Galaxy Gaming Bonus Craps “ tells a story ,” with color codes for wins and losses and other outcomes — red for a hot shooter , blue for a losing seven , green for hitting a point
New Games
Of course , innovation on the table-game side is not limited to side bets and progressives . A few of the major suppliers have launched new felt table games , incorporating some of the best features of existing games into new offerings .
“ We ’ ve been trying to fold in some new games ,” says Hemberger at AGS . “ Over the last few years , between Covid and stocking and other issues , new games on the table side have kind of taken a back seat . And that ’ s something we ’ re starting to push forward again , and it ’ s something that I think operators and players are thirsty for .”
AGS just added to its table game portfolio with 3 Card Catch , which incorporates Three Card Poker into a blackjack game . According to Hemberger , the game — developed by Tioli Gaming and distributed exclusively by AGS —“ naturally works with the STAX progressive platform and the multiple progressive jackpots that we can offer on that platform .”
Players are dealt three cards , then compete with the dealer heads-up to make the best three-card poker hand . With a natural pair of 8s or better — called Natural Pair Plus — all wagers are resolved . If the dealer ’ s hand doesn ’ t achieve 8s or better , a fourth card is dealt to all players who have not achieved the Natural Pair Plus , and players have the opportunity to “ catch ” a card that improves their hand .
Players whose hands are better than the dealer ’ s are paid according to a schedule , from 2-to-1 for 8s or better to 100-to-1 for a royal flush . There also is an “ X-tra Bonus ” side bet that gives winning players a bonus payment of even money for any natural hand or “ caught ” flush , up to 50-to-1 for a caught royal flush .
The STAX progressive platform adds a five-level “ must-hit-by ” progressive side bet .
“ Rather than just forfeiting your bets and waiting until the next round , you still have a chance to catch a hand that that is going to be a strong hand , and an opportunity to remain in the
game ,” Hemberger says . “ Aside from that , it features multiple quick-hitting progressive jackpots that we ’ ve found are quite popular .”
Hemberger says 3 Card Catch is going through the approval process , and is close to its first installs .
For Light & Wonder , one of the newest releases is another game based on elements of Three Card Poker , called Three Card Sabotage . The player ’ s three-card poker hand is pitted against the dealer ’ s best three-card poker hand , and players are eligible to win an additional ante bonus payout based on the value of their three-card poker hand . This game also features the optional Pair Plus wager .
To begin , the dealer gives each player and the dealer position three cards face down , and then places the next three cards face down in the area marked “ Sabotage Cards .” The dealer will take the top card and add it to their original three cards to make a four-card hand . Players now have an option to fold and lose their ante or place a play wager matching or doubling the ante .
The dealer will reveal their four cards and the two sabotage cards . If one or both sabotage cards match the rank of any cards in the dealer ’ s hand , the dealer must remove them . If the sabotage cards result in the dealer having less than three cards , they cannot have a straight or flush , they can only have a pair or high card . In the end , the best poker hand wins . “ It ’ s a play on Three Card Poker which gives the player the ability to eliminate some dealer cards to help themselves ,” says McKiski .
Light & Wonder ’ s Three Card Sabotage
22 Global Gaming Business MAY 2023