Why Do Casinos Impose a Higher Minimum Bet for Multiple Hands?

Why do some places make you play a higher minimum if you're playing multiple hands at blackjack? What's the difference if one person is playing two hands at $10 each or two different people are playing one hand each at $10? Why do they punish the single player by making him play those hands at a higher minimum? Since the house has an edge on every hand, wouldn't they want to encourage you to play more hands (and lose quicker)?

And at the bottom of the page is the link to the new poll: the final nail in Las Vegas' coffin.

[Editor's Note: This QoD is penned by Andrew Uyal, author of The Blackjack Insiders and our man behind the pit curtain.]

As usual in the casino business (and most businesses), it's all about the money.

Now in my opinion, the idea that it's the same amount of money whether it's one or two players is perfectly reasonable. But beyond that, here's how I think of it. A player walks up and buys in for $200. He's likely to walk away after that $200 is spent, whether he plays one hand or two. If he plays two hands, he's occupying a spot where another player could sit down with his or her own separate buy-in.

In my world of gaming philosophy, the drop (or the amount of cash in the drop box at table games) is the number that drives the whole system. Hold, win, house edge -- all those numbers are driven by the amount of money in the box. So the two-spot player wants to take up an extra space where there could be additional money coming in. In the interest of providing a service, we'll allow that, but in the interest of business, we'll charge a premium for that spot. Most two-hand players are aware of the rule at this point and accept it. So there's little to no risk of losing business over it.

Does that sound a little cold-hearted? Well, when it comes to casino gaming, there are very few warm fuzzies.

And here's your link to the new poll -- with all the gripes in one place.

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Comments

Edso Mar-31-2021

Only one also

Yeah, I could only vote for one as well.

Daryl Mar-31-2021

Only one

Also could vote for only one
[email protected] Mar-31-2021

Only one

Only one choice allowed

jay Mar-31-2021

Multihand

The explanation given to me around multi-hand and double the minimum focused on risk as it pertained to table maximums. Two hands by the same player essentially doubles the money at play. Regardless if your counting or not you get hot and cold streaks on the table and the larger minimums have a way of balancing this out for the table. There is also something to be said for card flow. Some spots just seem luckier than others regardless of perfect strategy - ie being dealt multiple 20 value hands, and blackjacks, and if you can continue to bet the minimum on the unlucky spots and higher on the luckier ones keeping the flow of the shoe going you can draw out a lot of money at least for the duration of the shoe.

Ray Mar-31-2021

Chips in play

If you are at a $10 minimum table and you wanted to play 2 hands, the house wants you to play that 20 on one hand so that someone else can play their 10 on the other spot. This is especially true for the lowest minimums in the house because those tables tend to fill up. So the house is really finding out how high you are willing to go. If 20 per hand dealt is your limit, then find a $5 table if you want to play 2 hands. Otherwise, stick with one hand.

Kevin Lewis Mar-31-2021

Makes no sense

If you're "taking up" a second spot, but you're betting (at least) twice the table minimum, aren't you making that second spot more profitable for the casino than if it a) remained empty b) was occupied by a table-minimum bettor?

So the real, short answer is, as it is for virtually every "Why the **** do the casinos do this?" question: Greed. Good old effin' casino greed. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest their underwear.

Question of the Day - 31 March 2021

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