Question: What factors do casinos take into consideration when offering their game mixes and who makes these decisions? I am speaking to the rule specifications - i.e. # of decks, H17/S17, LS/No Surrender, BJ 6:5 vs BJ 3:2, CSM or not, etc? And how many tables to offer with each and at what minimum wager?

I'm sure there are several variables involved in making this decision, but certainly there are a few key driving factors. Maybe it is a matter of competition? For example, no other casino in the area offers a double deck game, so we'll be the first to offer it?

Ultimately, it is a matter of balancing the profitability of a game while still keeping folks who want to play around. But to me, the average player does not fully understand the implications of the rule changes, nor do they have visibility to see what the rules are at a given casino before they go. To them, blackjack is blackjack is blackjack. So why offer better rules anyway?

Of course, this is the trend being observed with the prevalence of H17 and the horrible BJ 6:5 payouts. It would be nice to understand what factors keep favorable rules (to the player) in place.