Cruise ships are a great place for players top enjoy some gambling while they are on a relaxing vacation at sea. With many of the leading cruise lines offering ships that have full casinos, players who enjoy the thrills of blackjack will find great games that can be played.
Playing blackjack in Florida isn’t as simple as you’d think for a state with more than 400 casinos, racinos (race track/casino), and card rooms. Live dealer blackjack is limited to casinos operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. However, you might find an electronic version of blackjack at the other venues.
The blackjack games dealt vary at the Seminole Casinos in Florida. The house edge can be as low as 0.61% in the high limits rooms and as low as 0.64% in the main casino. The Seminole Casinos mostly offer the following blackjack rules.
- Natural blackjack is paid 3-to-2
- Dealer may hit or stand on Soft 17
- The player may double down on any two cards besides Aces in shoe games.
- Players may double down on 8, 9, 10, and 11 only in double deck pitch games.
- Casinos do not offer late surrender
Casinos Dealing Blackjack in Florida
You can also play live dealer blackjack just off the shores of Florida with Victory Casino Cruises. Visitors will find will find a variety of electronic blackjack table games to the other Florida casinos and racinos. These rules vary by property.
Table Games Revenue in Florida
Florida gaming revenue is different than most districts in the country. Corporations don’t operate the casinos in Florida. The Seminole Tribe doesn’t report gaming revenue like most casino operators. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is the State Compliance Agency for Florida. This department covers the state’s oversight of gambling. This ensures that everything agreed to in the Gaming Compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida is adhered to.
Victory Casino Cruise Groupon
You can find more information on Florida Indian Gaming at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation website.
History of Blackjack in Florida
Even though there has been gambling in Florida for many years, blackjack is still relatively new to the state. In late 2010, then Governor Charlie Crist, signed a deal with the Seminole Tribe to allow live dealer blackjack and other table games at their tribal casinos.
Since the deal was first signed there have been attempts to expand the pact beyond the Seminole casinos. None of those bills have passed and you’ll only find live blackjack at just a few casinos in Florida. This limitation isn’t a stance against gambling as you can bet on horses, dogs, slot machines, and jai alai at over 400 venues in the state.
For the time being, if you want to play blackjack dealt by a person you’ll have to visit a Seminole casino or take a cruise to nowhere.
Florida Blackjack News
State Pages: PA blackjack