Defense of Blackjack Act

I'm a newbie here, but here's a good joke I told to someone that I think Blackjack fans will like:

I'm open-minded when it comes to marriage (and thus support same-sex marriages and oppose the DOMA). When it comes to Blackjack though I'm a traditionalist and would support a "Defense of Blackjack Act" to help preserve "traditional" Blackjack. The hypothetical DOBJA would define Blackjack as a 21-game that pays no less than 3:2 on blackjacks (and thus help keep 6:5 from ruining traditional games much like the right-wing folks who claim that gay marriage will ruin traditional unions).

I would support that. In fact, I've had a similar comment on my blackjack page for years:

In my opinion, only games that pay 3 to 2 deserve to be called "blackjack," the rest fall under "21" games, including Super Fun 21 and Spanish 21.

Where we might differ a little, is I don't vilify casinos who offer short pays on blackjack, as long as they call it by another name, like "single-deck 21." I think such games may actually be needed to save blackjack, because low-limit games that pay 3-2 are not very profitable. Having some 6-5 games for the suckers effectively subsidizes the real blackjack tables for more skilled players.

Quote: Wizard

Where we might differ a little, is I don't vilify casinos who offer short pays on blackjack, as long as they call it by another name, like "single-deck 21." I think such games may actually be needed to save blackjack, because low-limit games that pay 3-2 are not very profitable. Having some 6-5 games for the suckers effectively subsidizes the real blackjack tables for more skilled players.

I do agree with you; it's alright in my opinion for casinos to offer 6:5 as long as it is not referred to as "blackjack" but rather something else like you mentioned.

Edit: Removed the controverisial sentence.

Quote: Kellynbnf

Much like the compromise "civil unions" in my analogy.

Just as a piece of advice, I'd avoid comparisons to the gay marriage issue. That is a whole different ball of wax.

Quote: Wizard

Just as a piece of advice, I'd avoid comparisons to the gay marriage issue. That is a whole different ball of wax.

The only reason I compared it to that is because of the DOMA/DOBJA comparison in my OP. I do not mean to offend anyone. (To make everyone happy, I'll edit that statement out.)

Do we really want to get government into regulating gambling?

What's needed is to patent a new BJ game that pays 3:2. Call it something like "Super Pay Blackjack" and add a funky sucker bonus bet to make it patentable.

I'm not suggesting a law, but voluntary usage of the terms blackjack and 21.

By the way, I never ended up going downtown while you were here, and I accidentally cashed the ticket I wrote your room number on. So I apologize for not calling you back.

Quote: Wizard

I'm not suggesting a law, but voluntary usage of the terms blackjack and 21.

That would be good, but how would it be accomplished?

The industry could set rules that only 3:2 BJ can be called BJ, but as things are now they're more likely to say only 6:5 can be called BJ.

Quote: Wizard

By the way, I never ended up going downtown while you were here, and I accidentally cashed the ticket I wrote your room number on. So I apologize for not calling you back.

Don't worry about. You weren't under any kind of obligation. Just remind me to carry a notepad next time ;)

BTW Speaking of Downtown, I saw a great many 3:2 BJ tables there. I didn't play at any, and most were closed during the day.

Quote: Nareed

That would be good, but how would it be accomplished?

The industry could set rules that only 3:2 BJ can be called BJ, but as things are now they're more likely to say only 6:5 can be called BJ.

You make good points that my semantic wishes have little hope. However, I still refuse to call any game that doesn't pay 3-2, and use 52-card decks, true blackjack. Anybody else wishing to adopt that usage of the word "blackjack" is more than welcome to jump on my bandwagon. My bandwagon may be lonely, but don't plan to get off of it.

My wish for blackjack is to offer one low limit game with the best rules. Too often there is a $5 table available, but it has horrible rules (6:5, or 8 deck with H17, NDAS, etc.). If I ran a casino I'd offer one single deck (ala El Cortez, or the MGM rules - S17,DAS, LS, RSA) with $5-10 limits. It would always be crowded, but I think it would be good advertising.

Delaware Park is slated to offer 6deck Blackjack with the MGM rules above at least at first when it opens. I'm hoping that it survives the inevitable run by the card counters for the general populace.

-B