Blackjack is the most popular game in Las Vegas casinos. There are more blackjack tables in Nevada casinos than any other game. At the end of 2015 (the last year surveyed), almost half of the table games in Nevada casinos were blackjack according to UNLV Gaming. Blackjack became so popular over the years, in part, because it was either beatable or close to beatable when playing with perfect strategy.
Blackjack is popular statewide and is a staple of casinos in Las Vegas. In recent years the rules, however, the rules for blackjack games aren’t all the same. In fact, if you walk through a single casino you may see three or four blackjack games that feature different rules. When there are changes to gambling rules in a casino they usually aren’t in the favor of the player. The house edge in some of the best blackjack games in Las Vegas is under 0.50%. The newer blackjack games in Las Vegas have a house edge over 2%. That’s quite a difference.
Here’s a look at the live blackjack games with the best and worst house edge that you’ll find in Las Vegas.
Lowest House Edge (Under $25)
Casino: El Cortez
House Edge: 0.30346
Minimum Bet: $5 (may be higher on weekends)
Decks: 1
Blackjack Payout: 3:2
Soft 17: Dealer hits
Double: Yes (double after any first 2 cards)
Double After Split: No
Resplit Aces: No
Surrender: No
Highest House Edge (Any denomination for a live game)
Casino: Caesars Palace
House Edge: 2.16309
Minimum Bet: $15
Decks: 8
Blackjack Payout: 6:5
Soft 17: Dealer hits
Double: Only on 10 or 11
Double After Split: No
Resplit Aces: No
Surrender: No
Depending on when you visit, El Cortez may not have many tables open. Like other casinos, they offer games with different rules. However, there’s always one low limits blackjack table with the rules mentioned above.
Caesars Palace actually expanded how many tables offer the game mentioned above. This game was only offered in the party pit near Omnia nightclub. Unfortunately, this game has spread to other tables throughout the casino.
The blackjack games with the largest house edge are almost impossible to beat even if you count cards and play perfect strategy. Things aren’t so rosy for the games with a low house edge. The best blackjack games in Las Vegas aren’t easy to beat regardless of how perfect you may play. If you appear to be counting and spreading your wagers, you may be asked to leave or a table will close.
These aren’t the only casinos with good or bad blackjack games. Depending on the casino you visit, there may be bad games with limits as low as $3. Most of the casinos on the Vegas Strip offer 6:5 blackjack but that isn’t the only part of Las Vegas you’ll find this game. Having said that you’ll, generally, find better low limits blackjack games away from the Vegas Strip.
Casinos in Las Vegas change the rules throughout the year. Depending on the casino, the rules may be different at the same table at different times of the day. There aren’t many resources with up to the minute information on which Las Vegas casinos offer the best blackjack games. The Wizard of Vegas Blackjack Survey is my most trusted resource for blackjack games in Las Vegas.
