**TomR** · 13th August 2006, 05:49 AM

A few nights ago I was playing on one of the Microgaming casinos and decided to try the Vegas Downtown BJ Gold as I hadn't played the Gold before and wondered what was different. After playing a few hands I thought I would try the autoplay to see if it might have better luck. I left it at the default of playing five hands and set it to go. I was watching it and was pretty sure that I saw it make an error in play so I started to watch it closely but I didn't see anything wrong with the rest of the five hands. I then checked the autoplay strategy to see if I saw anything wrong but it seemed to be correct. I still wasn't sure that I had seen an error so I set it to play another five hands and again watched closely. This time I was sure I saw an error in the play: my first two cards totalled 15 and the dealer was showing a 6 - the autoplayer hit my hand and I busted! I again checked the autoplay strategy settings and it was not supposed to hit in this situation.

While trying to find a way to contact support I found the Playcheck system and tried to review my hands but it said that the detail was unavailable.

I emailed support and explained the situation and asked to have the details of the hands I had played emailed to me. They emailed back that they were also unable to review the hands and that they would forward the information to their technical department to get the details. Shortly after that they emailed me and asked for a screenshot of the strategy settings. I sent them the requested screenshot. To this point I have not heard any resolution.

I have found posts regarding this issue on two other forums and one said he reported it to the casino he was playing on Aug 2, a full week before it happened to me.

Has anyone here had this happen?

**The Watchdog** · 13th August 2006, 07:41 AM

More microgaming stuff..

Not good for you MG guys...

I didn�t understand the Playtech part.. what happened there?

Autoplay is just not nice...whats the point of it??

For Slots, I understand.. but whats the deal of autoplay for black jack?

**aka23** · 13th August 2006, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by TomR

Has anyone here had this happen?

Yes, I made similar comments about MG Gold autoplay in my gambling log near the start of August. I believe I saw an error and was unable to review the hands using the playcheck system. I have not used MG Gold autoplay since then.

**winbig** · 13th August 2006, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by The Watchdog

Autoplay is just not nice...whats the point of it??

For Slots, I understand.. but whats the deal of autoplay for black jack?

Primarily to clear WR IMHO...Unfortunately either this is an honest mistake, or they are taking advantage of players that set the autoplay to do this and leave the computer.

**Scooter7** · 13th August 2006, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by TomR

I was sure I saw an error in the play: my first two cards totalled 15 and the dealer was showing a 6 - the autoplayer hit my hand and I busted!

Has anyone here had this happen?

I tried it in practice mode and found that it didn't always follow the strategy listed in the table.

I don't think there's any intent to defraud here (I would have screamed bloody murder if I thought there was), but it does show a lack of attention to thorough testing.

**Lifesticks** · 13th August 2006, 07:22 PM

Seen it as well, hitting on a hard 16 against a 6. CS was going to escalate the issue but have not heard anything since.

**cipher** · 13th August 2006, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by The Watchdog

More microgaming stuff..

Not good for you MG guys...

I didn´t understand the Playtech part.. what happened there?

Autoplay is just not nice...whats the point of it??

For Slots, I understand.. but whats the deal of autoplay for black jack?

Hi Watchdog:

I think TomR's reference was to Placycheck not Playtech. "While trying to find a way to contact support I found the Playcheck system and tried to review my hands but it said that the detail was unavailable."

Have a good one.

**mitch** · 13th August 2006, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by TomR

This time I was sure I saw an error in the play: my first two cards totalled 15 and the dealer was showing a 6 - the autoplayer hit my hand and I busted!

This is horrendous!

If the autoplayer is somehow following a dealer strategy of hitting when less than 17 then the house edge would be at least 5.5%

MG need to comment on this pretty fast in my opinion.

Anybody alerted Ed Ware to this thread?

Mitch

**aka23** · 13th August 2006, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by mitch

Anybody alerted Ed Ware to this thread?

Mitch

I have contacted 32 Red support about this. They mentioned that MG testing is going on to confirm the issue, and players would be compensated for related losses.

**awieise** · 17th August 2006, 10:04 PM

Since I was the first to publicly post on this issue (2+2 on 8/2/06), I was apparently the first to receive the results of the "investigation into allegations of autoplay errors".

32red admits to a couple of minor errors during the period of my play, but says that unfortunately I was not affected. I guess they think it was just coincidence that I happened to pick that time period to blow the whistle.

In any case, I have (again) requested the game logs so that I can point out the many errors. Those interested can read all about it and read 32red's actual emails to me here:

The 2+2 Forums: 32Red monthly BJ autoplay errors