Aviator: Blackjack’s appeal lies in its exciting mix of luck and strategy. The goal is simple: build a hand closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. At Potawatomi Casino Hotel, blackjack is played using six decks, all dealt from a shoe.
Card Values
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) each count as 10 points.
- Number cards (2 through 10) are worth their face value.
- Aces can count as either 1 or 11, depending on what benefits your hand. When an Ace can be counted as 11 without busting, it’s called a soft hand. If counting it as 11 would cause the hand to go over 21, the Ace counts as 1, creating a hard hand.
How to Play
Players begin by placing their bets in the circles in front of them. The dealer signals the close of betting by waving a hand over the table. Once the first card is dealt, all bets are locked in until the hand ends. Each player receives two cards face-up, while the dealer gets two cards—one face-up and one face-down, known as the dealer’s hole card.
Aviator: What is a Blackjack?
Aviator: If your first two cards are an Ace plus any 10-point card, you have a blackjack. This hand pays 3 to 2, meaning you win $15 on a $10 bet.
The Hitting Round
To improve your hand, you can ask for additional cards—this is called hitting. To request a card, simply make a scratching motion behind or beside your bet. Aviator, You may continue hitting until you’re satisfied or until your hand goes over 21, which is called busting. When you want to stop taking cards, signal by moving your hand horizontally over your chips to stand.
Aviator: End Game
After all players have finished their turns, the dealer reveals their hole card, showing both cards face up. The dealer then draws additional cards until reaching a hard 17 or higher. The dealer must continue hitting on a soft 17 or less, no matter the players’ totals. If the dealer busts, all remaining players win and are paid even money. If the dealer stands on a hard 17 or above, any player hand closer to 21 than the dealer wins, while hands with totals less than the dealer’s lose. If the dealer and a player have the same total, the outcome is a push—no one wins or loses.
How to Split in Blackjack
When your first two cards have the same value, you can choose to split them into two separate hands. To do this, you must place an additional bet equal to your original wager and signal the dealer by spreading two fingers. You’ll play your first hand until you decide to stand, then move on to the second hand. You can split the same cards up to three times, creating as many as four hands in total. However, Aces can only be split once, resulting in two hands. When splitting Aces, you will receive only one additional card per hand.
Important: If a split hand ends up with a 10-value card and an Ace, it counts as 21, not a blackjack—since blackjack is only possible with the initial two cards.
Aviator: How to Double Down in Blackjack
If you feel confident about your hand, you can choose to double down by placing an extra wager up to the size of your original bet. This option is available for any two-card hand except blackjack and split Aces. When doubling down, you will receive only one more card for that hand. All other standard rules still apply.
General Rules
- The dealer must hit on a Soft 17 (a 17 that includes an Ace counted as 11).
- No surrender option is available.
- Players must use hand signals over the table to indicate their actions.
- Each table posts minimum and maximum betting limits.
- Full house rules are available upon request at each gaming pit.
