Blackjack Arena
Stadium gambling is now a thing in Las Vegas casinos, and we figured it was time to check out Stadium Blackjack at Venetian.
BlackJack or TwentyOne (21) is the most popular casino style board game of luck and strategy played with cards. BlackJack Arena app is a free social casino version of the classic 21 game. Contact Details: +1 (315) 359-9465. 243 5th Ave Suite 132 New York, NY 10016 USA. The arena exclusively hosts the Blazing 7’s Blackjack game, with an advanced progressive betting option that allows players to win additional payouts during the standard game. Players can experience the Blazing 7’s Blackjack Arena inside the Rockin' Casino located on the second floor of San Manuel Casino, between George Lopez's Chingon. BlackJack or TwentyOne (21) is the most popular casino style board game of luck and strategy played with cards. BlackJack Arena app is a free social casino version of the classic 21 game. Νo need to get to Macau or Monte Carlo for tournaments, play from anywhere with your friends or family and beat the dealer! BlackJack Basics / How to Play.
In Stadium Blackjack, up to 44 players compete with one of two live dealers in, wait for it, stadium-style seating.
Oh, all right, it’s nothing like a stadium. Just play along.
As with most games in a casino, Stadium Blackjack accomplishes a couple of key goals for The Man.
Casinos make more money when labor costs are lowered, and when there are more hands dealt. Since casino games have a built-in advantage for the house, more hands means more profit.
Here’s how Stadium Blackjack works at Venetian Las Vegas.
There are 44 seats for players. Each player has their own terminal, and selects which of the two dealers they want to play against, blue or red.
Once a dealer is selected, the player has 30 seconds between hands to place a bet. A big benefit of Stadium Blackjack is the $5 minimum. Most standard games at Venetian have $15 minimums.
Get ready to play blackjack with 43 of your new best friends.
Once bets are made, each screen reads “No More Bets.”
Then, three cards are dealt from a six-deck, continuous “smart shuffle” machine.
Two cards go to the players, one to the dealer. One of the intriguing aspects of Stadium Blackjack is all the players get the same two cards. (That is, all the players who chose the red dealer get the same two cards. All those who chose the blue dealer get different cards.)
Now, each player makes their own decision about what to do next. Players can hit, stand, double down or split.
Here’s where the game veers into new territory. Since everyone has the same two cards, and can make their own decisions about what happens next, additional “Community” cards are needed. Community cards go to players until all the players have chosen to stand (or have been eliminated because they busted). After all the players’ hands are locked, additional community cards go to the dealer until the hand has a result.
The “Community” cards (upper left) are really the only perplexing part, but just let the dealer do their thing.
Example time!
Say the first cards are dealt and all the players get a queen and a king, the dealer gets a five. That’s 20 for the players, so everyone’s going to stand. (Feel free to split them, though, that’s part of what makes Stadium Blackjack so fun, no peer pressure.) The dealer takes additional cards and busts. Everyone wins, cheering ensues, annoying all the players in the nearby poker room in the best possible way.
Here’s a more complicated example.
Players get a king and six, dealer gets a queen. Some players stand on 16, some hit, right? (You’re supposed to hit.) The players who choose “Hit” on their display get another card (a “Community” card). Again, those who “Stand” don’t get another card. Each player is doing their own thing. Say, that next player card is a two. Everybody stands with 18. But the fun part is you don’t have to! You can “Hit” again. Only after all the players have finished does the dealer then complete their hand and a result is shown.
If Stadium Blackjack isn’t your thing, there’s stadium baccarat nearby. Again, $5 minimums are hard to pass up on The Strip.
A lot of this happens on the dealer’s display. Players just see their own hand and how it’s stacking up against the dealer.
Once the hand is done, all the cards go back into the shuffler and the fun begins again.
So, that’s a long-winded way of saying, “It’s just like regular blackjack.” The fact others have the same two opening cards, or how dealers decide which cards are communal, is rather irrelevant. It’s you against the dealer.
Let’s get into what’s really important about Stadium Blackjack, the pros and cons.
First, the pros. Stadium Blackjack is great for groups and couples! Where else in Las Vegas can you and 43 friends all play blackjack at once? During our visit, the majority of players were couples.
Again, low table minimums. That $5 minimum is tempting and it never gets raised, even if the game is busy.
Also, no glares from other players if you do something stupid. Stadium Blackjack is anonymous, and players make their own decisions.
Another pro for us is the machine adds up your cards. We hate math, so this is a great aspect of the game.
We also like that you can take a break between hands, sitting out then jumping back in at any time.
There are some drawbacks to Stadium Blackjack, but opinions vary about how important these cons are.
The rate of play, if you play every hand, is fast. After you get your cards, you have 10 seconds to decide whether you’d like to hit or stand. That’s a lot of pressure! If you do nothing, the machine automatically stands. It won’t hit or double or split for you, though. More hands means you can lose more quickly, but it also means you’ll win more quickly when you’re on a lucky streak.
It’s interesting to note that while the game is called “Stadium Blackjack” on the player terminals, it’s called “Rapid Blackjack” on the dealer’s screen.
Another potential downside is Stadium Blackjack pays 6-to-5, rather than 3-to-2. Then again, that’s true of the majority of blackjack games on the Las Vegas Strip.
Also, serious blackjack players dislike six deck, continuous shuffling machines. Card counting is impossible with such machines.
Another look at the layout. Make a bet, hit or stand, rake in the big bucks.
That’s about it. Each display has a bunch of other buttons, but probably the most important for first-time players is “Help.” Beyond the two people dealing the cards, there’s another dealer that roams the floor and helps players with questions.
There’s a button for dealer tips, another to call for service, one to “Re-Bet” and others. There’s also a button so players can see the game in Chinese.
There are a couple of side bets as well, Royal Match 21 and Bet the Set 21. Blackjack side bets tend to be sucker bets, but only if they don’t hit!
Side bets are for entertainment value only. Don’t go nuts.
Overall, Stadium Blackjack is a fun new twist on blackjack, and its social component could make it a draw for groups seeking to gamble together.
If you’d like to know more about Stadium Blackjack, check out these stories from VegasFanboy.com and our bud Marc Meltzer. We also talked about Stadium Blackjack on the Vital Vegas Podcast, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Our first story about stadium gambling (at Palazzo) was way back in 2013, and we didn’t have the best time. While we didn’t win playing Stadium Blackjack, it wasn’t a bad experience.
Let us know what you think of Stadium Blackjack. Some believe it’s the future of casino gambling. For us, interacting with the dealer is often half the fun of playing, so unless we were with a group of friends, we’d probably bite the bullet and find a traditional, higher limit table.
Got questions? Ask away!
DON'T BE SHY. GIVE IT A TRY!
Interested in learning how to play Blackjack? We can help!
Watch this fun short video so you can approach a table with more confidence; remember, our friendly dealers are there to help you too.
HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK
Perhaps the most popular casino table game is Blackjack. The object is to draw cards closer in value to 21 than the dealer’s cards without exceeding 21.
- To play, you place a bet on the table in the betting circle in front of you.
- Two cards will be dealt to you both face up and two cards to the dealer; one face up and one face down.
- The dealer then proceeds left to right around the table, announcing card point totals.
- Any card from 2 to 10 counts at face value; Jacks, Queens and Kings are counted as 10; and the Ace is counted as 11 unless that would produce a point total in excess of 21, in which case it is then counted as 1. Players are responsible for correctly computing their card point totals.
- If the first two cards dealt to you total 21, the dealer announces that you have a Blackjack; if the dealer has an “up card” of 2 through 9, you win immediately and the dealer pays your bet based on posted limits and removes your cards.
- If you have a Blackjack and the dealer’s up card is a 10 or Ace, you must wait until the dealer reveals their hole card. If the dealer’s hole card and up card do not equal 21 or if the dealer has a total of 21 in more than 2 cards, you win. The dealer then pays your bet based on posted limits and removes your cards.
PLAYER OPTIONS
Splitting Pairs: If a player’s first two cards dealt are the same value, the player may split them into two hands. The exception is a player may not split 10s or face cards. To split, the player places a wager equal to their initial wager. The dealer completes the first hand then progresses to the second hand. When splitting Aces, players receive only one card on each hand. If the dealer has a Blackjack, you only lose your original bet. In split hands, an Ace and a ten equal 21, not a Blackjack.
Re-Splitting Pairs: If after splitting the player receives another card of the same value, the player may split again. The exception is Aces may only be split once. A player must bet the exact amount of their original bet for each additional bet. If the dealer has a Blackjack, you only lose your original bet.
Doubling Down: After two cards have been dealt to the player, or after being dealt the second card on a split, players may make an additional wager less than or equal to their original bet. This is called “Doubling Down.” The exception is players may not Double Down when their first two cards total 21. Double Down hands may only draw one additional card. If the dealer has a Blackjack, the players only lose their original bet.
Insurance: Insurance is an extra bet that can be made only when the dealer has an Ace as the up card. In order to play the insurance bet, you may wager up to half your original bet. If the dealer has Blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2 to 1.
If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the insured wager loses and the game continues as usual. An insurance bet is placed immediately after you receive your first two cards.
Even Money: If the player has a Blackjack and the dealer’s face up card is an Ace, the player may request to accept “Even Money” for his Blackjack, which is accepting an Even Money payoff in lieu of taking insurance. Players must decide to take Even Money before the dealer determines whether the dealer’s hand is a Blackjack. If the player accepts Even Money, the player’s Blackjack shall be paid Even Money regardless of whether the dealer has a Blackjack or not.
Surrender: After receiving their two original cards, a player may elect to discontinue play of that hand for that round and surrender one half of their wager. If the dealer has a Blackjack, the player shall lose the entire wager.
Match The Dealer (MTD): Players may bet that either or both of their initial two cards will match the dealer’s exposed card(s) on tables designated with the “Match the Dealer” option and logo. MTD is an additional bet players can make after they have made a regular wager and is paid as a fixed payout.
Payoff amounts for Match the Dealer are as follows:
1 Non-suited match Pays 4 to 1
2 Non-suited matches Pays 8 to 1
1 Suited match Pays 11 to 1
1 Non-suited & 1 Suited match Pays 15 to 1
2 Suited matches Pays 22 to 1
Table Options
No Mid-Shoe Entry: Mohegan Sun also offers a “No Mid-Shoe Entry” option whereby a player arriving during a round of play must wait until that shoe is completed before joining the game.
Optional Bets
Super 4 Progressive Jackpot: An optional bet can be made on the Super 4 Progressive Jackpot. A player may play this by placing an additional $5 bet on the table. If the player chooses to participate in the Progressive wager, they place a five dollar chip in the designated area of the table to indicate their choice to compete for the Super 4 Progressive Jackpot. This will enable the player to win the Super 4 Progressive Jackpot amount on the progressive meter regardless of the outcome of the dealer’s hand.
Progressive Jackpot payouts are as follows:
Royal Flush in Diamonds 100% of meter 1
Royal Flush (hearts, spades or clubs) 100% of meter 2
Three-of-a-Kind 100% of meter 3
Straight Flush 100% of meter 4
Must Hit 100% of meter 5
Flush $300
Two Pair $200
All Cards Same Color Pair $100
Any Hand (nothing) $25
Dealer Ace Up (No Blackjack) $10
Dealer Controlled Electronic Table Games
Blackjack Arena Football
Mohegan Sun offers $5 Blackjack in Dealer Controlled Electronic Table Games.