When many people play blackjack in Las Vegas, they don't put too much thought into the specific rules. In fact, the majority of Vegas visitors assume that all of the games offer a 0.5% house edge, assuming good strategy is used.

But truth be told, not all blackjack games are created equally - especially those which are found on the Vegas Strip. This being said, let's take a closer look at why you should avoid most Sin City blackjack tables in addition to what rules you need to watch out for.

Poor Payouts

The biggest problem with blackjack games featured on the Vegas Strip is that they offer poor natural blackjack payouts. For example, if you get 21 on your first two dealt cards, the ideal situation is to collect a 3:2 payout. However, many Vegas casinos only deliver 6:5 payouts, which, on a $10 bet, means that you're only getting $12 in profit. This simple rule change boosts the house edge by around 1.3%.

Now is this to say that every Las Vegas casino only offers 6:5 payouts on natural blackjack? Not quite because there are some downtown establishments that feature favorable rules. Furthermore, some of the Vegas Strip casinos offer 3:2 blackjack payouts; however, most of them require a minimum $25 bet or higher.

Party Pits and Pool Blackjack Games

We advised players to stay away from most Vegas Strip blackjack tables, but we adamantly urge you to keep away from party pits and poolside games. You can read more about this here, but the main reason why is because poolside/party pit blackjack games combine 6:5 payouts with other unfavorable rules. For example, the dealer might be able to hit on a soft 17, and you won't be able to re-split aces. These two rules would collectively raise the house edge another 0.4%. 

Now you might wonder why in the world somebody would play at these tables. And the answer is that these games feature hot dealers and other side entertainment like dancing girls and/or music. But is all of this really enough to convince you to play a bad game? Let's hope not!

From an overall perspective, just make sure to go into Las Vegas blackjack games with caution. And you should really research the casinos where you plan on playing too.