Vegas Downtown Blackjack

Vegas Downtown Blackjack is played with two standard decks of 52 playing cards that are shuffled between each hand.

The aim is to beat the Dealer's hand by either getting a higher value hand, without exceeding 21, or by the Dealer's hand going bust.

Payout Schedule

Winning hands in Vegas Downtown Blackjack pay out as follows:

If you win with a Blackjack you are paid out at odds of 3:2 on your original wager, in other words, you win back one and a half times your original wager amount, plus your original wager.

If you have a winning hand but not a Blackjack, you are paid out at odds of 1 to 1 on your original wager.

If you lose against a Dealer’s Blackjack and have taken Insurance, you are paid out at odds of 2 to 1 on your Insurance wager, in other words, you get your original wager amount back plus the insurance amount.

Playing Vegas Downtown Blackjack

To play a game of Vegas Downtown Blackjack, you can follows these steps:

Select a chip size by clicking on one of the chip denomination that you want.

Place a wager by clicking the center betting circle in the play area, continue clicking the wager circle until you have placed the number of chips you want to wager.

To increase your wager left-click on the betting circle. The wager will increase one chip at a time.

To reduce or remove a wager, right-click on the betting circle. The wager will decrease one chip at a time.

Once you have the chips in the bet circle, click the Deal button. Both you and the dealer are dealt two cards. The Dealer is dealt two cards, one card face-up and one card face-down. Your cards are both dealt face up.

Depending on the cards you are dealt, different betting options will be given.. You can perform more than one option, or repeat one option, depending on the stage of the game.

The betting options are:

Hit - Click the Hit option if you want the Dealer to deal you another card from the deck.

Stand - Click the Stand button if you do not wish to receive anymore cards. The dealer will then play his hand in order to complete the game.

Split - Click the Split button to divide your hand into two separate hands. A new card is then dealt to each hand. You can Split a maximum number of 3 times per game, equaling 4 hands. Note that Aces can only be split once.

Double Down - Click the Double button in order to place a side wager equal to your original. Chips will automatically be added to the table, you are then dealt one card and your hand automatically stands.

Take Insurance - Click the Insurance button in order to place a wager equal to half your original wager against the Dealer getting a Blackjack. This option is only given when the dealer is showing an Ace.

Example: Use the Insurance option if the Dealer’s first card is an Ace. You take Insurance against the Dealer getting a Blackjack.

Game Rules

General Rules

Vegas Downtown Blackjack is played with two standard decks of 52 playing cards that are shuffled after the completion of every game.

Vegas Downtown Blackjack is an American hole card game. The Dealer checks for a Blackjack when he is dealt a 10 or an Ace. If the Dealer has a Blackjack, the game is over.

Blackjack always beats any other hand with a value of 21.

All face cards - Jacks, Kings and Queens, have a value of 10.

Aces can have a value of either 1 or 11.

You may draw up to nine additional cards to make a hand of eleven cards, provided the value of your hand does not exceed 21. If your hand does not exceeded 21 after receiving eleven cards, your hand automatically Stands, and the Dealer plays his hand.

The Dealer Hits on a soft 17.

The Dealer's hand is dealt in strict accordance to the rules of the Casino. For more information on the Casino’s rules, see the Casino’s website, or contact the Casino Support Staff.

Betting and Payout Rules

If the Dealer's hand exceeds 21, it is bust, and you automatically win.

If you are dealt an Ace and a card with a value of 10, you have Blackjack. Your hand automatically Stands. Your hand cannot be beaten, only matched. If you beat the Dealer with Blackjack you are paid out at odds of 3:2.

When your hand and the Dealer's hand tie, it is called apush. Your original wager amount is returned to you.

If both the Dealer and your hand have Blackjack, this is considered a push. Your original wager amount is returned to you.

If the Dealer gets Blackjack after you have Split or Doubled Down, the entire wager amount is lost.

Splitting Rules

You can Split two cards that have the same Denomination or Value, such as a Queen and a Ten, or two Fours. Your hand is divided into two separate hands and a wager equal to your original wager is placed on the second hand.

If you Split a pair of Aces and then draw a card with a value of 10, this is not Blackjack, although it has a value of 21.

This rule also applies to splitting pairs of cards with a value of 10.You can Split a maximum number of 3 times per game, equaling 4 hands.This rule excludes Aces. Aces are only Split once.

If you Split a pair of Aces, each Ace is dealt one card, and the hand automatically Stands.

Double Down Rules

You can Double Down after receiving your first two cards.

The Double Down wager is equal to your original wager amount.

You can Double Down after a Split.

Insurance Rules

You can take Insurance if the Dealer's first card is an Ace.

The Insurance wager is equal to half your original wager amount.

Insurance wager wins or losses are independent from your original wager.

Insurance only covers your original hand. It does not cover any second hands on a Split, or a Double Down wager.

If the Dealer does not have a Blackjack, the Insurance wager is removed from the table. The game continues.

If the dealer has Blackjack, the Insurance wager is paid out at odds of 2:1.

Terminology

21 - This is when the value of the cards dealt equal 21, but is not a Blackjack. A Blackjack is an Ace and Ten or face card, and always beats a hand with a value of 21.

Blackjack - This is when your hand contains an Ace and a card with a value of 10. It is the strongest hand, and automatically Stands. It cannot be beaten, only matched.

Bust - If your hand value exceeds 21, your hand is bust. The hand is over and you lose your wager.

Denomination - The face value on the cards, Ace, King, Queen, Jack and from 2 to 10. A Jack, Queen or King have the value of 10, and the Ace has the value of either 1 or 11.

Double Down - This is a side wager that your hand will beat the Dealer’s with only one more card drawn. You can Double Down on any combination. You are dealt one card and your hand automatically Stands. Doubling costs the same as your original wager. If you win you are paid double your total wager. This win amount is equal to four times your original wager.

Hit - This is when you request another card from the shoe because your hand is not strong enough to beat the Dealer’s hand. You are dealt one card.

Hole Card - The Dealer is dealt two cards, one face-up and one face-down. The face-down card is called the Hole Card.

Insurance - This is a side wager against the possibility of the Dealer getting Blackjack. You can take Insurance if the Dealer’s first card is an Ace. Insurance costs half your original wager.

Push - This is when your hand and the Dealer’s hand tie. You are paid your original wager.

Split - You can Split two cards with the same Denomination or Value, such as a King and a Jack, or two Sevens. Your hand is divided into two separate hands and a wager equal to your original wager is placed on the second hand. Therefore, your wager is doubled. A new card is dealt to each hand and you play these hands as normal. You can Split a maximum number of 3 times, equaling 4 hands. This rule excludes Aces. Ace are only Split once.

Stand - This is when you are satisfied with the value of your hand and do not want to draw any more cards. This ends the play of your hand. The Dealer plays their hand and both hands are compared.

Value - Value refers to the numerical value of a card. Jack, Queen and King have the value of 10. The Ace card has a value of either 1 or 11.