Red Rock, Durango Debut Rare Poolside 3:2 Blackjack in Las Vegas

^{A blackjack dealer at Red Rock's Sandbar Grille, where poolside blackjack now pays 3:2 on a natural blackjack. (Photo: courtesy of Red Rock Casino)}

LAS VEGAS – This weekend, Red Rock Casino and Durango Casino debuted the only poolside 3:2 blackjack games in Las Vegas. Only a handful of casinos offer outdoor gambling, and all of them have 6:5 blackjack games.

Red Rock was the first casino to announce the update on Friday afternoon, followed by Durango's announcement on Saturday.

The main difference between the poolside games at the two Station Casinos properties is their hours of operation. Red Rock offers poolside blackjack only Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Durango’s Bel-Aire Backyard pool offers weekend games Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and even on Monday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Poolside gambling in Las Vegas is popular during the summer because guests can enjoy being by the pool while playing blackjack, craps, or other games.

The mid-August launch might seem late in the game as summer travel winds down for back-to-school, but high temperatures mean pool season is far from over. Since most Vegas pools stay open into October, visitors still have a couple of solid months to enjoy poolside gaming.

Why The Change Matters

The house edge of all casino games matters because it can affect how long a player spends gambling. A lower house edge can help a player's bankroll last longer, allowing more time to enjoy their favorite table game or slot machine. More play time also creates more opportunities for a winning streak. 

Conversely, a higher house edge can cause a player's bankroll to decline more quickly, reducing their time at the game and their opportunities for a winning streak.

The house edge is derived from millions of hands, and short-term outcomes are unpredictable. Anything can happen during individual sessions.

The appeal of poolside blackjack is obvious to recreational gamblers who enjoy playing for a little while between getting some rays or taking a dip. The rules and payouts matter a little less because it's part of the overall experience.

Veteran gamblers often avoid poolside blackjack because the returns are tilted more to the casino than games inside. Both Red Rock and Durango offer 3:2 blackjack games on the main casino floor and in the high-limit rooms.

While these guests might enjoy playing the game outside, they skip it because of the lower payout. Without changing any rules, the house edge triples when the casino pays 6:5 for a blackjack instead of 3:2.

Simply changing the payout for blackjack shifts the house edge from less than 0.5% to almost 1.5% with perfect play. That's a line some blackjack players will never cross.

The appeal of playing blackjack in the fresh air with better scenery isn't always worth giving the casino a greater advantage.

3:2 vs. 6:5 Blackjack 

Casinos traditionally paid 3:2 when a player is dealt blackjack. They would pay $15 for a $10 wager.

More than 20 years ago, some casinos decided to pay 6:5 for this hand. Players would win only $12 on a $10 wager.

This essentially triples the advantage for the casino. While the $3 doesn't look like much with a $10 bet, it adds up over time and is more noticeable when the bets are larger.

As Red Rock casino boss Dustin Boshers says in the video above, this is a $30 difference when betting $100 per hand.

Today, nearly all blackjack games on the Vegas Strip with a minimum bet under $25 pay 6:5 when a player is dealt a blackjack.

Casinos have the advantage in all games, but blackjack is one of the few where the house edge changes because of the player. This number is based on playing perfect basic strategy, the optimal blackjack plays that decrease the casino's advantage.

Our blackjack guide helps break down basic strategy. Players can use a physical basic strategy card at the table if learning it is too time-consuming. Mobile phones are not allowed during gameplay, so digital versions are less helpful in this case.

Paying 3:2 versus 6:5 for blackjack has the single biggest impact on the house edge. Rules like whether a dealer hits on soft 17, or when players can double, have a much smaller 0.20% impact. While smaller, it still factors into the casino's overall advantage.