El Cortez was home of the last Las Vegas single-deck blackjack game. That changed on Sunday, April 28, 2024. The last few single-deck blackjack tables became double-deck games on that date, according to El Cortez staff. Vegas Advantage visited El Cortez during a downtown Las Vegas survey on May 3, 2024, to confirm the news which was first reported on Vegas Message Board and shared by Two Way Hard Eight on X, formerly Twitter.
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The El Cortez single-deck blackjack game paid 3/2. Players could double down on any two cards before splitting. Double down after splitting was not permitted. The dealer hit soft 17. It was the fourth-best blackjack game in Las Vegas in terms of house advantage, only beaten by three high-limit games that stand on soft 17.
The El Cortez single-deck blackjack game was the best under $50 in the Las Vegas market. It still deals 3/2 double-deck and six-deck tables. The minimum bets are typically $10 or $15 with some $25 and $50 games.
The El Cortez single-deck blackjack game was notoriously sweaty. That means the pit supervisors watched the games closely. Big bet spreads or action that increased due to better card counts were met with players getting restricted to betting the same amount through an entire shuffle or worse. Getting backed off the single-deck game was a rite of passage for aspiring blackjack card counters.
A sign outside El Cortez facing Sixth Street still brags about 3/2 single-deck blackjack. That should be removed as it is no longer accurate. Vegas Advantage took this picture on May 3, 2024, five days after the game disappeared from the pits.
Eleven Las Vegas casinos deal 6/5 single deck blackjack. As of our last survey of each of these properties, the game is found at:
- Cannery
- Circa
- Durango
- Green Valley Ranch
- M Resort
- Orleans
- Palace Station
- Red Rock
- Santa Fe Station
- Sunset Station
- Treasure Island
This was the latest in El Cortez game downgrades
El Cortez, once known for its great value, has lost much of that in recent years. About four years ago, the 10/7 Double Bonus machines were removed. The same can be said of the full-pay Super Double Bonus games, according to VPFree2. All video poker that returns 99% or better is on coin games, which are all now located in the back room. About half the coin games were removed from the floor in 2023.
In January 2020, El Cortez had $2 double zero roulette and $5 craps. Roulette is now $10. Live craps is now $15. A Roll to Win Craps machine offers a $5 minimum bet. However, it only allows five times odds and pays double on a Field 12. The live table permits up to 10 times odds and pays triple on a Field 12.
While El Cortez does not offer the same value it did a few years ago, it is still competitive in a market that continues to replace player-friendly games with bad ones. Some coin games return over 99.5%. All blackjack pays 3/2, starting at $10. Baccarat also has a $10 minimum bet. However, it is also a symptom of a bigger problem. Las Vegas casinos continue to see little value in catering to the mass market. If players keep giving action after games are downgraded, casinos have little reason to stop adding to their profit margins.
