Table Games Blackjack Conditions

I think there is a 6-deck shoe at DTG with DAS and late surrender, but is H17 and usually $10. The $5 game at DTG seems to be CSM now.

 

I know this has nothing to do with BJ conditions, but still somewhat related...

About 18 months ago (so probably 7 or 8 Vegas trips), I started saving the .50 pieces you get with blackjacks. Before, I’d typically bet the $2.50 back as a tip but I decided to just stick with my $5 tips and started keeping the silver.

I must have done ok with the amount of blackjacks I had the first time I did this, so I kept at it. I wish I had a count of how many BJ’s I got on even dollar amounts (typically those would be $50 to $200 for me)...anyway, counted it up last night and have $126 which will go to my kiddos as spending money for an upcoming beach trip back east.

Funny, I realize I will often bet this much on one hand (on a good run!), but having this much in spare change just tickles me. I love it!

 

Maybe I’m missing something but Cosmo was full of $15 tables last night and around 3am they switched them all to $25...not sure why considering the casino wasn’t that busy maybe hoping for drunk folk leaving Marquee?. Also, there were three or four of us playing at $25 all with decent stacks and they closed the table around 4:15am...again, not sure why.

 

Stayed at the Cosmo over the past weekend. Friday and Saturday night saw a few tables at $15 with most at $25 and a couple of $50. Only three tables (opposite) outside the high-limit room had 3:2 payouts. Seems like every other table regardless of minimum were 6:5. BTW, those 3:2 tables were 2 @ $50 and 1 @ $100. High limit room had one table @ $200; then $500 and up. Didn't check at the Talon club.

Also walked thru NYNY on Sunday. Only two tables in the whole place paid 3:2 - double deck. Everything else was at 6:5

I realize this ins't news to many of you, but just reporting on the continuing reality of strip BJ.

 

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I never understood the "tip the extra on a blackjack" theory, I see this fairly often. Most of us know not to play a 6/5 game, but when you tip away all the hard earned winnings from a BJ, you're not playing a 6/5 game, you're playing an even money BJ game.

Nothing wrong with tipping, but IMO just cause you get a blackjack doesn't mean a tip is earned or warranted.

 

I never tip specifically after getting a blackjack. I generally tip/play for the dealer about $10 an hour, assuming they are gregarious & at least somewhat entertaining.

 

Exactly and same.

 

$10 an hour(perhaps a tad more) is what they can expect from all players, not just me. I'm not their benefactor, if I'm winning I'll tip, if I'm winning lot, I'll tip a lot, but it's not my job to provide them an income.

 

OK...just got back & I played some at DTG.
The $5 table is indeed a CSM, H17, 3:2 game, allowing both DAS & Late Surrender. Not bad for a flat-bettor or progression player.
In related news, the El-Co is (apparently) back to "No smoking at double-deck" if it's earlier than noon. On Thursday morning, it was 11AM....Friday morning, it was noon.
Also - UTH is now available at DTG (opens at 7PM, fer cryin' out loud! ) - but hey - they have it, at least (standard 8-7-4 trips table).
The good news on the UTH front is at 'the D' - they had their table open and ready for me every morning, as early as 7AM...perhaps even earlier...that's just when I was getting there!

 

Has anyone noticed an improvement in blackjack conditions either downtown or strip? I know they've been deteriorating for years...but since the return of 3-4-5x odds on craps at a certain strip property and the Cromwells boasting of fair odds on craps and BJ, and the terrible PR recently about resort fees, etc, I wonder if the pendulum will swing back the other way?.....or are we destined to see 6:5 blackjack forever?

 

All 6:5 at Binion's, and all but one table at 4-Queens.
So, blackjack not getting better downtown, but at least it's not getting worse!

...and, yeah - I think 6:5 will be around for as long as people are still playing it.
It's frustrating....I (and others) have to tried to point out to strip players that even playing a $25 3:2 is financially "better" for the player than playing a $10 6:5 table... yet, plenty of folks still sit down at those $10 6:5 tables, while the 3:2 green-chip table sits empty.
2 deck game, $25, 0.7% house advantage (with basic strategy) - 3 blackjacks per hour, on average. 4 hours of flat-bet play, 70 hands/hour = loss of $12.50 an hour.
2 deck game, $10, with the same rules, but only paying 6:5 for blackjack - 3 blackjacks per hour, 4 hours of flat-bet play, 70 hands/hour = loss of $13.90 an hour.

 

Im with you 100%, @topcard.
While I find it hard to stomach betting green chips, in the long run, it's far more financially feasible. I don't think recreational gamblers care....hence the proliferation of 6:5...but for those of us who DO care, it's unfortunate we can't be a low roller AND get a decent shot of fair odds any longer.

Another case in point at my local casino here in Minnesota is they have $2 blackjack. With a 25cent ante. Its amusing to me how much people seem to actually ENJOY putting that shiny quarter out every single hand. House edge on that game must be about 15%. Good grief.

 

...that's along the lines of what the Oklahoma Indian Casinos do, just north of the DFW area... 50-cent fee to receive cards.
I refuse to play there.

 

I was pretty disappointed to find that the cheapest 3:2 table at Palace Station on Saturday was $15. All of the $10 tables were 6:5. Guess they need to pay for that renovation!

On Sunday night, Cromwell had one $10 table at 3:2 8 decks, DAS, H17, LS (also one $15 and 2 $25 tables in that configuration), multiple $15 3:2 double deck tables, DAS, H17 (no surrender).

Orleans still had plenty of $5 3:2 double deck, DAS, H17 tables with spots open around the clock all weekend.

 

I am headed to the Flamingo later this week and haven't played BJ there in years. Does anyone know what table rules are currently offered in the high limit (and although not the point of this thread, do they also have bac in the high limit)?

 

That's not bad at all, especially for the Strip!

 

They also always have 2 $25 tables for double deck hand pitch as well

 

Tonight at cromwell there are 3 $10 tables at 3/2 and 2 $25 double deck hand toss.

 

Man, 4Q with one 3:2 table is really sad.

That conjures up memories of the time I was drunk and counting at their single-deck 3:2 game on my very first trip to Vegas in 2005. I thought nothing of jumping from $5 to $150. Until I was given the unofficial 'take a hike' from the floorperson, that is...

 

I'm afraid the first time my children play blackjack the standard is going to be 6:5. I live in the DC area and now MGM National Harbor, Maryland Live, Horseshoe and even dumpy Hollywood Casino in Charles Town West Virginia are at least half or more 6:5. Pennsylvania, Delaware and Atlantic City are the only places around me now where you can find 3:2 games under $25 on the east coast.

I know 6:5 is in the midwest now at the Ohio casinos. The rules of the game have effectively changed. I've gotten to the point where I either am going to have to play 6:5 or not play blackjack anymore. I think there is a time coming where 3:2 blackjack is like single zero roulette and only available in high limit rooms.