Treasure Island opened on October 27, 1993. It was conceived by Steve Wynn under the Mirage Resorts umbrella. It was originally a family resort and featured pirate ships, the Sirens of TI show on the Pirate’s Bay and several other family attractions. This theme was largely abandoned last decade. The Sirens show was the last to go, which made room for a shopping mall anchored by a drug store in 2013.
MGM Resorts acquired Mirage Resorts but later sold Treasure Island to help keep its doors open during the Great Recession. A tram still connects Treasure Island with Mirage, which MGM Resorts still owns.
Phil Ruffin, former owner of New Frontier, was the buyer. This is good news for blackjack players as Treasure Island has bucked the trend of destroying its blackjack rules. It is by far the best option available for low limit blackjack on the Las Vegas Strip.
There are 2,884 hotel rooms at Treasure Island. The casino floor is just under 100,000 square-feet.
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Treasure Island Tables and Games
There are 28 blackjack tables on the main casino floor at Treasure Island. The best game is the double deck where players can double down before and after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. The bet range is $10 to $2,000. The house edge is 0.4%. There are five of these tables.
The next best game is the six-deck shoe. Players may double down on any two cards and after splitting. Surrender and re-split aces is also permitted. This is the only game on the Las Vegas Strip under $25 where players may surrender and re-split aces. The bet limits are $10 to $1,000. The house edge at these tables is 0.47%. There are 19 six-deck shoe tables with these rules on the main casino floor.
The only game at Treasure Island that pays 6-5 on a blackjack is the single deck. Players may double down on any two cards. Double down after splitting is not permitted. The dealer hits soft 17. The bet limits are $10 to $1,000. The house edge is 1.6%. There are four of these tables.
There are six blackjack tables in the high limit salon. Three are six-deck shoes and the other three are double deck tables where the cards are pitched.
The high limit shoe game permits all of the same great rules the main floor game does; double down before and after splitting, surrender and re-split aces. The dealer stands on all 17’s in high limit. The house edge is 0.27%. The bet limits are $25-$5,000.
The double deck tables permit double down before and after splitting, just like on the main floor. Like the shoe high limit game, the pitch game also stands on all 17’s. The house edge is 0.27%.
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Treasure Island is generous with comps. This adds to it already being the best place for low rolling blackjack players. Play four hours at any limit and you can probably squeeze a buffet. Play green chips and expect a free room. Average $50 or higher and you can expect one of the best hotel rooms in the joint.
What’s Different?
Treasure Island is the only casino on the Las Vegas Strip that doesn’t spread any 6-5 games outside of single deck. On top of that, the high limit games that stand on all 17’s start at $25. Treasure Island is also known for giving great comps to green chip blackjack players. There is really no better place on the Las Vegas Strip to play blackjack.
The Inside View
I just cannot say enough great things about Treasure Island’s blackjack. For $10, you will always get a 3-2 double deck or shoe game with the best rules on the Strip at those limits. For $25, take a seat in the high limit room for extra perks like tall drinks with the right amount of booze in them from the top shelf served quickly on every round. Bally’s is the only other casino in Las Vegas where players can regularly find a $25 blackjack game that stands on all 17’s. The Bally’s game is a shoe that doesn’t permit re-split aces like Treasure Island does. At Treasure Island, you can also get the stand on 17 double deck game for $25.
I like supporting Treasure Island’s fine blackjack options. I also make sure that the dealers and pit know why I am there. I do that hoping that the word stays in their head when the day comes where some bean counter tries to jack up the house edge by moving to a 6-5 payout. Hopefully, Phil Ruffin never allows that to happen and keeps Treasure Island holding the title of best blackjack on the Las Vegas Strip.