It's that time of year again, when we take an in-depth look at blackjack throughout the country.
     My criteria for judging games is the same that a card counter would use if he wanted to play the game for profit potential. So, if I haven't listed your favorite casino, bear in mind that I'm not judging games on such things as ambiance or the friendliness of the dealers and pit personnel. Even the rules are of secondary importance to card counters. At the top of my list for judging the best games is the penetration÷i.e., how many cards are they dealing out before shuffling.
     I'm also going to do something a bit different in this year's survey. In prior years, I've usually picked just one casino in each state as "the best." I've learned that this inevitably starts arguments. Everyone seems to know another casino in their state that is, if not better, then at least as good as my choice. Usually, those unchosen casinos were on my list of best bets, but didn't make the final cut due to some arbitrary factor such as not having quite as many player reports. This year, to avoid some of those arguments, I've often picked multiple casinos in one state, so you'll have more games to choose from.
     Most of my choices are based on player reports received by Blackjack Forum, a quarterly card counters' magazine that I edit. Blackjack Forum currently lists blackjack table conditions in more than 350 cities in 24 states and 44 countries. So, weeding out the best is not an easy job. In many cases, even with multiple choices, I'm sure I've neglected some great places to play, but I must go on the player reports I receive. I especially look for consistent reports. When I have contradictory reports÷some players love it, others hate it÷I often have to pass over it unless there is an overwhelming majority of positive reports.
     Also note that conditions at casinos are always in flux. Some casinos stay the same for years, but by the time you read this article, or get to one of the listed casinos, a new manager may have changed everything. Sometimes game conditions even change from shift to shift, based on the shift managers' varying philosophies.
     But, enough of the disclaimers. I think you'll find a lot of valuable leads in this year's offerings. So, let's look at the games, state by state.

California
Every year I get a few letters from California blackjack players asking me why I am ignoring the games in their state. California has had casino blackjack in many of the Indian casinos for years. I rarely mention these games, however, because there is a weird state law prohibiting house-banked games. All of the blackjack games in California have some form of player banking, which means that players at the table must pay a per-hand ante to play. This ante, which varies from 50 cents to a buck or two per hand (depending on the size of your bet), makes card counting a waste of time. The only players I know who are making money in the California games are those who are banking them, or those who play in the occasional casino promotions which give the players an advantage greater than the cost of the antes.
     All of that may be changing soon. In last year's November election, California voters approved a measure that will finally allow the Indian casinos to bank their own table games. Right now, the new law is tied up in legal challenges, but it does appear that the citizens of the state want regular casino games in the Indian casinos. We'll keep you posted on developments.

Colorado
This state continues to offer blackjack games in numerous bars in Blackhawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Unfortunately, they continue to allow maximum bets of only $5, and this doesn't appear likely to change in the foreseeable future.
     Bronco Billy's in Cripple Creek has about the best one-deck games in the state. You can double down on any two cards, double after splits, and dealers stand on soft 17. For multiple-deck games, Otto's in Blackhawk still offers double after splits and late surrender on their 6-deck shoes, along with a few $1 minimum tables. You'll probably find deeper penetration at the Central Palace in Central City, but you won't find the surrender option.
     Due to the low bets, which restrict your betting spread, don't expect to do much better than break even in the long run in any of these Colorado games, even if you're an excellent counter.

Connecticut
The two Connecticut casinos÷Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun÷both have excellent sets of rules on all tables: double on any two cards, double after splits, surrender, and dealer stands on soft 17. They both also have a mixture of six-deck and eight-deck games. But what's best for you depends on what you are looking for.
     Absolutely, the best games in the state for card counters are Foxwoods' six-deckers (all located in the Club Newport area). This is because, in addition to the favorable rules, these games have good penetration÷generally 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 decks cut off. The negative aspect (for most players) is that these tables are for high rollers only. The minimum bets allowed are $50, with maximums set at $6,000. Also, Foxwoods has only a handful of these tables.
     If you want to play six-deck games at the $5 level, you've got to go to Mohegan Sun. Unfortunately, you're unlikely to find that deep penetration at the Sun. In fact, if you are a $5 bettor, your best bet is probably the eight-deck shoes at the Sun, which often have deeper penetration than their six-deck games. It's also generally easier to find any $5 minimum games at the Sun than at Foxwoods. When Foxwoods gets crowded, you're lucky to get a seat at a $10 minimum table.

Illinois
I'm getting the best reports out of Illinois these days on the City Lights I & II casinos in Aurora, which have recently added some double-deck games with double after splits and good penetration. You probably won't find these tables with minimums under $10 (or $25), so these games are not for low rollers. If you're looking for $5 minimum games, and even some $3 minimums, try the Empress I & II in Joliet. These are all six-deck games with double after splits, but unfortunately, dealers now hit soft 17.

Indiana
The Showboat Mardi Gras Casino, a riverboat in East Chicago, Indiana, has all six-deck games (about 40 tables) with fairly deep penetration (80 percent, plus), double any two cards, double after splits, and dealers stand on soft 17. You'll find $5 minimums and $2,000 maximums, not necessarily on the same tables. This casino was recently taken over by Harrah's, and I have had no game reports since the change of ownership. Harrah's has quite a few great games available in other areas of the country (as you'll discover), so hopefully, all will remain good for the players with this management/ownership change.

Iowa
We've been getting mixed reports on a number of the Iowa double-deck games. What counters especially like about these games is that many are dealt face up. Penetration, however, seems to vary wildly in reports I get, from 50 percent to 75 percent. You may want to check out the double-deck games at the Diamond Jo in Dubuque and the Mississippi Belle in Clinton. Both casinos have double after splits, but dealers hit soft 17. At the Lady Luck in Bettendorf, the double-deck games are also dealt face up, dealers hit soft 17, but no double after splits. Again, shop for deep penetration.