Next up on our ongoing “how to play” gaming video series: blackjack. It’s often the go-to game for beginner Las Vegas gamblers because basic blackjack strategies are easy to learn. In blackjack, players attempt to reach a score of 21—without exceeding it—before the dealer hits 17. How to play blackjack in Vegas is a little different from playing online. In live Las Vegas blackjack you will have to communicate the decisions you want to make with hand signals. There are a few reasons for this. The casino environment is very loud. Hand signals are used to avoid any mistakes in hearing. There is a video blackjack game that has shown up in Las Vegas that stays on all 17’s, offers surrender, double after the split and split up to 3 hands. These are better rules than any table game offered in several casinos. In fact, it is rare to find tables that stay on all 17’s anymore. Online blackjack, slot machines, and video blackjack all use random number generators. It is a Nevada state law that an electronic game with representations of cards or dice must be based on fair odds. So the game should be fair with odds the same as in a hand dealt game having the same rules.
There are dozens of blackjack options in Las Vegas. The choices range from the number of decks dealt, whether double down after splitting, surrender and re-split aces are permitted, blackjack paying 3-2 or 6-5, as well as video blackjack and variants. We took to the Las Vegas Strip, downtown, and the entire locals market to find the best and worst games available.
The OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos complete list below will help you find the game you’re looking for and which tables to avoid. These include sections related to location and type of game.
Blackjack Casino & Table Locations
North Las Vegas Strip
Our Las Vegas blackjack surveys break the Strip into three sections. The North Strip blackjack survey includes all casinos from Treasure Island up to Stratosphere. The North end of the Las Vegas Strip houses a modest amount of blackjack tables, with roughly five tables at each casino, some with better rules than others.
Video Blackjack Las Vegas 2019
Central Las Vegas Strip
The Central Strip survey includes all blackjack casinos from Planet Hollywood and Cosmopolitan up to Harrah’s and Mirage. These casinos tend to offer higher limit tables with much better player rules. With Eleven casinos to choose from, they all offer a variety of good and bad blackjack tables.
South Las Vegas Strip
Our South Strip blackjack survey includes all casinos south of Harmon. This runs from Aria down to Mandalay Bay. These are some of the more popular casinos on the strip, offering blackjack players a lot more than just the gaming tables. The majority of blackjack games are 6 and 8 decks, with a few 2-deck high-roller tables available.
Downtown Las Vegas
Our downtown Las Vegas section lists all blackjack casinos on Fremont Street and anything within walking distance of it. This includes Downtown Grand, California, and Main Street Station. This is the “old” part of Las Vegas, but you can often find some great action at the blackjack tables when downtown.
Video Blackjack In Vegas
Locals / Off Strip Blackjack
The local blackjack survey includes any casino in the Las Vegas market that is not considered to be on the Strip or downtown. This ranges from Boulder Highway to Red Rock, and to properties that are within walking distance of Las Vegas Blvd. If you plan on playing blackjack at these casinos, be prepared to stay at the hotel overnight.
Las Vegas Blackjack Games
Single Deck Blackjack
There are only two single deck blackjack games in Las Vegas that pay 3-2. El Cortez offers a $5 game that permits double down on any two cards. Silverton has a single deck game that only has double down on 10 and 11. Neither permits double down after splitting. All other Las Vegas single deck blackjack games pay 6-5.
Double Deck Blackjack
The best blackjack games in Las Vegas casinos tend to be double deck. The best is at M Resort. It has a $50 minimum bet and stands on all 17s. Players may double down on any two cards and after splitting. This game also permits re-split aces. There are several casinos on the Las Vegas Strip that offer this game without re-split aces.
Six-Deck Blackjack
The best six-deck blackjack games in Las Vegas stand on all 17s. These great tables also have double down before and after splitting, surrender, and re-split aces. Treasure Island offers these tables for $25. For $50, players will find it at M Resort MGM Grand. Higher-end MGM properties have the game for $100.
Video Blackjack in Las Vegas
Vegas video blackjack was once a great way to get favorable rules for lower limits. Those days are over in Las Vegas. Most video blackjack machines pay 6-5 and you won’t find much better odds around town. The exceptions are at The D and Venetian, where you can still find video blackjack games that pay 3-2.
Blackjack Variants
Get a complete list of all blackjack variants dealt in Las Vegas. Games include Blackjack Switch, Free Bet Blackjack, and Super Fun 21. There are some interesting blackjack games that should be tried at least once, even if their rules and odds are not favorable, they may be entertaining to play.
Contact the Vegas Survey Team
If you have updates about Las Vegas casino blackjack games, online blackjack for real money or any comments regarding the exclusive survey contact us at @OUSC_Official or send us an email at [email protected].
Some house edge information in the blackjack survey was determined by using the Wizard of Odds Blackjack Calculator.
Video blackjack used to be a great option for players looking for a game with low limits. There were even some advantage play opportunities when combining a players card promotion with 3-2 video blackjack. Now, those games are found mostly at online casinos with real money blackjack.
Most video blackjack machines in Las Vegas pay 6-5 on a natural. Some only pay even money. This includes Playboy blackjack machines at Mirage and Cosmopolitan, as well as Game Kings.
Where to Play 3-2 Video Blackjack in Las Vegas
There are only four Las Vegas casinos that pay 3-2 on a video blackjack natural. The video blackjack games are becoming 6-5 Interblock machines at both casinos. The D offers a 3-2 video blackjack machine. This game has a $5 minimum bet. The same game is at El Cortez with a $1 minimum bet. The only other 3-2 video blackjack game in Las Vegas is stadium-style. It is located at Treasure Island.
Even Money Video Blackjack Games
There are hundreds of video blackjack games in Las Vegas that only pay even money. Most are Game Kings, which typically spread video poker and slots in addition to the terrible blackjack game. The others are Playboy video blackjack machines. These are found at MGM Grand, Cosmopolitan, and Mirage.
Previous Blackjack Video Surveys
Las Vegas Casinos constantly update their video blackjack machines. Some casinos might remove them from the floor and others will add them. That is why every year we update our survey. Below you will find the PDF for the previous years so you can compare the changes over time.
Video Blackjack Vegas Odds
All Over Video Blackjack Machines Pay 6-5
There are more than a dozen other video poker machines in Las Vegas. These games all pay 6-5 on a natural. Most are located on the Las Vegas Strip.
| Casino | # of Decks | Min Bet | Max Bet | H/S 17 | DA | DAS | RSA | Surrender | 6/5 BJ | Video | Exotic | House Hold % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally’s | 6 | 3 | 500 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.91020% |
| Binion’s | 6 | 3 | 200 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 1.99842% |
| Circus Circus | 6 | 2 | 1100 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.91020% |
| Encore | 6 | 25 | 5000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | BJ Switch | 0.58000% |
| Encore | 6 | 50 | 10000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.48263% |
| Encore | 6 | 10 | 5000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.84232% |
| Encore | 6 | 100 | 10000 | S | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.28507% |
| Encore | 6 | 15 | 5000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.84232% |
| OYO | 6 | 10 | 500 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 1.99842% |
| Linq | 6 | 15 | 3000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.91020% |
| Mandalay Bay | 8 | 15 | 5000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.92724% |
| MGM | 6 | 50 | 10000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.28507% |
| MGM | 6 | 500 | 10000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.28507% |
| Mirage | 6 | 15 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 0.58000% |
| Rio | 2 | 25 | 3000 | H | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 0.60225% |
| Rio | 2 | 100 | 5000 | S | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.22317% |
| Rio | 6 | 100 | 10000 | S | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.35361% |
| Rio | 6 | 25 | 5000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | 0.66895% |
| Rio | 6 | 15 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 0.66895% |
| Rio | 6 | 10 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 0.66895% |
| The D | 8 | 5 | 475 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | 0.64493% |
| Encore | 2 | 50 | 10000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | 0.45688% |
| Excalibur | 8 | 25 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Lucky Lucky | 2.01881% |
| Excalibur | 8 | 25 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Buster Blackjack | 2.01881% |
| Excalibur | 8 | 25 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Free Bet Blackjack | 2.01881% |
| Flamingo | 8 | 15 | 3000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.92724% |
| Harrah’s | 8 | 15 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1.92724% |
| Luxor | 6 | 10 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 1.99842% |
| NYNY | 6 | 15 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 0.48263% |
| NYNY | 6 | 15 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Buster Blackjack | 0.48263% |
| NYNY | 6 | 15 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Lucky Lucky | 0.48263% |
| NYNY | 6 | 15 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Blackjack Spin | 0.48263% |
| Paris | 8 | 15 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 0.56926% |
| Paris | 8 | 10 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 2.00291% |
| Paris | 8 | 100 | 10000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.64493% |
| Planet Hollywood | 8 | 10 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.92724% |
| Planet Hollywood | 8 | 25 | 2000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Blazing 7’s Blackjack | 1.92724% |
| Planet Hollywood | 8 | 15 | 3000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.92724% |
| Planet Hollywood | 8 | 50 | 3000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 1.92724% |
| Silverton | 6 | 10 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | 0.57085% |
| Sahara Las Vegas | 6 | 100 | 5000 | S | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.28507% |
| Sahara Las Vegas | 6 | 200 | 2000 | S | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 0.28507% |
| Stratosphere | 1 | 10 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | 0.03748% |
| Stratosphere | 6 | 5 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | 0.63873% |
| Treasure Island | 6 | 5 | 1000 | H | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | 0.63873% |