Vegas Blackjack Rankings

Here is a new feature I'd like to run up the flagpole for my Odds site. This might be a monthly thing. The idea is to rank the Las Vegas casinos by house edge in blackjack. The data below comes from the October 2011 Current Blackjack News (CBJN). Said newsletter contains information about every blackjack game in the United States and Canada, including detailed rules, number of tables, bet range, house edge, and useful comments for card counters.

The average house edge figures are weighted averages based on number of tables. Unlike my survey, the CBJN includes blackjack-based novelty games like Blackjack Switch and Super Fun 21. The house edge figures are directly from the CBJN, which are not necessarily the same as mine, but we always seem to come within 0.03%.

I'm not sure how I am going to present it, so consider this a first effort. I welcome all comments. For example, I welcome comments on:

1. Too many/few tables?
2. Should I add a column for number of tables?
3. Should I weed out the blackjack variants? If so, what is a "variant" exactly?
4. Should I weed out smaller casinos or those with no hotel?
5. Should I divide by region (i.e. Strip, downtown, west, north, east, south)?

First, here is the overall average house edge at all tables.

Table 1 -- All Tables

Casino	Average House Edge
El Cortez	0.24%
Bighorn	0.25%
Longhorn	0.25%
Aria	0.37%
Bellagio	0.37%
Eldorado	0.40%
Hacienda	0.40%
Rampart	0.43%
M Resort	0.43%
Club Fortune.	0.44%
Green Valley Ranch	0.45%
Arizona Charlie’s Decatur	0.45%
Silverton	0.45%
Palazzo	0.46%
Venetian	0.46%
Palace Station	0.47%
South Point	0.47%
Jokers Wild	0.48%
Cannery -- North	0.48%
Arizona Charlie’s Boulder	0.48%
Silver Nugget	0.49%
Eastside Cannery	0.50%
Mandalay Bay	0.51%
Red Rock	0.51%
Jerry’s Nugget	0.51%
Terrible’s	0.51%
Wynn Las Vegas	0.52%
Gold Coast	0.52%
Santa Fe Station	0.53%
Casino Royale	0.53%
Mirage	0.53%
Aliante Station	0.54%
MGM Grand	0.54%
Cosmopolitan	0.57%
Lucky Club	0.57%
Tropicana	0.57%
Sunset Station	0.57%
Suncoast	0.60%
Palms	0.62%
Orleans	0.62%
Sam’s Town	0.63%
Westin	0.63%
Golden Gate	0.63%
Boulder Station	0.63%
Tuscany	0.64%
Encore	0.65%
California	0.66%
Ellis Island	0.66%
Main Street Station	0.66%
Fiesta Rancho	0.67%
Las Vegas Hilton	0.68%
Plaza	0.68%
Texas Station	0.68%
Fremont	0.68%
Circus Circus	0.69%
Planet Hollywood	0.69%
Wild Wild West	0.73%
Hooters	0.79%
Riviera	0.80%
Treasure Island	0.81%
Golden Nugget	0.82%
Fiesta Henderson	0.84%
Railroad Pass	0.87%
Paris	0.87%
Hard Rock	0.89%
Caesars Palace	0.97%
Luxor	0.98%
Monte Carlo	1.00%
Bally’s	1.02%
Stratosphere	1.02%
Excalibur	1.04%
Rio	1.09%
Fitzgeralds	1.14%
Flamingo Las Vegas	1.15%
Harrah’s	1.35%
New York New York	1.36%
Poker Palace	1.38%
Vegas Club	1.40%
Four Queens	1.43%
Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall	1.49%
Binion’s	1.54%
Imperial Palace	1.66%
O’Sheas	1.85%
Margaritaville	1.85%
Gold Spike	1.94%
Western	1.97%

What if you're a $5 player and don't want higher-minimum tables confusing the ranking. The following table looks only at $5 minimum games.

Table 2 -- $5 Minimum Tables

Casino	Average House Edge
El Cortez	0.18%
Arizona Charlie’s Boulder	0.35%
Arizona Charlie’s Decatur	0.40%
Jerry’s Nugget	0.40%
Lucky Club	0.40%
Silver Nugget	0.40%
Rampart	0.43%
Green Valley Ranch	0.45%
Cannery -- North	0.45%
Silverton	0.45%
Aliante Station	0.46%
Bellagio	0.46%
South Point	0.47%
Palace Station	0.48%
Eastside Cannery	0.49%
MGM Grand	0.49%
Gold Coast	0.51%
Terrible’s	0.51%
Santa Fe Station	0.53%
Suncoast	0.53%
Casino Royale	0.53%
Red Rock	0.55%
Bally’s	0.56%
Hooters	0.56%
M Resort	0.56%
Paris	0.56%
Tropicana	0.56%
Hard Rock	0.56%
Sunset Station	0.57%
Palms	0.59%
Plaza	0.61%
Orleans	0.62%
Sam’s Town	0.62%
Westin	0.63%
Mirage	0.63%
Excalibur	0.63%
Fremont	0.63%
Golden Gate	0.64%
Ellis Island	0.66%
Fiesta Rancho	0.68%
Texas Station	0.68%
Las Vegas Hilton	0.74%
Vegas Club	0.79%
Four Queens	0.79%
Boulder Station	0.85%
Fiesta Henderson	0.87%
Wild Wild West	0.90%
Treasure Island	0.91%
Golden Nugget	0.97%
Railroad Pass	0.99%
Stratosphere	1.13%
Flamingo Las Vegas	1.16%
Monte Carlo	1.17%
Main Street Station	1.20%
Fitzgeralds	1.26%
Planet Hollywood	1.31%
Tuscany	1.40%
Riviera	1.45%
Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall	1.58%
New York New York	1.59%
Binion’s	1.62%
Imperial Palace	1.65%
Gold Spike	1.78%
Caesars Palace	1.84%
Circus Circus	1.84%
O’Sheas	1.85%

What if you're a higher minimum player? The next set of tables are for you. If a casino isn't listed then it has zero tables at the specified minimum.

Table 3 -- $10 Minimum Tables

Casino	Average House Edge
Boulder Station	0.35%
M Resort	0.35%
Circus Circus	0.40%
Treasure Island	0.40%
Vegas Club	0.40%
Stratosphere	0.40%
Binion’s	0.44%
Aria	0.46%
Wynn Las Vegas	0.46%
Venetian	0.50%
Caesars Palace	0.54%
Encore	0.54%
Planet Hollywood	0.54%
Golden Gate	0.56%
Golden Nugget	0.56%
Imperial Palace	0.56%
Mandalay Bay	0.58%
MGM Grand	0.59%
Hooters	0.63%
Riviera	0.63%
Cosmopolitan	0.72%
Palazzo	0.78%
Fremont	0.94%
Monte Carlo	1.04%
Palms	1.05%
Luxor	1.14%
Suncoast	1.24%
Plaza	1.26%
Bally’s	1.36%
Aliante Station	1.42%
Flamingo Las Vegas	1.45%
Paris	1.45%
Harrah’s	1.55%
California	1.57%
Excalibur	1.59%
Rio	1.59%
Hard Rock	1.74%
Margaritaville	1.85%
Tropicana	1.90%

Table 4 -- $15 Minimum Tables

Casino	Average House Edge
Paris	0.16%
Aria	0.18%
Bellagio	0.18%
Cosmopolitan	0.18%
Venetian	0.18%
Palazzo	0.49%
Harrah’s	0.53%
Planet Hollywood	0.54%
Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall	0.56%
Caesars Palace	0.94%
Cannery -- North	0.94%
Imperial Palace	1.92%

Table 5 -- $25 Minimum Tables

Casino	Average House Edge
Red Rock	0.26%
Bellagio	0.31%
Mandalay Bay	0.32%
Cosmopolitan	0.34%
Aria	0.34%
Las Vegas Hilton	0.35%
Hard Rock	0.40%
Luxor	0.40%
New York New York	0.40%
Palazzo	0.40%
Planet Hollywood	0.40%
Riviera	0.40%
Venetian	0.40%
Mirage	0.44%
Green Valley Ranch	0.46%
Bally’s	0.53%
Flamingo Las Vegas	0.53%
Golden Nugget	0.53%
Paris	0.53%
Rio	0.58%
Wynn Las Vegas	0.59%
Encore	1.31%

Table 6 -- $100 Minimum Tables

Casino	Average House Edge
M Resort	0.14%
Tropicana	0.14%
Luxor	0.19%
Hard Rock	0.23%
Caesars Palace	0.26%
Palazzo	0.26%
Planet Hollywood	0.26%
Venetian	0.26%
Paris	0.33%
Encore	0.35%
Palms	0.35%
Wynn Las Vegas	0.40%
Flamingo Las Vegas	0.41%
Harrah’s	0.41%
Las Vegas Hilton	0.63%

Finally, here are some Vegas averages.

Game	Average
All	0.75%
$5 min	0.79%
$10 min	0.90%
$15 min	0.69%
$25 min	0.45%
$100 min	0.34%

I haven't looked at the underlying data at all, but I find it interesting that some properties (such as El Cortez and Arizona Charley's Boulder) have a lower house edge at their $5 tables than their average for the property. Is this because they have a bunch of $2/$3 tables with worse conditions or something?

If you want to present all of these data, I think it would be better to do it in a single table. Just use separate columns for Average, $5 tables, $10 tables, etc. You would need to sort by one specific column (Average?) with the others not necessarily being in exact order, though they might be close. That might make it easier for someone to judge whether it is significant to move to a higher-level game.

Quote: Doc

I haven't looked at the underlying data at all, but I find it interesting that some properties (such as El Cortez and Arizona Charley's Boulder) have a lower house edge at their $5 tables than their average for the property. Is this because they have a bunch of $2/$3 tables with worse conditions or something?

The El Cortez has some 0.40% tables at a $3 minimum and some 0.18% at a $5 minimum. Same kind of situation at ACB. At both casinos the $5 players are the high rollers. This might argue for a table at $1, $2, or $3 minimums.

Quote: Doc

If you want to present all of these data, I think it would be better to do it in a single table. Just use separate columns for Average, $5 tables, $10 tables, etc. You would need to sort by one specific column (Average?) with the others not necessarily being in exact order, though they might be close. That might make it easier for someone to judge whether it is significant to move to a higher-level game.

Not bad. Let me think about it.

Quote: Wizard

I'm not sure how I am going to present it, so consider this a first effort. I welcome all comments. For example, I welcome comments on:

1. Too many/few tables?
2. Should I add a column for number of tables?
3. Should I weed out the blackjack variants? If so, what is a "variant" exactly?
4. Should I weed out smaller casinos or those with no hotel?
5. Should I divide by region (i.e. Strip, downtown, west, north, east, south)?

Wizard -

I think #1-2 is really hard to quantify - I think if you're going to break out table numbers, you should always measure the # at the same time of day to make sure that the data is relevant. If you wish, you could maybe do a mid-day and evening table count.

For #3 - I think keeping it just a BJ (without variant) survey would be beneficial - based on the data presented, I'm not sure someone would be looking for that info.

#4&5 are toss-ups. Certainly it helps with a breakdown, but your current survey at least divides it by region. Maybe if the survey was sortable by multiple columns? Then you could first find the $5 tables and then sort further by location?

I look forward to seeing the finished result.

-B

Okay lets take a look at Bighorn and Longhorn each being 0.25 while Aria is 0.37.

If a wife insisted on staying at Aria do you really think she is going to allow a trek to either of those casinos or even the neighborhood? And how much are you going to be betting before that edge makes a difference in recouping the cab fare and her cost to file for a divorce? So geography and other factors are too important to omit.

If a certain house edge is only in the evenings and only in the high limit room that should be noted.

Also, a BJ variant is one that has a markedly different strategy for it. If playing Basic Strategy for BJ is unwise while playing Spanish 21, then its a variant and needs a separate table or notation of some sort.

Some of the local Indian casinos here have five dollar tables but try finding a seat. So I think one "token" table should not earn a casino a high rating in your table, it has to be something that is reasonably available to the average player during an average visit to Las Vegas. So if its only in the High Limit room and only at nights, that is significant.

Quote: toastcmu

I think #1-2 is really hard to quantify - I think if you're going to break out table numbers, you should always measure the # at the same time of day to make sure that the data is relevant. If you wish, you could maybe do a mid-day and evening table count.

You must have this site confused with one that makes any money. I can't justify the time to visit every casino in Vegas, let alone at the same time and day of the week, to do such research. Besides, as I said, this all comes from the CBJN, and I think their table counts are based on full capacity.

Quote: toastcmu

For #3 - I think keeping it just a BJ (without variant) survey would be beneficial - based on the data presented, I'm not sure someone would be looking for that info.

I'm still on the fence on that one. If I weed out the blackjack variants for one thing I have to hand edit the whole file. For another, I have to draw a line as to what makes a variant. Super Fun 21? Power Blackjack? Blackjack Switch? Double Attack Blackjack? I lean towards just leaving everything in.

Quote: toastcmu

#4&5 are toss-ups. Certainly it helps with a breakdown, but your current survey at least divides it by region. Maybe if the survey was sortable by multiple columns? Then you could first find the $5 tables and then sort further by location?

Quote: FleaStiff

Okay lets take a look at Bighorn and Longhorn each being 0.25 while Aria is 0.37. If a wife insisted on staying at Aria do you really think she is going to allow a trek to either of those casinos or even the neighborhood? And how much are you going to be betting before that edge makes a difference in recouping the cab fare and her cost to file for a divorce? So geography and other factors are too important to omit.

I'm leaning towards a geographical breakdown.

Quote: FleaStiff

Also, a BJ variant is one that has a markedly different strategy for it. If playing Basic Strategy for BJ is unwise while playing Spanish 21, then its a variant and needs a separate table or notation of some sort.

The house edge is always based on basic strategy for the given game. I'll footnote that.

Quote: FleaStiff

Some of the local Indian casinos here have five dollar tables but try finding a seat. So I think one "token" table should not earn a casino a high rating in your table, it has to be something that is reasonably available to the average player during an average visit to Las Vegas. So if its only in the High Limit room and only at nights, that is significant.

The overall house edge for each casino is a weighted average. So, if a casino had 99 tables at 1%, and 1 at 0%, then the overall house edge for that casino would be 0.99%.

I like the blackjack survey on this site better. The only improvement I can think of is whether the table(s) has a csm or not.

Quote: Wizard

You must have this site confused with one that makes any money. I can't justify the time to visit every casino in Vegas, let alone at the same time and day of the week, to do such research. Besides, as I said, this all comes from the CBJN, and I think their table counts are based on full capacity.

Sorry if I offended you, wasn't the intent. I always thought the CBJN table counts are a little misleading, esp. on the East Coast. I think clarifying that the table counts are full capacity is fair enough. Also similar for the limits - while CBJN states you may find a $5 table, I always chuckle at the posts on the interwebs from people looking for the $5 table on the aforementioned Sat. night.

-B

Quote: Wizard

You must have this site confused with one that makes any money.

LOL.

But on that note, isn't the data you're using coming from a paid newsletter subscription? Or have you, or plan to, contact them to get permission to use their data for this project?

I didn't look too deeply at the data, except I notice that a lot of the data is rather old. Is that sample data, or the first issue? The website states they will update it monthly. All the data? Or just whatever they happened to survey? Either way, I think before you really commit to anything, you should see how that holds up.

Last, I'm not really sure how useful the charts will be.

What I mean is, it's nice to know what a casino's average is, but, what I really want to know is, who has the better tables, and once I'm in that casino, how do I identify which ones they are?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

But on that note, isn't the data you're using coming from a paid newsletter subscription? Or have you, or plan to, contact them to get permission to use their data for this project?

I didn't look too deeply at the data, except I notice that a lot of the data is rather old. Is that sample data, or the first issue? The website states they will update it monthly. All the data? Or just whatever they happened to survey? Either way, I think before you really commit to anything, you should see how that holds up.

Last, I'm not really sure how useful the charts will be.

What I mean is, it's nice to know what a casino's average is, but, what I really want to know is, who has the better tables, and once I'm in that casino, how do I identify which ones they are?

I already have their permission to publish the tables like you see here, so long as I properly attribute it. You may recall I used to indicate all the information from the CBJN except card counting details on this site. However, revenue this site makes was not sufficient to continue paying for said information. You are always welcome to buy you own subscription.

My slot machine survey was a big hit ten years ago. I'm in in favor of pointing players to the casinos with the best rules. Granted, this survey has its flaws, but I still think is a good resource for the average player.

Quote: Wizard

Here is a new feature I'd like to run up the flagpole for my Odds site.

Love it!

Quote: Wizard

1. Too many/few tables?

It would be nice to combine the several tables into one, perhaps you could do make it so you could sort by any column? I don't think the "average" table is as valuable, but might as well add it as a column as well.

Quote: Wizard

2. Should I add a column for number of tables?

This would certainly help people to know what to expect, but perhaps only if you stick to having separate tables.

Quote: Wizard

3. Should I weed out the blackjack variants? If so, what is a "variant" exactly?

I think it should be just for real blackjack. I would consider 6:5 a "variant". (IMHO)

Quote: Wizard

4. Should I weed out smaller casinos or those with no hotel?

I think the smaller casinos have some of the best odds, so I would say leave them in!

Quote: Wizard

5. Should I divide by region (i.e. Strip, downtown, west, north, east, south)?

Certainly useful. But you could add a column that one could sort on.

I guess we are all willing to volunteer the time and efforts of someone else.

You might consider who would be using this set of tables... newbies, first time Vegas Visitors, or people fixated on splitting hair ends and infitessimal fractions?

If 6:5 are variants to be kicked out then that sure kicks out most of what a drunken fanny-pack wearing tourist will encounter. Not everyone is going to head to Low-Dive-Larry's to play the sharpest edge in town. Some people are in Vegas for the first time and are staying at MegaNamedResort and just want to know what are their options there.

Tables are usually licensed for a year but the terms change, often whimsically.

The table would reflect a per table listing but would have a per casino summary that would allow the reader to differentiate between some casino with 27 fair tables but no really great table versus the casino with one really great five dollar table at zero edge but not the slightest chance that there will ever be a seat available once you trek there.

I just updated the tables with the November data. Per the suggestions here, I decided to break down the tables by location, rather than table minimum. So, please have a look at my Vegas Blackjack Rankings before I announce them to the general public. Please report any errors or typos.

¡Graías!

"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)

Westin Casuarina.

Looks good. For those of us already on the board, it is not the detailed information we would want*, but the general public loves rankings and it should draw traffic. Plus, it is always good to shame casinos with bad rules :)

Is Casino Royale really that good? I was under the impression all of their games were 6/5 or bad Switch.

(*Of course we can always look at the Blackjack Survey.)

"The tables have been broken by locality, and in the case of off off-strip casinos, whether the casino is a part of a hotel or not."

Not sure if you meant to type "off" twice for emphasis.

I would highly suggest putting on that table what the minimum at each casinos is. I know it would be more effort, but knowing the daytime minimum and nighttime minimum would be very useful as well. I know it is hard to track that, but just knowing it will be impossible to find a $10 table at Wynn in the evening might be useful. Or knowing that only certain casinos will even have a $5 table at night is useful.


I'm not sure what your main goal is though. While I know many people want to know where to get the best odds, I see more questions on forums asking where do I find BJ at $X level. It would be useful to be able to look at one table to see those combined.

Yes, it might be useful to present the information by table minimum but the usual disclaimer would have to refer to a very large grain of salt since the information changes so often.

Stratosphere is usually considered a strip hotel even though it is legally inside Las Vegas city limits. I'm thinking of it from the point of view of the usual tourist maps.

So it appears , I can play the lowest HE for 15 min ??

I think emphasizing that the house edges here are a composite of all the different games offered at the casino, somehow should be made. I know it's listed in the explanation before the tables, but just on a first glance, someone may not realize that's the case....

-B

Thanks for all the corrections and suggestions thus far.

Regarding Casino Royale, the CBJN says they have 6 tables of "good" Switch and 3 tables of 6-5 BJ with a 21 automatic winner rule. I'm pretty sure they switched to bad switch quite a while ago, and the survey is out of date. My next trip to the Casino Royale I will check, and let the editors know if verified.

Regarding information about table minimums and maximums, you can get that any time from my own Vegas blackjack survey.

I added an example to the opening to show how the house edge figures are a weighted average of every BJ table in the casino.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks for all the corrections and suggestions thus far.

Some late suggestions:

(1) It sounds a little moronic, but just add the equation (10*1.0%+5*0.5%)/15= 0.833% . Not everyone is familiar with the idea of weighted averages and you are bound to get questions.

(2) I would also mention that you need higher minimums to get good tables at some casino. A link to your other page would help.

(3) I would like to know what are the three casinos with the biggest spread between good tables and bad tables. Theoretically you could have a casino with $10 minimums with truly terrible HA, and several tables with $100 minimums with great HA. While I think it might be information overload to provide all the data, it would be nice to know which are the worst offenders.

Quote: Wizard

Regarding information about table minimums and maximums, you can get that any time from my own Vegas blackjack survey.

You may want to link to that page from this new page.