Casino Monte

Introduction

Casino Monte is a simple casino game using three cards. The player wins if he predicts the position that will contain the highest cards. Ties win and there is an opportunity to raise after one card is revealed.

I saw the game on December 14, 2023, when it was on field trial at the Luxor. The game was closed when I visited, but I was able to learn the rules from the rack card.

 

Click here for larger version of photo.

Rules

1. The game uses six ordinary 52-card decks.
2. Individual cards are ranked as in poker, except aces are high only.
3. There are three positions on the table, which will be given one card each. The positions are individually colored red, white, or blue.
4. Play begins with the player making a wager on one of the positions. At this time the player may make the Full Monte side bet.
5. A six-sided die shall be rolled. If the roll is a 1 or 2, then the dealer shall deal a card face up to the red position. If the roll is a 3 or 4, the dealer will deal a card face up to the white position. If the roll is a 5 or 6, then the dealer will deal a card face up to the blue position.
6. All players have the opportunity to make a raise bet up to 3x their original wager or check.
7. One card each shall be dealt to the other two positions.
8. Wagers on the position with the highest card shall win.
9. If there is not a tie for the highest card, then all wins on that position pay even money.
10. If there is a two-card tie for the highest card, then all wins on either position with the high card pay even money.
11. If there is a three-way tie for the highest card, then all initial wagers pay 3 to 1 and all raises shall pay even money.
12. The Full Monte side bet pays based on the poker value of all three cards, as follows:
    • Suited three of a kind — 100 to 1
    • Straight flush — 25 to 1
    • Three of a kind — 10 to 1
    • Straight — 5 to 1
    • Flush — 3 to 1
    • Pair — 1 to 1

If my explanation was not clear, here are scans of the rack card: side 1, side 2

Strategy

If the card at the player's position is exposed, then he should raise 3x with a jack or higher.

If the card at another position is exposed, then he should raise 3x if that card is a 5 or less.

The player should always check or make the maximum 3x raise. Never a smaller raise.

Analysis

The following table shows the number of combinations, probability, and contribution to the return for all possible events. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 4.17%.

The player will raise 30.77% of the time, for an average final wager of 1.923 units. That makes the element of risk (ratio of expected loss to average total bet) equal to 2.17%.

The following table shows my analysis of the Full Monte side bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 6.02%.

Links

Discussion about Casino Monte in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.

Written by: Michael Shackleford