OYO and Downtown Grand are the last two Las Vegas casinos with live $1 blackjack. However, it comes with a catch. Blackjack pays even money. The house edge is around 2.9% at these tables, which is among the worst blackjack games in Las Vegas. Both casinos offer low-limit 3/2 blackjack steps away from the $1 table. There are pros and cons to playing either game.
One of the biggest problems is getting into the $1 blackjack games. Both casinos typically only have one or two tables. If you can get seated at one of these tables, your expected loss is not as bad as you think.
OYO blackjack games
OYO deals three blackjack games. The options are $1 even money, $5 6/5, and $10 3/2 blackjack.
The theoretical loss at the $1 table is $0.029 per hand when making the minimum bet. At the $5 6/5 tables, it is around $0.10. The $10 game has a theoretical loss of about $0.064 per hand at the minimum bet. Players may double down before and after splitting at these tables. The dealer hits soft 17.
Verdict: The $1 blackjack table is the best for the player looking to lose the least amount per hand. Those with larger bankrolls looking for bigger action should skip the $5 6/5 tables and head to the $10 3/2 ones.
Downtown Grand blackjack games
In addition to the $1 table, there is always a $5 3/2 blackjack game at Downtown Grand when the pit is open. The hours are 11am to 3am Monday through Thursday and 24 hours from 11am Friday to 3am Monday.
This $5 3/2 blackjack game uses a continuous shuffling machine, hits soft 17, and allows double down before and after splitting, as well as re-split aces. The house edge for this game is 0.55%, according to the Wizard of Odds blackjack calculator.
A player at the $5 table theoretically loses $0.028 per hand at the minimum bet. The theoretical loss per hand at the $1 table is about $0.029 per hand at the minimum. It would take nearly 700 hands to theoretically bust a $1 player who buys into the game for $20. It would take about 725 hands to bust the $5 player on the same $20 buy-in. These numbers do not include variance and risk of ruin.
The variance at the $5 game is substantially higher as the swings will likely bust the $20 well before it gets to the theoretical, while the $1 player could last hundreds of hands longer because the swings are not as volatile.
Verdict: If you have a $20 bankroll, play the $1 game and give up a higher loss per hand, but with the ability to survive the variance. If you want to play with $100, the $5 game offers a better value.
The last $1 3/2 blackjack table disappeared from the Las Vegas market in 2020
There was a $1 3/2 blackjack game in the Las Vegas market until the pandemic closure in March 2020. It was at Lucky Club in North Las Vegas. It reopened without live table games. It is now called Ojos Locos.
Poker Palace also had a $1 blackjack game in March 2020. It went to $2 before disappearing in 2024. It was a double deck that paid even money and did not allow double down after splitting. For $3, there is a 3/2 six-deck blackjack game at Poker Palace that allows double down before and after splitting on two or three cards. It is the last traditional blackjack game in the Las Vegas market that allows double down on three cards. It is also the cheapest 3/2 blackjack game in the market.
Riviera and Sahara both dealt $1 even money blackjack for years. Sahara stopped dealing the game when it closed in 2011 to become SLS Las Vegas. It is now Sahara again. Riviera had even money $1 blackjack until the night before it closed in 2015.
