The beautiful thing about the Live Casino movement is the incredible variety and diversity of offerings.
There really is something for everyone!
This goes way, way, way beyond perennial favorites like Roulette and Blackjack. In recent times, options from all over the gambling world have entered Western markets to great acclaim. Playing mahjong is no longer a niche activity associated only with Asian markets – on the contrary, this game has fully entered the mainstream.
It’s not alone, either.
Other traditionally non-Western games have been embraced by European and North American players lately, with extra emphasis seeming to fall on titles rom the Indian subcontinent. This is true of Satta Matka…
… and doubly true when it comes to Andar Bahar!
This longtime favorite of Indian players has a great deal to recommend it.
First and foremost, there’s the phenomenal RTP of 97.85%. This compares favorably with just about any other offering in any casino in the world.
Second, the game is remarkable easy to learn and enjoy. Not unlike Baccarat, the goal is to predict which of the two sides (“Andar” and “Bahar”) will be the first to draw a card that matches the value of the “Joker.” Payouts are straightforward, at 0.9:1 for Andar (which always draws first, and therefore is always slightly more likely to win) and 1:1 for Bahar.
This particular offering from OnAir Entertainment delivers the solid fundamentals (and somewhat understated Indian visual design) that players can expect from just about any version of this increasingly popular game. So what makes Shandar Andar Bahar unique?
Side bets.
We know, we know! Even if side bets provide a bit of extra fun, they’re a waste of money, because of the obscenely low RTP. Right?
That is indeed the conventional wisdom. And 99 times out of 100, it is quite correct! In this outing, however, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
There are several side bets available. Of these, Andar First, Bahar First, Suited Andar, Suited Bahar, and Exact 11 all fit the above description to a T. However, the poker-themed Shandar 5 side bet comes with a thoroughly respectable RTP of 96.66%!
And better yet? The Ranges side bet, which predicts who many cards will be drawn before the round ends, actually outperforms the main game with respect to RTP! The side bet Range of 6-10 comes with RTP of 97.67%, while the Range of 16-25 delivers an incredible RTP of 98.10%.
Almost no casino games can compare to that! It alone is worth the price of admission.
Fortunately for players, the overall package is even more attractive than the parts alone. That’s why this game meets with our seal of approval, and is worth the time of even the most Western-centric bettors.
And for gamblers who have been truly bitten by the bug of Eastern games hitting it big in Western markets, we’d recommend exploring Blazing Dragon Tiger Life. Built by the same designer, it delivers many of the same upsides, but with a totally different flavor and style of game.
