Blackjack is coming; when will you double down?
Our John Holland put together the pieces on the Seminole Coconut Creek slots announcements, the Seminoles' announcement that they are hiring blackjack dealers and the role the other pari-mutuels play in South Florida gaming.
Meanwhile, spurred by a reader e-mail, I talked to CEO Jim Allen about what exactly the rules will be for blackjack.
Her questions:
1- Does the dealer draw on a soft 17?
2- Does dealer follow the "English hole card rule": i.e does not draw his hole card until all hands have been played out and, if he then has blackjack, house collects ALL bets, including splits and double downs.
3- Does the house take pushes?
4- Are splits and double downs allowed? Any restrictions?
5- Is surrender allowed? Any restrictions?
The point is, there are some variances in the game, depending on where you play, and they could be less advantageous to players -- and more advantageous to the house.
Allen says the tribe's gaming officials are studying what rules to employ, and when it's worked out, they'll pass it on to us.
