N.J. Admin. Code § 13:47-20.22

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 8, April 15, 2024

Section 13:47-20.22 - Rules of the game of blackjack

(a) The following words and terms as used for the game of blackjack shall have the following meanings:

"Blackjack," "twenty-one" or "natural" means an ace and any other card having a point value of 10, dealt as the initial two cards to a player or a dealer.

"Bust" means the value of the cards dealt in a single hand exceeds 21.

"Double down" means a player's first two cards total either 10 or 11, and the player chooses to double the wager and draw only one additional card.

"Hole card" means the card dealt face down to the dealer.

"Insurance betting" means the dealer's face-up card is an ace and a player(s) makes an additional bet against the possibility of the dealer having a blackjack natural.

"Splitting pairs" means separating any pair dealt and playing each card as an individual hand.

"Stand" or "stay" means a decision not to draw another card.

(b) The following equipment shall be used in the game of blackjack:

1. A table with a blackjack layout showing seven betting positions and all wagering options;

2. One to four decks of 52 cards each, shuffled together and used as one, with the following specifications:

i. Backs of the same color and design; and

ii. Face values as follows:

(1) Any card from two to nine: the value as indicated on the card;

(2) Any 10, jack, queen or king: a value of 10;

(3) Any ace: a value of one or 11 at the discretion of the player.

(c) The following equipment is optional in the game of blackjack:

1. A dealing shoe; and

2. An automated shuffling device.

(d) The dealer shall:

1. Shuffle, cut and deal the cards pursuant to 13:47-20.18 and the method of play in (g) below;

2. Be responsible for the operation of the game in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter;

3. Take a position at the table opposite the players; and

4. Collect all losing wagers and pay all winning wagers.

(e) If a dealer errs and deals a player a card which the player did not call for, and the card is refused by the player, the card is considered a dead card and shall be "burnt" and discarded by the dealer.

(f) There may be up to seven players at any one table, each of whom may bet on several of their own hands depending on the betting spaces available.

(g) The method of play for the game of blackjack shall be as follows:

1. A player may choose to split pairs. In addition, any two cards each having a value of 10 may be treated as pairs for blackjack only, such as a 10 and jack, jack and queen, or queen and king. A player who receives two cards which are a pair or as treated as a pair on the initial round may choose to separate the two cards and treat each card as the first card dealt in two separate hands;

2. When pairs are split, the player's original wager is placed on one of these cards and an equal amount must be wagered on the other. The player is then dealt one face-up card on the face-up card on his or her right, and he or she must play this hand out. If, in drawing to the first face-up card, the player forms a pair again, he or she may again split pairs, wagering an amount equal to his or her first card on this third hand. The player may continue to split any further pairs. When a player splits a pair of aces, he or she is only permitted to draw one card to each split ace, giving the player two cards in all. If a picture card or 10 or ace is part of a split hand and the player makes a two-card count of 21, it is not a natural and the player is paid off at even money. A player is not permitted to double down on split pairs;

3. A player may choose to double down when his or her first two cards total either 10 or 11. The player doubles his or her wager and is allowed to draw only one additional card. A player, before calling "double down," must double his or her original wager. The player is then dealt a third and final card on the two face-up cards;

4. A player may choose to place an insurance bet/wager when the dealer's face-up card is an ace. Players may make an insurance bet against the dealer's possible natural 21. The dealer, before looking at his or her hole card, inquires if any player wants insurance. A player who desires insurance places an amount equal to half of the present wager on his or her own hand. When the insurance wager is made, the dealer looks at his or her down card. If it is a 10-count, the dealer turns it face-up and announces a "natural." The insurance bettor is paid off at the rate of 2 to 1 for the amount of the insurance bet. If the dealer's hole card is not a 10-count card, the player loses his or her insurance wager;

5. Wagers shall be placed as follows:

i. Before the deal begins, each player must place his or her wager in the betting space directly before himself or herself in full view of the dealer;

ii. When a player plays more than one hand at a time, the player must play the hand farthest to his or her right to completion before being permitted to play the next hand or hands;

6. After all players' bets are placed, the dealer removes the first card from the deck and discards it by placing it aside face-down without showing its face value. This card and other discarded cards are not to be used again until the dealing shoe is empty or the deck in the dealer's hand has been completely dealt. All cards used to make a hand are discarded in the same manner. After the first card has been "burnt," the dealer, starting with the player on the dealer's extreme left, begins dealing clockwise giving one card face-up to each player and one face-up to himself or herself. The dealer next deals each player, starting with the player on his or her extreme left, a second face-up card and one face-down to himself or herself. The dealer has the option of dealing one face-down card to each player;

7. A casino night holder shall have three options in the event of ties between the dealer and the player(s). The method of resolving ties shall be posted at the table. Ties between a player and dealer shall be resolved pursuant to one of the following options:

i. Option i: The casino night holder shall honor a "push" or standoff in the case of all ties;

ii. Option ii: The casino night holder shall honor a "push" or standoff only when the dealer and players have a natural 21; or

iii. Option iii: The casino night holder shall win all ties between the dealer and the player(s);

8. The procedure for when the dealer has a natural is as follows:

i. When the dealer's face-up card is a 10-count or an ace, the dealer must look at his or her hole card. If the dealer has a natural, he or she must immediately turn it face up and announce "twenty-one" or "black jack." If the casino night holder has exercised the option that all ties shall constitute wins for the casino night holder, the dealer then wins and collects all bets, including bets from players having a natural 21. If the casino night holder has exercised either option number one or number two, the dealer declares all ties to be "pushes" and no action is taken on these hands. The dealer wins and collects the bets from players not having a natural 21;

9. The procedure for when a player has a natural is as follows:

i. When the dealer does not hold a natural 21, the player at his or her extreme left plays first. If the player holds a natural 21, he or she announces it and faces the cards so the dealer can verify the count. If the casino night holder has exercised option number two or option number three, the dealer pays off the winning natural 21 at 2 to 1 odds. If the casino night holder has exercised the option that all ties are "pushes" (standoffs), then the dealer pays off the winning natural 21 at 3 to 2 odds. The dealer then "burns" the two played-out cards;

10. The procedure for continuing when no player or the dealer holds cards totaling 21 is as follows:

i. If the player's two cards total less than 21, the player may choose either to:

(1) Stay if satisfied with the total count of his or her two cards; or

(2) Ask for an additional card if he or she is not satisfied with the total count;

ii. The player can continue to ask for cards until he or she is satisfied with the total count of his cards. If the player draws a card which puts the player over 21, he or she must announce a "bust." The dealer takes the player's wager and cards and "burns" the cards in the discard pile;

iii. The play moves to the player's left, clockwise around the table, until all players have played out their hands;

iv. If all players have "busted," the dealer places his or her own cards in the discard pile and deals a new hand;

v. If any player or players are left, the dealer plays his or her hand as follows:

(1) The dealer turns up his or her hole card so that all the cards are exposed;

(2) If the dealer's count is 17, 18, 19 or 20, he or she must stay;

(3) If the dealer's count is 16 or less, he or she must draw a card and continue to draw until the count reaches 17 or more, at which point he or she must stay. If the dealer holds a "soft" 17, that is, a 17-count which includes an ace, he or she must also stay. This also applies to a soft 18, 19 or 20. The dealer stays on 17 and must draw on 16 or less. Dealer busts on 22.

(h) Payouts on winning wagers in the game of blackjack shall be as follows:

1. At the end of the dealer's play, the dealer starts with the first active player on the dealer's extreme right and moves around the table counterclockwise, paying off players who have a higher count than the dealer's with an amount equal to the wager they placed and collecting the wagers from players showing a lesser count;

2. If the dealer's count exceeds 21, the dealer pays off each surviving player an amount equal to the player's wager;

3. If the player and dealer have the same count, the dealer either wins and collects the bet or declares a "push" (standoff), depending upon the option exercised by the casino night holder (as found in (g)7 above).

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:47-20.22