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. Increase signage on I-91 and I-90. These are in place already. One is visible on Interstate 91.

Nothing beats finding an open $5 table game, especially on a busy weekend. The closing of the Riviera took with it the only $1 blackjack game on the strip, but at the right time, you can still find a couple of micro-stakes tables. Here are a few places to hit up for $5 or less.

*Note: Obviously, many casinos offer $5 games on early weekdays. These are a few of the best offerings. I do not include any blackjack tables at a 6:5 payout.

The Strip:

Excalibur – $5 craps tables can be found day and night. Try to stay away from < $10 blackjack at MGM properties though, as they typically pay 6:5

Cromwell – Probably the classiest place to find a $5 game on the Strip. The craps table is affordable in the morning and early afternoons.

Bally’s – Will, on occasion, actually run a 3:2 $5 blackjack game. The same can be said for both Paris and Flamingo.

Circus Circus – Odd, since it’s an MGM casino, but it runs a $5 blackjack game with decent rules. This find comes from blackjack expert Ken Smith when he shared it on a recent podcast episode.

Casino Royale – This mid-strip casino is a low roller favorite. Cheap drinks, permeating Subway scent, and $5 craps. What more do you need?

Treasure Island – Has a lot of $5 blackjack games with decent rules. TI is quickly becoming a go-to Strip casino for low rollers with generous paytables and liberal drink comp policies.

Downtown:

Virtually every downtown property offers $5 table games. Here are a few of my favorites:

Golden Gate – Always offers 3:2 $5 blackjack and $5 craps, even on busy weekend nights. It’s my favorite gambling spot downtown.

Fremont – Craps fans can get their fix in at the Fremont, which has one $3 table running occasionally. It can be quite busy there, so you may have to wait a bit to find a spot. They also have a $3 blackjack game running at various times.

El Cortez – The Cortez has afternoon limits of $1 on roulette and $3 on craps. It also runs a single deck 3:2 blackjack game with a $5 minimum.

Main Street Station – Great craps odds and good craft beer always within arm’s reach. A great place for all types of gaming.

Off-Strip:

Off-Strip casinos, just like downtown, offer $5 games 24/7. Here are a couple you may want to try if you’re adventurous:

Ellis Island – Not far jaunt from center Strip. Runs $5 BJ and craps most of the time. Plus, you can grab some cheap craft beer and sing your heart out at karaoke.

Joker’s Wild – If you have a rental car and feel like taking a drive, this low roller joint has the cheapest craps around. $1 minimum and 10x odds. Yowza!

Alternative:

Electronic – While certainly not the same as sitting down at a live table and holding real chips in your hand, these can be a great alternative in the evening when limits go up. Electronic BJ and my favorite, Shoot-to-Win craps, can be found in numerous casinos and be played at extremely low stakes. The minimums tend to fluctuate, but I and others have had no problem finding games for $3 and under at all hours.

Know of any others? I’m always on the lookout for cheap gaming!

I walked the Las Vegas Strip on June 5, 2020. I went in all 16 casinos that were open. The information below describes the table games that I saw, the best video poker paytables available at denominations of $5 and below at each casino, and any interesting observations. Video poker information was confirmed through VPFree2.

The first section shows the minimum bet and availability for each table game. The second section is a list of table games by casino. There is no guarantee that you will find the same games at different times. However, this gives a good idea of what is out there and being opened by casinos.

Casino Royale and Circus Circus will not be on the list. Casino Royale removed all its table games. Circus Circus installed a $5 stadium 6:5 blackjack and roulette game in its pit. The live tables will not open until business conditions improve.

See also: Downtown Las Vegas reopening gambling guide – Follow Vegas Advantage on Twitter

Las Vegas Strip minimum bet for 3:2 blackjack

The list below shows what the minimum bet is for a 3:2 blackjack game. All games are six or eight-deck shoes with double down before and after splitting. Any variations to that are noted in parenthesis.

$10

• The Strat (surrender, re-split aces)

$15

• Harrah’s (surrender)
• MGM Grand (surrender, re-split aces)
• Sahara

$25

• Bellagio (surrender, re-split aces)
• Caesars Palace (surrender)
• Cosmopolitan (surrender, re-split aces)
• Encore (surrender, re-split aces)
• Excalibur (surrender, re-split aces)
• Flamingo (surrender)
• Linq (surrender)
• New York-New York (surrender, re-split aces)
• Treasure Island (double deck and six-deck, surrender and re-split aces on six-deck)
• Wynn (surrender, re-split aces)

$50

• Palazzo (double deck)
• Venetian (double deck)

Las Vegas craps minimum bets and odds

Below is the minimum bet for craps that I found at Las Vegas Strip casinos on June 5, 2020. The odds for each game are 3-4-5 times unless otherwise noted. Treasure Island offers craps at night. Its minimum is unknown but expected to be $15 or $25.

$5

• Sahara

$10

• Cosmopolitan
• Encore
• Excalibur
• Harrah’s
• MGM Grand
• Palazzo
• The Strat (10x odds, also offers crapsless craps)
• Venetian
• Wynn

$15

• Linq
• O’Sheas

$25

• Bellagio
• Caesars Palace
• Flamingo
• New York-New York

00 roulette minimum bet

Each casino on the list offered 00 roulette. The list shows the minimum bet at each casino that was found on June 5, 2020. Treasure Island did not have a live game open. It had $1 stadium roulette.

$5

• Sahara

$10

• The Strat
• Bellagio
• Flamingo
• Harrah’s
• New York-New York

$15

• Caesars Palace
• Cosmopolitan
• Encore
• Linq
• Palazzo
• Venetian
• Wynn

$25

• MGM Grand

Other Las Vegas table games

Baccarat

$10

• Flamingo

$15

• Harrah’s

$25

• Caesars Palace
• Palazzo
• The Strat
• Venetian

$50

• Cosmopolitan
• Encore
• Sahara
• Wynn

$100

• Bellagio

Casino War

$10

• Cosmopolitan

Crazy4Poker

$10

• Bellagio
• Caesars Palace
• Encore
• Harrah’s
• Palazzo
• Venetian
• Wynn

DJ Wild

$5

• Harrah’s

High Card Flush

$5

• Flamingo
• Linq

$10

• Caesars Palace
• Cosmopolitan
• Encore
• Harrah’s
• Wynn

Let it Ride

$5

• Flamingo
• Harrah’s

$10

• Caesars Palace
• Encore
• Wynn

Mississippi Stud

$5

• Flamingo

$10

• Caesars Palace

$15

• Linq

Pai Gow Poker

$10

• Flamingo

$15

• Harrah’s
• Linq

$25

• Bellagio
• Caesars Palace
• Cosmopolitan
• MGM Grand
• Palazzo
• Venetian
• Wynn

Pai Gow Tiles

$25

• Harrah’s
• Wynn

Mgm Grand 5 Dollar Blackjack

Texas Hold’em Bonus

$5

• Flamingo

Three Card Poker

$5

• Flamingo
• Linq

$10

• Caesars Palace
• Cosmopolitan
• Encore
• Harrah’s
• MGM Grand
• New York-New York
• Wynn

$15

• Treasure Island

Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$5

• Excalibur
• Flamingo
• Harrah’s

$10

• Bellagio
• Linq
• New York-New York

$15

• Caesars Palace
• Encore
• Wynn

$25

• Cosmopolitan

Las Vegas Strip reopening table game limits and best video poker by casino

I noticed lower minimum bets for many games with a few that were higher. There was no pattern to it. The most notable observations were that Circus Circus is not opening table games for at least a few weeks and Casino Royale removed live tables entirely.

The list for each casino shows what I found open during my June 5, 2020 visit. A blackjack game with “S17” notes when the dealer stands on all 17s. All blackjack games without this hit soft 17. A game without a notation of number of decks is a six or eight-deck shoe. All blackjack games are assumed to have double down before and after splitting. Any changes from those rules are noted.

Bellagio

Bellagio moved some tables around. It put plexiglass partitions on all. The limits on some games were a bit lower than usual. Otherwise, there was little difference.

$10

• 00 roulette
• 000 roulette
• 6:5 blackjack
• Crazy4Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$25

• 3:2 6-deck blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)
• Craps
• Pai Gow Poker

$100

• Baccarat
• 3:2 S17 6-deck blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)

$300

• 3:2 S17 double deck blackjack

Best video poker games: Bonus Poker (99.17% and 98.01%)

Caesars Palace

The main pit at Caesars Palace and the high limit salon were the only places to play table games at Caesars Palace. For the first time since I surveyed Las Vegas casinos, all blackjacks paid 3:2 at Caesars Palace. All the 6:5 tables were closed, as well as 000 roulette.

$10

• Crazy4Poker
• Let it Ride
• Mississippi Stud
• High Card Flush
• Three Card Poker

$15

• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• 00 roulette

$25

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender)
• Baccarat
• Pai Gow Poker

$100

• 3:2 S17 blackjack (surrender)
• 0 roulette

Best video poker game: Bonus Poker (98.01%)

Cosmopolitan

Beyond the spacing, there were no changes at Cosmopolitan. It seemed like a normal day with typical table game limits.

$10

• 6:5 blackjack
• 000 roulette
• Casino War
• Craps
• High Card Flush
• Three Card Poker

$15

• 00 roulette

$25

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)
• 6:5 Free Bet Blackjack
• Pai Gow Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$50

• Baccarat

$100

• 3:2 S17 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)
• 0 roulette

Best video poker games: Bonus Poker (99.17%) and Double Double Bonus (98.98%)

Excalibur

I was at Excalibur as it opened on June 11. Its table game selection was limited but expected to expand over the weekend. This is what I found live:

$5

• 6:5 blackjack
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$10

• 000 roulette

$25

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)

Best video poker games: Jacks or Better (98.45%) and Bonus Poker (98.01%)

Flamingo

The only differences I found at Flamingo was the expansion of video table games and the required spacing at tables. The minimum bet on the electronic table games is $5.

$5

• High Card Flush
• Let it Ride
• Mississippi Stud
• Texas Hold’em Bonus
• Three Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$10

• 6:5 Free Bet Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Pai Gow Poker

$15

• 6:5 blackjack

$25

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender)
• Craps

$50

• Double deck blackjack (dealt as a pitch, no double down after split)

Best video poker games: Super Double Double Bonus (98.69%) and Bonus Poker (98.01%)

Harrah’s

There were no differences at Harrah’s from before the closure beyond the required spacing.

$5

• Crazy4Poker
• DJ Wild
• Let it Ride
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$10

• 00 roulette
• 6:5 blackjack
• Craps
• High Card Flush
• Three Card Poker

$15

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender)
• 6:5 Free Bet Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Pai Gow Poker

$25

• 3:2 double deck blackjack (dealt as pitch, no double down after splitting)
• Pai Gow Tiles

Best video poker: Bonus Poker (98.01%) and Jacks or Better (97.3%)

Linq

Linq and its sister casino O’Sheas opened on June 12. It had the typical Caesars Entertainment game selection.

$5

• High Card Flush

$10

• 000 roulette
• 6:5 Free Bet Blackjack

$15

• 00 roulette
• Craps
• Pai Gow Poker

$25

• 8-deck blackjack (surrender)

$50

• Double deck blackjack (no double down after split)

MGM Grand

MGM Grand was nearly empty. The table limits were the lowest I have seen there in many years in most circumstances.

$10

• 6:5 blackjack
• Craps
• Three Card Poker

$15

• 6:5 Free Bet Blackjack
• 3:2 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)

$25

• 00 roulette
• Pai Gow Poker

$100

• European roulette
• 3:2 S17 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)

$300

• 3:2 S17 double deck blackjack

Best video poker: Jacks or Better (99.54%) and Bonus Poker (99.17%)

New York-New York

Like MGM Grand, New York-New York was deserted. The table limits were standard and in some cases a bit higher than normal. The high limit salon was closed.

$10

• 00 roulette
• 000 roulette
• 6:5 blackjack
• Three Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$25

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)
• Craps

Best video poker games: Jacks or Better (99.54%) and Double Bonus (99.11%)

Sahara

Sahara only had its main pit and high limit salon open.

$5

• 00 roulette
• 6:5 blackjack
• Blackjack Switch
• Craps

$10

• 6:5 Free Bet Blackjack

Mgm Springfield $5 Blackjack

$15

• 3:2 blackjack

$50

• 3:2 S17 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)
• Baccarat

Best video poker games: Bonus Poker (99.17%) and Double Bonus (99.11%)

The Strat

The main pit was open. The secondary pit was closed and partially replaced with a stadium gaming system that was not yet live. The high limit table games were closed along with that entire section of the casino.

The carnival game pit was not open during my visit. When I asked about it, I was told the games were expected to be dealt soon, maybe by that evening.

$5

• 6:5 blackjack

$10

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)
• 00 roulette
• Craps and crapsless craps

$25

• Baccarat

Best video poker games: Bonus Poker (98.48%) and Jacks or Better (98.45%)

Treasure Island

The high limit salon is closed indefinitely. One pit was replaced with a second stadium gaming machine. It was not live yet. The original stadium gaming was live. It has $1 3:2 blackjack Monday through Thursday and $3 on weekend. There is $1 00 roulette daily.

$10

• Craps

$15

• Three Card Poker

$25

• 6:5 single deck blackjack
• 3:2 double deck blackjack
• 3:2 six-deck blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)

Best video poker games: Jacks or Better (99.54%) and Bonus Poker (99.17%)

Venetian and Palazzo

The only difference I noticed at Venetian is that the pit by the sportsbook was removed. Otherwise, the table limits were typically lower. Palazzo offered the same games and limits.

The poker room at Venetian is open. Cash games are five-handed. There is a winner-take-all $100 single table tournament. First place pays $425.

$10

• 000 roulette
• Craps
• Crazy4Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$15

• 6:5 blackjack
• 6:5 Free Bet Blackjack
• 00 roulette
• Spanish 21

$25

• Baccarat
• Pai Gow Poker

$50

• 3:2 double deck blackjack
• 0 roulette

$100

• 3:2 S17 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)

Best video poker games: Bonus Poker (98.01%) and Jacks or Better (97.3%)

Wynn and Encore

Wynn and Encore had lower limits than normal. There was ample spacing at both, to say the least. This is a great time to get the Wynn experience with no crowds and low table limits.

$10

• Craps
• Crazy4Poker
• High Card Flush
• Let it Ride
• Three Card Poker

$15

• 00 roulette
• 6:5 blackjack
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em

$25

• 3:2 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)
• Pai Gow Poker
• Pai Gow Tiles

$50

• Baccarat
• 3:2 double deck blackjack

Mgm Springfield $5 Blackjack

$100

• European roulette
• 3:2 S17 blackjack (surrender, re-split aces)

Best video poker games: Jacks or Better (99.54%) and Bonus Poker (99.17%)

Updates

• Excallibur information added on June 11.