Why Hasn't the Game DJ Wild Been Picked up by More Casinos?

I was just playing at Harrah’s and they have a game called DJ Wild. Deuces and a Joker are wild. I’ve played it a few times and have done extremely well, twice walking away winning $600 and $800. The other times I lost between $100 and $200 each time. Overall a positive. This morning a lady sat down and asked why no other casinos have the game. Our dealer had no clue, but I mentioned that we were told by a long-time dealer at Harrah’s that the game is not very profitable for the casino, but it was put in by one of the higher-ups at the property. That's why it's still at Harrah’s. My question is: Is this really the reason no other casinos have picked up the game?

[Editor's Note: For this answer, we went to the games man himself, the Wizard of Odds, Michael Shackleford (whose excellent book, Gambling 102, will be coming out in a new edition in a few months).]

It's hard to underestimate the power of "juice" in the gaming industry. So yes, I absolutely believe that a game that isn't pulling its weight, compared to the average table game, can remain on the casino floor if the table-games manager is friendly with the owner or distributor of the game.

DJ Wild is distributed by Scientific Games, which has several known installs already. And just because it doesn't perform in one location doesn't necessarily mean it won't succeed elsewhere.

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Rob Reid Oct-16-2018

Return?

Has Michael completed an analysis of the game?

Kevin Lewis Oct-16-2018

It's elsewhere as well

I wish I could remember exactly where, but I've seen this game in two locals' casinos (Boyd or Stations) in the last week or two. In each case, no one was playing it. There was no signage explaining what the game was and the paytables imprinted into the felt were hard to read. Maybe that's why it isn't widespread--I didn't see anything that would attract casual players.

Oct-16-2018

Type of Game? Location?

I have to point out that the question-poser didn't specify whether the game they were talking about was a video poker game or a table game.  So I'm curious as to how LVA and responding individuals knew, or why they assumed, that the questioner was talking about a table game.  I thought they weres talking about the video poker game Deuces Joker Wild, which I've played in my "home" casino.  There was no reason for me to think they were talking about a table game, and as I've never seen or heard of the table game, I had no reason to think this was a table game.  Also, the questioner said Harrah's, but they didn't say in what city/state, so we have no idea where they are referring to.  Folks, when posing a question, please provide necessary or important details.

O2bnVegas Oct-16-2018

wild cards on tables?

The question-poser used the "dealer" word a couple times, suggesting it is a table game.  I also initially read it to mean a VP game.  I've never seen a table game with wild cards.

David Oct-20-2018

5 card poker

DJ Wild is a table game. 5 card poker against the dealer with side bets etc.

cjen Nov-05-2018

I love DJ Wild

I play it at the Buffalo Run casino in Miami OK.  It has a side bet called, two way bad beat, That has paid 300 to one odds for quads over quads. I won $1,500 and my wife has also on bad beat.

Question of the Day - 16 October 2018

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