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Mardi Gras
Introduction
Mardi Gras is a side bet in blackjack that relies on the dealer's first two cards. As of September 2024, it's exclusively found in double-deck games at the Orleans casino in Las Vegas.
Rules
This side bet's payout is determined by the dealer's initial two cards, with the following structure:
- A/K diamonds — 130 to 1
- Suited aces — 45 to 1
- Unsuited aces — 25 to 1
- Suited blackjack — 15 to 1
- Unsuited blackjack — 5 to 1
- Straight flush — 5 to 1
Analysis
The table below presents my findings based on a two-deck game, showing a house edge of 14.19% in the bottom right cell.
Mardi Gras -- Two Decks
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
A/K diamonds | 130 | 4 | 0.000747 | 0.097087 |
Suited aces | 45 | 4 | 0.000747 | 0.033607 |
Unsuited aces | 25 | 24 | 0.004481 | 0.112024 |
Suited blackjack | 15 | 60 | 0.011202 | 0.168036 |
Unsuited blackjack | 5 | 192 | 0.035848 | 0.179238 |
Straight flush | 5 | 192 | 0.035848 | 0.179238 |
All other | -1 | 4880 | 0.911128 | -0.911128 |
Total | 5356 | 1.000000 | -0.141897 |
While I've been informed that the side bet is restricted to double-deck games, I am providing this data for six decks as well, should circumstances change. The bottom right cell indicates a house edge of 12.47%.
Mardi Gras -- Six Decks
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
A/K diamonds | 130 | 36 | 0.000742 | 0.096463 |
Suited aces | 45 | 60 | 0.001237 | 0.055652 |
Unsuited aces | 25 | 216 | 0.004452 | 0.111303 |
Suited blackjack | 15 | 540 | 0.011130 | 0.166955 |
Unsuited blackjack | 5 | 1728 | 0.035617 | 0.178086 |
Straight flush | 5 | 1728 | 0.035617 | 0.178086 |
All other | -1 | 44208 | 0.911205 | -0.911205 |
Total | 48516 | 1.000000 | -0.124660 |