Vegas Free-for-All - As if 6 to 5 blackjack wasn't bad enough, there are now two casinos in Nevada that pay even on blackjack

Roulette Man

Jul 12, 2011
2:12am

In Casino Player's latest issue, they rank the ten worst blackjack games in the U.S.

Their second worse blackjack game in the nation (dealt live) is at Poker Palace in North Las Vegas, where they have a single deck game that only pays even on blackjacks. Mind you, I'm not talking about ties with the dealer, but just outright blackjacks. They also have the rule where the dealer hits on soft 17.
House edge: 2.50%

Their worst blackjack game in the nation is at Grand Sierra in Reno NV. This is a six deck game with the same even payout on blackjack and where the dealer hits soft 17.
House edge: 2.90%

melbedewy

Jul 12, 2011
3:17am

Block User

Sad. Grand Sierra is a beautiful place too.
I was joking about even money a couple of years ago on one of the forums; now it has come true.
Still, when you think about it roulette is almost twice as high and idiot slots more than triple.

Roulette Man

Jul 12, 2011
3:43am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: melbedewy
Sad. Grand Sierra is a beautiful place too.
I was joking about even money a couple of years ago on one of the forums; now it has come true.
Still, when you think about it roulette is almost twice as high and idiot slots more than triple.

I play roulette for dealer signature and with the hopes that the dealer will hit a certain segment of the wheel. If I played it under the premise that every single spin of the wheel was random, I wouldn't touch the game.

In regards to these BJ games, unfortunately casinos think of their patrons as being naive and uninformed. If you are playing $5 a hand in BJ, it doesn't seem like that big of a deal if you only get paid $5 or $6 instead of $7.50 on an occasional blackjack. The only way to overcome this practice is to boycott and not play the game.

It is simple. If their stats show that they can get away with it, they will do it. If business drops off significantly, then they will need to consider changing back.

Tim Murtaugh

Jul 12, 2011
4:15am

Block User

Wow, you want to get someone's attention...this is the way to do it. I always have the same thought, that this is so wrong. I was so shocked last month to walk past some blackjack tables in the Flamingo, $25 minimum and they were 6:5.
It's hard to believe people betting that much can be so uninformed.

Tim

LostSoul

Jul 12, 2011
4:21am

Block User

This is not new. About 5 years ago Rio had a bikini pit where BJ paid even money. As per 6:5 games, due to hand shuffle the ploppies get to play a lot less hands per hour. I dare say they lose their money at the same hourly rate in a SD 6:5 or in a 8-deck shoe game. Also, I've seen people spreading 10-300 in 6:5 games and getting away with it. With this kind of spread the game is beatable.

melbedewy

Jul 12, 2011
9:57am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: Roulette Man
In Casino Player's latest issue, they rank the ten worst blackjack games in the U.S.

Their second worse blackjack game in the nation (dealt live) is at Poker Palace in North Las Vegas, where they have a single deck game that only pays even on blackjacks. Mind you, I'm not talking about ties with the dealer, but just outright blackjacks. They also have the rule where the dealer hits on soft 17.
House edge: 2.50%

Their worst blackjack game in the nation is at Grand Sierra in Reno NV. This is a six deck game with the same even payout on blackjack and where the dealer hits soft 17.
House edge: 2.90%

What are the other 8?
Surely a Ceasers property in the bunch?

Roulette Man

Jul 12, 2011
10:33am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: melbedewy

Quote
Originally posted by: Roulette Man
In Casino Player's latest issue, they rank the ten worst blackjack games in the U.S.

Their second worse blackjack game in the nation (dealt live) is at Poker Palace in North Las Vegas, where they have a single deck game that only pays even on blackjacks. Mind you, I'm not talking about ties with the dealer, but just outright blackjacks. They also have the rule where the dealer hits on soft 17.
House edge: 2.50%

Their worst blackjack game in the nation is at Grand Sierra in Reno NV. This is a six deck game with the same even payout on blackjack and where the dealer hits soft 17.
House edge: 2.90%

What are the other 8?
Surely a Ceasers property in the bunch?

3. Prairie Band Casino, Topeka, KS - 2.39% house advantage, single deck, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack, double down allowed only on two card 11, resplits not allowed.

4. Hooters Casino, Las Vegas - 2.15% house advantage, 6 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack, resplits not allowed.

5. Western Casino, Downtown Las Vegas - 2.12% house advantage, 6 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17 and 6to5 blackjack.

6. Ballys, LV Binions Downtow LV, Fitzgeralds Downtown LV Golden Nugget Downtown LV, Harrahs LV, Luxor LV, NYNY LV, O'Shea's LV, Harvey's S. Lake Tahoe, - 2.02% house advantage, 8 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack.

7. Fitzgeralds Downtown LV, Flamingo LV, Hard Rock LV, Harrah's LV, Excalibur LV, Imperial Palace LV - 1.99% house advantage, 6 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack, continuous shuffling machine.

8. Harrahs Reno, Montbleu S. Lake Tahoe, MGM Grand Detroit MI - 1.94% house advantage, 8 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack

9. Bills Gamblin Hall LV, Four Queens Downtown LV - 1.92% house advantage, 8 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack

10. Fitzgeralds Downtown LV, Western Downtown LV, Buffalo Bills Primm, Primm Valley Primm, Whiskey Pete's Primm - 1.90% house advantage, 2 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack

billryan

Jul 12, 2011
12:16pm

Block User

I've never seen an eight deck 6-5 game at the Four Queens. Has anyone?
Wizard has the 4Q eight deck game as paying 3-2.

melbedewy

Jul 13, 2011
7:11am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: Roulette Man

Quote
Originally posted by: melbedewy
Quote
Originally posted by: Roulette Man
In Casino Player's latest issue, they rank the ten worst blackjack games in the U.S.

Their second worse blackjack game in the nation (dealt live) is at Poker Palace in North Las Vegas, where they have a single deck game that only pays even on blackjacks. Mind you, I'm not talking about ties with the dealer, but just outright blackjacks. They also have the rule where the dealer hits on soft 17.
House edge: 2.50%

Their worst blackjack game in the nation is at Grand Sierra in Reno NV. This is a six deck game with the same even payout on blackjack and where the dealer hits soft 17.
House edge: 2.90%

What are the other 8?
Surely a Ceasers property in the bunch?

10. Fitzgeralds Downtown LV, Western Downtown LV, Buffalo Bills Primm, Primm Valley Primm, Whiskey Pete's Primm - 1.90% house advantage, 2 deck shoe, dealer hits on soft 17, 6to5 blackjack

11. A shitload of places in Nevada and out. 1.50% or so house advantage, 1 deck 6-5 blackjack hit 17.

lovenevada

Jul 13, 2011
9:19am

Block User

Hey Roulette Man, Let's get your facts straight! Grand Sierra Resort has never had a six deck shoe game that pays anything other than 3 to 2 on a blackjack. They have the most competative games in northern Nevada. I have lived and worked in Reno for over 30 years and am familiar with all the games offered in this area.

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