Here are the three reasons why I believe that El Cortez blackjack is the best of any online or land-based casinos: They have low stakes. They have the lowest house edge. You can still get nice comps. El Cortez offers single deck blackjack tables with a $5 minimum bet and 30.4% house edge. Here are the rules on this game: Single deck.

Wizard Recommends

• €1500 Welcome Bonus
• €100 + 300 Free Spins
• 100% Welcome Bonus

You're right that the value of the bonus is the same regardless of how many lines the player bets in the initiating spin. However, it takes five bonus symbols on an ACTIVE payline to trigger the bonus. So, the probability of triggering the bonus is directly proportional to the number of lines bet. Thus, the return to the player should be the same regardless of the number of lines bet.

Thank you for that information. I just updated my blackjack survey to reflect that rule change.
You're right that with this change the Alamo no longer has the honor of having the most liberal blackjack in Las Vegas. That honor now belongs to the single-deck game at the El Cortez. There are still a few legitimate (meaning paying 3-2 on a blackjack) games in Vegas, but the El Cortez is the only one that allows doubling on any two first cards. The other properties follow the northern Nevada rule of restricting doubling to totals of 10 and 11. The full El Cortez single-deck rules are:

• Single deck.
• Blackjack pays 3-2.
• Dealer hits soft 17.
• Double on any first two cards.
• No double after split.
• No surrender.
• No re-splitting aces.
• No cut card.

Assigning a house edge depends on specifically the dealer's behavior in deciding when to shuffle. The cut-card effect is important in a single-deck game, lowering the house edge by 0.11% if there is isn't one.
It is my understanding the dealer's shuffle after a certain number of rounds, according to the number of players at the table. Usually, the single-deck game at the El Cortez has at least four players, which equates to the dealer shuffling after two rounds. As long as the dealer deals exactly x rounds per deck, that is good for the player. Given this policy, and the usual crowded table, I put the 'realistic' house edge at 0.19%, which is what the basic strategy player can expect.
So, congratulations and kudos to the El Cortez for the new best blackjack game in Vegas!

Yes! If anything, you should tip more because a greater amount of work is involved in creating a check than paying in cash.
This question is asked in discussed in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.

The Wizard says that website sounds like a lot of ranting and raving with no credible evidence whatsoever to justify the accusation. I'd be happy to expose any casino for using biased dice, if I had any evidence of it.
If anybody has legitimate evidence of biased dice, I'd be happy to examine it and publish my conclusions. Evidence I would like to see are either log files of rolls or, better yet, some actual alleged biased dice.
Furthermore, if the casinos really were using dice that produced more than the expected number of sevens, then why aren't these detectives privy to the conspiracy out there betting the don't pass and laying the odds?

No! Futures and betting favorites on the money line are two of the worst bets you can make when betting football. This sounds like a betting system, adding a sequence of negative bets and expecting the sum to be positive. However, I will probably need more than that to convince you, so let's look at the numbers.
First of all, the Panthers are only in the playoffs because they are the least bad team in an awful division (the NFC South). Their record is 7-8, and they have given up 35 more points than they have scored all season.
If they are so bad, why are they six point favorites against the Arizona Cardinals, you might ask? Arizona made the playoffs mostly on the efforts of Carson Palmer in the first six games. He was injured in the sixth game, but they still managed to squeak into the playoffs anyway. Plus, Carolina enjoys home field advantage.
Given that Carolina is a six-point favorite against Arizona, I show their probability of winning that game is 70.3%.
Assuming they win, they will mostly likely have to beat both Green Bay and Seattle to win the NFC. What are the odds of beating those two teams? Keep in mind, given the playoff rules, they will be the visiting team both times.
There is an easy way to get a close estimate of the point spread in any game. Here is my Wizard formula for the point spread on the home team:
(Net points per game of away team) - (Net points per game of home team) - 2.67.
Let's look at a hypothetical match-up between Arizona and Green Bay.
During the 2014 season, Carolina has -35 net points all season. For Green Bay, it is +138. Divide both numbers by 16, because there are 16 played games in the season, for an average margin of victory per game of:
Carolina: -2.1875
Green Bay: +8.6250
Using my formula, the home team, Green Bay, should have a spread of -2.1875 - 8.6250 - 2.67 = -13.4825.
So, Green Bay would be about a 13.5-point favorite against Carolina. I'll skip the math over this step, but I show the probability of Carolina winning as a 13.5-point underdog is 14.3%.
Seattle has just about as strong a record as Green Bay, with 140 net points all season. So Carolina would also have about a 14.3% chance of winning that game.
The odds of Carolina winning all three games are 70.3% × 14.3% × 14.3% = 1.44%. So, a fair futures bet at that probability is 68.6 to 1!
Yes, you could argue that Detroit or Dallas might get lucky and make the Conference Championship. You could also argue that the odds of Carolina beating Green Bay and Seattle are positively correlated. However, those are minor considerations against the fact that my rough fair line is 68.6 and you're getting only 18.
You also have to consider the expense of betting the favorites on the money line as you go. This is generally an awful bet. Square bettors love to bet big favorites on the money line, creating value in the other direction. It is roughly a fair bet to take underdogs of seven points or more on the money line, meaning that the favorite bettors are paying all the juice.
Let's be generous and assume you could get +250 on Arizona and lay 5 to 1 in the following two games. Let's also say you bet $100 on Carolina at 18 to 1.
First, you bet $40 on Arizona at +250 as a hedge. If they win you win $100 on that bet and lose $100 on the futures bet and break even.
If Carolina beats Arizona you bet $700 to win $140 on Seattle. If Seattle wins, which they should, you'll be up $140, which will recoup your losses on Arizona and the futures bet, so you'll be even.
If Carolina should upset Carolina you will have to bet $4,200 to win the $840 you will have lost betting on Arizona, Seattle, and the futures bet. If Carolina loses, you'll be even. If they win you'll be down $40+$700+$4,200=$4,940. The $1,800 you'll win on the futures bet will not be enough to recoup that.
In closing, your idea of taking Carolina to win the NFC and hedge along the way is highly ill-advised.

For the benefit of other readers, a 'ten-card Charlie' rule means that if the player gets to ten cards, without busting, then it is an automatic winner.
According to my simulation, the probability of the player getting to at least ten cards is 1 in 60 million. So, it lowers the house edge by about 0.0000017%.

Game selection is one of the most-overlooked aspects when it comes to beating blackjack. You want favorable rules so that you can lower the house edge and win more money.

But where do you find the best blackjack games?

This is a tough question to answer because many casinos don’t advertise that they have beatable blackjack games. I’ve done some research at both land-based and online casinos to find out who has the best rules.

Let’s look at a mix of seven land-based casinos and online blackjack providers to see where you have the best chance of winning right now.

1. El Cortez

Located on Freemont Street in Las Vegas, El Cortez offers the most-impressive blackjack game. Here are the three reasons why I believe that El Cortez blackjack is the best of any online or land-based casinos:

1. They have low stakes.
2. They have the lowest house edge.
3. You can still get nice comps.

El Cortez offers single deck blackjack tables with a $5 minimum bet and 30.4% house edge. Here are the rules on this game:

• Single deck
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer hits on a soft 17
• Double down on any 2 cards
• No double down after splitting
• No re-splitting aces
• No late surrender

Most casinos these days wouldn’t offer this game at all – let alone with $5 stakes. This makes El Cortez special because they feature beatable blackjack tables with some of the lowest stakes in Vegas.

If you’re a blackjack lover on a budget, you’ll want to head to El Cortez. Not only do I recommend them for the low house edge and stakes, but also for the comps.

You’ll be surprised at how many comps they offer to low roller blackjack players who are already benefiting from a small house advantage.

2. Microgaming Blackjack

The best online blackjack game used to be Cryptologic’s single deck version, which had a 0.21% house edge, but NYX Gaming purchased Cryptologic in 2015, and I can no longer find this game anywhere.

This makes Microgaming’s Vegas single deck blackjack (a.k.a. Vegas Downtown) the best online variation that you’ll find right now. This game has a 0.31% house edge, which is the lowest online.

Here are the rules on Vegas single deck:

• Single deck
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2
• Dealer hits a soft 17
• No double down after splitting
• Only double down on 9 to 11
• No late surrender

This game includes a few unfavorable rules, such as double-down restrictions, no doubling after splitting and the dealer hitting a soft 17.

The key is that you’re receiving 3 to 2 natural blackjack payouts in a single deck game. Most casinos only offer 6 to 5 blackjack payouts on a single deck table.

The catch to playing Microgaming’s Vegas Downtown blackjack is that the minimum stakes are $2 per hand.

Land-based blackjack players will scoff at this amount because $2 stakes are still really cheap for such a low house advantage. The average minimum blackjack bet though is $1, which may make online players slightly uncomfortable.

Microgaming’s two next-best blackjack games include Atlantic City and Vegas Strip. Both of these games have a 0.35% house edge, but they have slightly different rules.

Here are the rules in Atlantic City Blackjack:

• 8 decks
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer stands on a soft 17
• Double down on any 2 cards
• Double down after splitting
• Split up to 3 times.
• No re-splitting aces
• Dealer peeks for blackjack

Here are the rules for Vegas Strip blackjack:

• 4 decks
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer stands on a soft 17
• Double down on any 2 cards
• Double down after splitting
• Split up to 3 times
• No re-splitting aces
• Dealer doesn’t peak for blackjack

The main differences between these games rules include the number of decks and whether the dealer peeks for a natural blackjack. Other than this, these are essentially the same games due to their 0.35% house edge.

Long story short, Microgaming is the best online option if you’re looking for the lowest house advantages and don’t mind $2 stakes.

3. Treasure Island Blackjack

You won’t find many good blackjack games on the Vegas Strip, but Treasure Island is an exception because of their outstanding double deck game.

Here are the rules for Treasure Island’s double deck blackjack:

• 2 decks
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer stands on a soft 17
• Double down on any 2 cards
• Double down after splitting
• No re-splitting aces

All of these rules combine to create a 0.26% house edge, which is tied for the best in Vegas with several other casinos.

Treasure Island separates itself from the pack by offering $25 stakes. All the other casinos with a 0.26% house edge feature either a $50 or $100 minimum bet.

If you can’t find any of these tables open, then note that Treasure Island offers another game with a 0.29% house edge. The only difference is that this game features 6 decks instead of 2.

If you want the amenities of a Vegas Strip resort combined with great blackjack, then Treasure Island is the perfect spot. Just remember that you’ll have to bet at least $25 per hand.

4. Playtech Blackjack

Playtech’s blackjack surrender is the second-best online variation that I’ve seen. Here are the rules behind this game:

• 6 decks
• Late surrender
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer stands on a soft 17
• Double down on any 2 cards
• Double down after splitting
• Re-split up to 3 times
• No re-splitting aces

This game offers a 0.35% house edge, which is pretty close to Microgaming’s Vegas single deck variation. The minimum stakes are also $2 per hand.

The big difference between Playtech’s blackjack surrender and most other games is that the late surrender option is available. This enables you to surrender 2-card hands and get half your wager back after the dealer peeks for blackjack.

You can also see that the dealer must stand on a soft 17, which goes in your favor because they can’t improve their hand.

The downside to blackjack surrender is the 6 decks. Most players could care less about a few extra decks though when considering the 0.35% house advantage.

5. Arizona Charlie’s Boulder

Located on Boulder Highway in Vegas, Arizona, Charlie’s features a nice double deck game with $5 stakes.

Here are the rules for their $5 double deck tables:

• 2 decks
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer hits a soft 17
• Double down on any 2 cards
• Double down after splitting
• No re-splitting aces

These rules combine to create a 0.34% house edge, which is among the lowest in Sin City. Low rollers will certainly appreciate the $5 minimum bet, too.

The biggest problem with Arizona Charlie’s blackjack action is that they only have 3 tables. This seriously reduces your chances of getting into the best games.

El Cortez Blackjack Rules

Compounding the problem is that the Arizona Charlie’s 4575 Boulder Highway location is several miles away from both the Vegas Strip and downtown. This means that you could travel all the way out here and not get in a blackjack game for hours.

If you’re at other casinos in the area, then it’s definitely worth taking the chance to play in Arizona Charlie’s double deck game.

6. Betsoft Blackjack

I was going to go with Ace Gaming here because they offer a single deck blackjack game with a 0.35% house edge, but they’re only found at one online casino.

Instead, I went with the more-popular Betsoft brand because their software is licensed by dozens of casinos.

Betsoft’s single deck blackjack features a 0.38% house edge, placing it in the upper echelon. Here are the rules on Betsoft’s blackjack:

• Single deck
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer hits a soft 17
• Only double down on 10 or 11
• Double down after splitting
• Only split once
• No re-splitting aces

Some of these rules don’t go in your favor, including the double down restrictions, dealing hitting a soft 17 and only being able to split once.

This is still a very good blackjack game though with the 0.38% house edge.

Another thing to love about Betsoft single deck is that it only has $1 minimum stakes. This means you can play at one of the best online blackjack tables for the lowest amount possible.

7. Boulder Station

Found on Vegas’ Boulder Highway, Boulder Station has a few quality blackjack games, including $3, $5, and $25 tables.

The $3 game has a 0.64% house edge. This may not excite players, but the minimum bet is tied for the lowest in Vegas.

Here are the main rules on the $3 game:

• 6 decks
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer hits a soft 17
• No re-splitting aces

The $5 tables offer a 0.40% house edge, making this one of Sin City’s top low stakes games. Let’s look at the available rules:

• 2 decks
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer stands on a soft 17
• Late surrender

You’ll also find $25 tables, which feature a 0.46% house advantage. Here are the rules on this game:

• 2 decks
• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts
• Dealer hits a soft 17
• Double down on any total
• Double down after splitting
• No re-splitting aces

Boulder Station’s lowest house edge may not be as good as the other games on this list, but I like that Boulder Station has three sets of tables.

This ensures that if you go looking for the $5 double deck game and can’t get in, then you at least have the $3 or $25 tables as backup.

Tips for Finding the Best Blackjack Games

Much of what I’ve covered regarding great blackjack games revolves around the rules and stakes. Of course, there’s more to quality blackjack than just the house edge and affordable bets.

Here are a few tips that’ll help you find beatable games in the future:

1. Find Casinos that Offer Good Comps

Both land based and Internet casinos offer blackjack comps, but they differ in how the comps are awarded.

Online casinos automatically track your comps as soon as you begin making real money wagers. The good news here is that you can check to see the exact comp rate.

The VIP page should have information about how many comps you earn per dollar wagered. Normally, the rate is one-tenth of slots because blackjack has such a low house edge.

The pit boss rates players in brick-and-mortar casinos. They’ll come around and watch how much people are betting along with the amount of hours they’re playing.

In either case, you want to be sure that you’re earning the most comps possible. You should also ask about the pit boss rating you if you’re playing low stakes.

You may not see much separation in online casino comps, but if you can find a really good rate at one casino versus another, take it.

House Edge In Blackjack

Land-based casinos aren’t as upfront with how they rate blackjack players like Internet casinos are, but the going rate is usually around one-tenth of a player’s theoretical losses.

2. Look at All Aspects of an Online Blackjack Bonus

Welcome bonuses give you a chance to earn bonus money on the side of your blackjack play. The first thing that many Internet blackjack players look at is the size of the bonus.

This is certainly important if you play a lot of online blackjack and want to earn as much extra money as possible. The problem though, is that many players don’t consider other important aspects involved with a welcome bonus.

Here are a few to keep in mind:

• Bonus terms and conditions – Wagering requirements behind a blackjack bonus
• Minimum deposit amount
• Maximum deposit amount
• Restricted countries
• Any other fine print in the terms section.

Blackjack House Edge Percentage

The first thing that you should do on this list is visit the terms and conditions page. This will at least show you the wagering requirements behind a blackjack bonus.

You’ll also see if your country qualifies for bonuses and/or if the casino even has blackjack rewards (some don’t).

In any case, look beyond just the maximum amount of money that you can get from a bonus.

3. Know Blackjack Rules

I already covered several brick-and-mortar and online casinos that offer favorable blackjack rules.

It also helps to know what rules to look for yourself so that you can take advantage of low house edges. This is especially the case if you enjoy land-based blackjack and don’t live near Vegas.

Here are important rules to know and how they affect the house edge:

• 3 to 2 blackjack payouts (instead of 6 to 5) – Lowers house edge by 1.40%
• Double down on any 2 cards (instead of just 9 to 11) – Lowers house edge by 0.25%.
• Dealer stands on soft 17 (instead of hits) – Decreases house edge by 0.20%
• Double down after splitting – Lowers house edge by 0.17%.
• Re-splitting aces – Lowers house edge by 0.08%.
• Late surrender – Reduces house edge by 0.07%.
• Decks – Single deck gives player a 0.02% edge; 8 decks gives house a 0.57% edge.

You won’t find all the most-favorable rules within one game. Otherwise, casinos would be losing money to skilled players, but you should at least look for tables with 3 to 2 blackjack payouts, no double down restrictions and 6 decks or fewer.

4. Choose a Casino with Multiple Blackjack Variations

This last tip is strictly if you’re interested in other blackjack variations beyond standard 21 games. If so, then you need to find a casino that has different variants.

This tip goes for both online and brick and mortar venues because they both offer various games. Here are some of the blackjack variations you can expect:

• Atlantic City blackjack
• Blackjack switch
• Bonus blackjack
• Chinese blackjack
• Classic blackjack
• Double exposure blackjack
• European blackjack
• Face-up blackjack
• Perfect pairs
• Pontoon
• Spanish 21
• Super Fun 21
• Vegas downtown
• Vegas single deck
• Vegas Strip

This list represents many of the blackjack games that you’ll find in land-based and Internet casinos.

Of course, not all of these options offer you a great chance to win, but it’s fun to try different blackjack variations from time to time.

Conclusion

Fewer casinos are as generous with blackjack rules and comps these days, but it’s nice to see that you can still find quality blackjack tables out there.

The holy grail of land-based casinos is definitely El Cortez since they have $5 tables with a 0.31% house edge and good comps.

As long as you stick with the blackjack games that we’ve covered here, you can’t go wrong in terms of improving your chances to win. Then again, it pays to know the important rules so you can spot good blackjack tables on your own too.