Table Games Cat Blackjack - Binions

My last vegas trip I sat down at what I thought was a normal blackjack table at Binnions downtown. It actually was a variation.

Anyone play this game?

It pays 3-2 on blackjack. The rub was when the dealer would bust. Instead of paying everyone right away the dealer shakes 3 dice with cats on them. Assuming you did not bust, you could be paid either Nothing (push) 1-1, 3-2, up to the highest pay was 10-1. (If you got blackjack it pays out normal and not subject to multiplier).

It was kind of fun and irritating at the same time. As if you had split 3 hands and the dealer busted you could not win anything. At the same time, one time I had a large bet out and did get paid 3-2. It seemed the most common outcome was you would be paid as usual 1-1. A push was common as well. Never saw a 10-1 pay.

I wonder what casino edge is on this game compared to normal rules. Also, I was wondering if you should alter your play any, like maybe not hit 16 as you could hope for a high payout on a bust?

 

I would not sit down at that table and go to el paso.

 

How does the 3 dice with cats determine the payout odds? 10-1 sounds interesting but like very low probability.

With normal BJ, non-bust player will always get paid 1-1 when the dealer busts. So unless the expected outcome of the 3 cat dice pays at 1-1, player is at a disadvantage compared to normal BJ.

 

The game is called Lucky Cat Blackjack, and it was created by the same guy that created Blackjack Switch and Free Bet Blackjack.

https://wizardofodds.com/games/lucky-cat-blackjack/

 

The rules have changed a bit from that article, they rolled the dice on any bust, not just 22.

3 of the same cats was what paid 10-1 at Binions.

 

I tried Lucky Cat Blackjack at Four Queens last month. I did get 3 cats for 10:1 once during my session, but I ended up losing my whole buy-in after just under an hour. That was mostly because the table was $25 at the start of the session. It dropped to $15 during the session, but only after I had already lost much of my stack.

It can be a fun game when the cats come out, but it is otherwise quite difficult.

 

"Interesting game. The only winning move is not to play." - Joshua

 

Also tried it at 4Q 2 or 3 trips ago, was real fun with great company,
started out strong with some multi-cat pays, including 2 10x payouts.
then petered out into a run of no pays on dealer busts.
Kind of a fun variation at $5, min, would get old fast at higher limits.
When I left the table, the min had raised to $25, and people were buying in, not knowing the variation, and getting felted mighty fast.

wrote it up in a TR somewhere, the fun part was when all three of us at the table would holler at the top of our lungs while dice were shaking,
"cats, cats, CATS!!!"

one woman split 10s and her original $5 bet, split, paid $100 with 3 matched cats.