{"id":1889,"date":"2021-01-08T18:13:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-09T02:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vegasadvantage.com\/?page_id=1889"},"modified":"2023-08-26T20:01:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-27T03:01:32","slug":"downtown-las-vegas-blackjack-survey-2021","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vegasadvantage.com\/las-vegas-blackjack\/downtown-las-vegas-blackjack-survey-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtown Las Vegas Blackjack Survey 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are 12 casinos in downtown Las Vegas. This includes ones that are members of the Fremont Street Experience<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dynamics of the market have changed drastically in the last two years. Circa opened its casino on October 28, 2020. This gave downtown Las Vegas its first stand-on-all-17 blackjack game in at least 10 years. All other downtown Las Vegas blackjack games, outside Circa\u2019s high-limit salon, hit on soft 17. Circa is located on the former Las Vegas Club block. It is sports-themed, carrying on the property\u2019s tradition. Circa\u2019s sportsbook is the largest in the world. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main Street Station reopened on September 8, 2021. That made it the first time since August 2015 that there were 12 open downtown Las Vegas casinos<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vegas Advantage is supported through memberships<\/a>, sponsors, and advertisements.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/em>If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our\u00a0Las Vegas Blackjack and Table Game Survey<\/strong>\u00a0is available as part of a subscription service<\/a>. You can support Vegas Advantage<\/em> by signing up for a monthly or quarterly membership. It is updated several times per month with new data from casino visits. Memberships start as low as $3 per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vegas Advantage subscriptions are now available through both Gumroad<\/a> and Patreon<\/a>. The same great information on both platforms.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Early access to Vegas Advantage’s Table Game Survey<\/strong> with monthly updates as we revisit casinos<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Publishers of other websites are permitted to use our data<\/strong> within reasonable limits. However, a backlink to Vegas Advantage<\/strong> is required under our terms of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: 2023 Las Vegas Blackjack Survey<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minimum bets shown are what we predict the lowest you will find, often in the mornings and afternoons. Expect higher minimums during busy times, especially for the 6:5 blackjack tables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best downtown Las Vegas blackjack game<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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El Cortez wins the award for the best downtown blackjack game in terms of its rules. Its single-deck game allows players to double down on any two cards. The dealer hits soft 17, and blackjack pays 3:2. This game has a house edge of around 0.3%. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The single-deck blackjack game at El Cortez is best played with a consistent bet size. Large spreads are unwelcome due to the game\u2019s vulnerability to counting, though you often will not get through enough of the deck for that to matter.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Worst downtown Las Vegas blackjack<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a game called Bonus Spin Blackjack that we think all players should avoid<\/span> unless they are inclined to make luck-based side bets. This game requires the player to wager $1 or $2 on a side bet that puts the house edge as high as 9%. A normal 3:2 blackjack six-deck shoe game has a house edge of around 0.6%. Binion\u2019s, Four Queens, Golden Nugget, and Fremont deal this version of Bonus Spin Blackjack. It made our worst Las Vegas blackjack<\/a> list. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downtown Las Vegas blackjack by casino<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The blackjack in downtown Las Vegas is generally favorable when compared to the Strip and slightly worse than the locals market. <\/span>The worst blackjack games in this area are at the intersection of Fremont Street Experience and Casino Center Blvd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 12 open casinos in downtown Las Vegas. Of those, ten offer a standard 3:2 blackjack game. The cheapest of these is found at Downtown Grand, where there is a $5 six-deck game with doubling down before and after splitting. Surrendering and re-splitting aces are also available. El Cortez and Plaza deal $10 3:2 blackjack games without the option to surrender or re-split aces. <\/span>Thee Plaza game may be $5 during the slowest hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are six other downtown Las Vegas casinos that deal 3:2 games. The minimum is $15 at most. Binion\u2019s and Four Queens do not deal any traditional 3:2 blackjack games. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Binion\u2019s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Binion\u2019s<\/a> offers Blackjack Switch, 6:5 traditional, and 3:2 Double Up<\/span> Blackjack. There is also 3:2 Bonus Spin Blackjack with a forced side bet like Four Queens has. <\/span>The same company owns both casinos. The minimum bet for all blackjack at Binion’s is $10.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

California<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

California<\/a> specializes in 3:2 double-deck blackjack. The minimum bet is $15. It also has a $15 6:5 table-shoe game. Both games allow players to double down before splitting; it is not permitted after a split.<\/span> There is $3 6:5 heads-up video blackjack available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Circa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Circa<\/a> brought five different blackjack games to downtown Las Vegas. The main game on the floor has a minimum bet of $15 or $25, and it uses eight decks. Players may double down before or after splitting. We see this game for $10 during the slowest of hours. There is also 3:2 Free Bet Blackjack and 6:5 single-deck blackjack on the Circa casino floor. Both have a $25 minimum bet. <\/span>Video blackjack pays 6:5 and starts at $1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The high-limit salon has two games. Its double-deck game allows doubling down both before and after splitting, and the dealer hits on soft 17. The six-deck game stands on all 17\u2019s with the same rules otherwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The double-deck game is usually a $200 minimum, while the six-deck game is $100.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Downtown Grand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of blackjack games at Downtown Grand<\/a>. A $1 game pays even money. For $5, players can get a six-deck game with the option to double down before and after splitting, surrender, and re-split aces that pays 3:2. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The double-deck game is <\/span>no longer dealt at Downtown Grand. There is $1 6:5 video blackjack available on heads-up machines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

El Cortez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are three different blackjack games at El Cortez<\/a>. The most popular is its great 3:2 single-deck. Double down is available before but not after splitting. The double-deck game adds the option to double down after splitting. There is also a six-deck game with the same rules as the double-deck. All have a $10 minimum bet during the slowest hours, though busier times go to $15. <\/span>El Cortez has $3 3:2 stadium blackjack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four Queens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The last traditional 3:2 blackjack game vanished from Four Queens<\/a>, as its double-deck table is no longer on the floor. All remaining games here use eight decks. Of these, Blackjack Switch and Double Up Blackjack are the best options. The other Four Queens blackjack tables either pay 6:5 or are 3:2 with a catch. This includes a 3:2 Bonus Spin Poker table that requires a $1 side bet. The other games are 3:2 Lucky Cat Blackjack and 6:5 traditional blackjack. The minimum bet is $10 at all tables.<\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fremont<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All blackjack at Fremont<\/a> has a $15 minimum bet. The best game is 3:2 double-deck, though this game does not allow doubling down after splitting. There is also 6:5 Bonus Spin and 6:5 six-deck blackjack. <\/span>Video blackjack has a $3 minimum and a 6:5 payout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Gate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are four types of blackjack games at Golden Gate<\/a>, and all pay 3:2 on a blackjack. The eight-deck traditional and Free Bet Blackjack tables on the floor have a $10 or $15 minimum bet, depending on the time of day. The six-deck game in high-limit has $50 minimum bet. The double-deck game, also in high-limit, is typically $100. These games allow a double-down, both before and after splitting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Nugget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Golden Nugget<\/a> offers four different blackjack games. On the casino floor, players can find 6:5 blackjack variants like $5 Lucky Cat and $10 Bonus Spin. These two games require a side bet every hand, which makes them the worst two blackjack games in Las Vegas. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucky Cat requires a $2 side bet making the minimum bet $7. The minimum for Bonus Spin is $12 after the required $2 side bet. There may be a table or two open that only have a $1 forced side bet. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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The only 3:2 blackjack tables at Golden Nugget are in the high-limit area. Games typically have a $50 minimum. You may find a $25 blackjack game in Golden Nugget’s high limit during slow hours. The double deck game allows doubling down before and after splitting. The six-deck $50 game adds surrender. All blackjack at Golden Nugget hits soft 17. Video 6:5 blackjack starts at $3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main Street Station<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Main Street Station<\/a> opened with only three blackjack tables. One is a $10 6:5 shoe. The other two tables are $15 3:2 double deck blackjack with no double down after splitting. Both games hit soft 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main Street Station dropped eight blackjack tables between December 2019, and its 2021 reopening. Seven were double-deck tables. The other was Super Fun 21. Main Street Station table games are only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Video blackjack is available with a $3 minimum bet. It has a 6:5 payout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaza<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Plaza<\/a> deals four different forms of blackjack. The six-deck game starts at $10. It allows a double-down both before and after splitting. A $25 double-deck table has the same rules. The Free Bet Blackjack table pays 3:2 and usually has a $15 minimum bet. Most Liberal 21, a game owned by Plaza, is dealt for $5 or $10, depending on the time of day. It is like Super Fun 21 but with fewer player-friendly rules.<\/span> Stadium blackjack has a $3 minimum and a 6:5 payout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The D<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Players have four different blackjack options at The D<\/a>. The eight-deck tables allow a double-down both before and after splitting, and the minimum is $15. Free Bet Blackjack with a 3:2 payout is offered for $15. The high-limit room has double-deck and six-deck blackjack. The minimum is $50 or $100. All of these games pay 3:2.<\/span> Video blackjack starts at $1 and has a 6:5 payout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downtown Las Vegas blackjack by type of game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Single deck games<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The 3:2 single deck blackjack game<\/a> at El Cortez allows doubling down before but not after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. We found the game with a $10 or $15 minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 6:5 single deck is available for $15 or $25 at Circa. Double down before and after splitting is permitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double deck games<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Binion\u2019s, Downtown Grand, and Four Queens do not offer a double-deck game<\/a>. The dealer hits a soft 17 for the following double-deck games. All downtown double-deck games pay 3:2 on blackjack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Double down before and after splitting<\/p>\n\n\n\n