Playtech Pontoon

[bpb]

Just a heads up for anyone who plays Pontoon.

Playtech recently added this game. There is an issue with their implementation though. They do not give the player the option of hitting or doubling a soft 21. This is incorrect according to their own rules, which state that the player may hit after doubling ANY card total.

I've submitted a complaint directly to playtech regarding this. I'll keep you posted (though I'm probably the only person here who plays this game and cares)

 

[tencardcharlie]

(though I'm probably the only person here who plays this game and cares)

No you're not.

Thanks for the heads up

 

[pstnpstn]

(though I'm probably the only person here who plays this game and cares)

i am playing pontoon too

 

[thelawnet]

Just a heads up for anyone who plays Pontoon.

Playtech recently added this game. There is an issue with their implementation though. They do not give the player the option of hitting or doubling a soft 21. This is incorrect according to their own rules, which state that the player may hit after doubling ANY card total.

Ouch.

That's nasty.

Of course Playtech are entitled to have whatever rules they like.

But stating one set of rules and operating with another is poor.

Their Pontoon is actually the worst on the net anyway because ace,ten after splitting doesn't pay 2-1 (+.45% HA).

I am not sure what effect not being able to double 21 has, but my guess would be is it's costing at least 0.5%, and probably as much as 1%.

Either way, avoid this game, it's the crappiest rip-off game of pontoon you'll find anywhere.

 

[bpb]

2 weeks and 4 emails have passed.

Playtech has not updated their implementation of pontoon (understandable), nor have they updated their help documentation on the game (inexcusable).

I can only conclude that Playtech isn't concerned whether or not their games play according to their own published rules. It shouldn't have taken 24 hours, much less 2 weeks, to add a sentence to their rules stating that the player must stand on totals of soft 21.

This is not a small issue. This "feature" of their implementation nearly doubles the house advantage of their game. I can appreciate why they would want the game to play this way. I can't understand why they would hide this though.

Iris Toledano is the Playtech contact who has repeatedly assured me that they are aware of the problem and working ASAP to fix it. Her definition of ASAP and mine differ drastically.

 

[thelawnet]

2 weeks and 4 emails have passed.

Playtech has not updated their implementation of pontoon (understandable), nor have they updated their help documentation on the game (inexcusable).

I can only conclude that Playtech isn't concerned whether or not their games play according to their own published rules. It shouldn't have taken 24 hours, much less 2 weeks, to add a sentence to their rules stating that the player must stand on totals of soft 21.

This is not a small issue. This "feature" of their implementation nearly doubles the house advantage of their game. I can appreciate why they would want the game to play this way. I can't understand why they would hide this though.

Iris Toledano is the Playtech contact who has repeatedly assured me that they are aware of the problem and working ASAP to fix it. Her definition of ASAP and mine differ drastically.

Given that Playtech are the partners in the theft and other crimes of African Palace and co, it's not surprising they don't care about things like this either.....

 

[tim5ny]

Who needs Playtech anyway? Let's just pretend they don't exist.

 

[KasinoKing]

Who needs Playtech anyway? Let's just pretend they don't exist.

That's the most sensible thing you've ever said!

BTW as I reported in another thread somewhere, William Hill's pontoon has the exact same problem. This is annoying as they are my favourite casino to play at & I do like to play pontoon. But I haven't tried reporting it to them as they have a notorious complete lack of any sort of customer service department.

I don't know about the house edge, but it makes a HUGE difference to your return - a 5-card trick with a bought card pays FOUR times as much as a soft 21!
(Assuming the dealer doesn't beat or match your hand)

Note: I've only seen the problem at WH, not at Intercasino which supposedly uses the same software. But I don't know if any other Crypto's have this fault as well....?

 

[vedat]

are you sure about willhill

hello i have been playing at willhill pontoon for ages and i see nothing wrong at there rules is simple and i can double down on 21 with 4 cards or 3 cards are you sure about willhill and crypto and for playtech a lot of casinos at there is pretty good they pay but you have to wait for a week and they offer bonuses in your all deposit of course they should have rules(even stupid ones) just pass the casinos you dont like have a bad rumor and play at other
i play at bet365 acropolis clubdice europa usually never had a problem even i won huge with bonus just you have to read rules correctly if they say you cant play restricted games just dont play it .

 

[paul1]

I don't play Pontoon and am not even sure of the rules. But there were some other threads about this somewhere recently. (I thought it was here at Casinomeister, maybe not) I think Wizard of Odds addressed that issue of the soft-21 and said it was like a 1% against you with that rule. But if you check out his site now he says it isn't so and he provides a screen shot. And I'm sure I read someone say they were going to tell Ryan Hartley at Intercasino and it was going to be fixed. Is it possible for Intercasino to have fixed it but not Will Hill? (sounds strange)

Anyway, check out what Wizard of Odds has to say.

 

[KasinoKing]

hello i have been playing at willhill pontoon for ages and i see nothing wrong at there rules is simple and i can double down on 21 with 4 cards or 3 cards are you sure about willhill and crypto and for playtech a lot of casinos at there is pretty good they pay but you have to wait for a week and they offer bonuses in your all deposit of course they should have rules(even stupid ones) just pass the casinos you dont like have a bad rumor and play at other .

Yes, I'm sure it's happening at Will Hill & not Intercasino.
Are you SURE you don't get the same problem at WH? That would be even stranger!

Here's my log, you'll notice on hands 16 & 20 that I take no action on soft 21 (i.e. I don't stick) - because it has auto-held, so I can't do anything!

Game: Pontoon

Hand # 16
Your bet was: 2 GBP
Your cards: 5 Spades, 2 Clubs (7)
Your response: TWIST
Your new hand: 5 Spades, 2 Clubs, Ace Clubs (8/18)
Your response: TWIST
Your new hand: 5 Spades, 2 Clubs, Ace Clubs, 3 Hearts (11/21)
Dealer's hand: 3 Hearts, Queen Spades, Jack Diamonds (BUST)
The result was: You won 2.00 GBP
Your new balance: 10.00 GBP

Hand # 17
Your bet was: 2 GBP
Your cards: Jack Spades, 2 Diamonds (12)
Your response: TWIST
Your new hand: Jack Spades, 2 Diamonds, Queen Spades (BUST)
Dealer's hand: 7 Clubs, 2 Spades (9)
The result was: dealer won
Your new balance: 8.00 GBP

Hand # 18
Your bet was: 2 GBP
Your cards: King Spades, 7 Clubs (17)
Your response: STICK
Dealer's hand: Ace Hearts, 9 Hearts (10/20)
The result was: dealer won
Your new balance: 6.00 GBP

Hand # 19
Your bet was: 2 GBP
Your cards: 8 Spades, 4 Hearts (12)
Your response: TWIST
Your new hand: 8 Spades, 4 Hearts, Queen Diamonds (BUST)
Dealer's hand: King Hearts, 10 Diamonds (20)
The result was: dealer won
Your new balance: 4.00 GBP

Hand # 20
Your bet was: 2 GBP
Your cards: Ace Diamonds, 4 Clubs (5/15)
Your response: TWIST
Your new hand: Ace Diamonds, 4 Clubs, 6 Clubs (11/21)
Dealer's hand: 4 Diamonds, 3 Spades, 4 Hearts, King Diamonds (21)
The result was: dealer won
Your new balance: 2.00 GBP

 

[caruso]

That's ridiculous - how can that happen? William Hill cannot configure the software themselves, but Intercasino allows hitting / doubling on soft 21.

What is going on here?

Also, if Playtech's pontoon includes the same restriction plus, as suggested here, no pontoon payoff for an ace split, the house edge goes up to about 1.5%. That's extremely sneaky, because they're presenting a fairly well-known low house edge game, which in fact has a very high house edge.

Playtech don't miss a trick.

EDIT: I did some practice mode testing at WH, and a three-card soft 21 allowed further cards to be drawn. So I have no idea what happened above.

 

[GrandMaster]

It happened to me once at Intercasino when I reinstalled from a possibly old CD. After upgrading, it was fine.