Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in the World. In addition to being a very easy game to learn, blackjack resembles those fun card games like War, which build great anticipation and excitement as a card hit reveals whether one's hand busts or settles at that most comfortable range just under twenty-one.

Much like those card games we all played as children, blackjack is also very popular for another important reason. No other table game can deliver as low a House Edge as blackjack can. If blackjack were introduced today (knowing what we know about the game), it would not be picked up by casinos and offered on the gambling floor. The reason being is that only those games which have at least a 3% House Edge are deemed profitably acceptable to the House. Therefore, a game that has the potential of hitting a .5% House Advantage is out of the question.

So, why have casinos let blackjack stick around for as long as it has? First of all, the Basic Blackjack Strategy (the means by which to get the House Edge down) was not figured out only until after blackjack had become a mainstay on the gambling floor. Secondly, even with the valuable information the Basic Blackjack Strategy provides, many gamblers do not even incorporate it into their strategy, thinking it much too hard to learn.  In reality, the Basic Blackjack Strategy is quite simple to learn and only takes a little repeated practice to get comfortable with it.

Considering that blackjack is here to stay, casinos have done all they can to protect themselves against card counting and the Basic Strategy.  They have implemented automatic card shufflers, added more decks, and even changed some rules like not letting players double down their bet after splitting a hand. While these changes have only slightly impacted the Edge on the game of blackjack, the most impacting change that many gambling operators have made is the payout on hitting a Natural (Blackjack).

Instead of paying 3 to 2 for hitting a Blackjack, many casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are paying out 6 to 5 odds, which increases the House Edge by 1.5%.  Some places even advertise their 6 to 5 odds like it was a good thing! The great thing about playing online, is that most internet betting sites like Blackjack Ballroom still offer 3 to 2 odds and allow players to double down after splitting and force the dealer to stand on a Soft 17. If you see otherwise, whether on the internet or in Vegas, don't play there.  There are plenty of other places still offering the lower House Advantage rules at blackjack.