The insidous spread of 6:5 blackjack

[Stealth]

In June 2015 I reviewed the CBJN survey of casinos to understand how pervasive the infiltration of 6:5 payoffs on blackjack has become.

In Las Vegas, some 54 out of 85 (64%) casinos now have some of their blackjack tables with payoffs of 6:5.

In the Midwest it was only 15 out of some 159 casinos (9%).

In the West (not including Vegas) it was 44 out of 246 casinos (18%).

In the East it was 7 of 42 casinos (17%).

In the South it was 15 of 61 casinos (25%).

No question Las Vegas has led the way in the change. What appears to have started at the low limit tables has now begun to inch up to the higher limit tables. While it is apparent that management understand the higher limit players (that is those who are knowledgeable) will not play the 6:5 games.

Most of the casinos have limited the infiltration to their low limit games, another prime way of taking advantage of the lower level players.

Friends do not let friends play 6:5 blackjack! Complain vigorously to your friendly casino management!!!!!!!!!!!

[Banjoclan]

My last trip to Vegas I played almost exclusive off strip. However, NY had a ton of $10 6/5 tables and they were very busy. I really don't think the average player cares. (although they think they care, because they've heard single deck is better odds, they really don't care enough to do any maths.)

I remember a number of years ago (before I played much bj) I asked a dealer who I met at an off strip joint why they don't all just switch to 6:5. He said that the serious players would all leave. Apparently they're not concerned about the serious players.

[Sharky]

...I remember a number of years ago (before I played much bj) I asked a dealer who I met at an off strip joint why they don't all just switch to 6:5. He said that the serious players would all leave. Apparently they're not concerned about the serious players.

of course, you understand by 'serious' he meant high rollers

[stopgambling]

people that goes to LV for "fun" don't know and don't care . anyone that gambles knows and do care and usually will not play 6:5 IMO. I see a trend that the locals do play the better odd games because they consistently have better results without realizing it sometimes . The places that i played at all the locals or semi knowledgeable gamblers goes for DD and avoid machines or 6 decks.

[Tarzan]

If there's enough dummies out there willing to play it they will offer it! That P.T. Barnum saying about one being born every minute. 6:5 SD has gone over like a lead balloon in Atlantic City, I noticed a casino dropping their 6:5 SD game in a Vegas casino in the latest CBJN, so it's not like casinos are having any smashing success with 6:5 games. I think the casinos know that 6:5 is actually to their detriment, chasing off most of the player base but they can't help but dangle it out there for those too stupid to know the difference.

[blackjackomaha]

In LV currently -- it was a sore sight -- all of the full 6/8 deck tables, some with CSM's, all 6:5 and FULL. Granted, most of these were at the "lower" end properties (NYNY, Monte Carlo, Excalibur, etc) -- your mileage will vary depending on the property and time. Sickening to say the least.

Glad there are still plenty of off-strip properties and a handful of good on-strip games that are playable.

[Three]

It is tough to pay everyone's salaries that work in the pit with a low limit game and have enough left to make the game worth having considering how slow the game has become due to side bets and chatty dealers. Changing to 6:5 brings in the little extra that makes up for the sloop game speed etc. Imagine if nobody tipped and they had to pay dealers their entire wage. All BJ might disappear.

[bigplayer]

6/5 is a natural for the strip. It enables the casinos to offer $10 blackjack to idiot tourists who are not in town primarily to gamble. They were already playing at a 2% disadvantage so giving up an extra 1.4% isn't that big a deal and is still a cheaper play than $25 3/2 blackjack when you figure costs per hour...especially if they're drinking a lot of free drinks.

The problem comes in that many casinos now have $25 min 6/5 eight deck h17 shoes and don't offer 3/2 unless you're willing to play $50 min or $100 min. That knocks a whole lot of the middle-America type value gamblers (non-counters who want a good chance to win via basic strategy and money management) right out of the picture and this is the recent development. Those are the players who have likely either decided not to go to Las Vegas anymore or who are now using up comps they previously earned on the strip but are taking a cab and playing off the strip at Coast, Stations, M, or somewhere else.