Atlantic City was the second legal casino market in the US after Nevada. There are many similarities between Atlantic City and Las Vegas Strip casinos. There are also several differences that go beyond the size of the markets and the ocean. Considering the size of most Atlantic City casinos, the best comparison is between those and Las Vegas Strip resorts.
Better lower limit blackjack rules
I only found three live 6:5 blackjack tables and a few video ones in the entire Atlantic City market. None were open on a Friday night. Every Las Vegas Strip casino, and more in the downtown and locals market, have 6:5 tables. Most Las Vegas Strip casinos have more than 10 6:5 tables alone.
These 3:2 blackjack games were $10 and $15 throughout the Atlantic City market. At $25, Atlantic City players can often get a game that stands on all 17’s. That takes at least $50 on the Las Vegas Strip, and it is often $100.
Las Vegas Strip casinos are more likely to allow a player to surrender, but that is mostly offset by most Atlantic City ones letting players re-split aces one time, something less likely on the Strip, especially at lower limit games.
Craps odds
All Atlantic City casinos pay double on 12 on the field. MGM Resorts properties and a few others on the Strip pay triple on a field 12 roll. This is also found in other parts of the Las Vegas market.
Most Atlantic City casinos have five times craps odds. On the Las Vegas Strip, 3-4-5 times odds is most common. Craps minimums are a little lower in Atlantic City than on the Strip, but not by much.
Roulette la partage
Both Atlantic City and the Las Vegas Strip have la partage in some roulette games. This is where the player gets half of the bet back when the ball lands on a zero and the bet pays even money when it wins, like red, black, odd, even, high and low.
In Atlantic City, la partage is available at double zero roulette tables. This gives lower limit players a break. On the Las Vegas Strip, this rule is not available at any double zero tables. It is offered at some single zero tables. It is called European Roulette when it is available.
Most Las Vegas Strip casinos, as well as a few downtown and in the locals market, deal triple zero roulette. We did not find any live triple zero roulette tables in Atlantic City.
Video poker
Players looking for 9/6 Jacks or Better will have no problem from quarter up to five dollars in Atlantic City. There are several more common 99% or better games like 9/7 Double Bonus Poker and 8/5 Bonus Poker. Good luck finding these games under $5 on the Las Vegas Strip. I bet you will not find any game better than 9/6 Double Double Bonus at half the Las Vegas Strip casinos at any limit.
Comparing Atlantic City to the Las Vegas locals and downtown markets returns a different result. There are 100% and better video poker games in these Las Vegas markets that appeal more to value players. There are large selections of games above 99% at nearly all of these casinos.
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 is dealt at nearly all Atlantic City casinos. All these tables stand on all 17’s. Our last Las Vegas Blackjack Survey only found Spanish 21 at three casinos in all of Las Vegas; Venetian, Palazzo and Mohegan Sun. All three of these games hit soft 17.
Caribbean Stud, Criss Cross Poker, Four Card Poker and Flop Poker in Atlantic City
There are two Atlantic City casinos that deal Caribbean Stud Poker. Criss Cross Poker and Four Card Poker are available throughout the Boardwalk and Marina District. Flop Poker is dealt at Borgata. There are no installations of any of these games in Las Vegas, according to our last Las Vegas Table Game Survey.
Most pai gow poker is Fortune
Fortune Pai Gow Poker makes up about half of all pai gow poker tables in Atlantic City. In Las Vegas, Face Up Pai Gow Poker has become the most popular version of the game by a large margin. Pai gow tiles is also a popular game in Atlantic City when compared to the Las Vegas Strip, where it is only found at a handful of casinos.
Check out our Atlantic City Blackjack Survey, Atlantic City Table Game Survey, Las Vegas Blackjack Survey and Las Vegas Table Game Survey for more of the data we used for this post.