My cousin was in Vegas this weekend and she claimed there was $2 blackjack tables downtown and $5 blackjack tables 'everywhere.' Even when she was on the strip. All of the research I have done indicates this not to be true and even $5 blackjack is hard to find outside the likes of Silverton and Ellis Island. She was there over a weekend too so I am not sure how that is possible. She is not a big gambler so I am wondering if she wasn't reading the table signs correctly. Anyone been out lately and have seen $5 blackjack?
She might have missed the 1 or the 2 before the 5 on the Strip games over the weekend. Only place I know that has low limit blackjack near the Strip is Oyo.
… it’s also possible that she was looking at carny game tables, which can look like blackjack tables to a novice.
I'd be willing to bet that, as pointed out above, there are $5 blackjack options available - assuming you don't distinguish between electronic and felt. To someone not familiar with how-things-work, I can see where you could say "I played $5 blackjack at Caesars" could be a true statement, without any qualification. And if you're really not aware, as @topcard pointed out - any of the $5 card game tables could be confused for a blackjack table (e.g., 3-card, etc.)
Is your cousin traveling with The Doctor? Sounds like someone took the TARDIS back to 1990. Did she also see Ol' Blue Eyes at the Dunes?
After reading the replies my guess is that she saw the electronic tables which most of us aren't interested in. Sometimes I wish I could go back and see Ol Blue Eyes! That seems like an awesome time for Las Vegas.
We did play on a $5 table at Downtown Grand They were closing down the $1 BJ table and noticed a variant of BJ where you could bet what the dealer’s final count would be at the end of the hand. It was still only $5 table and paid 3/2 for BJ and you didn’t have to play the side bets so we sat down and played for a while.
Speaking of the blackjack machines, anyone know if those are legit odds or are they rigged for more than the normal advantage for the casino? I have played at my local indian casino and there is no way they aren't rigged in their favor. I don't feel like they need to be though because they should have the same house advantage as a live table game. Thoughts
Just for reference, this is a Vegas Advantage article from December noting places with cheap tables: https://vegasadvantage.com/las-vegas-casinos-with-the-cheapest-table-games/
I wouldn't use the term "rigged" as that would imply a nefarious action They are often "set" to offer worse rules Like even money on BJ,no splitting or doubling
Also guys and gals, DON'T make the walk/drive to Ellis Island, if your only intention is to play the $5 table. It is usually packed beyond believe. Lots of other nice things there, but don't go for the $5 table if you are not interested in the rest it has to offer (which is a lot )
I've never been to EI, so can't speak to how many people are standing around waiting for a spot at the $5 table opened up. Back in the day, the Borgata in AC would have one dedicated $5 blackjack table. But a lot of people who were at that table also had a limited bankroll. I found that if you really wanted to get onto the table, you normally wouldn't have to wait terribly long until a spot opened.
In addition, the cards are required to be the same, randomly-shuffled, 52-card decks that you see at a table -- digital representations of games have to act the same as the physical versions. They can't "rig" them other than by adjusting the rules.
Bingo. Last trip with an inexperienced table player he wandered around alone at night and said he “saw $5 tables all over the place.” Yes, he saw carnival games at dumpy casinos with $5 mins. He did not see $5 blackjack tables.
