Vegas Strip Blackjack
Vegas Strip Blackjack is a variation of the table game that has been in Las Vegas Strip casinos for over 50 years. The game has maintained popularity because it offers several good rules, so the house edge is lower than many forms of blackjack.
Our online Vegas Strip Blackjack guide has the game’s basic rules, along with a step-by-step tutorial to playing a hand. It also contains strategy suggestions to help you achieve optimal play.
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How to Play Vegas Strip
A typical hand of Vegas Strip Blackjack plays out much like most other variations of the game. In particular, the dealer stands on any 17, including a soft 17. Splitting is available up to four hands, though you’ll only be able to split aces once. The soft 17 and splitting rules are the essential features of Las Vegas Strip Blackjack, though the variant has other minor rules.
This guide to Vegas Strip Blackjack assumes players are new to blackjack betting at all, so let’s talk about the card deck. The shoe contains 1 to 8 decks of 52 cards, with a 6-deck shoe as the most common shoe. The fewer decks, the better the house edge.
Step-by-Step Guide to Vegas Strip Blackjack
Place a Bet
Make an initial bet by clicking on chips and moving them to the betting circle. The initial wager determines how much a double-down or split-card bet is, so choose an amount you’ll feel comfortable doubling, tripling, or quadrupling.
The Deal
Whether on the Las Vegas Strip or in online blackjack, the hand begins with the players receive two cards face-down. Live blackjack has seven places at the table, while online Vegas Strip Blackjack often has three player spots. You can bet in all three positions if you choose.
Hit or Stand
Decide whether to hit or stand. Read our rules section and strategy section to determine when to hit or stand.
Increase the Bet
Blackjack has other decisions, such as doubling down, splitting cards, taking insurance, or surrendering. Doubling down and splitting both involve a 2x increase of the initial bet. Surrendering is losing half of the initial bet while saving the other half.
Reveal Cards
Once you make strategic plays, the dealer’s face-down cards are revealed, and the bets are paid out. You receive 1:1 on most wins but 3:2 on a two-card blackjack. Once winnings get paid out, a new hand begins.
Best Online Casino to Play Vegas Strip Blackjack
Microgaming is the online casino software developer with Vegas Strip Blackjack. Players should search for any Microgaming sites to enjoy the game. Our recommended casino operator is Betway Casino, with Classic and Gold Series versions of Vegas Strip Blackjack.
Betway Casino
Betway has over a dozen variants of twenty-one, including Vegas Strip Blackjack with 3:2 payouts on a two-card blackjack. They accept players from over 150 countries worldwide and have a license from the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.
Blackjack contributes 8% to the wagering requirement on the 3-installment, $1,000 Betway welcome bonus, so play to clear the playthrough requirement. Simply go to Betway, click on “Casino” in the main menu, scroll down to “Popular Blackjack Games,” and find Vegas Strip Blackjack.
Alternative for Players in the USA
Betway is a great casino, but US players will not access the site to play Vegas Strip Blackjack. As an alternative, we suggest visiting BetOnline Casino. There are 13 different real money blackjack games to choose from, and you can get up to $3,000 in welcome bonuses.Online Vegas Strip Blackjack Rules & Payouts
This 21-game variation is the one found the most at blackjack tables on the Las Vegas Strip. You’ll be able to find Vegas Strip Blackjack at famous casinos like MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, and Bellagio.
Its rules were made famous in Las Vegas in the 1950s and 1960s. They remain a staple of Vegas gambling into the 21st Century.
Rules for Playing Vegas Strip
Take a look at the rules below, and don’t play the game if you receive a 6:5 payout on a natural blackjack.
Dealer Cards
Stand on Blackjack
Card Values
- Ace: Value of 1 or 11
- Face Cards: J, Q, or K have a value of 10
- Number Cards: Cards 1–9 have their number’s value
Soft 17
Peek/Squeeze
Natural Blackjack
6:5 Payout
Double Down
- Double down is available on the player’s first two cards only.
- Double down is available after a split.
Split
- Available on two cards that have the same denomination or value.
- The player can split all cards except Aces up to 4 total hands.
Splitting Aces
- You can split Aces only one time.
- If you split aces, you can only take one more card on each hand.
- When you receive a 21 on split aces, this does not count as a blackjack.
Splitting Unmatched Cards
Insurance
Surrender
Vegas Strip Blackjack Payout Table
| Hand Combination | Payout Odds |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | 3:2 |
| Insurance Win | 2:1 |
| Standard Win | 1:1 |
Strategy to Win at Vegas Strip Blackjack
Players should print off a Vegas Strip blackjack basic strategy chart to help them play optimally. Remember that each set of blackjack rules has its own basic strategy, so you shouldn’t assume any printable blackjack strategy chart will work. As a quick primer, these are some of our tips to play the game.
Top 5 Vegas Strip Blackjack Strategies to Know
Never Play 6:5 Vegas Strip Blackjack
Insist on full-pay 3:2 blackjack in any game of twenty-one because this single rule increases the return-to-player by 1.4%.
Never Take Insurance
Insurance pays even money on a dealer’s blackjack, but when the dealer shows an ace, that blackjack comes only about 30% of the time. The house edge on insurance is 7.4%.
Surrender on 16
When you hold a 16 against the dealer’s 10, you should surrender. You’ll forfeit half a bet, but the odds state that a 16 against 10 makes this the better strategic move.
Double on Soft 13 to 18
In most cases, double on a soft 13 through a soft 18 if the dealer has a card between 4 and 6. If you hold a soft 13 or soft 14, don’t double when the dealer shows a 4.
Avoid Side Bets
Blackjack players who want the best house edge should avoid side bets because the house edge is much higher.
OUSC Final Thoughts & Tips
The optimal house edge for Vegas Strip Blackjack with six decks and a continuous shuffler is 0.334%. So, if you can, play this game. Vegas Strip Blackjack is one of the best variations of twenty-one on the Internet.
- Mind the Rules – Pay close attention to the game’s rules because some casino sites might claim they have Vegas Strip Blackjack but offer variant rules.
- Dealer’s Soft 17 – If the dealer stands on soft 17, you’re allowed to double on any hand, and you can resplit up to 4 hands. Those rules produce great odds.
- Basic Strategy Blackjack Chart – Use a basic strategy chart so you can play optimally, then pick one of the online casinos we recommend above.
- Tough Luck for US Players – You will have a hard time finding the game at an online casino that accepts players in the USA.
- Stay Away From the 6:5 Payout – If a blackjack only pays 6:5, avoid the game because the house edge would increase to 1.734%.
