Single deck blackjack could mean 4% lower payout - KOTA Territory News

Single deck blackjack could mean 4% lower payout

It's what players have been asking for in Deadwood, "Single deck games are a lot more fun than your multi-deck games," said Director of Gaming Operations Peter Demangus.

So Cadillac Jacks is thinking about complying. "We want to give the customers what they've been requesting which is a single deck blackjack game," said Demangus. "There's only one other place, smaller place in town that has the single deck game."

But if the single deck blackjack games do become available at Cadillac Jacks, it could mean about a 4% smaller payout for blackjacks. "Obviously there's some advantages to the player when they know there's just a single deck," said Demangus. "If we were to offer this different payout it would be because we're offering the obviously larger limits which we currently offer now which is up to $1,000."

Lower blackjack payouts on single decks aren't uncommon. Blackjack player Deb Pritchett says she sees it in Vegas all the time. "It's usually even payoff for a blackjack on a single deck," said Pritchett.

The lower payout doesn't seem to stop blackjack players in Vegas, but the question is will it make a difference in the streets of Deadwood?

"I don't play single card decks back home they don't have single card decks," said Red Ruark.

He also says if there was a lower payout at a blackjack table he probably wouldn't play. "Because you can't win as much money and that's what your there for it's all about the money," said Ruark.

But for players that do enjoy single deck blackjack, the smaller payoff doesn't seem to make a difference. "If I know that it was smaller on the one deck I probably would still play," said blackjack player Gene Plihal.

"It makes you think like you have better odds," said Pritchett. "I don't know if you really do, but you feel like you have a little bit better chance if there's just one deck."

The gaming commission in Deadwood will consider allowing lower payouts for blackjacks on single deck tables this month, and Demangus says they will go from there.