Luxor Hotel & Casino Blackjack Rules

Replicating a pyramid discovered at the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, the Luxor features an atrium so large—29 million cubic feet—that nine Boeing 747s stacked atop one another could fit comfortably inside. The slanted ceilings overhead and the sprawling, 120,000-square-foot casino floor certainly make this an unusual place to play blackjack, but the atmosphere at its 85 gaming tables is far from that of a warehouse or mausoleum. Quite the opposite, ever since the most recent remodeling in 2008, a concerted effort has been made by Luxor management to infuse the table games pit with a modern, dynamic, up-tempo energy.

Luxor Tables & Games

Within the main pit area, two versions of blackjack are offered—the double-deck version with cards dealt face down and the eight-deck version with all players’ cards exposed, face up. Both versions are best played at the tables where the minimum wager is $100 and the dealer must stand on all totals of 17 or higher, including soft 17. Those games allow doubling down after splitting (DAS) and re-splitting of Aces (RAS). The only difference between them is that surrender is not allowed in the double-deck game, which has a 0.20% House edge compared to 0.30% for the eight-deck game.

A $10~$1,000 six-deck version is also played at the Luxor, with the dealer hitting on soft 17. The rules allow DAS, but not RSA or surrender, and the House edge is 0.64%. However, pay close attention to the blackjack payouts, as some of these tables pay only 6:5 for a natural instead of the customary 3:2, and that bumps the House advantage up to a whopping 1.99%.

For those seeking some variation at the table, there’s Blackjack Switch available, and for beginners, the pit offers free blackjack lessons at the Dice Pit located near the Casino Cage, starting at noon daily. One other feature that attracts a crowd on Fridays and Saturdays is the Luxor’s “Party Pit,” with its non-stop music and girls on stage located next to the Centra Bar & Lounge; players should beware, however, of tables paying 6:5 instead of 3:2 for a natural blackjack and half of the ten Party Pit tables use continuous shuffle machines.

What’s Different

Unlike many of its sister casinos within the MGM group, such as the Excalibur immediately next door, the Luxor caters not only to rank-and-file blackjack players but also to high rollers. Its semi-private High Limit area is “devoted to players who like to play and play big,” with blackjack tables offering limits of $100~$5,000. The games are double-deck dealt by hand and six-deck dealt from a shoe. Local journalists have noted, “The pit bosses limit the interaction between the onlookers and the players. This may be a good spot for someone who loves playing without the cheering from other people.” On the other hand, there is a public watering hole called the High Limit Bar immediately adjacent to the High Limit area, where “Average Janes and Joes (can) come by and watch heavy-hitters for a night .”

M Life for Frequent Blackjack Players

Owned by MGM Resorts International, the Luxor shares its “M Life” loyalty program with the Bellagio, MGM Grand and a dozen other sister properties. Unlike slots and video poker, table games do not qualify for M life “points” accumulation. Instead, there is “a minimum betting requirement to be rated for Table Games (so) please see the supervisor in the pit for assistance at each participating M life resort.”

“Express Comps and Tier Credits” can be earned by blackjack players based upon their average wager and time played. Players earn even more Express Comps for their play as they move up in tiers—up to $5,000 worth for Sapphire, Pearl, Gold or Platinum members and twice as much for NOIR members. Express Comps may then be exchanged for hotel stays, dining, entertainment, or services offered as “M life Moments”—unique experiences provided by participating MGM Resorts International destinations.

The Inside View

For those who enjoy playing blackjack with friends (think: bachelor party ala “The Hangover”), it’s often difficult to find a table with enough free seats so that everyone in the group can sit together—but not at the Luxor. Thanks to a service called “Group Game Promotion,” all it takes is a phone call to reserve a private table. Of course, there are a few requirements to meet, such as no fewer than five players per group, a minimum buy-in of $300 per player and minimum bets starting at $15, but that’s not much to ask in exchange for exclusive use of a Las Vegas Strip blackjack table and the services of a professional dealer at a group’s disposal for an hour or more. According to the Luxor’s marketing folks, “It’s the perfect way to get the high roller experience.”

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