GameMaster Rating: 81 points (of 100)

General Comments: I decided to review this casino because it was the # 2 Pick of a web site's "Lucky 7 Casinos" which are, according to them, "The top 7 casinos worth spending BIG on". What that site DOESN'T tell you is that they receive a 'commission' on all your losses, should you sign up at this casino through that site. So, let's see how objective their rating is.

This isn't a bad operation, but you can see by my rating that it's nothing special, either. The software is by Bossmedia, one of the leaders in its field and the download required is comparatively small at 6.0 MB for the entire package. You need to know that I played here only for fun and you do not connect with the casino's server in that mode (all the play is off your hard drive), so things might be different should you choose to play for 'real' $$$. But it is an attractive package, if such things matter to you. Jackpot Palace's web site displays a certificate from PriceWaterhouseCooper, an accounting firm, that states the total payback to players was in excess of 96% for the month of November, 1999. That implies that the average casino edge is 4.0% or less but remember it's the total of all games and does not mean that the lowest return is 96%. For example, the average player at their Blackjack game will lose at a rate of about 2%, so to get the average loss to 4%, somebody else is taking it on the chin.

There's a lot of good information for the prospective player, at least as far as the games go, but I couldn't find anything about minimums to open an account, exactly which credit cards are honored and other basic information like that. But, one good service offered is an 'audit trail' of all your play and the casino says that they'll make that available to you upon written request. A toll-free phone number is available for customer service and versions of the software are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. I would guess that it takes a while to make a withdrawal because the web site states that a "security code" is mailed to you via snail-mail once your account is opened and that's needed to make a withdrawal. They further state that it will take "one to three weeks" for you to get it. This isn't a ploy to keep your $$$ there longer, is it?

Recommendations: They have a really good, basic operation here, but the payoffs offered are average at best and their minimum bets are, at least at the table games, too high at $5. The idea of snail-mailing a "security code" is ridiculous and should be changed.

Games Analysis (All this information was correct on the date listed above)

Blackjack: While the site doesn't specify the number of decks in play, I'm pretty sure it's single-deck, so I'll use that for my calculations. The rules are: dealer stands on A-6, double on any first two cards, double after split, but you may split the original hand only. Insurance is available, the dealer 'peeks' and split Aces receive only one card. The player who uses perfect Basic Strategy actually has a small (about 0.08%) edge over the 'house' if this is actually a single-deck game. Limits are $5-$500 and only one hand at a time may be played.

Blackjack Comments: The deck is shuffled after every hand, but this is still a pretty good game.

* The theoretical return is the long-term payback a player who is using the correct strategy may expect. The return is lower for 1-coin play because the Royal Flush pays less when fewer than 5 coins are played.

Video Poker Comments: This is a 7/5 Jacks game with a 100 for 5 Four-of-a-Kind and a 5000 Royal. Don't play it.

Slot Machines: One is available in quarter, dollar and five-dollar format. I played 100 spins at 3 dollars per spin and lost $24 which implies a return of 92%, though that's a very small sample.

Craps: This is a standard game with 3X odds. Limits are $5-$500.

Roulette: Here we find a double-zero wheel with a casino edge of 5.26%. Limits are $5-$500.

Keno: I checked the pay schedule for a 4-spot ticket and it yields a below-average 80.1% payback. The minimum bet is $1.

Baccarat: They publish their rules for play in the help section and it appears to be a standard game. The 'commission' on a winning Banker bet is 5%. Ties pay 8 to 1. The casino's edge is 1.06% on a Banker bet and 1.23% on a Player bet. The edge on a Tie bet is over 14%. Limits are $5-$200.

Caribbean Poker: This is what's otherwise known as "Caribbean Stud Poker" and it has a slightly higher pay out on the Royal, but no dollar side bet for a progressive Royal. The house edge is about 2.56% if the player raises only with hands of A,K,J,8,3 or better. Limits are $5-$200.

Pai-Gow Poker: The casino is always the Banker in this game and the 'commission' on a winning bet is 5%, so when combined with the natural edge of the Banker, the net effect is a casino edge of about 3% against a skillful player. The casino seems to set the dealer's hand by a predetermined formula. Limits are $5-$200.

Summary and Rating of Jackpot Palace: That "banner farm" I referrred to earlier says to "bet BIG" at this casino. Please don't. The Blackjack is a very good game and that counts for something here, but the rest of the games rise only to the average, at best. And what's up with that snail-mail "security code"?This is a nice place, but I can only rate it at 81 points.