Double Deck Blackjack takes the most popular casino game in the world and kicks it up a notch. It's as fun and exciting as regular online blackjack with just a few minor differences – the most important being a lower house edge, giving you a better chance of walking away with loads of online blackjack cash in your pockets. The best casino for double deck blackjack as of this writing is the M Resort, which offers a few games with a miniscule 0.14% house advantage against a basic strategy player, because of the rule mandating that the dealer stands on soft 17. Other excellent games are at MGM Grand, Mirage, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and Aria, all of which also offer double deck with the rule mandating that the dealer stands on soft 17. There are some double deck blackjack games in Las Vegas that do not permit double down after splitting but still pay 3:2. These include the $1 game at Poker Palace, the downtown Boyd Gaming casinos and the double deck blackjack games at Caesars Entertainment properties. All Double Deck Blackjack Games in Vegas.
- Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack Game
- Las Vegas Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack
- Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack Games
- Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack
Double Deck Blackjack
- Game
- Live Dealer
- Mobile Version
- Side Bets
- Progresive Jackpots
- Bonus Games
- Game Type
- Min Bet
- Max Bet
- House Edge
Double Deck Blackjack Introduction
In many respects, Double Deck Blackjack is similar to other versions of the game. The main difference is that only two 52-card decks are used. The game is available in some casinos in both single player and multi-player versions. On single player tables you can play a maximum of five betting positions. Multi-player mode provides more of a ‘social' experience with some casinos offering chat while you play.
Basic Rules and Betting Limits
The object of Double Deck Blackjack is straightforward. Just get closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.
Card Values
- Aces count as either 1 or 11.
- Kings, Queens and Jacks count as 10.
- Number cards 2-10 retain their face value.
- The different suits are irrelevant.
If the cards drawn add up to more than 21' you are ‘bust' regardless of what the dealer has. If the dealer is bust you win the hand.
Betting limits do vary but most of the best online casinos offer both high and low stakes games, which make the Double Deck Blackjack online game ideal for both the beginner and the more experienced player. Some Double Deck Blackjack casinos will also offer VIP tables where, for the top rank players, the betting limits are higher. There may also be other ‘perks' for those taking a seat at a VIP table.
How to Play Double Deck Blackjack
Other than this version of Blackjack is played with only two decks of cards, the rules are very similar to the Classic game. However, they may vary between casinos because of house rules and the type of software used.
To receive your cards you first have to place your bet. The dealer then deals two face up cards to each player. The dealer takes one face up card, the second (hole card) is placed face down under the up card.
At this stage the players make the decision about how they want to proceed in the game. They can Hit or Stand or use one of the permitted strategies. The cards are shuffled at the start of each new hand.
Dealer Rules
- Dealers do not receive a hole card or peek for Blackjack.
- Dealer hits on a soft 17 hand.
A hard hand is one that does not include an ace. A soft hand does contain an ace.
Types of Bets Which can be Placed in Double Deck Blackjack
- Split – If the first two cards are of equal value e.g. eight-eight or two-two to create two hands for another wager of the same amount. Split aces draws only one card – no re-splitting of aces. A split ace and a card valued at 10 points do not make a Blackjack.
- Double Down – available on any two-card hand if they total 9, 10 or 11 and receive one additional card, after which you must stand. No double down after split.
- Insurance – if the dealer's face up card is an ace, insurance is an option available to you if you believe the dealer might have Blackjack.
- Push – when the total of both the dealer and player's hands are the same nobody wins and the house returns the stakes.
- Surrender – this bet is not usually available on Double Deck Blackjack.
The types of bet available may vary from casino to casino.
Payouts
Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack Game
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Insurance bets pay 2:1.
- Standard wins pay 1:1
- All ties push
Best Places to Play Double Deck Blackjack Online
Double Deck Blackjack is always popular because of the range of doubling and splitting strategies available and the lower house edge always attracts players with an eye on the big money. Not every casino will have it as one of their card game options so before you jump in, do some thorough research to see what's on offer. Compare promotions and newbie offers but look also at reputation, site security, customer service and how payouts are made. There are many online reviews, from real players, which will help with this.
Summary of Double Deck Blackjack
Some online casinos will implement, 'User Interface Protection' which is a system designed to warn the player if they make a decision which is considered as accidental or inadvertent. For example:
- Hit on hard 17 or over
- Stand on 11 or under
- Double down on hard 12 or higher
While everybody makes mistakes, it's often the newbie who gets into trouble this way. A bit of practice at a casino that lets you play free Double Deck Blackjack is a great way of building experience before you decide to play the real money option.
If you're unlucky enough to drop your Internet connection during play, don't worry, you won't lose anything. The game is stored and then replayed when the Internet connection is restored. The dealer's hole card will be re-dealt.
The theoretical return to Player (RTP) for Double Deck Blackjack is approximately 99.78%.
While some complain about all the 6:5 blackjack games in Las Vegas, there are still hundreds of great tables to play. But where to find the best blackjack in Las Vegas in 2020?
The best Las Vegas blackjack games tend to be away from the tourist corridor, so it may require a drive or rideshare trip.
The exception is a few high-limit games on the Strip. These often require $50 or more per hand to play, while some of the other top blackjack tables are found in the locals market and start at a $5 minimum bet.
Here are details of all the best blackjack games in Las Vegas in 2020, as per our annual blackjack survey.
M Resort retains its title as the home of the best blackjack table in Las Vegas.
Its double-deck game in the high limit stands on all 17s. Double down before and after splitting is allowed. Aces may be re-split up to three times for a total of four hands. The re-split aces rule is the only one of its kind for stand on 17 double-deck games in Las Vegas.
The house edge with perfect play is 0.19%.
Bighorn and Longhorn Casino Blackjack
There is a $5 blackjack game in the locals market that is comfortably one of the best blackjack games in Las Vegas in 2020. It is offered by Bighorn Casino and Longhorn Casino. Bighorn Casino is on East Lake Mead Blvd in North Las Vegas. Longhorn is on Boulder Highway near US 95.
This blackjack game has a special rule that allows players to double down on three cards. The dealer hits soft 17. Double down after splitting, re-split aces, and surrender are also allowed. The house advantage for this game is about 0.25%.
Some of the best Las Vegas blackjack games in 2020 are the many double-deck blackjack games on the Las Vegas Strip that stand on all 17s. These games do not permit re-split aces.
This game is spread at Treasure Island for $50. Aria, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, MGM Grand, and Park MGM have it for $100. The expected house edge for this game is 0.26%.
High-Limit Six-Deck Blackjack Games
There are many high-limit six-deck games that stand on all 17s. All these high-limit games offer double down before and after splitting and surrender, regardless of location. The ones listed here also have re-split aces. This puts the house edge at 0.29%. You may find this game during slow periods for $25 at MGM Grand, though it is often at least $50.
Bellagio, M Resort, Palace Station, and Treasure Island have it for $50. Aria, Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock Resort, and Palms spread it for $100.
El Cortez is one of two casinos that spread 3:2 single-deck games in Las Vegas. Silverton is the other. Both are among the best Vegas blackjack games for 2020, but El Cortez has an advantage as it permits double down on any two cards before a split.
The game has a $5 minimum during most hours of the day, though you may see it for $10 when it is busy. The house advantage is 0.3% at these blackjack tables.
Caesars High-Limit Shoes
Most Caesars properties in Las Vegas spread a six-deck game in the high-limit salon.
- Aces count as either 1 or 11.
- Kings, Queens and Jacks count as 10.
- Number cards 2-10 retain their face value.
- The different suits are irrelevant.
If the cards drawn add up to more than 21' you are ‘bust' regardless of what the dealer has. If the dealer is bust you win the hand.
Betting limits do vary but most of the best online casinos offer both high and low stakes games, which make the Double Deck Blackjack online game ideal for both the beginner and the more experienced player. Some Double Deck Blackjack casinos will also offer VIP tables where, for the top rank players, the betting limits are higher. There may also be other ‘perks' for those taking a seat at a VIP table.
How to Play Double Deck Blackjack
Other than this version of Blackjack is played with only two decks of cards, the rules are very similar to the Classic game. However, they may vary between casinos because of house rules and the type of software used.
To receive your cards you first have to place your bet. The dealer then deals two face up cards to each player. The dealer takes one face up card, the second (hole card) is placed face down under the up card.
At this stage the players make the decision about how they want to proceed in the game. They can Hit or Stand or use one of the permitted strategies. The cards are shuffled at the start of each new hand.
Dealer Rules
- Dealers do not receive a hole card or peek for Blackjack.
- Dealer hits on a soft 17 hand.
A hard hand is one that does not include an ace. A soft hand does contain an ace.
Types of Bets Which can be Placed in Double Deck Blackjack
- Split – If the first two cards are of equal value e.g. eight-eight or two-two to create two hands for another wager of the same amount. Split aces draws only one card – no re-splitting of aces. A split ace and a card valued at 10 points do not make a Blackjack.
- Double Down – available on any two-card hand if they total 9, 10 or 11 and receive one additional card, after which you must stand. No double down after split.
- Insurance – if the dealer's face up card is an ace, insurance is an option available to you if you believe the dealer might have Blackjack.
- Push – when the total of both the dealer and player's hands are the same nobody wins and the house returns the stakes.
- Surrender – this bet is not usually available on Double Deck Blackjack.
The types of bet available may vary from casino to casino.
Payouts
Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack Game
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Insurance bets pay 2:1.
- Standard wins pay 1:1
- All ties push
Best Places to Play Double Deck Blackjack Online
Double Deck Blackjack is always popular because of the range of doubling and splitting strategies available and the lower house edge always attracts players with an eye on the big money. Not every casino will have it as one of their card game options so before you jump in, do some thorough research to see what's on offer. Compare promotions and newbie offers but look also at reputation, site security, customer service and how payouts are made. There are many online reviews, from real players, which will help with this.
Summary of Double Deck Blackjack
Some online casinos will implement, 'User Interface Protection' which is a system designed to warn the player if they make a decision which is considered as accidental or inadvertent. For example:
- Hit on hard 17 or over
- Stand on 11 or under
- Double down on hard 12 or higher
While everybody makes mistakes, it's often the newbie who gets into trouble this way. A bit of practice at a casino that lets you play free Double Deck Blackjack is a great way of building experience before you decide to play the real money option.
If you're unlucky enough to drop your Internet connection during play, don't worry, you won't lose anything. The game is stored and then replayed when the Internet connection is restored. The dealer's hole card will be re-dealt.
The theoretical return to Player (RTP) for Double Deck Blackjack is approximately 99.78%.
While some complain about all the 6:5 blackjack games in Las Vegas, there are still hundreds of great tables to play. But where to find the best blackjack in Las Vegas in 2020?
The best Las Vegas blackjack games tend to be away from the tourist corridor, so it may require a drive or rideshare trip.
The exception is a few high-limit games on the Strip. These often require $50 or more per hand to play, while some of the other top blackjack tables are found in the locals market and start at a $5 minimum bet.
Here are details of all the best blackjack games in Las Vegas in 2020, as per our annual blackjack survey.
M Resort retains its title as the home of the best blackjack table in Las Vegas.
Its double-deck game in the high limit stands on all 17s. Double down before and after splitting is allowed. Aces may be re-split up to three times for a total of four hands. The re-split aces rule is the only one of its kind for stand on 17 double-deck games in Las Vegas.
The house edge with perfect play is 0.19%.
Bighorn and Longhorn Casino Blackjack
There is a $5 blackjack game in the locals market that is comfortably one of the best blackjack games in Las Vegas in 2020. It is offered by Bighorn Casino and Longhorn Casino. Bighorn Casino is on East Lake Mead Blvd in North Las Vegas. Longhorn is on Boulder Highway near US 95.
This blackjack game has a special rule that allows players to double down on three cards. The dealer hits soft 17. Double down after splitting, re-split aces, and surrender are also allowed. The house advantage for this game is about 0.25%.
Some of the best Las Vegas blackjack games in 2020 are the many double-deck blackjack games on the Las Vegas Strip that stand on all 17s. These games do not permit re-split aces.
This game is spread at Treasure Island for $50. Aria, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, MGM Grand, and Park MGM have it for $100. The expected house edge for this game is 0.26%.
High-Limit Six-Deck Blackjack Games
There are many high-limit six-deck games that stand on all 17s. All these high-limit games offer double down before and after splitting and surrender, regardless of location. The ones listed here also have re-split aces. This puts the house edge at 0.29%. You may find this game during slow periods for $25 at MGM Grand, though it is often at least $50.
Bellagio, M Resort, Palace Station, and Treasure Island have it for $50. Aria, Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock Resort, and Palms spread it for $100.
El Cortez is one of two casinos that spread 3:2 single-deck games in Las Vegas. Silverton is the other. Both are among the best Vegas blackjack games for 2020, but El Cortez has an advantage as it permits double down on any two cards before a split.
The game has a $5 minimum during most hours of the day, though you may see it for $10 when it is busy. The house advantage is 0.3% at these blackjack tables.
Caesars High-Limit Shoes
Most Caesars properties in Las Vegas spread a six-deck game in the high-limit salon.
The minimum bet is $50 at Bally's and $100 at the others, including Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, Planet Hollywood, and Rio. The house edge for this game is 0.35%.
There are two locals casinos that offer 3:2 double-deck games with re-split aces with low limits. The dealer hits soft 17. The minimum bet is usually $5 at Eastside Cannery and $10 at Silverton.
Station Casinos high-limit salons also offer this game. These include Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Palms, and Red Rock Resort. The minimum bet is usually $100 but can be as low as $50. Never be afraid to ask for a lower minimum bet if the table is idle. The house edge for this game is 0.4%.
Las Vegas Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack
As noted in the top spot of this best Las Vegas blackjack list, M Resort offers this game for $50 with the dealer standing on all 17s.
Other 3:2 Double-Deck Games in Las Vegas
There are dozens of Las Vegas casinos that offer 3:2 double-deck blackjack games with double down before and after splitting but not re-split aces. The dealer hits soft 17. Locations with the game for $5 include Aliante, Cannery, El Cortez, Fiesta, Gold Coast, Jerry's Nugget, Jokers Wild, M Resort, Rampart, Orleans, Palace Station, Railroad Pass, Sam's Town, Santa Fe Station, Suncoast, and Texas Station.
Casinos with this game for $10 include Palms, Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock Resort, and Treasure Island. For $25, it's found at many tourist casinos. The house edge for this game is 0.46%.
The games detailed above are objectively the best blackjack games in Las Vegas in 2020. However, you may have your own personal preferences in terms of what you want from a blackjack game.
Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack Games
Perhaps you want to play in a specific location, or enjoy a particular type of game. That's where our 2020 Las Vegas blackjack survey can help. You'll find details of every single blackjack table in Vegas, broken down into several different categories.
Casinos With Double Deck Blackjack
Check it out and enjoy the best blackjack Las Vegas has to offer!
