Blackjack

Section 1: Introduction

This rulebook summarizes the standard blackjack game prescribed by Schedule 2 of Queensland’s Casino Gaming Rule, made under section 63 of the Casino Control Act 1982 and effective from 24 December 2025. Schedule 2, section 1 identifies blackjack as the casino game governed by that schedule.

Schedule 2, section 2 defines a blackjack as an ace and a card with a point value of 10 dealt as the first two cards to a player or the dealer. A later multi-card total of 21 is therefore not a blackjack under the official terminology.

Under Schedule 2, section 2, a hard total is the total of a hand containing no aces or containing only aces counted as 1. A soft total is the total of a hand containing an ace counted as 11.

Schedule 2, section 14 provides that each player competes against the dealer through an original wager. A hand wins by finishing at 21 or less while the dealer exceeds 21, by finishing with a higher valid total than the dealer, or by holding a blackjack when the dealer does not.

Official objective

• Schedule 2, section 14(2)(a) awards the wager when the player has no more than 21 and the dealer exceeds 21.
• Schedule 2, section 14(2)(b) awards the wager when the player has the higher total and neither hand exceeds 21.
• Schedule 2, section 14(2)(c) awards the wager when the player has blackjack and the dealer does not.
• Schedule 2, section 14(2)(f) makes a player total above 21 an immediate losing result.
• Schedule 2, section 14(2)(e) makes equal totals, and matching player and dealer blackjacks, void wagers rather than wins or losses.

Schedule 2, section 12 makes each player responsible for correctly computing the point total of that player’s hand. The player may not rely solely on a total announced by the dealer.

Section 2: The Deck

Required equipment

Schedule 2, section 4 requires blackjack to be played with five to eight standard decks of cards and two additional cutting cards. The combined decks form the stack from which the game is dealt.

Schedule 2, section 3(1) requires a blackjack table with a dealer position on one side and player positions on the opposite side. Section 3(3) requires the layout to be substantially the same as Diagram 2 unless the chief executive approves another layout.

Schedule 2, sections 13 and 14 require a player’s original wager to be made with chips placed in the appropriate betting area before the first card is dealt. An oral declaration does not constitute a wager under section 13(2).

Card values

• Under Schedule 2, section 5(1)(a), cards numbered 2 through 10 have their face values.
• Under Schedule 2, section 5(1)(b), jacks, queens, and kings each have a value of 10.
• Under Schedule 2, section 5(1)(c), an ace normally has a value of 11.
• Under Schedule 2, section 5(2), an ace instead has a value of 1 when counting it as 11 would produce a total greater than 21.

Table markings

Schedule 2, section 3(2) requires the layout to state that blackjack pays 3 to 2, that the dealer must stand on 17 and draw to 16, and that insurance pays 2 to 1.

Cutting and shoe preparation

Schedule 2, section 6 requires the dealer to place the first cutting card at the back of the stack and offer the cards to be cut. If the selected player refuses, the cut is offered clockwise; if no player accepts, the dealer or a gaming supervisor cuts the cards.

Schedule 2, section 6(8) directs the dealer to insert the first cutting card approximately one deck or more from the back of the stack. At a gaming supervisor’s discretion, it may instead be inserted between approximately one deck and approximately two-thirds of the way in from the back.

Schedule 2, section 20 requires all cards to be dealt from a purpose-designed dealing shoe positioned on the table to the dealer’s left. Cards are removed with the dealer’s left hand and placed face up in the proper layout area with the right hand.

Under Schedule 2, section 23, reaching the cutting card during a round does not interrupt that round. The dealer completes the round and then reshuffles; if the cutting card is the first card drawn for a new round, the cards are shuffled immediately.

Section 3: Setup & Deal

Player positions and wagers

Schedule 2, section 7 ordinarily permits only one player to control each betting box. Under section 8, however, a casino operator may allow as many as three players to place blackjack wagers on one box.

When several players wager on one box, Schedule 2, section 9 requires the dealer to designate the controlling player. Only that player makes decisions about cards dealt to the box, while the other wagers are positioned immediately behind the controlling wager in a straight line.

Schedule 2, section 10 permits a casino operator to allow one player to wager on more than one box, subject to surrendering boxes to accommodate other players. The player must make at least the table minimum wager on every hand played.

Schedule 2, section 14(1) requires every participating player to make an original wager against the dealer before the first card of the round is dealt. Section 18 requires every wager to remain between the displayed table minimum and maximum.

Under Schedule 2, section 16, a player must not handle, remove, or alter the original wager after the first card has been exposed. Confirmed insurance, double-down, and split wagers likewise remain untouched until their outcomes have taken effect.

Initial deal

Schedule 2, section 21(1) requires the dealer to begin on the dealer’s left and proceed around the table. One face-up card is dealt to every box containing an original wager, followed by one face-up card to the dealer and then a second face-up card to each active player box.

Under Schedule 2, section 21(2), each player therefore begins with two face-up cards while the dealer initially has one face-up card. The dealer’s second card is not dealt until all players have completed their decisions, as required by section 21(5).

Schedule 2, section 21(2) requires the dealer to announce each player’s point total after the initial cards have been dealt. Beginning from the dealer’s left, each player then indicates whether to double down, split, stand, or draw.

Schedule 2, section 21(3) requires an additional wager to signal a double down or split. A player communicates a stand or draw decision by hand signal.

Schedule 2, section 11 prohibits players and spectators from handling, removing, or altering cards used in the game. Cards remain under the dealer’s control throughout the round.

Section 4: Gameplay

Drawing and standing

Schedule 2, section 28(1) permits a player whose total is below 21 to draw additional cards. Section 28(3) permits a player to stand on any hand containing two or more cards.

Schedule 2, section 21(4) requires every additional player card to be dealt face up. After each card, the dealer announces the player’s new point total before the player makes any further permitted decision.

Doubling down

Schedule 2, section 26(1) permits doubling down only when the first two cards of an original or split hand total 9, 10, or 11. The additional wager may not exceed the amount of the player’s original wager.

Schedule 2, section 26(2) allows exactly one additional card after a double down. Section 26(3) requires that card to be dealt face up and placed sideways on the layout.

For a double down, Schedule 2, section 26(4) assigns an ace in the first two cards a value of 1 rather than 11. If the dealer subsequently obtains blackjack, section 26(5) permits collection only of the original wager; the additional double-down wager is not collected.

Splitting

Schedule 2, section 27(1) permits a split when the player’s first two cards are identical in value. Each card becomes the first card of a separate hand, and section 27(2) requires an additional wager equal to the original wager.

Under Schedule 2, section 27(3), the dealer gives a second card to the first split hand and completes all decisions for that hand before dealing to the second split hand.

• Schedule 2, section 27(4)(a) prohibits resplitting.
• Schedule 2, section 27(4)(b) allows only one additional card on each split ace and prohibits further draws to those hands.
• Schedule 2, section 27(4)(c) provides that splitting aces or 10-value cards cannot produce a blackjack.
• Schedule 2, section 27(4) otherwise permits the player to stand, draw, or double down after the second card is dealt to a split hand.

Insurance and even-money settlement

Schedule 2, section 25(1) requires the dealer to call for insurance wagers when the dealer’s first card is an ace. Under section 25(2), insurance may not exceed one-half of the amount staked on the player’s original wager.

Schedule 2, section 25(4) provides that insurance wins at odds of 2 to 1 when the dealer’s second card has a value of 10. Insurance loses if the dealer’s second card is an ace or a card valued from 2 through 9.

Schedule 2, section 24(4) permits a player holding blackjack against a dealer ace to request immediate payment at odds of 1 to 1 as full settlement of the original wager.

Dealer’s hand

After every player has acted, Schedule 2, sections 21(5) and 21(6) require the dealer to take a second face-up card, deal any further dealer cards face up, and announce the resulting total.

Schedule 2, section 29(1) requires the dealer to draw until reaching a hard or soft total from 17 through 21, after which no further card may be drawn. Thus, under the standard Schedule 2 game, the dealer stands on soft 17 as well as hard 17.

Schedule 2, section 29(2) prohibits unnecessary dealer draws when all player-hand decisions have been made and another card could have no effect on the round’s outcome.

Section 5: Scoring & Winning

Determining the total

Schedule 2, section 5 requires the values of all cards in a hand to be added. Each ace counts as 11 unless that would take the total above 21, in which case the ace counts as 1.

Schedule 2, section 2 gives blackjack priority as a specifically defined opening hand: an ace and a 10-value card received as the first two cards. A three-card total of 21 is a valid total but is not a blackjack.

Outcomes

• Under Schedule 2, section 14(2)(a), the player wins when the player has 21 or less and the dealer exceeds 21.
• Under Schedule 2, section 14(2)(b), the player wins when the player has the higher total and neither total exceeds 21.
• Under Schedule 2, section 14(2)(c), a player blackjack wins when the dealer does not have blackjack.
• Under Schedule 2, section 14(2)(d), a dealer blackjack defeats a player hand that is not blackjack.
• Under Schedule 2, section 14(2)(e), equal totals and simultaneous blackjacks make the original wager void.
• Under Schedule 2, section 14(2)(f), a player total above 21 loses.
• Under Schedule 2, section 14(2)(g), the player loses when the dealer has the higher total and neither total exceeds 21.

Payouts

Schedule 2, section 15(1) pays every ordinary winning blackjack wager at odds of 1 to 1. Section 15(2) pays a winning blackjack at odds of 3 to 2.

Under Schedule 2, section 24(1), a player blackjack is announced and paid immediately at 3 to 2 when the dealer’s first card is valued from 2 through 9. The cards are removed before another player receives a third card.

When the dealer shows an ace or a 10-value card, Schedule 2, sections 24(2) and 24(3) delay blackjack payment until the dealer receives a second card. If the dealer does not also have blackjack, the player’s blackjack is paid at 3 to 2.

Schedule 2, section 14(3) governs doubled and split hands when the dealer obtains blackjack. The original wager loses, but the additional wager made to double down or split is void.

Schedule 2, section 25(4) makes insurance a separate wager paying 2 to 1 when the dealer completes blackjack with a 10-value second card. Section 25(5) requires losing insurance wagers to be collected before the dealer draws any additional card.

Completion of the round

Schedule 2, section 22 requires the dealer to collect the cards remaining on the layout in order and place them face down in the discard rack. They must remain arranged so that each hand can be reconstructed if a question or dispute arises, unless an approved electronic review system is available.

Section 6: Variants & House Rules

The standard rules in this file come from Schedule 2 of the Casino Gaming Rule. Schedule 2, section 3(3) permits a layout or betting-area change only when approved by the chief executive; a casino may not silently substitute an unapproved house rule for the published game.

Published blackjack variants

Schedule 2(a) establishes Spanish blackjack as a distinct game. Its separately numbered provisions address the number of decks, wagers and results, surrender, doubling, splitting, dealer play, and irregularities; those provisions govern wherever they differ from standard Schedule 2 blackjack.

Schedule 2(b) establishes Blackjack Challenge as a separate variant. Schedule 2(b), sections 4 through 11 provide its card ranking, wager results, blackjack treatment, doubling, splitting, insurance, five-card-trick settlement, and final settlement rules.

Schedule 2(c) establishes Blackjack Switch. Schedule 2(c), sections 5 through 11 separately regulate its paired wagers, winning and losing results, payout odds, deal, player blackjack, insurance, and dealer play.

Schedule 2(d), section 3 establishes Soft 17 Blackjack as the published variation affecting the dealer’s additional-card rule. It must not be confused with standard Schedule 2, section 29, under which the dealer stands after reaching either a hard or soft 17.

Schedule 2(e) establishes Electronic Blackjack for play through a player terminal. Schedule 2(e), sections 3 through 8 regulate electronic play, wager results, named additional wagers, and their payout odds.

Permitted operational choices

Schedule 2, section 4 permits a game to use any number from five through eight decks, but never fewer than five or more than eight under the standard rules. The selected deck count is therefore an operational choice within an exact official range.

Schedule 2, section 8 permits, but does not require, as many as three players to wager on one box. When that option is used, Schedule 2, section 9 preserves one controlling player’s authority over all card decisions for the box.

Schedule 2, section 10 permits a casino operator to allow a player to occupy more than one box, while retaining authority to require the player to release boxes for other participants. This affects table participation but does not change card values or winning totals.

Schedule 2, section 23(3) allows a gaming supervisor to direct one further round after the cutting card appears before the cards are shuffled. This is a supervised dealing option, not a change to the scoring rules.

Rules that remain fixed in standard play

• Schedule 2, section 15 fixes ordinary wins at 1 to 1 and blackjack at 3 to 2.
• Schedule 2, section 25 fixes winning insurance at 2 to 1 and caps the insurance stake at half the original wager.
• Schedule 2, section 26 restricts doubling to initial totals of 9, 10, or 11 and permits only one additional card.
• Schedule 2, section 27 prohibits resplitting and limits each split ace to one additional card.
• Schedule 2, section 29 requires the standard dealer to stand on both hard and soft totals from 17 through 21.

Any event or recreational adaptation should identify itself as an adaptation rather than claiming to use the official Schedule 2 game when it changes these fixed provisions. Officially published variants must be identified by their applicable schedule so players know which rules govern before wagering begins.