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.