Quick answer: Australian blackjack is dealt with no hole card: the dealer takes a second card only after every player has finished. You can usually double only on 9, 10 or 11, standard games pay blackjack at 3 to 2, and surrender is rare. What a dealer blackjack takes from you (only your first bet, or your doubles and splits too) depends on the casino's rules.
We read the current rules documents from Crown and The Star before writing this page, and I have played these tables for years. The rules look like Vegas at first glance. They are not. Three small differences change how you should play, and most players never notice them.
The rules at a typical Aussie table
- No hole card. The dealer gets one face-up card at the start. The second card comes after all players act (so there is no "peek" for blackjack).
- Double on 9, 10 or 11 only. You cannot double a soft hand such as A,6. Doubling after a split is usually allowed.
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2 on standard games. Some variants pay 6 to 5 (Crown Melbourne's rules list 6 to 5 for games such as Sports Blackjack).
- Soft 17 varies. Some games stand on all 17s, others hit soft 17 (A,6). The table sign and the rules document tell you which.
- 4 to 8 decks, with continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) on many tables.
- Insurance pays 2 to 1 when the dealer shows an ace.
- Surrender is rarely offered, and only on some variants.
- Split aces get one card each and are usually split only once.
No hole card: the four versions you will meet
With no hole card, you finish your hand before anyone knows if the dealer has blackjack. So what happens to the extra money you put out to double or split? Casinos answer that in four different ways:
| Rule | What a dealer blackjack takes | Double 11 against a 10? | Split 8s against a 10? |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBO (original bets only) | Your original bet only. Doubles and splits come back | Yes | Yes |
| BB+1 (busted bets plus one) | Any busted bets, plus one unit from what is left | Yes | Yes |
| OBBO (original and busted bets only) | Any busted bets, plus one unit from each hand still standing | Yes | No, hit |
| ENHC (European no hole card) | Everything on the table, including doubles and splits | No, hit | No, hit |
Definitions follow Wizard of Odds (Australian Blackjack page, updated August 2026). Under OBO you play exactly as in a hole card game. Under ENHC you play more carefully against a 10 or an ace. Our no hole card guide walks through real examples in dollars.
Which one is your casino using? The rules document says it, usually in the section on doubling and splitting. Wizard of Odds found BB+1 at Star City Sydney in 2008, but rules change, so I always read the current version before I sit down.
Soft 17: H17 vs S17
Think a 3:2 table is always the better deal? Check the soft 17 rule first.
- S17: the dealer stands on every 17, including A,6.
- H17: the dealer must hit soft 17. That gives the dealer an extra chance to improve.
- Cost to you: about 0.22% of every dollar you bet, according to Wizard of Odds.
The Star Sydney's Star Blackjack rules say the dealer stands on a hard 17 or a soft 18 (in plain words: the dealer hits soft 17). Crown Melbourne uses both versions across its games. Same casino, different tables.
3:2 vs 6:5: the rule that costs the most
Here is the difference on a A$20 bet when you are dealt blackjack:
- 3 to 2: you win A$30.
- 6 to 5: you win A$24.
Six dollars sounds small. It adds roughly 1.4% to the house edge, which is more than every other rule on this page put together. If a table pays 6 to 5, I walk past it.
Australia vs Vegas vs UK
| Rule | Australia | Las Vegas | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer hole card | No (OBO, BB+1, OBBO or ENHC) | Yes, dealer peeks for blackjack | Usually no (ENHC) |
| Doubling | 9, 10 or 11 only | Usually any two cards | Usually 9, 10 or 11 |
| Soft 17 | Varies by game | H17 common on lower limits | Usually stands |
| Blackjack pays | 3:2 standard, 6:5 on some variants | 3:2 or 6:5 (6:5 common on low limits) | Usually 3:2 |
| Surrender | Rare | Late surrender at some casinos | Rare |
| Shuffling | CSMs very common | Mix of shoes and CSMs | CSMs common |
| Local games | Blackjack Plus, Australian Pontoon, Free Bet, Blackjack Challenge | Free Bet, Blackjack Switch | Side bets such as 21+3 |
"Usually" matters here. Each casino sets its own rules within what the regulator approves, so treat this table as a starting point, not a promise.
What the big Australian casinos publish
| Casino | What the current rules say |
|---|---|
| Crown Melbourne | Blackjack Rules v29.0 (in force from 20 May 2026): 4 to 8 decks, no hole card, double on 9-11, insurance 2 to 1. Some variants hit soft 17. Variants include Blackjack Plus, Crown Pontoon and Sports Blackjack |
| The Star Sydney | Star Blackjack: 6 or 8 decks, blackjack pays 3 to 2, dealer hits soft 17 |
| The Star Brisbane | Lower-limit tables moved to a hit soft 17 game in 2021 (reported by players on Wizard of Vegas) |
| Crown Sydney | Offers Crown Blackjack, Free Bet, Blackjack Plus and Buster side bets |
| Crown Perth | Rules document updated 19 December 2025 |
Checked 30 September 2026. Minimum bets change often, so we do not list them here as fact.
Local games worth knowing
- Blackjack Plus: under Crown's rules, a dealer total of 22 pushes instead of busting. That rule takes away a lot of your wins, and many regulars dislike it for good reason.
- Australian Pontoon: a Spanish 21 style game (the 10s are removed from the deck, the jacks, queens and kings stay). Wizard of Odds puts its house edge between 0.34% and 0.64% depending on the city. It is not the same game as British pontoon.
- Blackjack Challenge (The Star Sydney): Wizard of Odds calculates a house edge of about 2.53%.
- Free Bet (Crown Sydney): free doubles and splits, paid for by a dealer 22 push rule.
How to adjust your play for Aussie rules
- Find out the hole card rule (OBO, BB+1, OBBO or ENHC) before you buy in.
- Under ENHC, do not double 10 or 11 against a 10 or an ace. Hit instead.
- Under ENHC, hit 8,8 against a 10 or an ace, and hit A,A against an ace.
- Skip insurance. For a player who is not counting cards, it loses money over time.
- Avoid 6 to 5 tables and prefer S17 games when you have the choice.
Our blackjack strategy chart switches between these rule sets, and the blackjack trainer lets you drill them hand by hand. New to the game? Start with how to play blackjack, then try a few hands of our free blackjack game (it uses Aussie no hole card rules). Wondering about playing online? Read is online blackjack legal in Australia first.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no hole card in Australian blackjack?
It is part of the approved game rules at Australian casinos, as in most of Europe and Asia. The dealer takes one card up front and draws the second after all players act, so the dealer never peeks for blackjack.
Does the dealer hit soft 17 at Crown or The Star?
It depends on the game. Star Blackjack at The Star Sydney hits soft 17. Crown Melbourne has games that stand on all 17s and variants that hit soft 17. Check the table sign or the current rules document.
Can I double on any two cards in Australia?
Usually not. Standard Australian games let you double only on a two-card total of 9, 10 or 11. Doubling after a split is usually allowed.
Does blackjack pay 3 to 2 in Australia?
Yes on standard games. Some variants pay 6 to 5, which costs you roughly 1.4% more of every bet. Read the felt before you sit down.
What happens to my double if the dealer gets blackjack?
That depends on the casino's rule. Under OBO, BB+1 and OBBO you lose only one unit on that hand. Under ENHC you lose the full doubled amount.
Is surrender allowed in Australian blackjack?
Rarely. Most standard Australian games do not offer it, and where it exists it is limited to certain variants.
Practise before you play for real
I still warm up with ten free hands before any table review. It is the cheapest way to get the Aussie doubling rule into your fingers. Our free game has no money, no sign-up and no download.