Located on Boulder Highway on the site of what used to be Sunrise Suites, Arizona Charlie’s Boulder is a hotel and casino owned since 2000 by American Casino & Entertainment Properties (ACEP). It is a sister property to the Stratosphere Casino and Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, which took its name from “Arizona” Charlie Meadows, a legendary sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and a distant relative of the original casino owners, the Becker family. Today, the Boulder location features a 45,000-square-foot gaming space with twelve table games, including seven dedicated blackjack tables.
Arizona Charlie’s Tables & Games
All of the blackjack at Arizona Charlie’s is played by the same rules. The dealer must hit on soft 17, doubling down after splitting (DAS) is allowed and surrender is an option, but re-splitting of Aces (RSA) is not permitted. The House edge varies according to the number of decks in play, with the best version being the $5~$1,000 double-deck game offering a margin of 0.40%. There is also a $3~$500 game that’s available 24 hours a day, but with six decks in the shoe, it gives the House an advantage of 0.57%. Overall, the average margin is 0.48% and the odds on blackjack at this casino rank it within the top ten for all “Off-Strip Hotels” in the Las Vegas area.
Blackjack side bets offered at Arizona Charlie’s include both “Royal Match” and “Lucky Ladies.” The former offers wagering on suited pairs and suited K-Q combinations that pay from 2.5X to 25X, while the latter pays out for two-card totals of 20, with bonuses for certain combinations, such as a pair of suited Queens. Players who keep track of tens can gain a significant advantage on these bets.
What’s Different
Arizona Charlie’s bills itself as a “Las Vegas Locals Casino”, in competition with other outlying gaming venues, especially the ones located along the “Boulder Strip” on the east side of the Valley, such as Boulder Station and Sam’s Town. To outpace its nearby rivals, this property is always striving to bring the most enticing promotions and newest games to area residents, such as the introduction of tables for “Free Bet” blackjack and single-deck Blackjack that pays 3:2 for a natural. Ever-changing monthly promotions like “lucky draws” are offered, too.
ace | PLAY for Frequent Blackjack Players
Arizona Charlie’s loyalty program has gone through several changes over the years. It first appeared in 1998 as the “Charlie Card” and merged with the “Stratosphere Player’s Club” soon after the turn of the new millennium to become “Ultimate Rewards,” which had no real benefits for table game players. Most recently, the program has been reintroduced as “ace | PLAY,” with “new and enhanced” benefits for table games players. Blackjack players earn points based upon their average wagers and length of time at the table. Points may be accumulated and later redeemed at a rate of 600 Points = $1 in cash or 500 Points = $1 in free slot play or 300 Points = $1 in comp credits. The latter can be used for dining, drinks, rooms, shows and more. According to their tier status—Blue, Orange, Green and Red—members also receive additional benefits from point multipliers and comp dividends to restaurant discounts and priority seating.
The Inside View
Although Arizona Charlie’s Boulder may be a casino primarily for locals, and it is not located near a major cross street on Boulder Highway, it has several very specific attractions for out-of-town players. First, the suite rooms are spacious and inexpensive compared to what is available downtown and on the Strip. Second, it has an RV park “open year round with over 200 spaces in sizes ranging from 30 to 70 feet, accommodating a variety of motor homes”. On-site dining, 24/7 bingo, a city bus stop directly in front of the casino and live music by local bands near the pit area, all add to the benefits that make this a preferred stop for those more interested in gaming than sight-seeing.
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