Quick answer: Blackjack Plus is a no hole card game where a dealer total of 22 is a push against every hand still standing. In return, your 21 and your five-card hands are paid straight away. Wizard of Odds puts the house edge at 6.36%, about ten times a standard Aussie table. At A$25 a hand that is roughly A$95 an hour.
Blackjack Plus is the game Australian players complain about most. We read the rules, checked the maths and ran the numbers in dollars. In my experience, the table sign makes the game look like a small twist on normal blackjack. It is not small.
The rules of Blackjack Plus
These are the rules Wizard of Odds analysed (page updated August 2026). Crown Melbourne lists Blackjack Plus as a variant in its Blackjack Rules Version 29.0, where a dealer 22 is a push.
- Six 52-card decks.
- Dealer hits soft 17.
- No hole card: the dealer draws the second card after players act.
- Player 21 and five-card hands pay at once, even if the dealer might still make blackjack.
- Dealer 22 = push for all hands still standing (21s and blackjacks have already been paid).
- If the dealer makes blackjack, you lose your original bet plus any bets already lost to busting after a split.
Why a dealer 22 costs so much
Think the push on 22 only matters now and then? Wizard of Odds works out that with six decks and the dealer hitting soft 17, the dealer finishes on exactly 22 about 7.4% of the time (roughly 1 hand in 14).
In normal blackjack, many of those are hands you win because the dealer busted. In Blackjack Plus they become pushes. Here is how the main rules move the numbers, one at a time, against a standard 8-deck game:
| Rule | Effect on the player (Wizard of Odds) |
|---|---|
| Dealer bust on 22 is a push | -6.91% |
| Dealer hits soft 17 | -0.22% |
| Five-card hand is an automatic winner | +1.46% |
| Player 21 is an automatic winner | +0.54% |
These figures do not add up exactly (rules interact), which is why the full analysis lands on 6.36%. Another published estimate, based on a slightly different Melbourne rule set, puts it at 5.5%. Either figure makes Blackjack Plus one of the most expensive versions of 21 you will find. Wizard of Odds called it the highest house edge he had seen on a blackjack variant.
What Blackjack Plus costs you per hour
We used A$25 a hand and 60 hands an hour (a normal pace at a busy table):
| Game | House edge | Average cost per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Pontoon (Melbourne rules) | 0.38% | A$5.70 |
| Standard Aussie blackjack (typical) | about 0.6% | about A$9 |
| Blackjack Challenge (The Star Sydney) | 2.53% | A$37.95 |
| Blackjack Plus | 6.36% | A$95.40 |
These are long-run averages. On any night you can win or lose far more. But over many sessions the maths wins, and Blackjack Plus asks for about ten times what a standard table does. Check your own bet size in the house edge calculator.
Why Aussie players are angry about it
- It replaced normal tables. In a June 2026 Reddit thread about Crown, players said standard tables had been switched to Blackjack Plus and minimums raised.
- It is not new. A player's submission to a 2021 Royal Commission into Crown called its Blackjack Plus the worst blackjack in Australia, with few tables and high minimums.
- One casino per state. Many players blame the lack of competition: there is often nowhere else to go.
We understand the frustration. Our job is simpler: show the number, so you can decide with it in front of you.
If you do play it: how to lose less
- First choice: pick another game. Crown Pontoon (0.38%) sits in the same room. See Pontoon vs blackjack.
- Hit a little more often on stiff hands. When a dealer 22 no longer pays, standing on 12 to 16 against a strong card is worth less. Wizard of Odds makes the same point for other push-22 games.
- Remember five-card hands pay. A small hand with four cards is worth more than in normal blackjack.
- Do not take insurance. It loses money over time for anyone who is not counting cards.
- Set a loss limit on your player card before the first hand.
We have not published a full Blackjack Plus strategy chart because rule details differ between casinos. Our strategy chart is built for standard Aussie games.
Blackjack Plus vs Free Bet Blackjack
Both games push on a dealer 22, so players often mix them up. Free Bet Blackjack gives you free doubles and free splits on some hands to make up for it, and Wizard of Odds puts it at about 1.04% on standard rules. That is still more than a normal table, but far cheaper than Blackjack Plus.
Rules change from one casino to the next, and sometimes from one table to the next in the same room. Want every casino in one view? See blackjack rules at every Australian casino (one table, with sources). Or use these guides side by side before you choose a table: New to Aussie tables? Start with our Australian blackjack rules guide and keep the strategy chart open while you practise.Compare with other Aussie casinos
Casino guide What stands out Key number Crown Melbourne blackjack Rules Version 29.0: no hole card, double 9-11, Crown Blackjack hits soft 17 Pontoon 0.38% The Star Sydney blackjack Star Blackjack hits soft 17, Blackjack Challenge, NSW carded play Pontoon 0.42% Crown Sydney blackjack Traditional vs Crown Blackjack, partial doubles, no pokies A$20 legal minimum Crown Perth blackjack Soft 17 set by table layout, dealer blackjack takes all, resplit aces Pontoon 0.38% The Star Brisbane and Gold Coast Star Blackjack hits soft 17, 2026 ownership change About 0.8% SkyCity Adelaide blackjack Freebet and 6:5 Party Blackjack, SA's only casino Pontoon 0.64%
Game and tool guides What it covers Key number Blackjack Plus Dealer 22 pushes, instant pays on 21 and five cards 6.36% house edge Pontoon vs blackjack 48-card decks, player 21 always wins, house edge by city 0.34% to 0.64% Side bets in Australia Crown Pairs, Buster Blackjack, Any Pair, insurance 1.9% to 22% Minimum bets in Australia What players report at Crown and The Star, electronic tables Checked Sept 2026 Card counting in Australia What is legal, counting devices, bet limits and bans NSW s87(2) House edge calculator Enter your table's rules and see the cost per hour A$ per hour
Frequently asked questions
What is Blackjack Plus?
A no hole card blackjack game where a dealer total of 22 is a push against standing hands. Player 21s and five-card hands are paid straight away.
What is the house edge on Blackjack Plus?
Wizard of Odds puts it at 6.36% (six decks, dealer hits soft 17). Another estimate on Melbourne rules is 5.5%.
Where is Blackjack Plus played in Australia?
Crown Melbourne lists it in its current blackjack rules, and it appears in Crown Sydney's game list too. Check the table sign: the game name is printed on it.
Is Blackjack Plus worse than Blackjack Challenge?
Yes. Blackjack Challenge at The Star Sydney has a house edge of 2.53%, less than half of Blackjack Plus.
Can basic strategy beat Blackjack Plus?
No. Correct play only brings the house edge down to about 6.36%. No strategy makes it a good bet.
Practise normal rules for free
Our free blackjack game uses standard Aussie rules (no hole card, 3:2, no push on 22), so you learn what a fair table feels like. Practice points only.