Casino Match Play Meaning
Definitions
This page shall address the value and optimal usage of promotional, match-play, and non-negotiable chips. Before going further, let me define what each of these chips are.
The stated value of a match play coupon, when presented by a patron at a match play authorized game together with chips in an amount equal to or greater than the stated value of the coupon, will be. A Match Bonus is very easy to understand. It simply means that your deposit will be matched up to a certain percentage. The most common percentage match is 100%, so this means if you deposit $50.
Match-Play Chips
These are the same as promotional chips, except the player must match the match-play bet with real money. They are often not chips at all, but coupons found in fun books. Usually, the player will keep a match-play chip, in the event of a push. Rules can get complicated with blackjack. A blackjack will always pay 3 to 2 on the cash bet, but may only pay even money on the match-play portion. I believe that paying 3 to 2 on both is the norm. If the player doubles or splits, usually the player will only match the cash wager portion, but sometimes the player must match both portions. Match-play chips are usually restricted to even money bets, including blackjack.
Promotional Chips
Promotional Chips are for one bet resolved only. These chips are sometimes offered in mailers to existing players, as an incentive to return to the casino property. Win or lose, the promotional chip is taken from the player after the bet is resolved. If the player wins, he keeps the winnings only. On a tie, the player usually keeps the chip. In blackjack, the player may double or split with real chips or cash. Usually, promotional chips may only be used on even money bets, which include blackjack.
Non-Negotiable Chips
Sometimes called a 'non-neg,' these act like real chips, except the player may not cash them in. Any winnings generated from these chips are paid in cashable chips, and the player keeps the non-neg chip. There are usually no restrictions on how these can be played. In Macau, these are ubiquitous in high limit baccarat rooms, sometimes known as 'dead chips.'
The following table shows the value of each kind of chip in various games and bets. The values are expressed as a percentage of the face value of the chip. The table assumes the player keeps any chip in the event of a push. For blackjack, the other rules assumed are as follows.
- Six decks
- Double after split allowed
- Resplitting aces allowed
- Surrender not allowed
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2 on all chips
- On a match play, player may double or split only cash portion of wager.
Chip Value Table
| Game | Bet | Match-Play | Promotional | Non-Neg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat | Banker | 46.98% | 48.15% | 97.63% |
| Baccarat | Player | 47.95% | 49.32% | 97.31% |
| Baccarat | Tie | 61.77% | 76.12% | 84.13% |
| Big Six | 1 | 33.33% | 44.44% | 80% |
| Big Six | 2 | 38.89% | 55.56% | 76.92% |
| Big Six | 5 | 42.59% | 64.81% | 74.47% |
| Big Six | 10 | 55.56% | 74.07% | 80% |
| Big Six | 20 | 51.85% | 74.07% | 76.92% |
| Big Six | Joker/Logo (40 to 1) | 50% | 74.07% | 75.47% |
| Big Six | Joker/Logo (45 to 1) | 68.52% | 83.33% | 84.91% |
| Blackjack | 46.2% | 51.4% | 99.15% | |
| Craps | Pass | 47.88% | 49.29% | 97.21% |
| Craps | Don't Pass | 47.9% | 49.3% | 97.23% |
| Craps | Place 6,8 | 51.52% | 53.03% | 97.22% |
| Craps | Place 5,9 | 52% | 56% | 93.33% |
| Craps | Place 4,10 | 53.33% | 60% | 90% |
| Craps | 1-way Hop | 69.44% | 83.33% | 85.71% |
| Craps | 2-way Hop | 72.22% | 83.33% | 88.24% |
| EZ Baccarat | Banker | 48.27% | 49.42% | 97.72% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | Even money | 42.11% | 47.37% | 90% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | Column | 57.89% | 63.16% | 92.31% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 6-way | 73.68% | 78.95% | 93.75% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 5-way | 71.05% | 78.95% | 90.91% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 4-way | 78.95% | 84.21% | 94.12% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 3-way | 81.58% | 86.84% | 94.29% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 2-way | 84.21% | 89.47% | 94.44% |
| Roulette (double-zero) | 1-way | 86.84% | 92.11% | 94.59% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | Even money | 45.95% | 48.65% | 94.74% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | Column | 62.16% | 64.86% | 96% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 6-way | 78.38% | 81.08% | 96.77% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 4-way | 83.78% | 86.49% | 96.97% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 3-way | 86.49% | 89.19% | 97.06% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 2-way | 89.19% | 91.89% | 97.14% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 1-way | 91.89% | 94.59% | 97.22% |
Strategy
Match-Play Chips
If restricted to even money bets, then the player will get the most value betting Match Play chips on the Banker bet in EZ baccarat, at 48.27% of face value. If that game isn't an option, then the second best bet to use a Match Play chip is the Player bet in baccarat, at 47.95% of face value. If unrestricted, then the player should make a long-shot wager, preferably on a single number in roulette.
Promotional Chips
If restricted to even money bets, then the player will get the most value betting promotional chips in blackjack, at 51.2% of face value, give or take depending on the table rules. If unrestricted, the player should make a long-shot wager, preferably on a single number in roulette.
The following basic strategy table is for promotional chips, under the rules above. If the player is faced with a real money only decision, as a result of splitting, he should revert to conventional basic strategy. The row for a soft 21 is for a 2-card soft 21 after splitting tens, not a blackjack.
Non-Negotiable Chips
Whether restricted or not, the player should bet these in blackjack, where the value is 99.6% of face value, give or take depending on the table rules. If restricted to baccarat, as is the case in Macau, they are best used on the banker bet. I have in-depth coverage of the non-negotiable chips in Macau on my companion site, Wizardofmacau.com.
Other Coupons
The free ace coupon may be used as an ace, in lieu of the first card dealt, in blackjack. According to my blackjack appendix 14, the expected value of an ace as the first card is 50.4% of the amount bet, assuming liberal six-deck rules (dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed, re-splitting aces allowed). These statistics are on a per hand basis, and include pushes. The probability of a push in blackjack is 8.5%. I have not calculated the conditional probability of a tie, given the first player card is an ace. Assuming the push probability is still 8.5%, and the player keeps the coupon on a push, the value of a free ace is 55.1% of face value, under the same liberal rule assumptions.
First Winning Blackjack Pays 2 to 1
The probability of a winning blackjack is 4.53%, in a six-deck game. On average, they come along once in 22.06 hands. The house edge under liberal six-deck rules is 0.29%. So, the player can expect to lose 22.06 × 0.0029 = 0.064 bets waiting for a blackjack. The coupon obviously is worth half a bet. So, the value of a 2 to 1 blackjack coupon is 50% - 6.4% = 43.6% of the amount the player may bet per hand.
First Winning Suited Blackjack Pays 3 to 1
The probability of a winning suited blackjack is 1.13%, in a six-deck game. On average, they come along once in 88.26 hands. The house edge under liberal six-deck rules is 0.29%. So, the player can expect to lose 88.26 × 0.0029 = 0.256 bets waiting for a suited blackjack. The coupon is worth 1.5 bets (the 3 to 1 payoff less the 1.5 you would get normally). So, the value of a 3 to 1 suited blackjack coupon is 1.5 - 0.256 = 1.244 bets, or 124.4% of the amount the player may bet.
Further Reading
For an outstanding in-depth treatment of these and other types of chips and coupons, I highly recommend the 21-page paper 'Beyond Coupons' (PDF) by James Grosjean. Grosjean and I have some disagreements about the strategy and value of the value of match play and promotional chips in blackjack. I have the greatest of respect for Grosjean, so I could be wrong about those.
Written by: Michael Shackleford
The match bonus is undoubtedly the most popular form of promotion you will come across. When you sign up to play at an online casino you will be offered a casino bonus, but if you just stop and look at the details of the offer, you will see that what you are actually offered is a Match Bonus.
Like all bonuses, they are designed with one specific goal – to help you build a big enough bankroll so that you can stick around a little longer with the casino you’ve selected.
- Huge Game Selection
- Exclusive Promotions
- Trusted & Secure
- Live Dealer Available
- Fast Withdrawal
- Live Chat 24/7
- Huge Welcome Bonus
- Many Payments Accepted
- Great Game Selection
- Huge Free Spins Offer
- Established Casino
- Fast Withdrawal
- Great New Casino
- Fun Gameplay
- Low Wagering Requirements
Match Bonus: A Definition
Casino Match Play Meaning Games
A Match Bonus is very easy to understand. It simply means that your deposit will be matched up to a certain percentage. The most common percentage match is 100%, so this means if you deposit $50 you will be given $50 by the casino, making your total balance $100 to play with.Some of the best online casinos would happily go the extra mile and provide you with better promotions where the deposit can be matched by 200% or more. It’s all really done at the discretion of your casino and how important they deem you to be as a player.
However, there is a maximum amount you can claim using a match bonus. It’s usually between $100-$500. In other words, if you place $500 yourself, the casino will throw in extra $500, giving you $1000 in playing funds. But, that would be the maximum you would get, if you deposited $600, you would still only get the max $500 offered.If you want to take full advantage of promotions being offered by online casinos then go for a 200% match bonus or higher! That $500 you deposit would give you an additional $1000, giving a total bankroll of $1500! Now that’s a nice start to allow you to play for a lot longer.Here is typically what you can expect from all the reputable online casinos –- Match Bonus Amount: 100% – 300%
- Maximum Amount: $100 – $7777
A Single Deposit Bonus
Match bonuses can come as individual offers. You deposit just once and the deposit amount is matched by a pre-determined percentage. The bonus money is then credited to your account and you are good to go. Here’re the steps, plain and simple:
- Deposit $50
- Trigger Match Bonus 100%
- Receive $50 as extra bonus money
- Start with $100
The Welcome Offer
Some Match Bonuses aren’t a stand-alone offer. With a welcome casino package, you will get a few Match Bonuses all part of the same promotional bundle, usually on your first 3 deposits. And so, you will have offers similar to this one:- 1st Deposit 100% – Up to $200
- 2nd Deposit 100% -Up to $200
- 3rd Deposit 100% – Up to $300
Critical Match Bonus Facts
Everyone wants a slice of what of the latest casino promotions, but just pouncing at the bonuses promising you the biggest amounts may end up with an unexpectedly sour experience.You need to understand that there are a few criteria that need to be duly examined before you can choose a bonus for yourself. These include:- Wagering Requirement
- Validity Date
- Wagering contributions
Let’s take a brief moment and discuss these.
Playthrough Requirement
Many people try to cash out before they have completed the wagering requirement (or playthrough requirement), and that often ends up with frustrated players who haven’t read the terms and conditions.
Let’s first make sure we understand the term. The wagering requirement is the number of times you need to wager (another word for bet) from your bonus amount before you can cash out any winnings.
So, if you have deposited $100, got $100 out as bonus money you now have $200 in total play money. The wagering requirement usually applies to:- The bonus itself ($100)
- The bonus plus original deposit both ($200)
The latter scenario is admittedly a little more harsh, but it’s also very common. To clear the bonus condition, you will usually need to wager the amount around 30x times. Few casinos offer a rate below that.
As a result, you will have to wager $3,000 (30 x $100) before you can cash out, or possibly $6000 (30 x $200).
People often fail to acknowledge this condition, try to withdraw before it has been met and as a result, the bonus is voided. Now that you know this, you can save yourself a misunderstanding and focus on the game itself.
Validity Date
Each promotion comes with a validity date, i.e. the time frame you must fulfil the wagering requirements. Usually, most bonuses give you quite a healthy amount of time when it comes to fulfilling the bonus provisions, typically 30-90 days.
Some casinos, though, put a slightly stricter condition on the offer and as a result, you need to hurry up and complete the wagering requirement to be able to withdraw any winning from your match bonus. How quickly you can achieve this will depend on the amount you are playing with and a few other criteria.
Wagering Contributions
The wagering contributions are how much of the money you bet are being calculated towards the total bonus amount you have to play through.
When you place a $10 wager, you will add $10 towards the total sum you need to clear (play through). However, different games grant different % of the original sum. In simple words, if you play games, such as:
- Online slots
- Keno
- Scratch cards
You will almost certainly get 100% of the sum you’ve wagered. However, for slightly more skill-based games, such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, you can only get 20% or less. Some games can even give you no contributions at all (0%), so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on this for yourself.
Match Bonus – An Offer to Consider
Despite the inherent challenges to playing with a match bonus, it’s very easy to make this offer work in your favor. There are a handful of practical tips that you can put to good use and ensure you are a little more successful. Here are some very basic recommendations:
- Always read the terms and conditions beforehand
- Avoid casinos with wagering requirements that also include your deposit money
- Check specifically for validity date, wagering requirements and wagering contributions
Casino Match Play Meaning Dictionary
Stay on top of your game by cherry-picking the type of match bonus that will help you build your casino legacy. A great match bonus deposit is quite easy to come by, just exercise the due diligence we advise or play with one of our 5 best casinos!