3/31/2022»»Thursday

Excalibur $5 Blackjack

3/31/2022
    1 - Comments

It is no secret that blackjack in Las Vegas is not what it used to be. The proliferation of 6-5 games combined with the dealer hitting soft 17 at most tables has increased the house edge on the Las Vegas Strip. These bad rules have expanded into downtown.

Blackjack Online visits Las Vegas casinos on a regular basis to survey the games offered. Our latest trip to the Strip showed more casinos have replaced 3-2 blackjack tables with 6-5 ones.

I played $5 blackjack at both Excalibur and NY-NY at the end of February. I also played in O'sheas. All had terrible rules, but I was there with a newbie so I wanted to show her the ropes on this trip. Had a good time at all but Osheas (awful dealer.). The rules by which blackjack is played at the Excalibur are relatively standard for casinos belonging to MGM Resorts International, starting with “The dealer must draw on hands totaling 16 or less and any soft 17.” Payouts for natural blackjacks vary, “the dealer will pay you one-and-a-half times your wager or 6 to 5 depending on what. Excalibur – At the corner of Tropicana, double-deck and six-deck Blackjack is played within the halls of this fairytale castle. Table minimums are $10 and $25, with betting capped at $1,000. Table minimums are $10 and $25, with betting capped at $1,000. Excalibur Hotel & Casino: $5 blackjack/craps tables a rarity on the strip - See 12,261 traveler reviews, 4,505 candid photos, and great deals for Excalibur Hotel & Casino at Tripadvisor.

Excalibur was one of the best casinos in Las Vegas for $5 and $10 blackjack going into 2015. There were no 6-5 games in the entire house. That changed since our last visit. Excalibur spreads 6-5 games at the $10 limit, accounting for more than half the open tables on a recent night. Players had to move up to $15 tables to get 3-2 games. The 6-5 disclosure is not on the felt. Excalibur uses portable placards to notify players so there is no way to know the total number or percentage of tables that short pay. It could change from one day to the next.

Bally’s was another casino that started paying 6-5 on blackjack since our last visit. The party pit returned and now all tables within it pay 6-5. That is more than 10 tables. The great $25 high limit shoe game that stands on all 17s and allows surrender and double down after splitting is still offered. There are some 3-2 blackjack tables that hit soft 17 that are spread closer to the rear of the table game pit.

Caesars Palace expanded its number of 6-5 tables. These are the worst imaginable. Not only do players get short paid on blackjack, but double down is only available on 10 or 11 and not after splitting. Players can find 3-2 games near the craps tables with a minimum of $15 during the day and $25 at night. Some are spread past the poker room among the 6-5 tables. Players can get a blackjack game that stands on all 17s in the high limit salon.

SLS Las Vegas rolled out two entire pits of 6-5 games during its recent reconfiguration. Tables by the sportsbook and closest to the front door now all pay 6-5. There are still plenty of 3-2 games for players that continue towards the rear of the casino by the hotel entrance.

Wynn converted the pit closest to the sportsbook into 6-5 tables. These are only open during peak periods. There are still dozens of tables at Wynn with great rules that pay 3-2 on a natural. These are available with limits as low as $10, depending on the time of day.

Downtown Grand is located just north of the Fremont Street Experience. It recently refelted several tables with a 6-5 blackjack disclosure. Some are double deck, while others are shoes. Luckily, most of these tables are idle. Players looking to bet at least $15 will get a 3-2 game.

Every one of these casinos offers 3-2 tables if you are willing to walk past the 6-5 ones. Make sure to always check the felt to see if the table pays 3-2 on a blackjack before sitting down. It never hurts to confirm it with the dealer before finding out the hard way.


This list of South Las Vegas Strip blackjack includes all casinos on Las Vegas Blvd from Mandalay Bay up to Aria on the west side and to MGM Grand on the east side. There are several great blackjack games in this part of the Strip. There are also ones that have a high house edge. Below you will find all the casinos that offer blackjack games across the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip.

South Vegas Strip Blackjack

Best Blackjack Casinos

Aria

Aria offers two extremes of blackjack games. Its $100 tables stand on all 17s. One is a double deck with double down before and after splitting. The other is a six-deck game that adds surrender and re-split aces. There is a $25 six-deck that hits soft 17 with these rules. There’s also $15 Blackjack Switch. Otherwise, all blackjack there pays 6-5.

Excalibur

Excalibur

Excalibur $5 Blackjack Games

There are three playable blackjack games at Excalibur. The best is a $25 double deck that permits double down before and after splitting. There is $15 six-deck that adds surrender and re-split aces. Blackjack Switch is spread with a $10 minimum. Like online real money blackjack games, dealers at Excalibur hit soft 17.

Luxor

Like Excalibur, all Luxor blackjack hits soft 17. It has the same rules as Excalibur. The only six-deck games at Luxor are in high limit with a $100 minimum bet. The high limit salon is only open during peak hours.

Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay spreads dozens on blackjack tables. The best is in high limit. It has two decks and offers the standard double down before and after splitting. The six-deck game also has surrender and re-split aces. These two games stand on all 17s.

The main casino floor offers two $25 games that pay 3-2. One is a double deck. The other is a six-deck shoe. Both have the same rules as the high limit counterpart except that the dealer hits soft 17.

Excalibur 5 Dollar Blackjack

MGM Grand

MGM Grand offers the lowest limit stand on all 17 games in the MGM Resorts Las Vegas family. Players may find these as low as $25 during slow periods. The games include the typical double and six-deck rules. Exotic variations include Buster Blackjack, Lucky Lucky and Blackjack Spin.

Park MGM Casino – NoMad Casino

Excalibur $5 Blackjack Machine

Park MGM Casino, soon to be known as Park MGM, is undergoing construction. I was unable to find any 3-2 games open during the survey. A pit boss told me that a $25 double deck opens at night. The high limit salon is currently closed during the remodel. Blackjack Switch is also available. All blackjack games at Park MGM Casino hit soft 17 and the NoMad Casinos stand on 17.

New York New York

New York New York is the only MGM Resorts casino in Las Vegas that spreads $10 3-2 games. These two tables are found past the craps pit towards the front deck. Double down before and after splitting are permitted. The $50 high limit game adds double down and surrender. There is $25 double deck that has double down before and after splitting. All New York New York blackjack games hit soft 17. Exotic game varitions that you will find at their balckjakc tables are buster Blackjack, Lucky Lucky, Blackjack Spin, BJ Switch and Free Bet.

Tropicana

Tropicana expanded its table games since our last survey. The best game is still in high limit where the only stand on all 17s game in the house is located. This is a six-deck shoe with a $100 minimum. Double down before and after splitting, as well as surrender and re-split aces, are allowed. There is a $25 double deck game that hits soft 17 that pays 3-2. Double down before and after a split are allowed.

Previous South Blackjack Las Vegas Casinos Surveys

Excalibur $5 Blackjack Poker

In order to keep things interesting, Las Vegas Casinos are constantly changing and updating their blackjack table games. We want to make sure you can always go back and check the information, you will be able to consult the data of previous years.

Excalibur $5 Blackjack Game

South Las Vegas Blackjack Casinos

Casino# of DecksMin BetMax BetH/S 17DADASRSASurrender# of Tables6/5 BJVideoExoticHouse Hold %
Aria250010000SYesYesYesYes5NoNoNo0.25532%
Aria2100010000HYesYesYesYes1NoNoBJ Switch0.45688%
Aria6155000HYesYesYesYes4YesNoFree Bet1.84232%
Aria65010000HYesYesYesYes6NoNoNo0.48263%
Aria630010000HYesYesYesYes1NoNoNo0.48263%
Aria650010000HYesYesYesYes1NoNoNo0.48263%
Aria6255000HYesYesYesYes20NoNoNo0.48263%
Aria610010000HYesYesYesYes11NoNoNo0.48263%
Aria8105000HYesYesYesYes3YesNoNo2.01881%
Excalibur2251000HYesYesNoNo1YesNoNo1.83038%
Excalibur6101000HYesYesNoNo19YesNoBJ Switch1.99842%
Excalibur8151000HYesYesNoNo1YesNoNo0.64683%
Excalibur851000HYesYesNoNo5YesNoNo2.01881%
Excalibur8251000HYesYesNoNo1YesYesLucky Lucky2.01881%
Excalibur8251000HYesYesNoNo1YesYesBuster Blackjack2.01881%
Excalibur8251000HYesYesNoNo1YesYesFree Bet Blackjack2.01881%
Luxor61005000HYesYesNoNo3NoNoNo0.63873%
Luxor6101000HYesYesNoNo8YesYesNo0.63873%
Luxor6151000HYesYesNoNo14YesNoNo1.99842%
Luxor6151000HYesYesNoNo1YesNoLucky Lucky1.99842%
Luxor6151000HYesYesNoNo1YesNoFree Bet1.99842%
Luxor6151000HYesYesNoNo1YesNoBuster Blackjack1.99842%
Luxor8252000HYesYesNoNo1YesNoNo2.63000%
Mandalay Bay6152500HYesYesYesYes1YesNoBJ Switch1.84232%
Mandalay Bay6255000HYesYesYesYes4YesNoNo1.84232%
Mandalay Bay6255000HYesYesYesYes1YesNoLucky Lucky1.84232%
Mandalay Bay6255000HYesYesYesYes1YesNoBuster Blackjack1.84232%
Mandalay Bay6255000HYesYesYesYes1YesNoBlackjack Spin1.84232%
Mandalay Bay61005000SYesYesNoYes5NoNoNo0.35361%
Mandalay Bay6505000HYesYesYesYes5YesNoNo1.84232%
Mandalay Bay8252000HYesYesNoNo2YesNoNo1.99842%
Mandalay Bay8155000HYesYesYesYes4YesYesNo1.92724%
Mandalay Bay810010000SYesYesNoYes9NoNoNo1.92724%
Mandalay Bay820010000SYesYesNoYes2NoNoNo1.92724%
MGM2255000HYesYesNoNo3NoNoNo0.45688%
MGM410010000HYesYesYesYes1NoNoNo0.58000%
MGM610010000HYesYesYesYes9NoNoFree Bet0.48263%
MGM62510000HYesYesYesYes2NoNoNo0.48263%
MGM6255000HYesYesYesYes12NoNoNo0.48263%
MGM6255000HYesYesYesYes1NoNoBuster Blackjack0.48263%
MGM6255000HYesYesYesYes1NoNoLucky Lucky0.48263%
MGM6255000HYesYesYesYes1NoNoBlackjack Spin0.48263%
MGM6252000HYesYesYesYes2NoNoNo0.48263%
MGM65010000HYesYesYesYes1NoYesNo0.48263%
MGM650010000HYesYesYesYes1NoYesNo0.48263%
MGM8105000HYesYesYesYes1YesNoNo2.01881%
Park MGM Casino110500HYesYesNoNo2YesNoNo1.55422%
Park MGM – NOMAD Casino210010000SYesYesNoNo1NoNoNo0.25532%
Park MGM Casino610500HYesYesYesNo1NoNoBJ Switch0.57085%
Park MGM – NOMAD Casino610010000SYesYesYesYes4NoNoNo0.28507%
Park MGM Casino8252000HYesYesYesYes4NoNoNo0.49952%
Park MGM Casino8101000HYesYesYesYes19YesNoNo1.8575%
NYNY6101000HYesYesNoNo6YesNoBJ Switch1.99842%
NYNY65100HYesYesNoNo2YesNoFree Bet1.99842%
NYNY6151000HYesYesNoNo21YesYesNo1.99842%
NYNY6151000HYesYesNoNo1YesYesBuster Blackjack1.99842%
NYNY6151000HYesYesNoNo1YesYesLucky Lucky1.99842%
NYNY6151000HYesYesNoNo1YesYesBlackjack Spin1.99842%
NYNY61005000HYesYesNoNo6YesNoNo1.99842%
NYNY8252000HYesYesNoNo3YesNoNo2.01881%
Tropicana2253000HYesYesYesNo1YesNoNo1.83038%
Tropicana215500HYesYesYesNo3YesNoNo1.83038%
Tropicana4253000SYesYesYesYes1NoNoNo0.34749%
Tropicana6101000HYesYesYesNo6YesNoNo1.93054%
Tropicana651000HYesYesYesNo1YesNoNo1.93054%
Tropicana61005000SYesYesYesYes2NoNoNo0.28507%
Tropicana6253000SYesYesYesYes1NoNoNo0.28507%
Tropicana8253000HYesYesYesNo1YesNoNo2.00291%