The quality of Las Vegas blackjack has deteriorated for decades. Every Las Vegas Strip casino has 6/5 blackjack tables. Some only deal 3/2 games in the high-limit salon. A few don’t have 3/2 games anywhere on the property.
The casinos listed below have no real 3/2 blackjack tables on the floor. Most either have no 3/2 blackjack in a salon or the hours are limited to the busiest times of the week.
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Circus Circus
Circus Circus has two different blackjack games. One is a 6/5 shoe. The other is Double Exposure. In that game, both dealer cards are face-up. Blackjack pays even money. Double down is only allowed on 9-11, but not after splitting. The worst rule is that ties lose, except on blackjack.
The Double Exposure house edge with perfect play is a little lower than a 6/5 blackjack game. Inexperienced Double Exposure players will make so many strategy errors that it can be a worse game to play than the 6/5 one.
Linq
All blackjack at Linq pays 6/5. The options are traditional eight-deck and Free Bet Blackjack, which has a house advantage of 2.4%.
O’Sheas is connected to Linq. It has the same terrible blackjack games players should avoid.
Luxor
Luxor only has 3/2 blackjack games in its salon, which is only open during the busiest hours. The minimum bet was $500 the last few times Vegas Advantage saw it open.
The 6/5 blackjack tables at Luxor are usually $15. You may find $10 games when it is slow. During busy hours, it may go up to $25. There is also 6/5 Free Bet Blackjack at Luxor.
Horseshoe
Horseshoe is a brand synonymous with value gambling. In other markets, Horseshoe casinos have 100 times craps odds and 3/2 blackjack tables on the floor. That is not the case in Las Vegas.
There are four types of blackjack in the pits at Horseshoe Las Vegas. All pay 6/5. The options are traditional two-deck and eight-deck, as well as Free Bet Blackjack and Double Up Blackjack.
The only 3/2 games are in the elevated high-limit area. The minimum there is $50 when it is open, which is not often. Otherwise, players must walk to Paris to play 3/2 blackjack, which starts at $100.
Alamo
Alamo is the only Las Vegas truck stop that deals blackjack. It is the only locals casino that made the list. Alamo once had 3/2 single-deck tables. Later, that game moved to four decks. Today, it still uses four decks, but the rules are atrocious.
Alamo blackjack pays 6/5. Double down is only permitted on 10 and 11 before the split. There is no double down after splitting. Blackjack is the only table game at Alamo.
Golden Nugget
While there are high-limit tables open most hours, Golden Nugget made our list because it has the worst Las Vegas blackjack game. That is 6/5 Lucky Cat in the front pit. At the minimum $7 bet, the house edge is an estimated 8.95%. That is because the required $2 Bonus Spin side bet has a house edge of over 20%.
There are two other types 6/5 traditional blackjack games that start at $10 and have a $1 or $2 mandatory side bet. These games have a 4.5% to 5.5% house advantage.
There are 3/2 games in the high-limit room. These start at $25 or $50, depending on the time of day. The expected loss per hand at these tables is much lower than the 6/5 carnival games in the pits with lower limits. (Since the original publication in our newsletter, we discovered a new 3/2 blackjack game on the floor)
Binion’s
Binion’s does not deal any real 3/2 blackjack. It has tables with big signs bragging about a 3/2 payout. However, these tables have a mandatory $1 Bonus Spin side bet. The house advantage is far worse than the regular 6/5 tables next to it for bets under $20.
There are two decent alternatives at Binion’s. However, the strategy is difficult for these games. The options are 3/2 Double Spin Blackjack and Blackjack Switch.
Four Queens
The blackjack at Four Queens is nearly identical to what is found at Binion’s. The only difference is that it has 3/2 Lucky Cat Blackjack. It does not have a required side bet like the tables at Golden Nugget. The Bonus Spin bet is mandatory on the 3/2 blackjack tables at Four Queens.
