Sometimes the simplest casino games can offer the best pleasures.

That’s the idea behind Football Card Showdown, the live dealer offering from Playtech that is clearly designed to appeal to fans of European Football.

Owing a great deal to Evolution’s previously released Live Football Studio US, this title brings an RTP of 96.27% to the party, along with a betting range of $1-1,000 per round. It’s far from the most complex game out there… quite the contrary, actually!

Still, thanks to a wide array of side bets, there is a fair amount of subtlety available. Plus, an RTP of 96.27% for the two main bets is nothing to shake a stick at!

Let’s take a closer look, and see if this title is worthy of gaming fans’ time, attention, and bankroll.

The naked truth is that, when it comes to gameplay, this title is about as straightforward as they come.

As a table game, it has more in common with Dragon Tiger or even War than with a much subtler, more complex option such as baccarat. With that said, side bets shake up the paradigm a fair amount, so there’s definitely a second layer available here.

The gambler’s goal is clear: the dealer will draw two cards, and correctly predicting which one will be of higher value will deliver the win.

In the spirit of football, the two cards represent the two sides facing off on the pitch: Home and Away. As such, the game has three main bets, representing the three possible outcomes of the match:

• Home
• Away
• Draw

A “Home” bet predicts that the card on the right will be higher, while an “Away” bet predicts the supremacy of card on the left. Each bet pays 1:1.

Rather predictably, a “Draw” wager predicts that the two cards will be of equal value. As this is the least likely outcome, it offers a top payout of 10:1. However, its also the riskiest bet… if a Home or Away bet should result in a Draw, gamblers only lose 50% of their stake, with the other 50% returned to their bankroll. This isn’t the case with a Draw bet… it’s all or nothing.

(Draw bets also happen to have the biggest house edge of any in this title – we strongly recommend avoiding them like the plague.)

There are also 8 side bets on offer. In some ways, they remind of us “even money” bets in Roulette:

• Big (wins with a card of 8 or higher)
• Small (wins with a card of 6 or lower)
• Odd (win with Ace, 3, 5, 9, Jack, or King)
• Even (wins with 2, 4, 6, 8. 10, or Queen)

All of these pay 1:1, while also offering the exact same same mathematical odds – any of the side bets will hit with six of the playing card values, but will lose with the other seven possible results.

Notice that, with all of these side bets, the result will be a loss if the resulting card is a 7. This rule was created to ensure a house edge that the casino can live with, and is also the reason that all of these optional bets come with a lower RTP than the main two!

• RTP for Home and Away bets is 96.27%
• All side bets come with an RTP of 92.31%
• Draw bets have the poorest RTP by far, coming in at a truly dismal 82.17%.

Oh, and by the way, the speed of gameplay is jaw-dropping. Even in a game as simple as this one, it can still be quite a shock to have to make new betting decisions every six seconds!

While it’s by no means a complicated thing to decide which wager to place here, it should still be noted that gambling at a faster pace always favors the house. After all, from a purely mathematical perspective, the house will always, always, always win given a long enough period of play. That’s why it’s tremendously important for bettors to remember to take breaks, sit out rounds as needed, and remember to stay within the guidelines of good bankroll management.

Remember: the casino offers the game, and will always try to gain every possible advantage against the player. You are the one responsible for playing at your own pace, staying within your budget, and gambling responsibly.

If you find yourself wondering what any of this has to do with the sport of football, you aren’t alone.

I mean, sure, the actual surface on which the cards are revealed is painted to look like a football pitch (or, if you are based in the United States, a soccer field). But that’s where the similarities between this game and the world’s most popular sport end there. There are no teams to support, no leagues or nations, no scores, no football-themed bonus rounds, and no sportsbetting elements whatsoever.

This doesn’t necessarily reflect on the quality of the game, however!

Playtech has boasted some of the biggest successes in the business since its ascension to blue chip status in the early 2000s. Along with its many smash hits, partnerships with other top brands, and proving themselves as an industry-leading taste-maker time and time again, this firm has also acquired a scale-based approach to design: in other words, some of its titles are fancier (and more thought-provoking) than others. And indeed, if you’re looking for a flashy title, packed with impressive visuals, crazy bonus features, a truly unique gaming concept, and every other possible bell and whistle, Football Card Showdown will probably not be the game for you.

However.

If you’re in the market for a simple, well-made game that offers rock solid RTP, then this offering might be worth your time. Who cares if there’s no real football-related content? This one is definitely worth a try, and if it ends up suiting your gaming needs, then by all means, stick with it!

Just, please, whatever you do: stay away from the Draw bet!