Blackjack Rules In Different Casinos
Blackjack is one of those casino games that have achieved widespread popularity throughout the world. The basic objective of the game is to get a hand in which the total points get as close to 21 as possible–beating out the banker’s hand–without going over 21. Beyond this basic rule however, there are a number of other variations that may depend on the particular casino that you will be playing in. Below are some of the more common blackjack rules you can expect in a land-based casino.
Equipment Used
In most casinos, the game is played with a standard 52-card deck, leaving out the jokers. Many casinos use several decks mixed together in the shoe, which is simply a receptacle for the cards. This allows the game to progress at a much faster pace since there will be no need to reshuffle the deck after every hand. In addition this makes the practice of card counting a lot more difficult, increasing the odds in the casino’s favor.
The actual number of decks used in the shoe may differ depending on the casino, but they typically number from two to eight. Different casinos will also shuffle the deck a different number of times depending on their policies and the number of decks used. Some casinos may opt to reshuffle the deck more often in order to further reduce incidences of card counting.
Betting And Winning
Most casinos clearly post the betting limits for the games on the table. In general, important rules regarding payouts and dealer actions regarding draws and stands will also be prominently displayed.
In most establishments, each player will be provided a designated area–most often a circle or a box–where they can place their bets. Blackjack tables will always have a minimum and maximum bet. In most cases, maximum bets are equivalent to ten to twenty times the amount of the minimum bet. For a blackjack table that has a minimum bet of $5 for instance, the maximum betting limit would $50 to $100. Players are always given the chance to decide how much to bet before each hand is dealt.
As for the results of each hand, this stays pretty consistent from casino to casino. In the event of a losing hand, the dealer gets the full amount of the player’s bet. In the event of a win, the player receives the same amount that he wagered, and he of course gets the original bet back. If the player gets a Blackjack, he wins 1.5 times the amount of his bet. In the event of a “push” or a draw, the player gets to keep his bet, without winning anything.
As you can see, there are quite a few variations in the way blackjack is played in different casinos…and we have barely scratched the surface. There are also countless other regional and cultural variations, not to mention personal innovations that may come into play. Far from being superfluous however, these variations actually contribute to the charm and uniqueness of the game.