Bally’s is located in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Flamingo Rd. The casino is owned by Caesars Entertainment. Bally’s was originally known as MGM Grand, which relocated further south on the Las Vegas Strip. The property originally opened on December 5, 1973. It was sold to Bally Entertainment in 1985. It later became a Caesars property.
Bally’s is connected to Paris through a shopping corridor. The two resorts share a parking deck and a Las Vegas Monorail station. Both properties operate under the Caesars umbrella.
Bally’s Tables and Games
Bally’s has two extreme personalities. On one hand, it can be one of the worst places to play blackjack in Las Vegas. On the other, there are some great lower limit blackjack tables.
There are no blackjack felts at Bally’s that disclose a 6-5 payout. The casino uses placards to let players know that a short pay is in effect. This makes it hard to determine the number of poor tables at Bally’s.
The best blackjack game at Bally’s is in the high limit area. It is not really a salon. It is just a few stairs away from the casino floor. This is where players will find two six-deck shoe games that stand on all 17’s. Double down before and after splitting is allowed. Bally’s also offers surrender. The dealer stands on all 17’s. The only thing missing from this game is re-split aces, something not found at any Caesars casino in Las Vegas. Blackjack pays 3-2. The house edge is 0.36%. The bet limits are $25 to $5,000.
There is also a double deck game in the high limit area with $25 to $5,000 limits. This game is much worse than the shoe game. Players may double down before splitting, but not after. The dealer hits soft 17. Blackjack pays 3-2. The house edge is 0.6%. There are two more tables on the main casino floor with the same limits.
There are 17 blackjack tables that deal eight decks. Some of these tables use a shoe, while others have continuous shuffle machines. The bet limits are $10 to $2,000. Some pay 3-2 on a blackjack, while others pay 6-5. The party pit tables typically pay 6-5, but not always. A placard will disclose this rule if it is in effect. All shoe games permit double down on any two cards and after splitting, as well as surrender. The dealer hits soft 17. The 6-5 games have a house edge of 1.91%, while the shoe games hold 0.55% with perfect play.
There is a video blackjack machine with $3 to $500 limits. This Interblock blackjack game only pays 6-5 on blackjack. It permits double down before and after splitting. Surrender is also available. The house edge is 1.91%. The machine accepts the Total Rewards card, but that only takes 0.1% off the house edge.
Total Rewards for Frequent Blackjack Players
Total Rewards offers some of the best comps for blackjack players in all of Las Vegas. While players may not receive freebies immediately, mailers and offers on the Total Rewards website are common. Make sure to not only scour the free offers on your personal Total Rewards page, but also try to reserve a room. Total Rewards does not always display every free hotel or meal offer available. These are sometimes only disclosed when trying to make a reservation at a Caesars Entertainment resort.
What’s Different?
Bally’s offers a $25 six-deck blackjack game that stands on all 17’s. Treasure Island is the only other casino in all of Las Vegas that offers a similar game. Treasure Island permits aces to be re-split, which makes it better than Bally’s, but players may find the comps from Total Rewards to be better.
Bally’s also offers some $10 3-2 blackjack games. This is far better than any of its neighbors on the Strip. If you find a $10 blackjack game at other casinos outside of the Caesars family, it will not permit surrender.
There is a 6-5 video blackjack machine at Bally’s. This is one of the most embarrassing spectacles in all of Las Vegas gambling. You are better off playing most video poker machines than 6-5 blackjack machines like the one offered at Bally’s.
The Inside View
One of the best games on the Las Vegas Strip for $25 blackjack players is at Bally’s. Double down before and after splitting is allowed. Surrender is, too. The dealer stands on all 17’s. The only better $25 game in Las Vegas is at Treasure Island. Red chip players will find a decent game at Bally’s that has these same rules but hits soft 17. Make sure to walk past the party pit to find it.