Pennsylvania appears poised to retain its status as home to some of the most player-friendly blackjack rules in the country.
Last week, the state Gaming Control Board suggested making Pennsylvania’s current blackjack rules permanent. Those include requirements that a player’s “natural” — an Ace and a 10-value card on the first two cards — be paid at 3-to-2 ($15 for a $10 bet) and that the dealer stand on Soft 17 (Ace-Six). Other player-friendly rules include:
• The option to double on any two cards (some jurisdictions limit doubling to two-card totals of 9, 10 or 11).
• Late surrender, or the option to give up half your bet instead of hitting or standing after the dealer has checked for blackjack (Pennsylvania casinos are among the few to offer surrender at all betting levels).
• The option to double after splitting.
Rules for all table games are up for review. After the Legislature approved the addition of table games last year, the board established temporary rules so games could start as soon as possible. The temporary rules expire in 2012.
The blackjack rules must pass through a bureaucratic maze before becoming permanent. First, the proposal must be published in the once-a-week Pennsylvania Bulletin; the earliest that could happen is next Saturday. Publication kicks off a 30-day public comment period. After that, the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission has time to make comments. The Gaming Control Board responds to all comments before submitting a final version of the regulations. The process could take months.
Unlike most games, blackjack can be played under a variety of rules that affect the house advantage. Some jurisdictions allow casinos to decide for themselves whether to reduce payouts for naturals to a paltry 6-to-5 — $12 on a $10 bet — or to have the dealer hit soft 17. Both siphon money from all players, beginners to pros.
Before the temporary rules were approved, casino interests lobbied for those options. They’re likely to try again.
As before, they can argue that weakening the rules would increase the state’s take from taxes because the casinos’ profit from the game would be higher. As before, the state should reject pleas to increase the house advantage.
The Gaming Control Board’s analysis for the Review Commission anticipates the industry arguments:
“The board believes that the fundamental rules of play in blackjack, including optional surrender and the requirement that dealers stand on a soft 17, achieves a fair and appropriate balance between the revenue generated for the certificate holders, and derivatively to the Commonwealth, and the fairness to patrons,” the analysis says.
Pennsylvania stands out from competing jurisdictions by offering blackjack players a better game. Figures released this month show that in their first year, table games generated more than $507 million in revenue at the state’s 10 casinos; state and local governments got $81.4 million of that. Blackjack, the most popular table game, is responsible for a significant chunk of the totals.
In addition to the move toward making the temporary blackjack rules permanent, the Gaming Control Board opened the door to “pitch” games. These blackjack games, a personal favorite, would use two decks of cards rather than the six- or eight-deck stacks found at tables using shoes or continuous shuffling machines. In pitch games, dealers hold the undealt cards in one hand and deal with the other. Players are allowed to hold their cards — with one hand only — instead of the look-but-don’t-touch arrangement of shoe games.
The state’s original rules stipulated that all blackjack games be dealt from a shoe or similar device.
In a move that penny-pinching gamblers will cheer, the board proposed allowing casinos to offer match-play coupons for table games. This is like a BOGO for a bettor. Typically, a player bets an amount equal to the coupon’s value on an even-money wager — the pass line at craps, red or black at roulette, or a blackjack hand. Someone with a $10 coupon and a $10 bet gets paid $20 for winning while risking only $10.
Say no to 6-5
Join Player’s Advantage in urging Pennsylvania to retain its player-friendly blackjack rules, especially the requirements that players’ blackjacks pay 3-to-2 and that the dealer stands on soft 17 (Ace-Six). The formal comment period will not begin until regulations are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, but you can send your comments to:
Susan A. Yocum
Assistant Chief Counsel
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
P.O. Box 69060
Harrisburg, PA 69060
Fax: 717-703-2988
E-mail: syocum@state.pa.us
Rivers concert
Rivers Casino on the North Shore will sponsor a free concert Saturday featuring local rockers Donnie Iris and the Cruisers as well as oldies band Johnny Angel and the Halos. The concert will be from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the casino’s outdoor amphitheater.
Country artist Mark Wills will perform a free concert there on Aug. 20.
Money trail
Slot players at Pennsylvania’s 10 casinos lost $46.9 million in the week ended July 24, the Gaming Control Board reported. That’s up from $45.2 million in the comparable week last year, when nine casinos were open.
Since the fiscal year started July 1, the statewide slot payout rate is 90.12 percent; for every $100 bet, the machines return an average of $90.12.
Payout rates and slot revenue figures for Western Pennsylvania casinos:
- 89.86 percent: Rivers; slot revenue for the week totaled $5.34 million, up from $4.82 million last year.
- 89.93 percent: The Meadows; slot revenue for the week totaled $5.08 million, down from $5.22 million last year.
- 90.38 percent: Presque Isle in Erie; slot revenue for the week totaled $3.44 million, down from $3.69 million last year.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Did any Western Pennsylvania players cash at the World Series of Poker Main Event?
Not this year. Of the 29 Western Pennsylvania entrants, Robert Preston of New Castle lasted longest. He reached the fourth day of the $10,000-per-seat Texas Hold ‘Em tournament but was eliminated before qualifying for any money. The event had 6,865 entrants; those finishing from 622nd to 693rd won $19,359.
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