Choosing a casino to play blackjack shouldn’t be difficult. In a perfect world, all casinos would offer blackjack games with the same rules and we could play wherever we want. Unfortunately, casino life isn’t so simple in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other locations that are home to multiple casinos.
Today we’ll take a look at some things to consider when choosing where to play blackjack. While the best blackjack rules should take the cake, that’s not the case for all people. Many recreational blackjack players enjoy the game along with experiencing all a casino has to offer.
Additionally, not everyone has the same gambling budget so there might need to be a little give and take when finding the best casino to play blackjack. I’ll share a few casinos to consider in Las Vegas for those on a budget looking for a good time with a good blackjack game.
Player-friendly blackjack rules
The goal of playing blackjack recreationally is usually to win money while having a good time. Finding player-friendly rules is the best place to start when choosing a casino to play blackjack.
Start at the top when looking for player-friendly blackjack rules. The easiest rule to see at the table is whether or not the game pays 3:2 for a natural blackjack. Not all casinos have switched to 6:5 blackjack so there should be opportunities to find this game.
The blackjack payout is the biggest rule change that will affect the house edge. Once that information is acquired look for the following:
- How many decks are in play
- Does the dealer hit on soft 17
- Can you double on any first two cards? Can you double after splitting?
- Is there surrender?
Finding a blackjack game that pays 3:2 is often the biggest battle. This is the easiest rule to find but isn’t as available as anyone would like.
Find the right betting limits
Not everyone has the same gambling budget. It’s important to find a casino with good games that work for how much money you have.
For example, a casino might offer great blackjack rules to $100 bettors. The same property could also have the worst rules for anyone playing less than $25 per hand. Most – but not all – casinos have pivoted to this model.
Frequently, the nicest casinos will have the highest minimum bet. This doesn’t mean the casino offers good blackjack games. It’s helpful to keep this in mind when looking for the best casino to play blackjack. While a good meal at a luxury casino might be in your budget, playing the best blackjack game might not.
What kind of environment do you want to play in?
This is often the most important thing to recreational blackjack players. Not every good blackjack game is in a casino you want to visit. Sometimes when you do find a good game inside the casino you like, it might be in a less than optimal location on the gaming floor.
Some of the best blackjack games are in casinos off the beaten path. When on vacation, not everyone is going to want to travel to play the best games available. This goes for all games – not just blackjack.
The work isn’t done when you find a part of town you want to play. The worst blackjack games are often in the locations inside the casino that are most desirable. Scouting comes in handy for this.
Finding the right game in the right location at the casino you want isn’t always so easy. We all have different preferences and a little research goes a long way.
Las Vegas casino options for blackjack
There is no single best place for everyone to play blackjack in Las Vegas. There are rules of thumb to look out for but there isn’t a single location that is the best for everyone. Here are a few casinos in different parts of Las Vegas that should offer satisfactory blackjack games.
Vegas Strip: Treasure Island and The Strat
These aren’t the most popular casinos in the area but they offer plenty of 3:2 blackjack games. Both are good options if the priority is finding the best blackjack in the area. Personally, I prefer Treasure Island because there are more casinos are within walking distance making it easier to enjoy all of what you’d expect on the Vegas Strip.
Downtown: California, Circa, El Cortez, Golden Gate, Plaza
There are plenty of good blackjack games in downtown Las Vegas. The Plaza, Golden Gate, and El Cortez are vintage properties in downtown Las Vegas. Circa is brand new and has a great sportsbook. The California has plenty of double-deck pitch games if that’s something you prefer.
Generally, downtown Las Vegas casinos offer more liberal gambling rules and odds than anywhere in town.
Off-Strip: Various
Many of the best blackjack games in Las Vegas are found off the Vegas Strip. You don’t necessarily have to travel far but there will likely be a taxi or rideshare involved in getting to a location.
Many of the Boyd Gaming and Station Casinos properties have blackjack games with fair rules. I’m partial to the Gold Coast because that’s where I cut my teeth learning how to gamble. The Orleans is another good option close to the Vegas Strip.
If you’re looking to get away from the chaos on the Vegas Strip try Green Valley Ranch or Red Rock Casino. Both are charming in different ways.
