Downtown Las Vegas Blackjack Survey 2024

There are 12 casinos in downtown Las Vegas. This includes ones that are members of the Fremont Street Experience. 

The dynamics of the market have changed drastically in the last three years. Circa opened its casino on October 28, 2020. This gave downtown Las Vegas its first stand-on-all-17 blackjack game in at least 10 years. All other downtown Las Vegas blackjack games, outside Circa’s high-limit salon, hit on soft 17. Circa is located on the former Las Vegas Club block. It is sports-themed, carrying on the property’s tradition. Circa’s sportsbook is the largest in the world. 

Main Street Station reopened on September 8, 2021. That made it the first time since August 2015 that there were 12 open downtown Las Vegas casinos. 

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Related: 2024 Las Vegas Blackjack Survey

Downtown Las Vegas blackjack by casino

The blackjack in downtown Las Vegas is generally favorable when compared to the Strip and slightly worse than the locals market. More detailed information, including blackjack and table game rules and minimums, is available through our monthly subscription service.

There are 12 open casinos in downtown Las Vegas. Of those, ten offer a standard 3:2 blackjack game. Binion’s and Four Queens do not deal any traditional 3:2 blackjack games. The worst blackjack games in this area are at the intersection of Fremont Street Experience and Casino Center Blvd.

Best downtown Las Vegas blackjack game

Worst downtown Las Vegas blackjack

There is a game called Bonus Spin Blackjack that we think all players should avoid unless they are inclined to make luck-based side bets. This game requires the player to wager $1 or $2 on a side bet that puts the house edge as high as 9%. A normal 3:2 blackjack six-deck shoe game has a house edge of around 0.6%. Binion’s, Four Queens, Golden Nugget, and Fremont deal this version of Bonus Spin Blackjack. It made our worst Las Vegas blackjack list.

Binion’s

Binion’s offers Blackjack Switch, 6:5 traditional, and 3:2 Double Up Blackjack. There is also 3:2 Bonus Spin Blackjack with a forced side bet like Four Queens has. The same company owns both casinos. The minimum bet for all blackjack at Binion’s is $10. Video blackjack is also available.

California

California specializes in 3:2 double-deck blackjack. It also has a 6:5 table-shoe game. Both games allow players to double down before and after splitting. Blackjack games have a $15 minimum. There is 6:5 heads-up video blackjack available.

Circa

Circa brought five different blackjack games to downtown Las Vegas. The main game on the floor uses eight decks. Players may double down before or after splitting. There is also 3:2 Free Bet Blackjack and single-deck blackjack on the Circa casino floor. Video blackjack pays 6:5 and starts at lower limits.

Downtown Grand

There are two types of blackjack games at Downtown Grand. A $1 game pays even money. For $5, players can get a six-deck game with the option to double down before and after splitting and re-split aces. There is 6:5 video blackjack available on heads-up machines.

El Cortez

There are three different blackjack games at El Cortez. The most popular is $15 3:2 double-deck with no double down after splitting. A $10 six-deck game also has this rule. For $25, players get a 3:2 double-deck game that allows double down after splitting. El Cortez no longer deals single-deck blackjack.

Four Queens

The last traditional 3:2 blackjack game vanished from Four Queens, as its double-deck table is no longer on the floor. All remaining games here use six or eight decks. Of these, Blackjack Switch and Double Up Blackjack are the best options. The other Four Queens blackjack tables either pay 6:5 or are 3:2 with a catch. This includes a 3:2 Bonus Spin Poker table that requires a $1 side bet and 6:5 traditional blackjack. The minimum bet is $15 at all tables.

Fremont

All blackjack at Fremont has a $10 or $15 minimum bet. The best game is double-deck with doubling down before and after splitting. There is also 6:5 Bonus Spin and 6:5 six-deck blackjack. Video blackjack has a lower minimum and a 6:5 payout.

Golden Gate

There are four types of blackjack games at Golden Gate, and all pay 3:2 on a blackjack. There are eight-deck traditional and Free Bet Blackjack tables on the floor. High Limit has six-deck and double-deck games. These games allow a double-down, both before and after splitting. Blackjack minimums range from $10 to $50.

Golden Nugget

The only 3:2 blackjack tables at Golden Nugget are in the high-limit area. The double deck game allows doubling down before and after splitting. The six-deck game adds surrender. All blackjack at Golden Nugget hits soft 17. Minimums range from $7 (with the required side bet) to $50. Video blackjack pays 6:5 and starts at lower limits.

Main Street Station

Main Street Station opened with only three blackjack tables. One is a 6:5 shoe. The other two tables are 3:2 double deck blackjack with double down before and after splitting. Both games hit soft 17. Blackjack minimums are typically $10 or $15.

Main Street Station dropped eight blackjack tables between December 2019, and its 2021 reopening. Seven were double-deck tables. The other was Super Fun 21. Main Street Station table games are only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Video blackjack is available with a 6:5 payout.

Plaza

Plaza deals three different forms of blackjack. The six-deck game allows a double-down both before and after splitting. The double-deck table has the same rules. Most Liberal 21, a game owned by Plaza, is like Super Fun 21 but with fewer player-friendly rules. Minimums range from $5 to $25. Stadium blackjack has a lower minimum and a 6:5 payout.

The D

Players have four different blackjack options at The D. The eight-deck tables allow a double-down both before and after splitting. Free Bet Blackjack with a 3:2 payout is also offered. The high-limit room has double-deck and six-deck blackjack. All of these games pay 3:2. Minimums range from $10 to $100. Upstairs, video blackjack starts at a lower minimum and has a 6:5 payout.

Downtown Las Vegas blackjack by type of game

Single deck games

The single-deck blackjack game at El Cortez allows doubling down before but not after splitting. At Circa, double down before and after splitting is permitted. For both games, the dealer hits soft 17.

Double deck games

Most downtown casinos offer a double-deck game. The dealer hits a soft 17. All downtown double-deck games pay 3:2 on blackjack. While most casinos allow players to double down before and after splitting, some only permit double down before but not after splitting.

3:2 blackjack
9 casinos
$10-100 minimums

Six- and eight-deck games

The 3:2 six- and eight-deck games allow doubling down before and after splitting. Optional rules include surrender or re-split aces.

Shoe games that pay 6:5 on blackjack were found at six casinos downtown. $1 to $4 blackjack bets pay even money at Downtown Grand. Additionally, most downtown casinos have electronic blackjack that pays 6:5. One downtown stadium pays 3:2.

Downtown Las Vegas blackjack variants

Multiple blackjack variants are dealt in downtown Las Vegas. Some variants pay 3:2 for a blackjack while others pay 6:5 or even money.

Blackjack Switch

In this game, the player must bet on two hands. That means $20 is needed to get dealt a hand in a $10 game. The player may switch a card between hands. Blackjack pays even money. The dealer pushes on 22. The game is dealt at two downtown casinos. Table minimums are $10 or $15.

Bonus Spin Blackjack

Only found downtown, this game requires players to make a $1 or $2 side bet on a Bonus Spin wheel. This is in addition to the posted $10 minimum bet we found. These tables are among the worst in Las Vegas due to the house edge on the side bet, which we estimate to be 23%. The game paying 3:2 only helps offset that a little at lower limits. 

Double Up

Once unique to downtown, Double Up is one of the best blackjack variants. However, learning the strategy is imperative. Players may double their bet and stand or play normally. The dealer pushes with 16 against 17-20. Binion’s and Four Queens deal the game for $10 or $15. 

Free Bet Blackjack 3:2

Lucky Cat Blackjack

Golden Nugget deals Lucky Cat Blackjack with a 6:5 payout and a mandatory $2 side bet. We estimate that this game has a house edge of 8.95% at the minimum $7 bet.

The Four Queens version is much better with its 3:2 payout and no side bet requirement. That minimum is $15.

Most Liberal 21

Most Liberal 21 is owned by Plaza. It is the only place that deals it. It plays like Super Fun 21 but with rules that are a little worse. The minimum bet is usually $10. It is often dealt for $5 during the day.

Last Updated on October 27, 2024 by John Mehaffey