Whose Idea Was 6-5 Blackjack? | Las Vegas Advisor

It seems to me that the 6-5 payout on natural blackjacks launched the whole trend to gouge the customer and not just in the casino. Sure, triple zero roulette, reduced video poker, and cutbacks on comps followed, but so did resort fees, paid parking, restaurant surcharges, and the whole litany. So whose idea was 6-5, anyway? And why do you think it was so successful for the casinos?

The 6-5 payout on two-card 21s started replacing the standard 3-2 return in 1999.

Ever since card counting became known as a valid system for beating casino blackjack games (starting in the early 1960s), casinos have been trying to create rule variations that would negate the counters’ advantage over the house. At one point in the 1960s, some Vegas casinos tried allowing doubling down on hard 11 only, but this rule died quickly when players simply stopped playing the game.

Howard Grossman, an ex-card counter and one-time teammate of Ken Uston's, created and patented a blackjack variation called Super Fun 21 in the fateful year, 1999. In this version of blackjack, most blackjacks paid even money, but a whole raft of player options and bonuses were added to make the game more appealing to the public. All the bonuses combined didn’t add up to the cost of most blackjacks paying even money, so Grossman marketed Super Fun 21 as a blackjack game that card counters couldn’t beat.

A number of casinos started offering the game and found it to be popular.

Shortly after Super Fun 21 was introduced, two Vegas casino execs, Bill Bert and Bill Zimmer, came up with the idea of paying out blackjacks at 6-5, but not changing any of the other rules or adding any other bonuses. This simple rule change adds 1.4% to the house edge. Making that one rule change killed two birds with one well-placed stone: First, it neatly negated the card-counter’s ability to get a significant edge on the game; and second, the casino didn't have to pay a licensing fee for Super Fun 21.

The Flamingo was the first casino on the Strip to offer 6-5 payouts on single-deck games. One table soon expanded to more, as they Flamingo bosses noticed that many recreational players didn’t even notice the difference. Other casinos in this copycat town, however, did notice and 6-5 blackjack continued to take over the single-deck games.

It has since expanded to multi-deck games and we can thank an ex-card counter with inspiring a couple Vegas casino execs to look into the effect of simply adjusting the BJ payout to foil card counters.

As for why it's been so successful, that's simple. Most blackjack players under the age of 40 don't remember the time when 3-2 was the only payout on naturals. And plenty of recreational gamblers over the age of 40 don't know any better. If they did, they wouldn't play the 6-5 game and it would've died out long ago. In fact, some arithmetic-challenged players believe that 6-5 is better than 3-2, since the numbers are bigger. Bally's once actually advertised that idea on their marquee!

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Kevin Lewis Nov-12-2021

Thanks for identifying the bastards

May they be cursed and their names made synonymous with evil for a thousand generations. May their offspring wander the earth in misery, may they be plagued with loathsome and painful diseases, may their toast always burn, may their trucks' timing belts snap. Let every player who is underpaid for a blackjack cry out for vengeance on their dark souls. May they get long-hauled by the taxi to hell. A plague on both their houses!

Dave_Miller_DJTB Nov-12-2021

Kevin . . . .

C’mon Kevin. Don’t hold back.
Tell us how you REALLY feel.

Donzack Nov-12-2021

The good, the bad and the ugly

I hope they end up in the graveyard with the cholera, the plague and the rabies. Tuco,Eli Wallach. R.I.P.

Donzack Nov-12-2021

After the graveyard

They go to actuary hell where they’re probed with pitchforks to play 5/4 job. They’re always dealt four cards to a royal, in spades, and the hand never completes.

VegasVic Nov-12-2021

Dumb

Let's face it, most gamblers are dumb. Watch any blackjack game.  Most don't even know basic strategy. If you can't, or won't, bother to learn this simple thing then you deserve 6-5

Pat Higgins Nov-12-2021

Big tex

First time I saw a 6/5 BJ game was at the old Frontier while they were still experiencing the forever l or dispute.  I bought in and before I could make my first bet the player next to me got a natural black jack & was paid 6/5.  I pointed out the “error” and the dealer pointed to the words on the layout “black jack pays 6/5.”  I picked up my cash & left.  With poor penetration, 6/5 and other  crappy rules I pretty much quit playing B/J. 

Tex

Matthew Nov-12-2021

Alternatives?

What are good alternatives to 6-5 BJ for low-limit recreational gamblers? I’ve switched some of my play to bubble craps. Any other good options?

Texas Transplant Nov-12-2021

Appropriate quote from the late Johnny Carson

"May the fleas of a 1000 camels infest their pubic hairs"

Texas Transplant Nov-12-2021

Note to Matthew

First of all GET OFF THE STRIP!!!  3/2 BJ is still available but you have to look for it.

Ellis Island was featuring 3/2 and $5 tables, I've also read that it can be found at the D (downtown). El Cortez and Plaza (again, both downtown) websites mentions 3/2 BJ as well.

There may be some others as well, but again, yo have to look for it.  FYI Ellis Island has a particularly good brewery and meal deals as well so its worth the trip

Sam Glantzow Nov-12-2021

2 things

1. Years ago, remember walking around Excaliber. The 6-5 payout sign was VERY small and hidden on the table. 2. Again years ago, played bj in a Winnipeg casino and first time tried to double down w/a 10 they said i could only do so w/an 11. Don't know if that's still a rule, BUT i know it was in the early aughts.

rokgpsman Nov-12-2021

Dummy tourists keep it alive

Casino executives may have invented 6-5 blackjack but it's the endless supply of dummies playing the game that allows it to continue and spread. Notice it's mostly found at Strip casinos, were the vast majority of unthinking ploppies stay and play. People that laugh and play without bothering to learn much about the game. They walk away after losing, saying that's how it goes and it was just fun-money anyway. Seasoned locals and gambling-educated players know to seek out 3-2 bj at the off-Strip places. It's like PT Barnum said long ago, there's a new sucker born every minute. As long as unsmart visitors keep on playing a game with rules very unfair to the player the casino will happily continue to offer it. I guess it's like keno, that's another game totally twisted toward the house, but people play it too.

Kurt Wiesenbach Nov-12-2021

3/2 available at most places

I always ask a dealer when I'm in a casino if they have any 3/2 tables. There's usually 1 under $25 table at the smaller casinos and some of the big ones, and usually $25 and up at most casinos. There are times when you won't find it under $100 on the weekend and when a big event is in town, usually at a place like the Venetian or Wynn. I've always found a $25 at Bellagio, but the rules there are geared for failure to cash! Ellis Island is always, and Virgin is mostly 3/2 tables all the time.

Wayne Van Lone Nov-12-2021

water

I tried to start a new QOD but was rebuked.
What's the water forecast at Lake Mead since the monster water event in California two weeks ago?  I read up to 100 feet of snow in the mountains.  True?  I hope you get millions of gallons of water for a long time.

Mr. Seafood 21 Nov-13-2021

6/5 BJ

Unfortunately all the Caesars properties only deal 6/5 unless you go in the High limit room. Unfortunately I'm not a $50-$100 per hand player. I believe the same is now true with MGM properties. As pointed out, due to the "dumb" players at the 6/5 BJ games it is no longer any fun playing. I have not played BJ at a CET property my last 3 trips. We play at Ellis Island when we go for breakfast or dinner, or if we take a ride downtown. I do fairly well playing the Carni games. 3 Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Let it Ride and DJ Wild. Usually a good time with the other players. But if they keep raising the minimums on those games my trips will not be as often.

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