Best PA Blackjack game?
August 31st, 2012 at 12:11:21 PM
permalink
I've been lurking these forms trying to find out which PA casino has the best blackjack game. I haven't found anything conclusive so I decided to join and ask.
I'm more interested in which of these 3 casinos have the best blackjack game since they are closest. I've been to Valley Forge and wasn't feeling their 15$ 8 deck games.
Do they have six deck 15$ games during the week day/weekend mornings? I know parx has the live update but it doesn't give the specific stakes involved which I need to know. I don't want to drive 45 minutes to parx and find it only has 8 deck 15$ games. I've called and ask but have only gotten dopy operators who say yeah we have em. Thanks for any information you can give.
Parx:
Sands:
SugarHouse
I'm more interested in which of these 3 casinos have the best blackjack game since they are closest. I've been to Valley Forge and wasn't feeling their 15$ 8 deck games.
Do they have six deck 15$ games during the week day/weekend mornings? I know parx has the live update but it doesn't give the specific stakes involved which I need to know. I don't want to drive 45 minutes to parx and find it only has 8 deck 15$ games. I've called and ask but have only gotten dopy operators who say yeah we have em. Thanks for any information you can give.
Parx:
Sands:
SugarHouse
August 31st, 2012 at 12:30:38 PM
permalink
I was thinking PA regulates the rules; in other words, each casino would have the same game by law.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell! She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
August 31st, 2012 at 12:36:40 PM
permalink
thought all bj games in PA were the same rules? ie: S17?
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice).
Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
August 31st, 2012 at 1:20:49 PM
permalink
I've called Sands recently and their High Limit game is six decks, as opposed to eight. Hollywood wasn't on your list, but I have called them and their High-Limit game is still eight, but hand shuffled.
I haven't talked to the other two on your list. I'll try to call them at some point this evening, if I have time. If I have not posted in this thread again by 22:00 EST, then please bump it...but make sure to tell a joke or the bump is against the Rules!!!
I haven't talked to the other two on your list. I'll try to call them at some point this evening, if I have time. If I have not posted in this thread again by 22:00 EST, then please bump it...but make sure to tell a joke or the bump is against the Rules!!!
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
August 31st, 2012 at 2:03:10 PM
permalink
Sands has a double deck game with a low house edge and late surrender.
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
August 31st, 2012 at 2:29:54 PM
permalink
Really the sands in Bethlehem PA has a double deck or the Sands in the LV? Yes the PA casino blackjack tables are all regulated by law regarding late surrender, Stay 17 but I'm not sure if the deck size is regulated by law. The valley forge casino had 6 deck games at their 50$ tables, but thats beyond my budget/skills right now.The Valley Forge Casino has a different type of licence it is a resort casino with different rules allowed.
August 31st, 2012 at 2:50:06 PM
permalink
I work at a casino on the other side of the state our deck numbers and limits are self controlled and all the game rules are state controlled.
August 31st, 2012 at 2:51:58 PM
permalink
Quote: MalcomDReally the sands in Bethlehem PA has a double deck or the Sands in the LV? Yes the PA casino blackjack tables are all regulated by law regarding late surrender, Stay 17 but I'm not sure if the deck size is regulated by law. The valley forge casino had 6 deck games at their 50$ tables, but thats beyond my budget/skills right now.The Valley Forge Casino has a different type of licence it is a resort casino with different rules allowed.
Bethlehem.
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
August 31st, 2012 at 3:05:58 PM
permalink
Sands Casino in Las Vegas closed in 1996 to be replaced by Venetian, which is owned by Sands Corp.Quote: MalcomDReally the sands in Bethlehem PA has a double deck or the Sands in the LV?
Whenever anyone mentions Sands casino in regard to an open casino, they're talking about Bethlehem PA.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
August 31st, 2012 at 5:07:38 PM
permalink
Hollywood:
This place sucks! There is no Free Play offer for new Members at this time, and HL BJ is still eight-decks, just hand-shuffled.
Sands:
Listen to the guys who have been there recently if they say there is a two-deck game, because I have not! What they gave me over the phone was HL is Six-Decks. $5.00 Free Play if you are a new sign-up w/ Player's Club.
Parx:
Best Free Play Offer. You get $10 FP if you are new to the player's club AND the HL BJ is 6-Deck, she even gave me, "About 75%," penetration. Can't verify the accuracy of that 75% over the phone, but that's what she said. Parx also hand-shuffles the 6-Decks at, "Some of the Tables."
Sugarhouse:
The Free Play offer is good, but only if you are playing Slots, anyway. $0 off the top, but 5x Points on any of your play. You also get a T-Shirt. The HL BJ is 6-Deck, all machine shuffled, couldn't get anything out of her on the deck penetration, acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. Charming British accent, quite alluring.
This place sucks! There is no Free Play offer for new Members at this time, and HL BJ is still eight-decks, just hand-shuffled.
Sands:
Listen to the guys who have been there recently if they say there is a two-deck game, because I have not! What they gave me over the phone was HL is Six-Decks. $5.00 Free Play if you are a new sign-up w/ Player's Club.
Parx:
Best Free Play Offer. You get $10 FP if you are new to the player's club AND the HL BJ is 6-Deck, she even gave me, "About 75%," penetration. Can't verify the accuracy of that 75% over the phone, but that's what she said. Parx also hand-shuffles the 6-Decks at, "Some of the Tables."
Sugarhouse:
The Free Play offer is good, but only if you are playing Slots, anyway. $0 off the top, but 5x Points on any of your play. You also get a T-Shirt. The HL BJ is 6-Deck, all machine shuffled, couldn't get anything out of her on the deck penetration, acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. Charming British accent, quite alluring.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
August 31st, 2012 at 5:15:23 PM
permalink
Quote: Mission146Hollywood:
This place sucks! There is no Free Play offer for new Members at this time, and HL BJ is still eight-decks, just hand-shuffled.
All Hollywood's suck... Beautiful casinos, but they all have terrible rules and treat players like dirt...
Quote: Mission146Sands:
Listen to the guys who have been there recently if they say there is a two-deck game, because I have not! What they gave me over the phone was HL is Six-Decks. $5.00 Free Play if you are a new sign-up w/ Player's Club.
You won't find a BJ table under $15 at Sands, and that will be off-peak times. Most tables will be $25 +.
Quote: Mission146Parx:
Best Free Play Offer. You get $10 FP if you are new to the player's club AND the HL BJ is 6-Deck, she even gave me, "About 75%," penetration. Can't verify the accuracy of that 75% over the phone, but that's what she said. Parx also hand-shuffles the 6-Decks at, "Some of the Tables."
Good luck finding a table under $25 here. I found the two casinos they operate to be very stuffy and table minimums were RIDICULOUSLY high. They had an empty craps table on a Monday morning at $15! See ya...
Quote: Mission146Sugarhouse:
The Free Play offer is good, but only if you are playing Slots, anyway. $0 off the top, but 5x Points on any of your play. You also get a T-Shirt. The HL BJ is 6-Deck, all machine shuffled, couldn't get anything out of her on the deck penetration, acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. Charming British accent, quite alluring.
Again, table mins are high, but surprisingly not as high as Parx for most games. They had a $10 craps table and a $5 Ultimate Hold Em table, which rather surprised me.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
September 1st, 2012 at 11:48:04 AM
permalink
Sands (bethlehem) does have a dealer pitch double deck game, I believe its 2 or 3 tables. Its $50 min with surrender/dealer s17 bj pays 3/2. I have played it so I would know. Other BJ would be min 15 and up with 8 decks. 6 decks in the high limit room with $100 mins. Same rules as above.
September 1st, 2012 at 7:18:30 PM
permalink
Quote: mbg45200Sands (bethlehem) does have a dealer pitch double deck game, I believe its 2 or 3 tables. Its $50 min with surrender/dealer s17 bj pays 3/2. I have played it so I would know. Other BJ would be min 15 and up with 8 decks. 6 decks in the high limit room with $100 mins. Same rules as above.
so why would anyone play in the high limit area?
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice).
Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
September 3rd, 2012 at 11:09:26 AM
permalink
100xOdds-I dont know I have never asked them. The high limit room does get alot of action though.
September 3rd, 2012 at 1:37:59 PM
permalink
Quote: mbg45200100xOdds-I dont know I have never asked them. The high limit room does get alot of action though.
Bj players at high limit tables are not necessarily smarter. Often a rich man is a poor man with money.
September 3rd, 2012 at 5:10:54 PM
permalink
Sands is the best place to play in PA, hands down.
If you spread a little of your action to other games they are particularly courteous.
If you spread a little of your action to other games they are particularly courteous.
In a bet, there is a fool and a thief.
- Proverb.
September 4th, 2012 at 2:35:50 PM
permalink
I called Sands the other day to ask about their blackjack games. I was told they have 6 deck 25$ games, but sometimes the phone operators don't know what they are talking about. If I was to goto Sands it would be during the day, so can anyone confirm 25$ 6 deck games during off hours? Maybe 10am?
September 4th, 2012 at 3:23:55 PM
permalink
Sands told me the same thing over the phone, for what it's worth.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
September 4th, 2012 at 5:53:37 PM
permalink
Do the Sand, the Hollywood or other Pennsylvania casinos have surrender? Do people play it?
September 4th, 2012 at 5:55:11 PM
permalink
Quote: SanchoPanzaDo the Sand, the Hollywood or other Pennsylvania casinos have surrender? Do people play it?
All PA casinos must offer late surrender. It's a state law. Most players think it's a bad rule, and they mock/glare at people who utilize the rule.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:58:18 AM
permalink
Quote: rdw4potusAll PA casinos must offer late surrender. It's a state law. Most players think it's a bad rule, and they mock/glare at people who utilize the rule.
At most tables($15 & $25), Sands PA does NOT offer late surrender.
They also don't have any gimmick side bets on any games ie: Lucky Ladies, Match the Dealer,etc.
Side note: Mount Airy in the Poconos has a strange method of concealing the dealer's Up card until all initial hands are dealt. I feel this is more of a psych out tactic, as person with 10 or 11 will grab chips to double down, but when the dealer ruins his fun by turning up a 10 or ace, making him second guess the option to Double. Or a person with Blackjack will be suddenly surprised when the dealer turns up an Ace, and then consider taking even money.
Mt. Airy also started a weird side bet called "21 +3", essentially combining the 3 card poker hands with BJ. The way it works is your first two cards and the dealer's up card make a 3 card poker hand like - 4,5 + Dealer 6(for a straight) 9 of hearts, 8 of hearts + dealer 7 of hearts(Straight Flush) & J, J + Dealer Jack(3 of a kind)
Problem is, they ALL pay 9 to 1. Meaning a S. flush pays the same as a random flush. 3 of a kind pays the same as a straight. Really weird side bet.
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:13:23 PM
permalink
deleted
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:22:34 PM
permalink
Quote: IbeatyouracesMost places leave the up card face down until the dealer pulls the hole card and then flips over the upcard on top of the hole card. As for the side bet, that is nothing new and has been around the blackjack tables in the U.S. for a while now. Smart players will avoid them.
This is the 1st time I've seen it. And I've been to over a dozen casinos on the East coast in 6 diff. states.
Just bugs me that you have to wait to see their up card, and at Mount Airy it somehow almost always ends up being a 10!
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:33:32 PM
permalink
deleted
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:37:12 PM
permalink
Late surrender is universal in Pennsylvania.
If they are not offering it, they are violating state law.
PA Code.Title 058.Part VII.SubPart K.Chapter 633a.section9.
If they are not offering it, they are violating state law.
PA Code.Title 058.Part VII.SubPart K.Chapter 633a.section9.
In a bet, there is a fool and a thief.
- Proverb.
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:53:29 PM
permalink
deleted
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:57:55 PM
permalink
Yes. All games of blackjack operated by PA state licensed casinos must offer late surrender.
Same with stand on soft seventeen. mandatory. (that one is in Chapter 633a.2.b.iii)
Same with stand on soft seventeen. mandatory. (that one is in Chapter 633a.2.b.iii)
In a bet, there is a fool and a thief.
- Proverb.
September 22nd, 2012 at 2:23:30 PM
permalink
Quote: WongBoYes. All games of blackjack operated by PA state licensed casinos must offer late surrender.
Same with stand on soft seventeen. mandatory. (that one is in Chapter 633a.2.b.iii)
Absolutely. There may not be a sign on the table so you have to do your own investigating.
Surrender is one of the reasons to choose PA over AC.
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
September 22nd, 2012 at 2:37:03 PM
permalink
I'm sure they offer late surrender. But, it wouldn't surprise me if a dealer says you CAN'T surrender. Often they are clueless.
I tried to surrender at The Meadows in PA a few months ago. The dealer said you can only surrender when she has an ACE. I asked if she was confusing surrender with insurance. She took offense to my comment, informing me she has been dealing for almost two years. I had to get the floor supervisor to get the matter settled. Yes, I was able to surrender.
I tried to surrender at The Meadows in PA a few months ago. The dealer said you can only surrender when she has an ACE. I asked if she was confusing surrender with insurance. She took offense to my comment, informing me she has been dealing for almost two years. I had to get the floor supervisor to get the matter settled. Yes, I was able to surrender.
"I am a man devoured by the passion for gambling." --Dostoevsky, 1871
September 22nd, 2012 at 3:01:15 PM
permalink
" She took offense to my comment, informing me she has been dealing for almost two years."
While helping Stacey Perry demonstrate STREAK at the Isle, she commented to an Asian dealer
that she needed to place the cards so the camera could see the pips. The dealer had been there
4 or 5 years and innocently and honestly asked " What are pips ?".
While helping Stacey Perry demonstrate STREAK at the Isle, she commented to an Asian dealer
that she needed to place the cards so the camera could see the pips. The dealer had been there
4 or 5 years and innocently and honestly asked " What are pips ?".
