See The Dealer
Blackjack Casinos
Because blackjack is a game that is based both on skill and on chance, the individual house rules you encounter at the different casinos at which you play can have a profound effect on your strategy and ultimately your bottom line. Last week we took a look at the rules the properties in Northwest Indiana have in place at their tables. Today we'll examine the four destinations in the Chicago area on the Illinois Side. The casinos surveyed were: Argosy's Empress Joliet, Grand Victoria Elgin, Harrah's Joliet and Hollywood Aurora. Only one property, the Grand Victoria, has $5 minimum tables, available usually until 4 pm. Hollywood and Empress have a $10 minimum while Harrah's goes with $15. This fact makes Northwest Indiana a much friendlier jurisdiction for average players because all five of the casinos offer $5 minimum games at various times.
All of the blackjack casinos deal out of six-deck shoes with the exception of Hollywood, which only offers them in the high limit room while utilizing the less player friendly eight-deck variety everywhere else. Chopping two decks out of play after the shuffle is the norm at Empress and Harrah's, while Hollywood goes a little deeper with one and one-half to two decks. The Grand Victoria is the most generous of all with one and one-half decks, a player advantage. The Grand Victoria has one major drawback: The dealers hit soft 17. So does Hollywood, although not in the high limit room. The dealers at both Empress and Harrah's stand on soft 17 which is a big plus for players. None of the properties in Northwest Indiana hit soft 17.