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 two 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: 2023 Las Vegas Blackjack Survey
The minimum bets shown are what we predict the lowest you will find, often in the mornings and afternoons. Expect higher minimums during busy times, especially for the 6:5 blackjack tables.
Best downtown Las Vegas blackjack game
El Cortez wins the award for the best downtown blackjack game in terms of its rules. Its single-deck game allows players to double down on any two cards. The dealer hits soft 17, and blackjack pays 3:2. This game has a house edge of around 0.3%.
The single-deck blackjack game at El Cortez is best played with a consistent bet size. Large spreads are unwelcome due to the game’s vulnerability to counting, though you often will not get through enough of the deck for that to matter.
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.
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. The worst blackjack games in this area are at the intersection of Fremont Street Experience and Casino Center Blvd.
There are 12 open casinos in downtown Las Vegas. Of those, ten offer a standard 3:2 blackjack game. The cheapest of these is found at Downtown Grand, where there is a $5 six-deck game with doubling down before and after splitting. Surrendering and re-splitting aces are also available. El Cortez and Plaza deal $10 3:2 blackjack games without the option to surrender or re-split aces. Thee Plaza game may be $5 during the slowest hours.
There are six other downtown Las Vegas casinos that deal 3:2 games. The minimum is $15 at most. Binion’s and Four Queens do not deal any traditional 3:2 blackjack games.
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.
California
California specializes in 3:2 double-deck blackjack. The minimum bet is $15. It also has a $15 6:5 table-shoe game. Both games allow players to double down before splitting; it is not permitted after a split. There is $3 6:5 heads-up video blackjack available.
Circa
Circa brought five different blackjack games to downtown Las Vegas. The main game on the floor has a minimum bet of $15 or $25, and it uses eight decks. Players may double down before or after splitting. We see this game for $10 during the slowest of hours. There is also 3:2 Free Bet Blackjack and 6:5 single-deck blackjack on the Circa casino floor. Both have a $25 minimum bet. Video blackjack pays 6:5 and starts at $1.
The high-limit salon has two games. Its double-deck game allows doubling down both before and after splitting, and the dealer hits on soft 17. The six-deck game stands on all 17’s with the same rules otherwise.
The double-deck game is usually a $200 minimum, while the six-deck game is $100.
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, surrender, and re-split aces that pays 3:2.
The double-deck game is no longer dealt at Downtown Grand. There is $1 6:5 video blackjack available on heads-up machines.
El Cortez
There are three different blackjack games at El Cortez. The most popular is its great 3:2 single-deck. Double down is available before but not after splitting. The double-deck game adds the option to double down after splitting. There is also a six-deck game with the same rules as the double-deck. All have a $10 minimum bet during the slowest hours, though busier times go to $15. El Cortez has $3 3:2 stadium 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 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. The other games are 3:2 Lucky Cat Blackjack and 6:5 traditional blackjack. The minimum bet is $10 at all tables.
Fremont
All blackjack at Fremont has a $15 minimum bet. The best game is 3:2 double-deck, though this game does not allow doubling down after splitting. There is also 6:5 Bonus Spin and 6:5 six-deck blackjack. Video blackjack has a $3 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. The eight-deck traditional and Free Bet Blackjack tables on the floor have a $10 or $15 minimum bet, depending on the time of day. The six-deck game in high-limit has $50 minimum bet. The double-deck game, also in high-limit, is typically $100. These games allow a double-down, both before and after splitting.
Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget offers four different blackjack games. On the casino floor, players can find 6:5 blackjack variants like $5 Lucky Cat and $10 Bonus Spin. These two games require a side bet every hand, which makes them the worst two blackjack games in Las Vegas.
Lucky Cat requires a $2 side bet making the minimum bet $7. The minimum for Bonus Spin is $12 after the required $2 side bet. There may be a table or two open that only have a $1 forced side bet.
The only 3:2 blackjack tables at Golden Nugget are in the high-limit area. Games typically have a $50 minimum. You may find a $25 blackjack game in Golden Nugget’s high limit during slow hours. The double deck game allows doubling down before and after splitting. The six-deck $50 game adds surrender. All blackjack at Golden Nugget hits soft 17. Video 6:5 blackjack starts at $3.
Main Street Station
Main Street Station opened with only three blackjack tables. One is a $10 6:5 shoe. The other two tables are $15 3:2 double deck blackjack with no double down after splitting. Both games hit soft 17.
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 $3 minimum bet. It has a 6:5 payout.
Plaza
Plaza deals four different forms of blackjack. The six-deck game starts at $10. It allows a double-down both before and after splitting. A $25 double-deck table has the same rules. The Free Bet Blackjack table pays 3:2 and usually has a $15 minimum bet. Most Liberal 21, a game owned by Plaza, is dealt for $5 or $10, depending on the time of day. It is like Super Fun 21 but with fewer player-friendly rules. Stadium blackjack has a $3 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, and the minimum is $15. Free Bet Blackjack with a 3:2 payout is offered for $15. The high-limit room has double-deck and six-deck blackjack. The minimum is $50 or $100. All of these games pay 3:2. Video blackjack starts at $1 and has a 6:5 payout.
Downtown Las Vegas blackjack by type of game
Single deck games
The 3:2 single deck blackjack game at El Cortez allows doubling down before but not after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. We found the game with a $10 or $15 minimum.
A 6:5 single deck is available for $15 or $25 at Circa. Double down before and after splitting is permitted.
Double deck games
Binion’s, Downtown Grand, and Four Queens do not offer a double-deck game. The dealer hits a soft 17 for the following double-deck games. All downtown double-deck games pay 3:2 on blackjack.
Double down before and after splitting
- El Cortez – $10 or $15
- Plaza – $25
- Golden Nugget – $25 or $50
- Golden Gate – $100
- The D – $100
- Circa – $200
Double down before but not after splitting
- California – $15
- Fremont – $15
- Main Street Station – $15
Six- and eight-deck games
The following 3:2 six- and eight-deck games allow doubling down before and after splitting.
Stand on soft 17
Cannot re-split aces or surrender
$100 minimum
- Circa
Hit soft 17
Re-split aces and surrender
$5 minimum
- Downtown Grand
Surrender but cannot re-split aces
$25 or $50 minimum
- Golden Nugget
Cannot re-split aces or surrender
$10 minimum
- El Cortez
- Golden Gate
- Plaza
$15 minimum
- Circa
- The D
Six- and eight-deck 6:5 blackjack games
Shoe games that pay 6:5 on blackjack were found at seven casinos downtown.
- Downtown Grand – $1 (bets $1 to $4 pay even money)
- Binion’s – $10
- Four Queens – $10
- Fremont – $10
- Main Street Station – $10
- California – $15
Seven downtown casinos have electronic blackjack that pays 6:5.
- California – $3
- Circa – $1
- Downtown Grand – $1
- El Cortez – $3
- Main Street Station – $3
- The D – $1
Downtown Las Vegas blackjack variants
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.
- Binion’s – $10
- Four Queens – $10
Bonus Spin Blackjack
Only found downtown, this game requires players to make a $1 pr $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.
3:2
- Binion’s
- Four Queens
6:5
- Fremont
- Golden Nugget ($2 side bet)
Double Up
Also unique to downtown, Double Up is one of the best blackjack variants, but 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.
Free Bet Blackjack 3:2
Free Bet Blackjack is by far the most popular blackjack variant in Las Vegas. The house edge on the 3:2 game is about 1%. This version is dealt at Circa, Golden Gate, Plaza, and The D.
The player gets a free double down on 9, 10, and 11. Pairs that do not have a value of 10 may be split for free. To offset this, the dealer pushed on 22.
$15 minimum
- Golden Gate
- Plaza
$25 minimum
- Circa
- The D
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 $10.
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 August 26, 2023 by John Mehaffey