Las Vegas blackjack ratings
September 17th, 2016 at 6:07:47 PM
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A feature that we plan to add to this site is ratings for every casino in Las Vegas. The criteria will be how good of a value will the recreational gambler get. Currently I plan to base the evaluation on four games with configurable rules: blackjack, craps, video poker, and slots/video keno. While surveying video poker and video keno will be quite time consuming, we have the blackjack data we need on a silver platter.
As you should know, my boss Josh purchased BJ21.com recently, along with the Current Blackjack Newsletter (CBJN). The newsletter is conveniently available in a spreadsheet form, allowing for easily summarizing the data.
The way I determine the overall house edge in blackjack for a given casino is to take the dot product of the probability of each set of rules within that casino and the house edge. In other words, if a player picked a table at random, what would be the house edge.
With the introductions out of the way, here is my ranking and grading of all the casinos with a hotel component.
In case you're wondering, here are some non-hotel casinos with blackjack.
Funny thing about the Alamo is they had the best blackjack in Vegas not too long ago, with great single deck rules.
Of the 1,723 blackjack tables included in the hotel/casino table, the average edge is 1.07%. Goes to show how many 6-5 tables are out there now. 15 years ago a game with a 1.07% house edge might have been the worst rules in Vegas.
I already know that this audience is not recreational ploppy players but are smart enough to sniff out the good blackjack rules. So please keep in mind the target audience. That said, what do you think? As always, I welcome questions, comments, and especially corrections.
As you should know, my boss Josh purchased BJ21.com recently, along with the Current Blackjack Newsletter (CBJN). The newsletter is conveniently available in a spreadsheet form, allowing for easily summarizing the data.
The way I determine the overall house edge in blackjack for a given casino is to take the dot product of the probability of each set of rules within that casino and the house edge. In other words, if a player picked a table at random, what would be the house edge.
With the introductions out of the way, here is my ranking and grading of all the casinos with a hotel component.
| Rank | Casino | Avg. Edge | Avg. Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Cortez | 0.23% | A+ |
| 2 | Rampart | 0.41% | A |
| 3 | Downtown Grand | 0.46% | A |
| 4 | South Point | 0.47% | A |
| 5 | Silverton | 0.48% | A |
| 6 | Arizona Charlie’s Decatur | 0.48% | A |
| 7 | Cannery | 0.49% | A |
| 8 | M Resort | 0.50% | A |
| 9 | Railroad Pass | 0.52% | A |
| 10 | Paris | 0.52% | A |
| 11 | Gold Coast | 0.52% | A |
| 12 | Silver Sevens | 0.52% | A |
| 13 | Suncoast | 0.53% | A- |
| 14 | Treasure Island | 0.53% | A- |
| 15 | Santa Fe Station | 0.54% | A- |
| 16 | Eastside Cannery | 0.55% | A- |
| 17 | Arizona Charlie’s Boulder | 0.56% | A- |
| 18 | Aliante | 0.57% | A- |
| 19 | Orleans | 0.58% | A- |
| 20 | California | 0.62% | A- |
| 21 | Tuscany | 0.64% | A- |
| 22 | Golden Gate | 0.67% | B+ |
| 23 | Palms | 0.67% | B+ |
| 24 | Sam’s Town | 0.68% | B+ |
| 25 | Main Street Station | 0.69% | B+ |
| 26 | D Las Vegas | 0.69% | B+ |
| 27 | Plaza | 0.71% | B+ |
| 28 | Hooters | 0.74% | B+ |
| 29 | Fiesta Rancho | 0.75% | B+ |
| 30 | Red Rock | 0.81% | B |
| 31 | Planet Hollywood | 0.82% | B |
| 32 | Harrah’s | 0.93% | B- |
| 33 | Casino Royale | 0.96% | B- |
| 34 | Bally’s | 0.97% | B- |
| 35 | Tropicana | 0.98% | B- |
| 36 | Green Valley Ranch | 0.98% | B- |
| 37 | Flamingo | 1.01% | B- |
| 38 | SLS | 1.02% | B- |
| 39 | Caesars Palace | 1.03% | B- |
| 40 | Aria | 1.04% | B- |
| 41 | Mandalay Bay | 1.04% | B- |
| 42 | Rio | 1.07% | C+ |
| 43 | Fremont | 1.09% | C+ |
| 44 | Cosmopolitan | 1.10% | C+ |
| 45 | Palace Station | 1.13% | C+ |
| 46 | Sunset Station | 1.18% | C+ |
| 47 | Golden Nugget | 1.20% | C |
| 48 | MGM Grand | 1.21% | C |
| 49 | Wynn Las Vegas | 1.21% | C |
| 50 | Encore | 1.22% | C |
| 51 | Boulder Station | 1.25% | C |
| 52 | Bellagio | 1.28% | C |
| 53 | Westgate | 1.30% | C |
| 54 | Texas Station | 1.30% | C |
| 55 | Palazzo | 1.34% | C- |
| 56 | Hard Rock | 1.35% | C- |
| 57 | Mirage | 1.40% | C- |
| 58 | Linq | 1.45% | D+ |
| 59 | Stratosphere | 1.46% | D+ |
| 60 | Venetian | 1.52% | D+ |
| 61 | Fiesta Henderson | 1.53% | D+ |
| 62 | Four Queens | 1.54% | D+ |
| 63 | Monte Carlo | 1.58% | D |
| 64 | Cromwell | 1.62% | D |
| 65 | New York New York | 1.66% | D |
| 66 | Excalibur | 1.72% | D- |
| 67 | Luxor | 1.75% | D- |
| 68 | Circus Circus | 1.80% | D- |
| 69 | Max | 1.82% | D- |
| 70 | Binion’s | 1.87% | D- |
In case you're wondering, here are some non-hotel casinos with blackjack.
| Casino | Casino | Avg. Edge | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bighorn | 0.25% | A+ |
| 2 | Longhorn | 0.43% | A |
| 3 | Jerry’s Nugget | 0.43% | A |
| 4 | Club Fortune | 0.45% | A |
| 5 | Jokers Wild | 0.46% | A |
| 6 | Lucky Club | 0.52% | A |
| 7 | Silver Nugget. | 0.52% | A |
| 8 | Wild Wild West | 0.52% | A |
| 9 | Skyline | 0.63% | A- |
| 10 | Ellis Island | 0.65% | A- |
| 11 | Poker Palace | 1.38% | C- |
| 12 | Margaritaville | 1.80% | D- |
| 13 | O’Sheas | 1.92% | D- |
| 14 | Alamo | 2.02% | D- |
Funny thing about the Alamo is they had the best blackjack in Vegas not too long ago, with great single deck rules.
Of the 1,723 blackjack tables included in the hotel/casino table, the average edge is 1.07%. Goes to show how many 6-5 tables are out there now. 15 years ago a game with a 1.07% house edge might have been the worst rules in Vegas.
I already know that this audience is not recreational ploppy players but are smart enough to sniff out the good blackjack rules. So please keep in mind the target audience. That said, what do you think? As always, I welcome questions, comments, and especially corrections.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 17th, 2016 at 6:15:17 PM
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Valuable information. I assume it would be too burdensome to list the HE and where available are Free Bet & Switch ?
Plus latest ASG report shows that players in total say slots ( 61%) is their favorite casino game, with blackjack second at
20%. But among young players 21-35 slots is 50% and blackjack 25%. Seems like skilled based games may not replace
blackjack after all in the near future.
Plus latest ASG report shows that players in total say slots ( 61%) is their favorite casino game, with blackjack second at
20%. But among young players 21-35 slots is 50% and blackjack 25%. Seems like skilled based games may not replace
blackjack after all in the near future.
September 17th, 2016 at 9:04:36 PM
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Quote: cednets67Valuable information. I assume it would be too burdensome to list the HE and where available are Free Bet & Switch ?
Thank you. You'll have to subscribe to the CBJN for answers to those questions and many more. It has blackjack rules and conditions at every casino in the US.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 17th, 2016 at 9:16:59 PM
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If it's still S17, the Kewadin Casino shoe blackjack games should be the lowest HE around the country.
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
September 17th, 2016 at 9:22:05 PM
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I like the ideas a lot. Nobody gets an F though?
I am a robot.
September 17th, 2016 at 9:27:59 PM
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Quote: onenickelmiracleI like the ideas a lot. Nobody gets an F though?
Thanks. I thought I would save the A+ and F for only those casinos that really deserved them. In other words, they were good or bad by a wide margin. The worst casino is not significantly worse than the second worst, so nobody truly failed.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 17th, 2016 at 9:29:31 PM
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Very informative. Thanks, Wizard. Looks like Paris is the best TR property, so I'll be sure to seek out my blackjack playing there.
I'll echo onenickelmiracle. What score would get an F?
I'll echo onenickelmiracle. What score would get an F?
Casinos are not your friends, they want your money. But so does Disneyland.
And there is no chance in hell that you will go to Disneyland and come back with more money than you went with.
- AxelWolf and Mickeycrimm
September 17th, 2016 at 10:27:18 PM
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I think if you're going to parse this out for the recreational gambler, you should include limits in your calculation of the rankings. If a casino only offers a decent game at $25 or higher and the $5 and $10 limit games are crud, that casino is of less value to the recreational player. I remember back in the 80s and 90s, Caesar's had the best game probably ever dealt in Nevada--but it was $25 minimum, and back then, that was a little too steep for the average Joe, Conversely, today, not only does the El Cortez deal a good game, you can play it for $5. That's just as valuable as having good rules. Somebody might look at your chart, see a casino with a good rating, then go there and find that they have to play a 6/5 shoe game if they want to bet only $5 or $10.
(Maybe the absolute best game ever dealt, come to think of it, was at the old Royal (?) on Convention Center drive. Great rules, they didn't care if you counted, and $1 minimums!)
(Maybe the absolute best game ever dealt, come to think of it, was at the old Royal (?) on Convention Center drive. Great rules, they didn't care if you counted, and $1 minimums!)
September 17th, 2016 at 10:45:12 PM
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Quote: Joeshlabotnik...I remember back in the 80s and 90s, Caesar's had the best game probably ever dealt in Nevada...
Slots-O-Fun had a single deck game that was a player advantage off the top.
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
September 18th, 2016 at 6:42:31 AM
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Call me a ploppy. I don't play much BlackJack, but when I do, the only rule that concerns me is if it's 3:2. Maybe that should be highlighted in this somehow?
I.E. Perhaps additional columns that show the quantity, edge and score of just the 3:2 tables at the casino in question.
I.E. Perhaps additional columns that show the quantity, edge and score of just the 3:2 tables at the casino in question.
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? 😁
September 18th, 2016 at 6:52:37 AM
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Quote: DeucekiesVery informative. Thanks, Wizard. Looks like Paris is the best TR property, so I'll be sure to seek out my blackjack playing there.
If your motive it to reward them for being the best of the TR casinos, then you should play there. However, if your motive is to get the best rules for yourself at a TR property, then the only thing that matters is the table in front of you. You can use my blackjack survey to find a specific one to your liking.
Quote:I'll echo onenickelmiracle. What score would get an F?
I haven't fully decided. You can see I gave the El Cortez an A+ because they were 0.2% better than the second place casino. So, I'm looking for a wide margin, but haven't defined "wide" yet. If I were surveying roulette, I would probably give the Venetian an F for their triple-zero roulette.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2016 at 6:54:29 AM
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Quote: JoeshlabotnikI think if you're going to parse this out for the recreational gambler, you should include limits in your calculation of the rankings. If a casino only offers a decent game at $25 or higher and the $5 and $10 limit games are crud, that casino is of less value to the recreational player. I remember back in the 80s and 90s, Caesar's had the best game probably ever dealt in Nevada--but it was $25 minimum, and back then, that was a little too steep for the average Joe, Conversely, today, not only does the El Cortez deal a good game, you can play it for $5. That's just as valuable as having good rules. Somebody might look at your chart, see a casino with a good rating, then go there and find that they have to play a 6/5 shoe game if they want to bet only $5 or $10.
Those are fine suggestions. However, I hate to start loading down the survey with lots of qualifiers and adding conditions to it. As I just wrote, the astute player can check my blackjack survey for particular tables, and I will emphasize that wherever I report these grades.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2016 at 7:34:16 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearCall me a ploppy. I don't play much BlackJack, but when I do, the only rule that concerns me is if it's 3:2. Maybe that should be highlighted in this somehow?
I.E. Perhaps additional columns that show the quantity, edge and score of just the 3:2 tables at the casino in question.
I agree.
I think it's a bit ironic that I won't play 6/5 blackjack, but I'll sit down at the much worse Mississippi Stud without a problem. But the reason I don't play 6/5 is that it hurts my forum compatriots that play bj. Everyone who plays that game vindicates some casino executive who said in a meeting that no one will care. Well, I care.
A falling knife has no handle.
September 18th, 2016 at 9:59:21 AM
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Quote: MoscaBut the reason I don't play 6/5 is that it hurts my forum compatriots that play bj.
I would argue it would actually help them. If everybody refused to play 6-5 blackjack then the casinos would just cease to offer blackjack at under a $50 minimum bet. A basic strategy 3-2 player is simply not very profitable. The casino actually loses money on a 3-2 basic strategy player at a $25 bet level, and that isn't even counting the cost of comps.
My point being that 6-5 players are subsidizing the 3-2 players. So, they bet both my pity and my thanks.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2016 at 10:05:20 AM
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Quote: WizardYou can use my blackjack survey to find a specific one to your liking.
Thanks for posting this - I had not found this previously.
Is this survey kept reasonably current?
Is there anything similar for non-Vegas casinos?
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
September 18th, 2016 at 10:10:43 AM
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Quote: gordonm888Thanks for posting this - I had not found this previously.
Is this survey kept reasonably current?
Is there anything similar for non-Vegas casinos?
You're welcome. I'm not sure, but I think the information is fairly current. Less than six months old I'd say. I'm happy to say that I don't have to worry about that any longer. Since Josh, the owner of this site recently bought the Current Blackjack Newsletter, I imagine he will scrape information from that for our survey going forward.
The Current Blackjack Newsletter has information about every blackjack game in the country and Canada.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2016 at 11:26:01 AM
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Great stuff.Quote: WizardI already know that this audience is not recreational ploppy players but are smart enough to sniff out the good blackjack rules. So please keep in mind the target audience. That said, what do you think? As always, I welcome questions, comments, and especially corrections.
I think a very helpful column to add would be to show what a newbie should look for, ie, put in a column that shows the pay-out for blackjack BECAUSE it is written right on the felt, 3/2 or 6/5. I'm sure the C's and D's would mostly show the 6/5. If you want to reinforce this, have separate rows for the 3/2 and 6/5 for those casinos that offer both.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
September 18th, 2016 at 11:54:30 AM
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Quote: JohnnyQGreat stuff.
I think a very helpful column to add would be to show what a newbie should look for, ie, put in a column that shows the pay-out for blackjack BECAUSE it is written right on the felt, 3/2 or 6/5. I'm sure the C's and D's would mostly show the 6/5. If you want to reinforce this, have separate rows for the 3/2 and 6/5 for those casinos that offer both.
Thanks! That's a good suggestion but please keep in mind that this will just be one component of an overall report card. We already cover to death how to play on WoO. This survey will address the question of where to play. Of course, there will be lots of links back and forth, in part for the purpose of how to play once you are playing.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2016 at 12:35:07 PM
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Quote: WizardThe casino actually loses money on a 3-2 basic strategy player at a $25 bet level, and that isn't even counting the cost of comps.
Now you've really got my attention.
In Washington, blackjack tables are all 3-2 (I don't think 6-5 is legal), and most tables are $5 min, or even $3 min. You say these tables are losing money?
Casinos are not your friends, they want your money. But so does Disneyland.
And there is no chance in hell that you will go to Disneyland and come back with more money than you went with.
- AxelWolf and Mickeycrimm
September 18th, 2016 at 1:34:23 PM
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I'm just trying to remember what I would have found most helpful umpteen years ago.Quote: wizardThe criteria will be how good of a value will the recreational gambler get. .....we have the blackjack data we need on a silver platter.
So..... definitely play the best games when possible (3/2 better than 6/5, 6/5 though still better than almost all slots ?), learn bj basic strategy if possible but if you haven't yet, then know what to do in some of the situations that come up the most (don't split 10's, etc). I'm pretty sure these are on WoO.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
September 18th, 2016 at 1:41:53 PM
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I suspect the $3 tables are on weekdays and to allow the dealers to get 40 hours. Remember the tables have to pay their share of the mortgage, air conditioning, taxes, free drinks, management, and of course the dealer's salaries. Hard to think a $3 3/2 BJ table
is profitable.
is profitable.
September 18th, 2016 at 2:29:04 PM
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Bear in mind that very few ploppy 6:5 players would find the article / chart.Quote: Wizard... My point being that 6-5 players are subsidizing the 3-2 players. So, they get both my pity and my thanks.
"Never smarten up a chump" ???
You're only gonna smarten up a very small percentage of the chumps, so might as well make it easy for the chumps to learn.
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? 😁
September 18th, 2016 at 2:30:24 PM
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Quote: DeucekiesNow you've really got my attention.
In Washington, blackjack tables are all 3-2 (I don't think 6-5 is legal), and most tables are $5 min, or even $3 min. You say these tables are losing money?
Not necessarily. My statement was assuming a perfect basic strategy player, which I'm sure are not common in Washington. Also, my statement was based more on labor costs at high-end Vegas casinos.
Nevertheless, I feel confident in saying that if every player in Washtington were a lousy $5 blackjack player, the casino would lose money on that play, considering all the labor costs. The casinos are hoping that some players will bet significantly more than $5.
You might then ask, if it takes a $25 to be profitable, why not make that the minimum bet. The answer is that a casino seems more fun with more players at the tables. There is a good chance if a $25 player walked into a dead casino, he wouldn't want to play at all.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2016 at 2:41:07 PM
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Its been a while, but I've seen a Crapjack table in Washington. It didn't last long.Quote: DeucekiesNow you've really got my attention.
In Washington, blackjack tables are all 3-2 (I don't think 6-5 is legal), and most tables are $5 min, or even $3 min. You say these tables are losing money?
“Man Babes” #AxelFabulous
September 18th, 2016 at 2:56:03 PM
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Quote: DeucekiesNow you've really got my attention.
In Washington, blackjack tables are all 3-2 (I don't think 6-5 is legal), and most tables are $5 min, or even $3 min. You say these tables are losing money?
What the Wiz said was that the casino loses money ON BASIC STRATEGY PLAYERS. Those represent far fewer than 1% of all players, even in Vegas. I would imagine that the percentage is at least that low in Washington.
I read somewhere that the way the average recreational player plays, the house advantage is closer to 4%. I used to be skeptical of this, but watching my "fellow" players, I see people agonize over a hard 15 vs. a 7, then stand; hit a hard 13 vs. a 6; not split pairs; and even do asinine things like double on A9 or hard 12. In my observations, not one in a thousand players plays perfect Basic Strategy. The 4% house advantage from those who prefer to leave their brains in the glove compartment makes the game nice and profitable.
September 18th, 2016 at 2:59:33 PM
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Quote: cednets67I suspect the $3 tables are on weekdays and to allow the dealers to get 40 hours. Remember the tables have to pay their share of the mortgage, air conditioning, taxes, free drinks, management, and of course the dealer's salaries. Hard to think a $3 3/2 BJ table
is profitable.
But there's a principle in accounting, which I think applies here, which states that it is rational to continue a nominally unprofitable activity if that activity at least covers some operating costs. In other words, you have to pay for the dealers, lights, etc. even if the table is empty, so it's better to have a table of $3 players rather than an empty table, even though it would be unprofitable to run a whole casino at $3 limits.
September 18th, 2016 at 3:18:18 PM
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I haven't been playing much Blackjack lately, but surely (Shirley ?) the % of Basic Strat players has to be closer to 5 % than 1 %. Maybe 10 % ?Quote: JoeshlabotnikBASIC STRATEGY PLAYERS...... Those represent far fewer than 1% of all players, even in Vegas.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
September 18th, 2016 at 3:23:15 PM
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Quote: JohnnyQI haven't been playing much Blackjack lately, but surely (Shirley ?) the % of Basic Strat players has to be closer to 5 % than 1 %. Maybe 10 % ?
Not perfect basic. Even the plops who know BS still screw up doubles and splits.
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
September 18th, 2016 at 5:16:02 PM
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Quote: JohnnyQI haven't been playing much Blackjack lately, but surely (Shirley ?) the % of Basic Strat players has to be closer to 5 % than 1 %. Maybe 10 % ?
It's far LESS than 1%.
Hell, I've seen them look at the correct BS card and STILL MAKE THE WRONG PLAY!
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
September 19th, 2016 at 7:00:50 AM
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12/84 places with an average blackjack game of .5% or under. That's just sad to see... Perhaps we should change the "average" house edge in our calculations to about 1%, seeing as this data points us in that direction.
Playing it correctly means you've already won.
September 19th, 2016 at 5:50:21 PM
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I'm kinda on that list. The rare times I play, I use the Wiz' strategy from the back of his business card, which he says is only 99.86% accurate, and then still won't hit on 16 unless the dealer is showing a ace.Quote: IbeatyouracesIt's far LESS than 1%.
Hell, I've seen them look at the correct BS card and STILL MAKE THE WRONG PLAY!
Last edited by: DJTeddyBear on Sep 19, 2016
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? 😁
November 30th, 2016 at 10:42:17 AM
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Time for an update to the Vegas blackjack ratings. These are based on the Nov 2016 Current Blackjack Newsletter.
Casinos with a hotel:
Casinos without a hotel:
One change is the inclusion of the Longhorn to the list with a hotel component. I'm embarrassed that I didn't know until about two weeks ago that it had a hotel. Now we'll have to add a review for it. Volunteers?
Here are some changes in ratings:
Alamo change from D- to F
Bellagio change from C to C-
Cosmopolitan change from C+ to C
Downtown Grand change from A to A-
Excalibur change from D- to D
Fiesta Rancho change from B+ to B
Golden Nugget change from C to C+
Hard Rock change from C- to C
MGM Grand change from C to C+
Red Rock change from B to B-
Rio change from C+ to C
SLS change from B- to B
Tropicana change from B- to C+
I should note the Alamo's average house edge remained the same at 2.02%. I did decide to give a failing grade to any casino over 2%.
Casinos with a hotel:
| Rank | Casino | Avg. Edge | Avg. Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Cortez | 0.25% | A+ |
| 2 | Rampart | 0.41% | A |
| 3 | Longhorn | 0.43% | A |
| 4 | South Point | 0.47% | A |
| 5 | Silverton | 0.48% | A |
| 6 | Arizona Charlie’s Decatur | 0.48% | A |
| 7 | Cannery | 0.49% | A |
| 8 | M Resort | 0.50% | A |
| 9 | Railroad Pass | 0.52% | A |
| 10 | Paris | 0.52% | A |
| 11 | Silver Sevens | 0.52% | A |
| 12 | Gold Coast | 0.52% | A |
| 13 | Suncoast | 0.53% | A- |
| 14 | Treasure Island | 0.53% | A- |
| 15 | Aliante | 0.53% | A- |
| 16 | Santa Fe Station | 0.54% | A- |
| 17 | Eastside Cannery | 0.55% | A- |
| 18 | Arizona Charlie’s Boulder | 0.56% | A- |
| 19 | Orleans | 0.58% | A- |
| 20 | California | 0.61% | A- |
| 21 | Downtown Grand | 0.63% | A- |
| 22 | Tuscany | 0.64% | A- |
| 23 | Golden Gate | 0.67% | B+ |
| 24 | Sam’s Town | 0.68% | B+ |
| 25 | Main Street Station | 0.69% | B+ |
| 26 | D Las Vegas | 0.69% | B+ |
| 27 | Palms | 0.70% | B+ |
| 28 | Plaza | 0.70% | B+ |
| 29 | Hooters | 0.74% | B+ |
| 30 | Planet Hollywood | 0.82% | B |
| 31 | SLS | 0.84% | B |
| 32 | Fiesta Rancho | 0.90% | B |
| 33 | Harrah’s | 0.93% | B- |
| 34 | Bally’s | 0.97% | B- |
| 35 | Green Valley Ranch | 0.98% | B- |
| 36 | Flamingo | 1.00% | B- |
| 37 | Casino Royale | 1.03% | B- |
| 38 | Caesars Palace | 1.03% | B- |
| 39 | Red Rock | 1.03% | B- |
| 40 | Aria | 1.04% | B- |
| 41 | Mandalay Bay | 1.04% | B- |
| 42 | Tropicana | 1.05% | C+ |
| 43 | Fremont | 1.09% | C+ |
| 44 | Golden Nugget | 1.09% | C+ |
| 45 | MGM Grand | 1.17% | C+ |
| 46 | Palace Station | 1.17% | C+ |
| 47 | Sunset Station | 1.18% | C+ |
| 48 | Wynn Las Vegas | 1.20% | C |
| 49 | Encore | 1.22% | C |
| 50 | Boulder Station | 1.22% | C |
| 51 | Rio | 1.23% | C |
| 52 | Cosmopolitan | 1.25% | C |
| 53 | Texas Station | 1.30% | C |
| 54 | Westgate | 1.30% | C |
| 55 | Hard Rock | 1.30% | C |
| 56 | Palazzo | 1.34% | C- |
| 57 | Bellagio | 1.39% | C- |
| 58 | Mirage | 1.40% | C- |
| 59 | Linq | 1.45% | D+ |
| 60 | Stratosphere | 1.46% | D+ |
| 61 | Fiesta Henderson | 1.53% | D+ |
| 62 | Four Queens | 1.54% | D+ |
| 63 | Venetian | 1.54% | D+ |
| 64 | Monte Carlo | 1.58% | D |
| 65 | Excalibur | 1.59% | D |
| 66 | Cromwell | 1.62% | D |
| 67 | New York New York | 1.66% | D |
| 68 | Luxor | 1.74% | D- |
| 69 | Circus Circus | 1.80% | D- |
| 70 | Max | 1.82% | D- |
| 71 | Binion’s | 1.88% | D- |
| Average | 1.07% | C+ |
Casinos without a hotel:
| Casino | Casino | Avg. Edge | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bighorn | 0.25% | A+ |
| 2 | Jerry’s Nugget | 0.43% | A |
| 3 | Club Fortune | 0.45% | A |
| 4 | Jokers Wild | 0.46% | A |
| 5 | Lucky Club | 0.52% | A |
| 6 | Silver Nugget. | 0.52% | A |
| 7 | Wild Wild West | 0.52% | A |
| 8 | Skyline | 0.63% | A- |
| 9 | Ellis Island | 0.65% | A- |
| 10 | Poker Palace | 1.38% | C- |
| 11 | Margaritaville | 1.80% | D- |
| 12 | O’Sheas | 1.92% | D- |
| 13 | Alamo | 2.02% | F |
| Total | 1.04% | B- |
One change is the inclusion of the Longhorn to the list with a hotel component. I'm embarrassed that I didn't know until about two weeks ago that it had a hotel. Now we'll have to add a review for it. Volunteers?
Here are some changes in ratings:
Alamo change from D- to F
Bellagio change from C to C-
Cosmopolitan change from C+ to C
Downtown Grand change from A to A-
Excalibur change from D- to D
Fiesta Rancho change from B+ to B
Golden Nugget change from C to C+
Hard Rock change from C- to C
MGM Grand change from C to C+
Red Rock change from B to B-
Rio change from C+ to C
SLS change from B- to B
Tropicana change from B- to C+
I should note the Alamo's average house edge remained the same at 2.02%. I did decide to give a failing grade to any casino over 2%.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
November 30th, 2016 at 10:53:18 AM
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Wasn't the Alamo the best Game in town not that long ago?
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
December 3rd, 2016 at 1:47:04 PM
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Got a question on the Math. You mentioned:
I had almost a couple of years of Statistics in college along with three years of Math and Physics. I can't remember why it is the "dot product." Lol. Thanks!
Quote:The way I determine the overall house edge in blackjack for a given casino is to take the dot product of the probability of each set of rules within that casino and the house edge. In other words, if a player picked a table at random, what would be the house edge.
I had almost a couple of years of Statistics in college along with three years of Math and Physics. I can't remember why it is the "dot product." Lol. Thanks!
The Terror of Casinos.
December 3rd, 2016 at 2:40:28 PM
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Okay, I'm at the Strat...I want to get to the Ramparts.. gonna be a long, hot hitchhiking session. Gonna cost me some shoe leather. Should I go from a "D" joint to an "A+" joint?
December 3rd, 2016 at 3:15:42 PM
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The trip from my place to Longhorn was longer then the scenic tour of the entire casino
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
December 4th, 2016 at 1:19:43 AM
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I thought both the Lucky Club and Wild Wild West had hotels.
100% risk of ruin
December 4th, 2016 at 6:42:57 AM
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Where is lucky dragon?
Does it indcude video-blackjack?
Can you re-arrange by minimum bets, for example rating for 5$ and than 10$ and etc? If it isn't violation of copyright..
Does it indcude video-blackjack?
Can you re-arrange by minimum bets, for example rating for 5$ and than 10$ and etc? If it isn't violation of copyright..
December 4th, 2016 at 1:18:55 PM
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Quote: billryanWasn't the Alamo the best Game in town not that long ago?
Yes. They had a great single deck game. I played it about two weeks before they took it out. The manager said he was tired of chasing away pesky card counters.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
December 4th, 2016 at 1:22:17 PM
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Quote: RogerKintI thought both the Lucky Club and Wild Wild West had hotels.
Good point about the Wild Wild West. It is barely connected to a Days Inn. I'm not sure if you can go from one to the other without going outside.
Google Earth of the building.
I didn't think the Lucky Club had rooms -- but I was wrong. source.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
December 4th, 2016 at 1:28:23 PM
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Here is yet another update for you. This adds the Lucky Dragon, Binion's, and the Ellis Island. Some casinos have may had the return go up marginally. This is because I miscalculated the return of some Caveman Keno games, because sometimes three eggs pays an 8x multiplier and sometimes 10x. I previously thought it was always 8x.
I still need to add the Cannery (the one in North Las Vegas) and perhaps the Lucky Club and Wild Wild West.
Video Keno
Video Poker
I still need to add the Cannery (the one in North Las Vegas) and perhaps the Lucky Club and Wild Wild West.
Video Keno
| Rank | Casino | Return | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encore | 93.52% | A+ |
| 2 | Arizona Charlie's -- Boulder | 93.47% | A |
| 3 | Bellagio | 93.17% | A |
| 4 | Rampart | 92.77% | A- |
| 5 | Wynn | 92.69% | A- |
| 6 | Lucky Dragon | 92.55% | A- |
| 7 | MGM | 92.55% | A- |
| 8 | Main Street Station | 92.50% | A- |
| 9 | Gold Coast | 92.50% | A- |
| 10 | Palms | 92.37% | A- |
| 11 | Hooters | 92.30% | B+ |
| 12 | Arizona Charlie's -- Decatur | 92.28% | B+ |
| 13 | El Cortez | 92.21% | B+ |
| 14 | Golden Gate | 92.20% | B+ |
| 15 | South Point | 92.18% | B+ |
| 16 | Plaza | 92.17% | B+ |
| 17 | Eastside Cannery | 92.12% | B+ |
| 18 | Fremont | 92.07% | B+ |
| 19 | Ellis Island | 92.03% | B+ |
| 20 | Palace Station | 91.78% | B |
| 21 | Golden Nugget | 91.76% | B |
| 22 | M | 91.74% | B |
| 23 | Fiesta Rancho | 91.68% | B |
| 24 | Texas Station | 91.66% | B |
| 25 | Max | 91.66% | B |
| 26 | Monte Carlo | 91.66% | B |
| 27 | Suncoast | 91.59% | B |
| 28 | Silver Sevens | 91.58% | B |
| 29 | Cosmopolitan | 91.57% | B |
| 30 | Tuscany | 91.27% | B- |
| 31 | Fiesta Henderson | 91.21% | B- |
| 32 | Green Valley Ranch | 91.16% | B- |
| 33 | SLS | 91.12% | B- |
| 34 | Westgate | 91.11% | B- |
| 35 | Binion's | 91.06% | B- |
| 36 | Boulder Station | 91.05% | B- |
| 37 | Treasure Island | 91.04% | B- |
| 38 | Aliante | 91.02% | B- |
| 39 | Downtown Grand | 90.92% | B- |
| 40 | D | 90.87% | B- |
| 41 | Circus Circus | 90.83% | B- |
| 42 | Excalibur | 90.71% | B- |
| 43 | Luxor | 90.69% | C+ |
| 44 | Stratosphere | 90.56% | C+ |
| 45 | Longhorn | 90.51% | C+ |
| 46 | Orleans | 90.45% | C+ |
| 47 | California | 90.40% | C+ |
| 48 | Sunset Station | 90.40% | C+ |
| 49 | Ballys | 90.37% | C+ |
| 50 | Caesars | 89.94% | C |
| 51 | Mirage | 89.79% | C- |
| 52 | Red Rock | 89.53% | C- |
| 53 | Four Queens | 89.45% | C- |
| 54 | Silverton | 89.30% | C- |
| 55 | Hard Rock | 89.21% | C- |
| 56 | Cromwell | 88.82% | D+ |
| 57 | Harrah's | 88.81% | D+ |
| 58 | Linq | 88.80% | D+ |
| 59 | New York New York | 88.80% | D+ |
| 60 | Planet Hollywood | 88.75% | D+ |
| 61 | Aria | 88.58% | D |
| 62 | Paris | 88.57% | D |
| 63 | Tropicana | 88.45% | D |
| 64 | Palazzo | 88.21% | D- |
| 65 | Mandalay Bay | 88.17% | D- |
| 66 | Flamingo | 87.57% | D- |
| 67 | Rio | 87.57% | D- |
| 68 | Casino Royale | 87.47% | F |
| 69 | Venetian | 87.15% | F |
Video Poker
| Rank | Casino | Return | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Point | 99.38% | A+ |
| 2 | Arizona Charlie's -- Decatur | 98.37% | A- |
| 3 | Eastside Cannery | 98.16% | B+ |
| 4 | Hooters | 97.91% | B |
| 5 | Orleans | 97.86% | B |
| 6 | M | 97.86% | B |
| 7 | El Cortez | 97.85% | B |
| 8 | Arizona Charlie's -- Boulder | 97.83% | B |
| 9 | Plaza | 97.75% | B |
| 10 | Fiesta Rancho | 97.65% | B- |
| 11 | Rampart | 97.62% | B- |
| 12 | Palace Station | 97.62% | B- |
| 13 | Gold Coast | 97.51% | B- |
| 14 | Boulder Station | 97.50% | B- |
| 15 | Cromwell | 97.50% | B- |
| 16 | Longhorn | 97.49% | B- |
| 17 | Red Rock | 97.47% | B- |
| 18 | Green Valley Ranch | 97.44% | B- |
| 19 | Golden Gate | 97.44% | B- |
| 20 | SLS | 97.42% | B- |
| 21 | Aliante | 97.42% | B- |
| 22 | Downtown Grand | 97.38% | B- |
| 23 | Tuscany | 97.37% | B- |
| 24 | Hard Rock | 97.36% | B- |
| 25 | Casino Royale | 97.35% | B- |
| 26 | Palms | 97.33% | B- |
| 27 | California | 97.32% | B- |
| 28 | Main Street Station | 97.26% | C+ |
| 29 | Texas Station | 97.25% | C+ |
| 30 | Ellis Island | 97.24% | C+ |
| 31 | Silver Sevens | 97.22% | C+ |
| 32 | Fiesta Henderson | 97.20% | C+ |
| 33 | Sunset Station | 97.14% | C+ |
| 34 | Westgate | 97.13% | C+ |
| 35 | Four Queens | 97.12% | C+ |
| 36 | Stratosphere | 97.02% | C+ |
| 37 | Suncoast | 97.02% | C+ |
| 38 | Circus Circus | 96.98% | C |
| 39 | Max | 96.90% | C |
| 40 | Lucky Dragon | 96.89% | C |
| 41 | Silverton | 96.78% | C |
| 42 | Wynn | 96.65% | C- |
| 43 | Encore | 96.62% | C- |
| 44 | Golden Nugget | 96.57% | C- |
| 45 | Binion's | 96.52% | C- |
| 46 | Cosmopolitan | 96.45% | C- |
| 47 | Aria | 96.45% | C- |
| 48 | Luxor | 96.41% | C- |
| 49 | Monte Carlo | 96.38% | C- |
| 50 | Fremont | 96.37% | C- |
| 51 | Tropicana | 96.37% | C- |
| 52 | Treasure Island | 96.32% | C- |
| 53 | Mandalay Bay | 96.30% | C- |
| 54 | Caesars | 96.28% | D+ |
| 55 | Harrah's | 96.26% | D+ |
| 56 | New York New York | 96.22% | D+ |
| 57 | Bellagio | 96.05% | D+ |
| 58 | Mirage | 96.02% | D+ |
| 59 | D | 95.98% | D |
| 60 | Excalibur | 95.96% | D |
| 61 | MGM | 95.89% | D |
| 62 | Planet Hollywood | 95.85% | D |
| 63 | Linq | 95.83% | D |
| 64 | Paris | 95.83% | D |
| 65 | Rio | 95.70% | D |
| 66 | Ballys | 95.52% | D- |
| 67 | Flamingo | 95.27% | F |
| 68 | Venetian | 95.05% | F |
| 69 | Palazzo | 95.05% | F |
Last edited by: Wizard on Dec 4, 2016
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
December 4th, 2016 at 11:49:02 PM
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I think you mixed the "video survey" and "blackjack survey".
