Game Kings are the most popular video poker machine in casinos. Most have games like Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, and Deuces Wild.
Some Game King machines include a video blackjack game. In most cases, it is the worst game on the machine in terms of house edge. Its quick speed adds to the expected losses of a player. These are the reasons that you should avoid playing this game.
The most obvious issue with Game King blackjack is that it pays even money on a blackjack. This adds 2.3% to the house edge when compared to the same game with a 3:2 payout. The payout screen says that blackjack pays 2:1. However, one of those bets is the original one being returned.
Below is the house edge based on the rules. In all cases, pairs may only be split once. Some machines allow double down on any two-card amount. Others only permit it on 10 and 11. Some allow double down after splitting. Some stand on soft 17, while others hit it.
All reshuffle after each hand. The player wins on a six-card Charlie.
A few Game King blackjack machines have surrender. Subtract 0.07% if the game has this feature. Add 0.36% to the house edge if the machine uses two decks. The house edges below are for single deck blackjack.
- Double down any two cards before and after splitting, stands on soft 17: 2.09%
- Double down any two cards before and after splitting, hits soft 17: 2.27%
- Double down on 10 and 11 only before and after splitting, stands on soft 17: 2.37%
- Double down on 10 and 11 only before and after splitting, hits soft 17: 2.57%
- Double down any two cards before but not after splitting, stands on soft 17: 2.21%
- Double down any two cards before but not after splitting, hits soft 17: 2.41%
- Double on 10 and 11 only before splitting, stands on soft 17: 2.48%
- Double on 10 and 11 only before splitting, hits soft 17: 2.68%
- No double down or splitting permitted: 4%
Game King blackjack is the fastest way to play the game. No other video blackjack game comes close to the speed these machines have. A player can get 20 hands in every minute. That is 1,200 hands an hour.
At a $1 bet and an average 2.4% house edge, the expected loss is $29 an hour. Some of these machines have a higher minimum bet than $1. At $5 a hand, the expected loss becomes $144 per hour.
To lose the same amount per hour at video poker on the same machine, the pay tables would need to be atrocious. A video poker player will only play at about half this speed. The Game King would need to have pay tables like 7/5 Jacks or Better, 7/5 Double Double Bonus Poker and 8/5 Double Bonus. Some Las Vegas Strip casinos offer these pay tables and nothing better at the bar, so playing blackjack may be a better return. However, there is video poker in other parts of the casino that will be better.
Another option is to play a real video blackjack machine. Even if the game pays 6:5 on a blackjack, its house edge will be about 0.5% lower than the Game King machines. And the speed of play is about 10% the rate of the Game King.
Las Vegas Blackjack Survey
Our Las Vegas Blackjack Survey now covers electronic table games. If you enjoy video blackjack, we know where to play 3:2 versions of it for as little as $1 on the Las Vegas Strip and $2 in downtown Las Vegas. Read more details at Vegas Advantage.
Photo credit: Lucky Club Casino in North Las Vegas