Blackjack Arena

Stadium gambling is now a thing in Las Vegas casinos, and we figured it was time to check out Stadium Blackjack at Venetian.

In Stadium Blackjack, up to 44 players compete with one of two live dealers in, wait for it, stadium-style seating.

Oh, all right, it’s nothing like a stadium. Just play along.

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As with most games in a casino, Stadium Blackjack accomplishes a couple of key goals for The Man.

Stadium gambling is now a thing in Las Vegas casinos, and we figured it was time to check out Stadium Blackjack at Venetian. In Stadium Blackjack, up to 44 players compete with one of two live dealers in, wait for it, stadium-style seating. Oh, all right, it’s nothing like a stadium.

Casinos make more money when labor costs are lowered, and when there are more hands dealt. Since casino games have a built-in advantage for the house, more hands means more profit.

Here’s how Stadium Blackjack works at Venetian Las Vegas.

There are 44 seats for players. Each player has their own terminal, and selects which of the two dealers they want to play against, blue or red.

Once a dealer is selected, the player has 30 seconds between hands to place a bet. A big benefit of Stadium Blackjack is the $5 minimum. Most standard games at Venetian have $15 minimums.

Get ready to play blackjack with 43 of your new best friends.

Once bets are made, each screen reads “No More Bets.”

Then, three cards are dealt from a six-deck, continuous “smart shuffle” machine.

Two cards go to the players, one to the dealer. One of the intriguing aspects of Stadium Blackjack is all the players get the same two cards. (That is, all the players who chose the red dealer get the same two cards. All those who chose the blue dealer get different cards.)

Now, each player makes their own decision about what to do next. Players can hit, stand, double down or split.

Here’s where the game veers into new territory. Since everyone has the same two cards, and can make their own decisions about what happens next, additional “Community” cards are needed. Community cards go to players until all the players have chosen to stand (or have been eliminated because they busted). After all the players’ hands are locked, additional community cards go to the dealer until the hand has a result.

The “Community” cards (upper left) are really the only perplexing part, but just let the dealer do their thing.

Example time!

Say the first cards are dealt and all the players get a queen and a king, the dealer gets a five. That’s 20 for the players, so everyone’s going to stand. (Feel free to split them, though, that’s part of what makes Stadium Blackjack so fun, no peer pressure.) The dealer takes additional cards and busts. Everyone wins, cheering ensues, annoying all the players in the nearby poker room in the best possible way.

Here’s a more complicated example.

Players get a king and six, dealer gets a queen. Some players stand on 16, some hit, right? (You’re supposed to hit.) The players who choose “Hit” on their display get another card (a “Community” card). Again, those who “Stand” don’t get another card. Each player is doing their own thing. Say, that next player card is a two. Everybody stands with 18. But the fun part is you don’t have to! You can “Hit” again. Only after all the players have finished does the dealer then complete their hand and a result is shown.

If Stadium Blackjack isn’t your thing, there’s stadium baccarat nearby. Again, $5 minimums are hard to pass up on The Strip.

A lot of this happens on the dealer’s display. Players just see their own hand and how it’s stacking up against the dealer.

Once the hand is done, all the cards go back into the shuffler and the fun begins again.

So, that’s a long-winded way of saying, “It’s just like regular blackjack.” The fact others have the same two opening cards, or how dealers decide which cards are communal, is rather irrelevant. It’s you against the dealer.

Let’s get into what’s really important about Stadium Blackjack, the pros and cons.

First, the pros. Stadium Blackjack is great for groups and couples! Where else in Las Vegas can you and 43 friends all play blackjack at once? During our visit, the majority of players were couples.

Again, low table minimums. That $5 minimum is tempting and it never gets raised, even if the game is busy.

Also, no glares from other players if you do something stupid. Stadium Blackjack is anonymous, and players make their own decisions.

Another pro for us is the machine adds up your cards. We hate math, so this is a great aspect of the game.

We also like that you can take a break between hands, sitting out then jumping back in at any time.

There are some drawbacks to Stadium Blackjack, but opinions vary about how important these cons are.

The rate of play, if you play every hand, is fast. After you get your cards, you have 10 seconds to decide whether you’d like to hit or stand. That’s a lot of pressure! If you do nothing, the machine automatically stands. It won’t hit or double or split for you, though. More hands means you can lose more quickly, but it also means you’ll win more quickly when you’re on a lucky streak.

It’s interesting to note that while the game is called “Stadium Blackjack” on the player terminals, it’s called “Rapid Blackjack” on the dealer’s screen.

Another potential downside is Stadium Blackjack pays 6-to-5, rather than 3-to-2. Then again, that’s true of the majority of blackjack games on the Las Vegas Strip.

Also, serious blackjack players dislike six deck, continuous shuffling machines. Card counting is impossible with such machines.

Another look at the layout. Make a bet, hit or stand, rake in the big bucks.

That’s about it. Each display has a bunch of other buttons, but probably the most important for first-time players is “Help.” Beyond the two people dealing the cards, there’s another dealer that roams the floor and helps players with questions.

There’s a button for dealer tips, another to call for service, one to “Re-Bet” and others. There’s also a button so players can see the game in Chinese.

There are a couple of side bets as well, Royal Match 21 and Bet the Set 21. Blackjack side bets tend to be sucker bets, but only if they don’t hit!

Side bets are for entertainment value only. Don’t go nuts.

Overall, Stadium Blackjack is a fun new twist on blackjack, and its social component could make it a draw for groups seeking to gamble together.

If you’d like to know more about Stadium Blackjack, check out these stories from VegasFanboy.com and our bud Marc Meltzer. We also talked about Stadium Blackjack on the Vital Vegas Podcast, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Our first story about stadium gambling (at Palazzo) was way back in 2013, and we didn’t have the best time. While we didn’t win playing Stadium Blackjack, it wasn’t a bad experience.

Let us know what you think of Stadium Blackjack. Some believe it’s the future of casino gambling. For us, interacting with the dealer is often half the fun of playing, so unless we were with a group of friends, we’d probably bite the bullet and find a traditional, higher limit table.

Got questions? Ask away!

Table Of Contents

If you are asking the question, you have probably played your fair share of hands at the blackjack tables.

You seem to have been doing pretty well too, so now you are thinking of becoming a professional blackjack player.

Great! We're here to tell you that it's possible to make a living from playing blackjack, as long as you know all the right things and you are lucky enough to win your games.

The world of online gambling has made life even easier for pro blackjack players. They no longer need to worry about those pesky casino croupiers we see all too often in the movies.

Becoming a pro is more accessible than most blackjack enthusiasts expect. But...

It does take commitment, a stellar ability to count cards in blackjack, solid money management skills, and a lot of luck. That's among many other things.

Playing blackjack games for fun is good, but if you want to make some cash, we have some tips for you.

Go practice and test your skills at one of the top casinos for real money blackjack!

How to become a professional blackjack player

So you know how to play blackjack, you know you're good enough to make a full time living, you just need that extra push and a plan.

There are three significant steps in becoming a professional:

• Commit time and energy to understand the game.
• Learn how to count cards. Do it phenomenally.
• Manage your money and do it well.

Let's take a closer look at each of those.

Understanding the game

Look:

If your pockets are full, but you don't know how a 1% edge can benefit you, turning professional might not be the right move for you. At least not just yet.

Luck is a major factor in gambling, but if that's what you've been counting on and winning up until now, that does not ensure success in the pro arena, not one bit.

However, if you're willing to learn the blackjack strategy, then earning a healthy living is doable.

By this point, you should know the basic rules of blackjack, all the variances of the game, and all the different ways to play blackjack with friends.

If you don't, it's about the time to start, and you can do it with this blackjack cheat sheet.

Casinos offer different types of online blackjack games. Practice all of them first to make sure you play the right one when the time comes to commit for the long run.

Knowing the rules of each table you visit is vital. When you hit a card, you should know what you need to get closest to 21 and how to get it.

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Counting cards

Compared to most other games played at casinos, blackjack has a small house edge. Turning that house edge in your favour is the most critical way to make money at the blackjack table.

If you have played at a recreational level, chances are you haven't been counting cards. And that's fine, yet that won't work for a pro.

A card counter is someone who can better predict what card is drawn from the deck and doing that takes skill and knowledge. It includes keeping track - in your head - of all the cards that are no longer in play because they were used during the game.

Play live dealer blackjack at this online casino and perfect your blackjack strategy!

We know what you're thinking; if you get caught card counting, you'll be kicked out of the casino or kicked from your online game.

And that could happen because while it's not against the law, it's against many of the casinos' rules. But that's only if you get caught.

And that's what separates a professional from an amateur - an amateur will evidently behave as if they are cheating and give away signs while a pro will simply be assessing the situation with no grounds for suspicion.

It's important you get to that higher level. You might not need to be as good as the MIT Blackjack Team, but you need to be pretty good at card counting if you are to make a living from blackjack.

Now let's talk numbers.

Don't get all scared by thinking that you need to remember every single card that has been dealt. That's not it.

There is a system that helps you keep it simple.

Assigning numerical values to cards helps a player count cards. For example, value cards 2-6 are put as +1, 7-9 as 0, and face cards and aces are counted as -1.

It's a standard card counting method used by blackjack players, so give it a try and see how it works for you. You won't be able to master card counting overnight, and it can be an expensive lesson. But it's a crucial one.

Don't forget - losing at blackjack from time to time is inevitable, especially when you're practicing something new. It's a tough game to win at, so when you're learning how to count cards, we suggest lower-limit tables to start and a conservative attitudes when it comes to blackjack side bets.

The more you play, the better you become at predicting cards. A card counter can never perfect their craft, but all the best blackjack professionals are pretty darn good at it. And you should be as well.

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Since the number of decks in play affects the difficulty of card counting, you should always look for games of single deck blackjack.

In these, you can apply all the principles of the single deck blackjack strategy and increase your winning chances to fight the 'luck' factor.

Managing money

While that might not be the most exciting part of a professional blackjack player's day-to-day routine, it's a mandatory one.

It includes understanding your tolerance for risk so that you don't go broke all of a sudden.

Look at it this way - adjust the size of your bets based on the bankroll you have available for playing and never bet more than you can afford. If you stick to this, you'll have a chance to earn back the money you lost on a couple of bad bets and it will keep you afloat even if the luck is not on your side (which will inevitably happen once in a while).

As your bankroll grows, you'll be able to move up in stakes, and you'll be able to make more money.

It's a process though, so don't just dive in with everything you have or you might as well find yourself opting out of this whole professional blackjack player thing.

You need to take emotion out of the equation and stick to your strategy. Otherwise, you'll spend hours trying to get back what you lost, and chasing is no good for any gambler.

How much do professional blackjack players make

How much a professional blackjack player makes depends on many variables. Factors such as bankroll, table limits, number of hands played, and the counting system all play a significant role in what a gains on a case-to-case basis.

Some professionals make upwards of £150,000 a year at casinos.

Professional blackjack games aren't for the faint of heart. Gambling for a living is one of those professions where you can lose money on a day-to-day basis.

You are not guaranteed a salary, and you have to commit your time and expertise to the game. A professional blackjack player comes in many forms, so try not to get disillusioned by a player making thousands each week.

The reality is that playing blackjack at casinos is a grind, and the same goes for an online casino. Some play upwards of 200 hands per hour, which can be taxing on your mental well being and financial well being.

Tips from professional blackjack players

Every blackjack player offers similar advice on how to become an expert.

We have collected the best tips from professional blackjack players to help you take your game to the next level:

• Find your groove. A table you feel good at will help you keep your emotions in tact.
• Play at casinos that offer excellent odds when blackjack is struck.
• Fewer decks are preferred over more decks. The more decks, the harder it is to count.
• Find tables with the best rules, such as Soft 17, and surrender rules.
• Find the right table limit for your bankroll, especially if you play online blackjack with a live dealer. If you have a small budget, try smaller limit tables at first.
• Don't get frustrated. Keep a level head.
• Don't drink and play. It might seem simple, but professionals don't let outside factors affect their game.
• Don't play based on emotions. The cards won't magically change, so stay within yourself and trust your ability.
• Control your money. Don't double your bet because you lost the previous bet. Keep calm and stick to your strategy.
• Whenever possible, play blackjack surrender.

Best professional blackjack players

Unlike poker, we don't hear much about the best blackjack players in the world. Why? Because it's not a game that is heavily televised, so the media usually doesn't cover the big events.

That being said, there have been some high-quality and hugely successful blackjack players in the history of the game. Let the inspiration sink in.

At the top of the list is none other than Bryce Carlson. A pro since the '70s, Carlson knows all about the ups and downs of blackjack.

He once went on a losing streak that lasted 47 hours. However, through developing custom strategies and perseverance, he has been able to win consistently throughout his career.

Arnold Snyder is another famous name in the world of blackjack. He has authored many books on how to play blackjack, which looks at card counting and shuffle techniques.

He believes there's always a new angle to explore, and that's always great when you're looking to bring in some fresh strategies into your gameplay.

Still unsure if you can handle the pressure of pro blackjack arena? Go practice blackjack online at one of the top casinos, test your strategies, mental strength and find out for yourself!

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