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Learn How to Play Blackjack in Las Vegas | LeoVegas

How to Play Blackjack in Las Vegas

In blackjack, the aim of the game is to get as close to having the value of 21 in your hand without exceeding that amount. The cards all play to their stated values, except face cards count as tens and aces can be ones or 11s, at your discretion. To achieve this, you begin with two cards and then can signal for more or to stand.

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That’s the basics of blackjack you’ll need to be familiar with, for just about any online blackjack game. Across Las Vegas, however, you can also find the distinct Vegas Strip Blackjack variant. You’ll still have the same goal in mind, but the rules for the dealer and the player do differ from what’s generally considered to be the standard.

Here’s what you need to know to play blackjack in Las Vegas.

Blackjack Rules in Las Vegas

From the standard version of American blackjack to the ones that pack in all of the side bets, like Blackjack+, there are a few different rule sets for blackjack. In Las Vegas, the variant you’ll most likely find is Vegas Strip Blackjack.

Rules and Gameplay in Las Vegas Casinos

Before delving into the mechanics of playing the game of blackjack in Las Vegas, it’s good to know some of the rules of etiquette. When playing the game, you don’t touch your chips once they’ve been placed, and you don’t pick your cards up from the table if dealt face-up. Furthermore, it’s always best to ask your dealer for clarification rather than make the wrong move.

As for the rules of Vegas Strip Blackjack, you’ll see that the dealer will stand on Soft 17 and that you’ll get more options to act than at most blackjack tables. You’ll be able to double down before or after your split, and be able to split your hand up to four times, but splits involving an ace can only be done once. Importantly, blackjack pays 3:2. If you see that blackjack only pays 6:5 in your game, find a different table.

How to Signal Blackjack Actions at Las Vegas Tables

Depending on which form of blackjack you’re playing, the signals are different. If the cards are face-up, you signal by: tapping the table to hit; waving your hand over the cards to stand; stack an equal stack of chips next to yours and single-finger tap to double down; do the same as double down but with two fingers to split.

In face-down blackjack, you only need to remember three hand signals to play. To hit, scrap your cards towards you. If you want to stand, put your cards under your chips without moving or touching the chips. Finally, to split or double down, put an equal stack of chips next to the ones you’ve already bet and then hold up two fingers or one. One finger doubles down, two fingers indicate a split.

How Much Does it Cost to Play Blackjack in Las Vegas?

Depending on which casino and which part of the casino you want to play in, the minimum bet at a blackjack table will vary. You can find some tables where the minimum bet is $5, but for the most part, you’ll be looking at $25, $50, or $100 per hand. Usually, the slower times of the day offer tables with lower minimums.

Setting and Sticking to a Budget

Whenever you’re playing a gambling game, you should set a budget and stick to it. This is so that you don’t overextend yourself or chase wins.

Average Bankroll and How Much to Bet

They tend to say that, for a good session of around four hours at a blackjack table, you need a bankroll of around 100x the amount that you’ll bet per round. As a beginner, lower stakes and lower minimum bet games tend to be the better picks, so a bankroll of $500 for 100 $5 games is a good place to start for a longer session.

Strategies for Bankroll Management

Your best move to try to win and leave the table with something, is to put any and all wins to one side, and then cash out when you’re through your initial or starting stack of chips, or in other words, your set budget. Alternatively, to add some structure to your bets if you want to mix up bet sizes, you could turn to the likes of the Martingale or Anti-Martingale strategies, or even the Fibonacci sequence.

Las Vegas Blackjack Table Limits

You can find Las Vegas blackjack tables that take bets as low as $5 on The Strip and beyond. For the high rollers, you’ll often see $10,000 posted as the maximum accepted bets, but some let you go as high as $50,000 per hand.

Las Vegas Strip Blackjack

For beginners looking to play at the lower end of the betting scale, casinos like the Bellagio can be a good choice. Here, there is one $5 blackjack table, but it is very popular. You can also find these low minimum bet tables at Circus Circus, Tropicana, New York-New York, and Excalibur on The Strip.

If you don’t mind putting down $50 or $100 per hand, your options on The Strip become much more diverse. You can find Vegas Strip Blackjack that only runs with one deck or two decks in the shoe at Treasure Island and Mandalay Bay, which have minimum bets of $50 and $100, respectively.

Downtown Las Vegas Blackjack

To get away from The Strip and to the origins of casino gaming in Sin City, you’ll be wanting to sit down at a blackjack table in Downtown Las Vegas. Centred on Fremont Street, you can find tables of $1 and $5 blackjack at Downtown Grand. This is perfect for newcomers and those looking to get used to the live blackjack game experience.

One of the oldest and longest-standing casinos in Las Vegas, El Cortez, happens to also offer some of the best blackjack games. Hitting on Soft 17 and paying 3:2 for blackjack, you can even find single-deck blackjack here. At these tables, the more people there are, the better it’ll be for you to decide on your plays.

Tips for Playing Blackjack in Vegas

Something that you may not be told when you sit down, but need to keep in mind, is that you should tip your dealer. This can take many forms. You could tip them when you leave the table or if they switch with another dealer during your play session. Alternatively, you can tip them with each bet you make. As a general rule, ten percent is seen as a courteous tip in Las Vegas blackjack.

Another top tip for playing blackjack in Las Vegas is to avoid the wrong tables. Invariably, blackjack pays 3:2. However, at some Sin City casinos, the blackjack tables only pay 6:5 when you hit 21. Blackjack is a very low house edge game when played optimally, but this switch from 3:2 to 6:5 ups that house edge by 1.39 percent, essentially more than doubling it. So, always check what’s written on the felt before you take a seat and place your chips down.

Las Vegas Blackjack FAQs

What is the best time to play blackjack in Las Vegas?

As a beginner, you’d likely be wanting to target the morning and just after lunch for your blackjack play. This is because some casinos lower the betting minimum during these lulls. That said, playing when it’s busier does tend to have you sitting at the table with more players. This means that you get to see more cards before making your play – informing your calls a little better.

Can I count cards legally in Las Vegas casinos?

You cannot count cards legally in Las Vegas casinos. Not only do they boot out anyone who they suspect of counting cards, but the croupiers, security team, and pit bosses are all very well trained at spotting such behaviours. The best way to get an edge is to memorize basic strategy.

How much money should I bring to a blackjack table?

If you’re looking to do a good-sized session at the blackjack table, you should first decide how much you want to bet per hand. For many newcomers, this will be around $5. You should bring around 100x this amount as your blackjack session bankroll, which in this case would be $500.

Are there any beginner-friendly blackjack tables in Las Vegas?

The best place for beginners and relative novices to play blackjack in Las Vegas is the Luxor. Here, they not only have low-limit blackjack tables, but the dealers also offer lessons to help you come to grips with the classic card game. Usually, these tutorials are put on by Luxor at around noon each day.

What should I do if I encounter a rude dealer or player?

Usually, you won’t encounter a rude dealer or player, and some seemingly rude comments aren’t meant to cause offense. However, if you do feel insulted by either a player or dealer, you can ask to speak to the pit boss or pit manager.

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