When it comes to blackjack, one of the most important things for a player to understand is the house edge. This number dictates your odds of winning or losing over time and is a crucial factor in your decision making process when playing the game. As such, it is critical to be aware of any changes that may impact your odds and how they are calculated. This is especially true in live casinos where the house edge can be even more significant.
Recently, a disturbing trend has emerged in the world of casino blackjack where casinos have started to introduce games that pay 6 to 5 instead of the standard 3 to 2. While this might not seem like a huge deal at first glance, it’s a very big issue for players and should be avoided at all costs.
For many years in Las Vegas casinos, it was standard practice to pay 3-to-2 on a blackjack. This meant that if you made a $10 bet on a blackjack, you would win $15. However, recently, casinos have started to change this and set up 6:5 blackjack tables. This is a big deal for players as it drastically decreases the payout on a blackjack and reduces your chances of winning.
The purpose of changing the payouts on blackjack is to increase the casino’s edge over the player. While this might not sound like a big deal at first, it’s a big problem for players over the long term. This is because the higher the house edge, the more money the casino will make. The house edge on a 3 to 2 blackjack game is 0.411%, while the house edge on a 6 to 5 game is 0.359%.
This is a huge difference in the house edge between the two games and it can significantly impact your profits over time. This is why it’s so important for players to avoid these games and find a casino that offers the traditional 3 to 2 payouts on blackjack.
While it might not be possible to beat a 6 to 5 game with basic strategy, you can still work to lower the house edge close to 1% when playing a 3 to 2 blackjack game. The higher the house edge on a blackjack game, the more money the casino will make.
In the past, casino operators have tried to juice the house edge on blackjack by introducing side bets and other changes. These attempts have generally failed as card counters have been able to destroy them. However, they have continued to try and increase their profit margin by reducing the payouts on blackjack. This is why it’s important for players to always be wary of any new rule changes when playing the game, especially in live casinos. If players were able to band together and refuse these changes, then casinos might be forced to return the game to its original form.