Crown Casino Melbourne Blackjack Rules

Crown Casino in Melbourne is not only Australia’s premier land-based gambling venue, but the largest gaming complex in the entire Southern Hemisphere. As such, you would expect it to be a mecca for the most popular casino game in the world: real money blackjack.

1. Hello fellow counters (sorry for being so lame), I am currently looking for skilled and experienced counters (using hi-opt 1 or 2, preferably with an Ace side count) for a team effort at the Melbourne crown casino (around 4 to 5 counters, 2 or 3 to monitor the status of the shoes -and 2 to 3.
2. A former gambling addict is fighting Australian casino, Crown Resorts, and pokies manufacturer, Aristocrat Leisure, in court this week over a single poker machine. Shonica Guy claims that the Dolphin Treasure poker machine inside Crown Melbourne casino, where blackjack and other casino games are available, is designed to mislead players.

However, the Southbank establishment – along with its sister site at Burswood, Perth – has become something of a no man’s land for players of 21 in recent years, due largely to the introduction of a controversial format known as Blackjack Plus. Let us show you why this is one game Aussie blackjack enthusiasts should look to steer well clear of, and what alternatives we might consider instead.

Why to avoid Blackjack Plus

Blackjack Plus tables began to appear at Crown around 2011, and have since replaced most low-to-medium limit 21 games on the casino floor. But what is it about this particular style that has so infuriated punters and anti-gaming spokesmen alike?

What are the current BlackJack playing conditions at Crown Casino (Melbourne)? My main concerns are: - Are there Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSM's) in use? If so, are they at all tables or only some? - What are the table minimums? - How easy is it to get on a table? - What are the current rules? For example does the dealer hit on soft 17?

At a glance, the game has plenty of rules that benefit the player:

• Natural blackjack pays 3/2
• All 21 hands are paid out straight away
• All five-card hands under 21 are paid out straight away
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Players can double down on any hand of two or three cards

For starters, the 3/2 payout on a natural 21 is a significant improvement on the 6/5 return found in many Australian blackjack games. The fact all 21s and five-and-under hands win immediately is another big yes that was previously hard to come by. But all these player-friendly rules are made redundant by one big, fat stinker: the dealer cannot bust with 22.

The first time we here at Blackjack.com.au came across this rule, we were gobsmacked. Try explaining it to someone from overseas, and they will look at you like you’ve told them their dog just died. For in a game built around the premise of scoring 21 or less, how on Earth can the house be allowed to stand off with 22? It makes no sense.

And here’s the fun part: how does the 22 rule affect the house edge? Well, the original Crown Blackjack game bore a theoretical return of around 99.44 per cent – i.e. playing with good strategy, we could expect to regain about $99.44 of every $100 wagered. With Blackjack Plus, that figure sinks as low as 97.14 per cent when using a full shoe of eight standard decks. In the blackjack world, where the casino’s mathematical advantage is often less than 0.50 per cent, a house edge of 2.86 per cent is extremely high.

But what’s an extra $2.30 out of every $100? Think about the big picture here. This is not just your money, but every dollar spent on Blackjack Plus. If 1,000 punters gambled an average of $100 each, Crown could statistically expect to rake in over $28,000 – and that’s assuming every player is clued up and using basic strategy, which is incredibly unlikely. In the old 6/5 blackjack, that figure would be under $6,000.

So, to sum up, Blackjack Plus is a gross perversion of the game of 21 and should be avoided like the plague. Unfortunately, if you can’t afford to bet $100 per hand, you may find that your options at Crown Casino are very limited.

Other 21 games at Crown Casino

If you’re one of the lucky ones with a bankroll to burn, you can sidestep the BJ+ tables altogether for more traditional (and much fairer) variations on the grand old game of 21. You may find a few low-bet tables for these game styles, but as a general rule you should expect to pay a minimum wager of $50 or more per hand.

Crown Blackjack

This used to be the stock-in-trade before the scourge that is Blackjack Plus took hold on Southbank. It uses conventional Australian rules, with a 6/5 payout on natural blackjacks, no hole card for the house, and the dealer hitting all soft 17s. The house edge for Crown Blackjack is around 0.56 per cent.

Vegas Blackjack

If you have the cash and the clout to hang with the high rollers in the Mahogany Room, you might just find a halfway decent Vegas Blackjack table. This is as close to Nevada rules as you will get in Melbourne. The dealer takes a hole card (as is standard in the US), splits and doubles are allowed, and you have the option to surrender half your initial bet when the house’s upcard shows 10 or Ace.

Crown Pontoon

This is a distinctly Aussie blackjack variation, and probably your best chance of finding a low minimum bet limit outside BJ Plus. Crown Pontoon uses up to eight modified decks with all face-value Tens removed (i.e. there is no Ten of Clubs, Ten of Spades, Ten of Diamonds, or Ten of Hearts, for a total of 48 cards per deck). Naturals pay 3/2, and there are various bonus prizes for hands of 7 7 7 or 6 7 8 – including a Super Bonus of up to $5000. Crown also offers 6 to 5 Pontoon, with a decreased payoff for naturals.

Blackjack Sidebets in Melbourne & Perth

A handful of Crown’s blackjack games will offer side bets. These wagers are independent of your initial blackjack bet, and can be made on a specific set of incidental outcomes that might occur within the player’s hand.

Below are a few sidebet options you might find on any of the available 21 games at Southbank or Burswood. Be warned: these wagers come with a big house edge, so we suggest avoiding them unless you’re feeling extremely lucky.

Crown Suits: Wins at 2 to 1 odds when your first two cards are of the same suit. If the dealer’s card is also of the same suit as your first two cards, the wager pays 5 to 1. This is one of the more winnable blackjack side-wagers out there.

Perfect Pairs: Pays off when your first two cards turn up a pair. Exact payouts vary depending on the number of decks used and the specific form of 21 being played. In Crown Blackjack with eight decks, a mixed pair (different suits and colours) pays 6 to 1; a coloured pair (same colour, different suit) pays 12 to 1; and a perfect pair (same colour, same suit) pays 25 to 1. The house edge here is 4.1 per cent, but it can go as high as 12 per cent in Crown Pontoon.

Magnificent Sevens: One of the most tempting blackjack side-bets, with a maximum payout of 16,000 to 1 when you draw three Sevens in the same suit. You can also salute with off-suit Sevens (50 to 1) and suited Sevens (150 to 1) on your first two cards, as well as 7 7 7 in mixed suits (up to 950 to 1).

Blackpot: A semi-electronic blackjack variant, where players can place side-bets on a two-hand progressive jackpot using digital betting devices. If you draw a hand of 6 7 8 (pays 100 to 1) when playing the side-bet, you can then press the wager into the next hand and play for up to 20,000x your initial wager.

Tipping isn’t expected in Australian casinos, but many players do choose to tip the dealer. If you’re not sure about tipping etiquette during a game of blackjack, read our guide to when to tip the dealer.

Crown Rewards for blackjack players

One part of the Crown Casino which makes up for the terrible Blackjack Plus variant is Crown Rewards. This is a loyalty rewards program which is free to sign up for (either online or through the help desk at the casino) which grants members points for every transaction made within the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne (and Crown Perth, if you play 21 there). Use your card while playing blackjack at the tables, electronic blackjack or any other table game or pokies machine and you will gain points, which, when saved up enough, can be redeemed for freebies and experiences. Examples include: Crown gift cards, movie tickets, free parking, birthday offers, hotel discounts, grand final experiences and helicopter tours.

To gain the maximum rewards, it also pays to be a CrownBet.com.au member as well, as the Crown Rewards program ties in with every wager you make with your Crownbet account – make sure to link your Crown Signature Club Card to your Crownbet account first to ensure points are correctly awarded each time to place a bet.

For a full comprehensive break-down of what CrownBet Rewards entails and what kind of things you can redeem with the points, check out our in-depth guide to the CrownBet Rewards program.

Get Better Blackjack Odds – Play Real Cash 21 Online

We’ll be blunt: if you’re not playing at least $50 a hand, most of the live blackjack games at Crown Casino are a rip off. From a purely statistical point of view, every gambler is better off playing 21 over the Net – and that’s not taking into account all the added perks of online casino betting. Play from home, avoid the crowds, and save money on extortionate cab fares, all while enjoying a far greater range of real money blackjack options than you would find at any land-based casino.

Unfortunately, online gambling is illegal in Australia as of September 2017 following the introduction of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, so online play is available for international readers only.

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The Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, located across 510,000 square metres (the equivalent of two city blocks) in the heart of Melbourne, Victoria, is the biggest casino in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. Built at a cost of $2 billion and opened to the public on May 8, 1997, the complex rakes in approximately $1.5 million in profit each day – that equates to $62,500 per hour, roughly $1,042 a minute, and $17.35 every second.

The complex itself is Australia’s leading tourist attraction, and sits within the top 20 for the most popular attractions around the world. It contributes approximately three billion dollars in total casino taxes. Crown owns over 1600 rooms and villas across three different hotels; the Crown Metropol being the largest in terms of number of rooms with 658.

Suffice to say, Crown is quite a profitable company and has done wonders for Australian tourism, entertainment and culture, with more than 19 million people a year visiting the complex which currently holds a license extending until the end of 2033.

The Gaming Floor

Crown Casino has over 500 table games and 2,500+ pokie machines (including slots and video poker). Slot machine betting limits start as low as one cent, with some VIP machines allowing bets of up to $5-$10 per spin. The major casino table games on offer include roulette, blackjack, craps, poker, pai gow, baccarat, casino war and sic bo, with other smaller gaming activities including the electronic version of roulette (Rapid Roulette), the big-wheel, tia to, and the electronic Vegas Star Roulette and Rapid Baccarat.

Crown Casino Melbourne Blackjack Rules Card Game

If you are a regular visitor of Crown Casino and want maximum bang for your buck, consider signing up for Crown Rewards, a loyalty points system which lets members trade points for experiences and other redeemable goodies. By signing up for a Crown Signature Club Card and using it while playing pokies or table games at the casino, or at Crown Melbourne bars, restaurants, spas and hotels, you can rack up points easily to use later for prizes – or even to pay for future visits to the casino or eateries.

If you are also a CrownBet.com.au member, CrownBet Rewards is of extra benefit to you. Just link your Crown Signature Club Card to your CrownBet punting account and all betting activity on the site grants you points. For racing stakes, every $2 gets you one Crown Reward/CrownBet Reward point, or $1 if it is on the fixed markets or exotics. For sports stakes, every $5 wagered gets you one point. If you’re a multi kind of guy, you get one point for every $1 you wager. All points are credited within minutes, and every 100 CrownBet Rewards points is worth $1.

Remember: CrownBet loyalty rewards points can expire after six months if your account is inactive or you haven’t played at Crown Melbourne for a while, so make sure to maintain your account if you want to have a big payout with your points someday!

Roulette at Melbourne’s Crown Casino

Both single-zero (European) roulette and double-zero (American) roulette are offered at the casino – lower stake tables use the American design (ranging from a $1 betting minimum to a $5), while higher stake table use the European design ($5 and up). Crown Casino added double zero to its low-bet roulette tables back in 2008. We recommend playing traditional European roulette in order to take advantage of the significantly lower house edge. There are close to 100 roulette wheels/tables within the casino, and each roulette station has table chips (different from traditional Crown chips discussed below) of different colours, with a unique number for that specific table – chips which can only be used at their respective tables.

Rapid Roulette allows players to play the game at their own electronic terminal in front of either a live croupier who spins the ball, or in front of an on-screen roulette wheel operated by a random number generator (RNG). Players who play Rapid Roulette have the chance to win a jackpot between $100 and $1000. Each terminal is automatically updated with the result of the spin, winnings are paid instantly and loses are taken. A timer appears on screen to let you know how long you have in between spin to place your bets.

Blackjack at Crown

Crown offers three distinct version of the game of 21: original Crown Blackjack, Blackjack Plus and pontoon. Blackjack Plus, one of the most skewed casino games in favour of the house, was introduced in 2012 and holds the rule that if the dealer draws to 22, he/she does not lose and no player is paid out – instead, the result is a ‘stand off’ and all bets placed are neither lost nor won. While this new variant of the classic blackjack game continues to be met with heavy criticism, it was approved by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation. We suggest avoiding this game like the plague.

The Crown Chips

Crown casino chips are designed so each chip has a colour which represents an exact amount of money. The standard real money playing chips’ denominations are as follows:

• White chips – valued at $1
• Yellow chips – valued at $2.50
• Red chips – valued at $5
• Green chips – valued at $25
• Black chips – valued at $100
• Lavender chips – valued at $500
• Shiny ocean blue chips – valued at $1,000

Note: Crown also has other chips such as tournament chips and free play chips which hold no cash value.

The Three Hotels

The Crown complex owns three world-class and prestigious hotels – the Crown Towers, the Crown Metropol and the Crown Promenade – as well as two luxurious day spas (Isika Day Spa and Crown Spa).

• The Crown Towers: 481 rooms & villas over 38 floors.
• 658 rooms across 28 floors.
• 465 room hotel on 23 floors.

For more information about the hotels, visit the hotel section of Crown’s official website.

The Palladium

Crown Casino Melbourne Blackjack Rules

The Palladium is the largest entertainment ballroom within the complex, with a seating capacity of 1,500. It hosts some of Australia’s premier functions including the AFL’s Brownlow Medal Count and the annual TV Week Logie Awards.