Snyder Comments on the New Stadium Blackjack Game

On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I noticed something at TI called “Stadium Blackjack.” It had a live dealer, but all the players sat at machines. The minimum bet was $1 on weeknights and $3 on weekends. Of course, I assumed it would have terrible rules, but when I checked them out on one of the machines, I was astonished: 6 decks, blackjack pays 3-2, dealer stands on all 17s, double on any two cards, re-split pairs up to two times, double after splits, split aces once with one card dealt to each ace, and late surrender. Honestly, those were the kind of rules I saw in Las Vegas 20 years ago -- the traditional “Strip Rules." I was astonished to see such great rules on machines, with such low minimum bets. There were a bunch of side bets, which I presume is where they make their money, but you didn’t have to play them. I never saw many people playing there, but the rules were better than the tables (dealer hits soft 17) and way better than any stand-alone machines, which seem to get more action. What are your thoughts on this game? It seems to me that for the basic strategy player, these are some of the best rules in Las Vegas.

[Editor's Note: This answer is provided by Arnold Snyder.]

With the rule set you provide, the house advantage over a basic strategy player is only 0.32% (about one-third of 1%). As I assume the deck is shuffled after every round, you can’t really apply a card-counting system, so the only way to beat this game would be with players club points, assuming the points earned had enough value to wipe out the small house edge and then some.

As you suggest, the casino probably makes its money on this game with the crazy side bets, but also with an awful lot of player errors. As soon as a casino allows soft doubling and surrender, amateur players’ errors go way up. Many card counters know basic strategy for these rules, but the general public makes lots of costly mistakes. (And I doubt many card counters would be interested in this game.)

You mention that the minimum bets are either $1 or $3. What are the maximum bets? The value of the slot club points earned would be a function of both your bet size and how many hands you could play per hour. I suspect you couldn't play multiple simultaneous hands. I don’t know all the ins and outs of exploiting players club points and these potential club gains vary from casino to casino and probably have higher value on specific days or with a casino’s promotions.

If you’re trying to beat the game, then I’d look into the players club potential. If you’re just trying to have cheap fun, go for it! Just don’t get tempted by the side bets and brush up on your basic for all soft doubling, pair splits, and surrender. That’s where amateurs lose their money.

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Comments

Dave May-19-2018

Play it before writing an article about it.

>> I suspect you couldn't play multiple simultaneous hands. 

You should play it before writing an article about it. The above comment tells me you haven’t done that. 

All players play the same cards - but not the same hand. IE, the dealer deals your 2 cards and his up card. No hole yet. If you stand but someone else hits, the next card becomes the dealers hole card on your terminal, but the hit card on the other player’s terminal. Etc. 

So playing multiple hands makes no sense - unless it is your intention to play different strategies. 

Also, at least when I saw it at the Sands in PA, they used a multiple deck shoe.

Dave in Seattle. May-19-2018

Stadium BJ

You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKThaHdzxiU&ab_channel=ScientificGames

May-19-2018

The real question is...

Why is the game being offered with such low limits and great rules? Tourons (tourists/morons) happily play 6:5 shoe games for $25 minimums, and would probably still play if the dealer won all pushes, so why give them a way to have fun WITHOUT losing their shirts (and shoes, and underwear)? Many of the good rules, such as the dealer standing on soft 17 and double after splits, benefit even the idiots. Especially perplexing are the very, very low limits. The Vegas Strip, as a rule, does NOT let people play ANYTHING with an expected loss of less than $50 a hour.
One possibility could be that TI is doing this as a loss leader of sorts to attract people to the game. Then, they plan to switch it to at least $5 minimums and Strip-typical horrible rules (including 6:5, naturally). Also, TI does seem to have positioned itself as a relatively bargain-ish property compared to its immediate gilded neighbors. Maybe this is their way of attracting tourists who don't want to set fire to $100 bills.

Anthony Curtis May-19-2018

Response to Dave

Why does he have to play the game in order to comment on the quantifiable information in the question? We don't always exhaustively check out every angle. Still, reliable advice can be (and was) conveyed. Beyond that, contributions from the public can provide valuable additional information, as you have contributed here. Thanks.

Jeffrey Small May-19-2018

JRS

If the next card becomes the hole card on your terminal as Dave says I want to play this game. if he is correct just look at the player's hand next to you and you would know both of the dealers cards. This was not the way the game worked when I played it! Can't be correct!

Cyclone99 May-20-2018

Response to Jeffrey

I have not played the game, but the way Dave describes it seems correct based on the video.

If you have already chosen to stand, it doesn't help you to then see the dealer's hole card. The dealer can't turn another card until everyone has made a decision. The next card up would then be the dealer's hole card against your hand, and the hit card for the other player.

Dave May-20-2018

My replies

Anthony -
You have a point. My apologies. 

Jeffrey, Cyclone -
The dealer doesn’t turn the next card until all players have made a decision. And there is a time limit. If you run out of time, there is a default decision which may be to follow basic strategy, or my be to stand on anything.

Anthony Curtis May-20-2018

It's cool

We love the input. Keep it coming.

Question of the Day - 19 May 2018

Comments