Move over Four Queens. There is a worse version of Bonus Spin Blackjack in the neighborhood. It’s spread right next door at Golden Nugget.
Golden Nugget spreads Bonus Spin Blackjack. The game typically offers an optional side bet. At Golden Nugget and Four Queens, this side bet is mandatory. This adds a significant house edge to the game.
What makes the Golden Nugget’s four tables worse than the one at Four Queens is that the Golden Nugget game only pays 6-5 on blackjack. This adds about 1.4 percent to the house edge when compared to the same game at Four Queens, which pays 3-2.
Golden Nugget requires a $1 Bonus Spin side bet. This wager has an approximate house edge of 23 percent due to the fact that the player does not push on an ace. The standard Bonus Spin side bet pushes when the player is dealt an ace.
The regular real money blackjack bet at this game has a house edge of 2 percent. The minimum bet is $5 or $10, depending on the time of day. A $5 flat bet has an expected loss of $0.10. The $1 Bonus Spin side bet has an expected loss of about $0.23. This means a player loses about $0.33 per $6 wagered for a house edge of 5.5 percent. This makes it the worst blackjack game I’ve ever seen in Las Vegas.
The house edge drops a bit on a percentage basis when the table minimum is $10. Players have an expected loss of about $0.43 per hand. This makes the house edge 4.3 percent, which is nearly identical to the $5 3-2 Bonus Spin Blackjack game at Four Queens when making the minimum bet.
Golden Nugget Still Offers Good Blackjack
There are still plenty of 3-2 blackjack tables at Golden Nugget. There are many six and eight-deck games that pay 3-2 and offer double down before and after splitting, as well as surrender. The high limit game adds re-split aces. There is $15-$25 double deck on the casino floor that pays 3-2 but does not permit double down after splitting. The high limit version of this game allows payers to double down after a split.
