We visited every Las Vegas casino that deals table games in November and December. The list below shows the six best blackjack games that we found in terms of lowest house edge based on the rules. All games listed pay 3:2 on a blackjack.
This exact game may be found on the Las Vegas Strip at several locations with one rule change. Aces may not be resplit. This gives the game a house edge of.26%. Below is a list of locations and bet limits of this great double deck blackjack game. Note that limits may be raised during holidays and weekends. Mirage: $25-$10,000 Treasure Island: $50-$5,000. Learn the basic strategies needed to play blackjack and increase your odds against the house. Learn the basic strategies needed to play blackjack and increase your odds against the house. Zeke Quezada is a travel writer specializing in Las Vegas and the author of 'Restaurants in Las Vegas: The Best for Less.' Tripsavvy's Editorial.
Most of these games are found in Las Vegas high limit salons. There are a few low limit games in the mix, including one that has the lowest minimum bet in the market.
Related: Worst Las Vegas Blackjack Games /2021 Las Vegas Blackjack Survey
Top two Las Vegas blackjack games from 2020 are no longer available
Las Vegas lost its first and second best blackjack game in the market due to the pandemic. M Resort started hitting soft 17 at its high limit double deck tables a few weeks ago. Previously, this game would stand on all 17's. It was the only double deck blackjack game in Las Vegas that was S17 and allowed aces to be re-split.
A representative from M Resort told me that this is a temporary move. The pandemic changed the dealing of double deck games to shoes from pitch. The game was vulnerable to card counting when dealt face up. The representative said that the stand on all 17 version of this game will return when it is safe to deal pitch blackjack games again.
The second place game was at Bighorn Casino and Longhorn Casino. Table games were removed from both casinos during the pandemic closure. It was a standard locals casino shoe game that permitted players to double down on two and three cards and added surrender and re-split aces to three hands. We hope that this game returns, but have been unable to confirm its future.
Best Las Vegas blackjack game
Some high limit salons on the Las Vegas Strip offer a stand on all 17 double deck blackjack game. It allows double down before and after spitting, but aces may not be re-split. This game is typically $50 at Treasure Island, $100 at Aria, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Mirage and Park MGM and $200 at MGM Grand.
The house edge for this game is around 0.26%. It is the best blackjack game in Las Vegas in terms of rules.
Stand on all 17 six-deck blackjack games
Most Las Vegas Strip casinos offer a six-deck blackjack game that stands on all 17's. Our 2021 Las Vegas Blackjack Survey found that all are now in high limit salons. The last few tables in pits at Bellagio and MGM Grand were turned into ones that hit soft 17.
The best high limit six-deck blackjack tables allow players to double down before and after splitting, surrender and re-split aces into four hands. These games start at $50 at M Resort, Sahara and Treasure Island. For $100, it is dealt at Aria, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Encore, Green Valley Ranch, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Mirage, Palace Station, Palazzo, Park MGM, Red Rock, Strat, Tropicana, Venetian and Wynn. These games have a house edge of about 0.28%.
Blackjack In Vegas
Caesars has its own set of rules for high limit six-deck blackjack games. Players may surrender but aces cannot be re-split. These tables have a $100 minimum bet at Caesars Palace, Cromwell, Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, Planet Hollywood and Rio. This game has a house edge of about 0.35%.
Bally's offered this game with a $50 minimum until March 2020. Its high limit section has not reopened since. The tables were removed for poker tournament seating. It is unknown if these games will return to Bally's.
El Cortez single deck blackjack
El Cortez offers the best single deck blackjack game in Las Vegas by a longshot. Players may double down on any two cards but not after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. The house edge is about 0.3%.
Double Up Blackjack
Four Queens and Binion's deal Double Up Blackjack. This blackjack game allows players to double the original bet on two cards when standing. The dealer pushes all player hands when making a 16, except 21. The minimum bet is $5. The house edge is 0.32%. For complete rules, see the Wizard of Odds explanation of the game.
Double deck blackjack with re-split aces
Some Las Vegas double deck blackjack games that hit soft 17 allow players to re-split aces. Silverton offers this game for $10. It is $50 or $100 at Green Valley Ranch, M Resort, Palace Station and Red Rock Resort. The house edge for this game is about 0.4%.
Best Blackjack Odds In Las Vegas
Double down on three cards
While the Longhorn and Bighorn blackjack game is at least temporarily dead, there is still a game like it in North Las Vegas. Poker Palace has a $3 to $50 game that allows players to double down on two or three cards before or after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. Players may not surrender or re-split aces like the Bighorn and Longhorn game. The house edge for this game is about 0.41%.
View our Online Blackjack section for information on playing Blackjack online for real money
Blackjack might very well be the most popular casino table game in the world, and for good reason. Not only does basic blackjack strategy make the game one of the best bets in the casino for the player, but the allure of card counting and other strategies that can allow you to play at an advantage attract casual gamblers and professionals alike.
These days, most casinos have taken away the possibility of card counting by using continuous shuffling machines and other techniques, but blackjack is still a great deal for those who want to have a fair chance of coming out ahead on a trip to Las Vegas.
However, in order to truly get a good deal when playing blackjack, it's important to look for a game with favorable rules. More than any other casino game, the rules for blackjack will vary considerably from casino to casino, with some games being much better for the player than others.
The biggest rule to look out for – and one that is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly popular – is the 6-5 blackjack payout. If you want to play in good blackjack games, it is essential that you avoid these tables; insist on playing at tables that offer 3-2 payouts on all blackjacks!
While baccarat is most popular in the east, blackjack is still the number one table game in Vegas casinos
Luckily, there are still plenty of locations in Las Vegas that offer good blackjack games with tiny house edges. The following list contains some of the very best games around. Here are our picks for the best Vegas casinos for blackjack:
Hard Rock Casino Blackjack
This Off-Strip property (which is actually quite close to the Strip) offers some amazing blackjack games for players, with both six-deck and double deck games available. Most of the time, the games with fewer decks are better for the player, and that's the case here as well. High-limit players can find especially good games, with the house edge on the double-deck game as low as .2%, but even the standard double deck game for typical players carries just a .4% casino advantage. The six-deck games are also quite good, making this a great all-around blackjack casino!
Luxor Casino Blackjack
The Luxor may very well have the best blackjack games on the strip, especially for high- limit players. However, even the low-limit game – which usually has a minimum bet of $10 – is a double deck affair with a house edge of less than .5%. If you're willing to play with black chips instead, you'll be able to knock that down to .2%, which is as good as it gets anywhere in Vegas.
MGM Grand Blackjack
The MGM Grand features the same high-limit game we've mentioned at the Hard Rock and the Luxor – a two deck shoe with a .2% house edge. It may get repetitive to hear about it again and again, but it really is the best game you'll find around! Here, you'll only find six-deck games at the tables with lower minimums. However, if you play at the tables where the dealer stands on a soft 17, even these tables have a house edge under .3%, which is great for a game that doesn't take a fortune to play in.
Bellagio Blackjack
Top two Las Vegas blackjack games from 2020 are no longer available
Las Vegas lost its first and second best blackjack game in the market due to the pandemic. M Resort started hitting soft 17 at its high limit double deck tables a few weeks ago. Previously, this game would stand on all 17's. It was the only double deck blackjack game in Las Vegas that was S17 and allowed aces to be re-split.
A representative from M Resort told me that this is a temporary move. The pandemic changed the dealing of double deck games to shoes from pitch. The game was vulnerable to card counting when dealt face up. The representative said that the stand on all 17 version of this game will return when it is safe to deal pitch blackjack games again.
The second place game was at Bighorn Casino and Longhorn Casino. Table games were removed from both casinos during the pandemic closure. It was a standard locals casino shoe game that permitted players to double down on two and three cards and added surrender and re-split aces to three hands. We hope that this game returns, but have been unable to confirm its future.
Best Las Vegas blackjack game
Some high limit salons on the Las Vegas Strip offer a stand on all 17 double deck blackjack game. It allows double down before and after spitting, but aces may not be re-split. This game is typically $50 at Treasure Island, $100 at Aria, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Mirage and Park MGM and $200 at MGM Grand.
The house edge for this game is around 0.26%. It is the best blackjack game in Las Vegas in terms of rules.
Stand on all 17 six-deck blackjack games
Most Las Vegas Strip casinos offer a six-deck blackjack game that stands on all 17's. Our 2021 Las Vegas Blackjack Survey found that all are now in high limit salons. The last few tables in pits at Bellagio and MGM Grand were turned into ones that hit soft 17.
The best high limit six-deck blackjack tables allow players to double down before and after splitting, surrender and re-split aces into four hands. These games start at $50 at M Resort, Sahara and Treasure Island. For $100, it is dealt at Aria, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Encore, Green Valley Ranch, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Mirage, Palace Station, Palazzo, Park MGM, Red Rock, Strat, Tropicana, Venetian and Wynn. These games have a house edge of about 0.28%.
Blackjack In Vegas
Caesars has its own set of rules for high limit six-deck blackjack games. Players may surrender but aces cannot be re-split. These tables have a $100 minimum bet at Caesars Palace, Cromwell, Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, Planet Hollywood and Rio. This game has a house edge of about 0.35%.
Bally's offered this game with a $50 minimum until March 2020. Its high limit section has not reopened since. The tables were removed for poker tournament seating. It is unknown if these games will return to Bally's.
El Cortez single deck blackjack
El Cortez offers the best single deck blackjack game in Las Vegas by a longshot. Players may double down on any two cards but not after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. The house edge is about 0.3%.
Double Up Blackjack
Four Queens and Binion's deal Double Up Blackjack. This blackjack game allows players to double the original bet on two cards when standing. The dealer pushes all player hands when making a 16, except 21. The minimum bet is $5. The house edge is 0.32%. For complete rules, see the Wizard of Odds explanation of the game.
Double deck blackjack with re-split aces
Some Las Vegas double deck blackjack games that hit soft 17 allow players to re-split aces. Silverton offers this game for $10. It is $50 or $100 at Green Valley Ranch, M Resort, Palace Station and Red Rock Resort. The house edge for this game is about 0.4%.
Best Blackjack Odds In Las Vegas
Double down on three cards
While the Longhorn and Bighorn blackjack game is at least temporarily dead, there is still a game like it in North Las Vegas. Poker Palace has a $3 to $50 game that allows players to double down on two or three cards before or after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. Players may not surrender or re-split aces like the Bighorn and Longhorn game. The house edge for this game is about 0.41%.
View our Online Blackjack section for information on playing Blackjack online for real money
Blackjack might very well be the most popular casino table game in the world, and for good reason. Not only does basic blackjack strategy make the game one of the best bets in the casino for the player, but the allure of card counting and other strategies that can allow you to play at an advantage attract casual gamblers and professionals alike.
These days, most casinos have taken away the possibility of card counting by using continuous shuffling machines and other techniques, but blackjack is still a great deal for those who want to have a fair chance of coming out ahead on a trip to Las Vegas.
However, in order to truly get a good deal when playing blackjack, it's important to look for a game with favorable rules. More than any other casino game, the rules for blackjack will vary considerably from casino to casino, with some games being much better for the player than others.
The biggest rule to look out for – and one that is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly popular – is the 6-5 blackjack payout. If you want to play in good blackjack games, it is essential that you avoid these tables; insist on playing at tables that offer 3-2 payouts on all blackjacks!
While baccarat is most popular in the east, blackjack is still the number one table game in Vegas casinos
Luckily, there are still plenty of locations in Las Vegas that offer good blackjack games with tiny house edges. The following list contains some of the very best games around. Here are our picks for the best Vegas casinos for blackjack:
Hard Rock Casino Blackjack
This Off-Strip property (which is actually quite close to the Strip) offers some amazing blackjack games for players, with both six-deck and double deck games available. Most of the time, the games with fewer decks are better for the player, and that's the case here as well. High-limit players can find especially good games, with the house edge on the double-deck game as low as .2%, but even the standard double deck game for typical players carries just a .4% casino advantage. The six-deck games are also quite good, making this a great all-around blackjack casino!
Luxor Casino Blackjack
The Luxor may very well have the best blackjack games on the strip, especially for high- limit players. However, even the low-limit game – which usually has a minimum bet of $10 – is a double deck affair with a house edge of less than .5%. If you're willing to play with black chips instead, you'll be able to knock that down to .2%, which is as good as it gets anywhere in Vegas.
MGM Grand Blackjack
The MGM Grand features the same high-limit game we've mentioned at the Hard Rock and the Luxor – a two deck shoe with a .2% house edge. It may get repetitive to hear about it again and again, but it really is the best game you'll find around! Here, you'll only find six-deck games at the tables with lower minimums. However, if you play at the tables where the dealer stands on a soft 17, even these tables have a house edge under .3%, which is great for a game that doesn't take a fortune to play in.
Bellagio Blackjack
Two decks or six? The correct answer is once again two, though only the players looking to play for very high limits will find that game here. That game is a good one, with a house edge only slightly higher than the one we highlighted earlier on this list – this time, it's 0.27%. For lower limit players, blackjack comes in six deck form; stick to the game where the dealer hits on soft 17, and you'll keep the house edge under .3%.
El Cortez Blackjack
The El Cortez might be the best place to play blackjack in the Downtown area. One of the best things we want to highlight here is the fact that they spread a single-deck blackjack game that still offers the ideal 3-2 odds on a blackjack – an increasingly rare sight these days, and something worth giving praise for. That game has a house edge of about .3%, while a double-deck game here comes with a .45% edge. However, both games can be played for $5 or less; you won't find games that good at that low a cost anywhere else.
Honorable Mentions
While the blackjack situation in Las Vegas isn't as wonderful as it may have been some years ago, there are still plenty of great blackjack games offered all around town. Here are a few more casinos that offer blackjack games that are fun, fair, and worth playing if you're in the neighborhood!
The Strip
- New York, New York
- Mirage
- Treasure Island
- Aria
- Caesars Palace
Downtown Casinos
- Golden Nugget
- The Plaza
Off-Strip
- The Palms
- Red Rock Casino
- Tuscany
- The Rio
