The blackjack conditions on the Las Vegas Strip have deteriorated to the point that only Treasure Island offers decent rules to low limit players. While the blackjack rules downtown are better than they are on the Las Vegas Strip, it is still nearly impossible to find surrender or re-split aces on Fremont Street.
There are also no blackjack games that stand on all 17’s in downtown Las Vegas.
Locals joints offer the best rules for $3 and $5 blackjack in the Las Vegas area. Many of these casinos with the good low roller games are near downtown Henderson. All of the games mentioned pay 3-2 on blackjack.
Bighorn and Longhorn Casinos
Bighorn and Longhorn are sister casinos. They both offer the same blackjack rules. Bighorn is located on Lake Mead east of Las Vegas Blvd in North Las Vegas. Longhorn is on Boulder Highway across from the Eastside Cannery.
Both casinos have $2 blackjack. In addition to the standard double down before and after splitting, players can surrender and re-split aces one time. There is also a bonus rule that permits players to double down after hitting a card. This rule does not apply after splitting. This unique feature removes 0.23% from the house edge. The dealer hits soft 17. The overall house edge for this game is 0.25%, the lowest of any game under $25 found in the Las Vegas area.
Arizona Charlie’s
There are two Arizona Charlie’s casinos in the Las Vegas area. One is on Decatur between Charleston and US 95. The other is on Boulder Highway. Both offer $5 double deck blackjack with double down before and after splitting. Aces may also be re-split. The dealer hits soft 17. The same rules apply in a $3 six-deck shoe. The double deck has a house edge of 0.33%. The six-deck shoe has a house edge of 0.55%.
$5 double decks with double down before and after splitting
It takes $25 to get a double deck blackjack game on the Las Vegas Strip at most casinos. At MGM casinos, players can double down after splitting in the $25 double deck. At Caesars, that is not permitted. Treasure Island offers the MGM version for $10.
Many locals casinos offer $5 double deck blackjack with double down before and after splitting, but not re-split aces. These include all Station Casinos properties except for Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock. Eastside Cannery, Jokers Wild, Cannery, Aliante Casino and Rampart also offer $5 double deck blackjack with double down before and after splitting. All hit soft 17. These games all have a house edge of just 0.4%.
Stand on 17 blackjack games in Las Vegas locals casinos
A handful of Las Vegas locals casinos have high limit areas where stand on 17 blackjack games may be found. Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch offer a six-deck shoe that permits double down before and after splitting, as well as surrender where the dealer stands on all 17’s. Rio offers this same game with a $100 minimum bet. The house edge is 0.35% for this game.
M Resort spreads two different stand on 17 blackjack games in its high limit area. One is a double deck where players may double down before and after splitting. It also includes re-split aces. It is the only double deck blackjack game in Las Vegas where players may re-split aces and the dealer stands on all 17’s. The house edge for this double deck game is 0.19%. The only game in the Las Vegas market with a lower house edge is the single deck at El Cortez.
M Resort also offers a six-deck shoe with the same rules except that surrender is also available. The house edge is 0.27%.
