As the cost of everything goes up, casinos have been using electronic table games as an option for having table games that don’t require dealers, allowing for lower minimums and 24/7 offerings. But does it create issues for players?
What about the electronic Blackjack with the ladies? Do you think it’s just as volatile as the slots?
Nola K.
In markets where Vegas-style games are offered, electronic Blackjack works the same as regular Blackjack. In many markets, like Nevada, the presence of a virtual deck of cards needs to act and operate identically to a physical one – that means the same cards, and the same chances of a card showing up.
Blackjack’s payback and volatility thereby is determined by the same rules as any other game of Blackjack – how many decks; what does a Blackjack pay; can you surrender, double down and/or split; and so on.
Blackjack will generally be less volatile than a slot. In part that’s because players are expected to win around 42% of hands, push 9% of the time, and the balance being dealer wins. Most slots have hit frequencies in the 10-30% range, a much lower win rate. And a “win” can be a false win, which is less than your bet back – that doesn’t exist in Blackjack.
So no, Blackjack tends to be less volatile than the slots, which are also faster paced (400-600 spins in an hour isn’t unusual on slots, vs. something closer to 80-100 hands an hour on live Blackjack).
To ensure the volume wagered needed is met to make money on table games over time, it’s often counteracted with minimum bets that are higher than those found on slots.
Certainly at live dealer tables today seeing $15-$25 minimums on Blackjack isn’t unusual, although in certain places you can still find lower minimums (we shared our example of $3 Blackjack minimums near our office, and $10 minimums for 3:2 Blackjack).
Electronic Blackjack can get away with lower minimums with a lower cost structure, but that too still depends on the casino. But regardless of format, Blackjack is lower volatility than today’s slots, and as such you can play electronic Blackjack with confidence.
Just be sure to check the payouts so you know what to expect, as that’s where electronic options can sometimes differ, even different options within the same casino.
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