As of Monday (3/24) MGM Grand joins Mirage and Venetian/Palazzo in paying only 6:5 on blackjacks at tables under $50 minimum. I'm sure there are others. I will have to play downtown, at a ****ing Stations property, or in Pennsylvania to get 3:2 (assuming those places don't also raise the vig in the near future).

Even if you only play pokerz you have to be concerned: What you want in a Vegas poker room is a supply of conventiongoers or weekend gamblers who decide they want to check out the poker room. As the properties found out, few recreational gamblers know or care from odds. But maybe the poker room drop-ins are more sophisicated.

Is there a list of Strip hotels that still do 3/2?

Its simple. Give those ones all of your business

Pretty sure this won't hurt the poker tables. Might even help.

This

I don't think this is the case, at least not long term. 6:5 is a definite turn for the worse IMO. Hoping that it might be better for poker is kind of like saying that a higher rake structure = better games. Maybe this is true (PHo anecdotes abound) but it hurts the game and ecosystem long term.

I would agree that giving business to the few properties that spread 3:2 on strip is part of the solution. Other ideas on how to stem the tide are certainly welcome.

Less money in the gamblers' pockets doesn't help poker. In addition, 6:5 being successfully implemented everywhere just means the casinos will find more ways to gouge their customers. Wonder when someone decides to start taking a vig on a craps odds bet, or pay even money on a 6/8 place bet.

And I 100% blame the ****ing ****tard customers who allowed this to happen. I have never once played a 6:5 game, even when drunk, on sheer principle.

so gross but basically everyone is ignorant so I cant blame them

So is there a list of strip properties that do 3/2 anymore?

First 9/6 JOB video poker, now this. Brutal.

From memory, TI, Wynn, Encore, Excalibur, Aria, Bellagio, SLS, and Bally's pay 3-2 for anything not single deck.

I believe Paris and Planet Hollywood do too. I don't have my notes on this device.

You will find 3-2 games in the $10-$15 range if you walk past the 6-5 trash at Luxor, Harrah's, Linq, Cromwell, and Flamingo. Mirage and Mandalay Bay will make you go to $25 for 3-2.

Really bad news for MGM. A couple of years ago it was one of the best places to play blackjack.

Not to mention the other rules changes that most places don't allow or have modified in the houses favor.

Namely: dealer stands on soft 17, split up to 4 hands, double after split, double any two cards, etc...

Add Monte Carlo to the all 6:5 list too outside of the high limit room. Wynncore also has a good amount of 6:5 so make sure you hunt for the 3:2 tables.

I was just in Vegas over March Madness and I would say the Bellagio is the best place to play blackjack on the strip at lower minimums. Early in the day on Friday they were offering 3:2 BJ at $10 and $15 minimums. These games also included surrender too which is tough to find anywhere but $25 minimums on the strip. Although they were continuous shuffle tables, I still think they offer the best tables.

The best blackjack I could find was at the Monte Carlo though. Although it was video blackjack (it was the machine with the female dealer dealing from a screen in front of you), it had $5 minimums, surrender, and all the other rules that you would want to be in your favor. It was the only machine of it's kind I could find on the strip.

Unless you've scouted these in the last few days I wouldn't be too sure about Excalibur, Aria, Bellagio, or Mandalay Bay. Mirage makes you bet $50 for H17 3-2.

You forgot continuous shufflers. Basically, the casinos have said "Good blackjack players, find something else to play".

In L.A blackjack is 6:5 and they charge a $1 collection for every $100 wagered. I watch hundreds of people a night bet $5 a hand and pay $1 collection EVERY hand, lol. 20% vig a hand plus the house edge. Casinos can get away with straight robbery because people will still play...

I scout blackjack every 3-4 months. The last one was late December. Mirage had H17 for $25 and S17 DD and shoe for $50 at that time. I think if Aria or Bellagio started spreading 6-5 we would know about it rather quick. Neither even spreads 6-5 single deck. No 6-5 in either of those houses, same for Excalibur during my visit.

You are right of course. These things can change rather quick.

I have noticed one trend. Caesars has been removing 6-5 games and replacing with 3-2, while MGM, which 3 years ago had almost no 6-5 games, has littered Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, NYNY and Mirage (apparently MGM now too) with it.

Wow that is the most disgusting thing ive ever heard.

Lets be realistic though, people still play roulette, keno and slots so most people probably don't care about 6:5 bj.

"You don't even get blackjack that often, so it's not a big deal."

That's the argument from moron gamblers.

And profiting off of morons is a surprise because ... ?

The video BJ at Monte Carlo is H17. In December Luxor and Excalibur had 3-2 VBJ with all the same rules except it was S17. They also took players cards. Those conditions may not last, if they are even still there.

As an example, Mirage has a $5 VBJ that was S17 3-2 a year ago. Now it is even money H17 on the same machine. Major rule change not clearly disclosed either.

Will not play any tables with those god forsaken things. It's pretty bad when you have to conduct a 2 hour search to find a half decent table to play at.

Oh and thanks for the informative posts PokerAddict, much appreciated.

I dont want to make anyone upset but I have a q for everyone crying in this topic: are you able to beat a game of bj 3:2 normal shuffle? If you are a losing player and cant count, why do you play anyways? You are a loser over the long term. Why are you upset that you are gonna lose more? Its a good opportunity for you to quit now before you lose more. If you are able to beat the game i doubt you are playing for micro stakes so this is not a concern for you bc they havent touched the 50+ tables.

I haven't looked closely in years, but the last time I played video BJ it sucked because there was a virtual shuffle after every hand.

This is so, so stupid.

"Why do you spend money on fun? You could spend less money on not fun, so just quit fun now before you lose more."