Rules of Blackjack

1. Definitions
2. Table Layout and Equipment
3. The Cards
4. The Shuffle and Cut
5. Wagers
6. Minimum and Maximum Wagers
7. Initial Deal
8. Insurance
9. Interim Settlement
10. Subsequent Deal
11. Doubling
12. Splitting

13. Additional Cards to the Dealers Hand
14. Super Sevens and Perfect Pairs (Optional)
15. Final Settlement
16. Irregularities
17. Shuffling Device Malfunction’
18. Pontoon
19. General Provisions

1. Definitions

1.1 In these rules, unless the contrary intention appears:

"Act" means the Casino Control Act 1992;
"blackjack" means an ace and any card having a point value of ten dealt as the initial two cards to a player or a dealer except that this shall not include an ace and a ten point value card dealt to a player who has split pairs;
"burned" means to remove a card from play by placing it in the discard rack;
"casino promotional token or voucher" means a token or voucher issued by the casino operator to enable the player to have one free wager at a gaming table in the amount identified on the token or voucher. Promotional tokens and vouchers wagered at a table are forfeited after a round of play whether the wager wins or loses. If the wager wins, the player is to be paid the winnings in chips;
"casino supervisor" means a person employed in a casino in a managerial capacity relating to the conduct of gaming and includes a game supervisor;
"dealer" means a person responsible for the operation of the game;
"game supervisor" means a person responsible for the immediate supervision of the operation of the game;
"hard total" means the point total of a hand which contains no aces or which contains aces that are each counted as 1 in value;
"inspector" means a person appointed under section 106 of the Act;
"multishuffler" means a machine approved by the Casino Control Authority to be used for shuffling either four (4), six (6) or eight (8) decks of cards;
"Perfect Pairs wager" means an optional additional wager, which may be made by a player in accordance with rule 14;
"point total" means the total value of cards in a hand;
"Pontoon" means a variation of the game of Blackjack;
"Pontoon Pandemonium" means an optional additional wager which may be made by a player in accordance with rule 18.14.
"round of play" means a period of play commencing with the removal of the first card from the shoe or shuffling device by the dealer and concluding when the dealer, after drawing the last card, announces a result and if applicable, pays out winnings;
"shuffling device" means a card shuffling machine approved by the Casino Control Authority for use in the game of Blackjack but does not include a "multishuffler";
"soft total" means the point total of a hand containing at least one ace counted as 11 in value;
"stand off" means where a wager shall neither win nor lose;
"Super Sevens wager" means an optional additional wager which may be made by a player in accordance with rule 14;
"void" means invalid with no result.

2. Table Layout and Equipment

2.1 The game of Blackjack shall be played at a table having on one side places for the players and on the opposite side a place for the dealer.
2.2 The layout cloth covering the table shall be marked in a manner substantially similar to that shown in diagram "A", "B" or "C" with:
- 2.2.1 a minimum of five and a maximum of nine playing areas designated for the placement of wagers;
- 2.2.2 an area for the placement of insurance wagers;
- 2.2.3 inscriptions to the effect that -
  - 2.2.3.1 blackjack pays 3 to 2,
  - 2.2.3.2 the dealer must stand on 17 and must draw to 16, and
  - 2.2.3.3 insurance pays 2 to 1.
- 2.2.4 the name and/or logo of the casino imprinted thereon.
2.3 The following equipment shall also be used in the game of Blackjack:
- 2.3.1 a card shoe or shuffling device from which all cards shall be dealt;
- 2.3.2 a discard rack capable of holding up to eight decks of cards.
2.4 The table shall have a drop box attached to it.

3. The Cards

3.1 The game of Blackjack shall be played with either three decks or four decks or six decks or eight decks of cards, each deck having 52 cards without jokers, with backs the same color and design and a cutting card, provided however that the Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs option described in rule 14 shall be played with either six decks or eight decks of cards.
3.2 The value of cards shall be as follows:
- 3.2.1 an ace shall have a value of 11 except when that would give a player or the dealer a point total in excess of 21, in which case, it shall have a value of 1 and except as provided in rule 11.2;
- 3.2.2 any card from 2 to 10 inclusive shall have its face value; and
- 3.2.3 any jack, queen or king shall have a value of 10.
3.3 Cards shall be checked by a dealer or a game supervisor prior to use on a gaming table.
3.4 Cards may be removed from the table and replaced with new cards, at the discretion of a casino supervisor, upon the completion of:
- 3.4.1 a round of play in which the cutting card is exposed and prior to a shuffle when a card shoe is used; or
- 3.4.2 any round of play when a shuffling device is used.
3.5 All cards used in the game of Blackjack shall be dealt from a card shoe or shuffling device specifically designed for such purpose and located on the table to the left of the dealer. All cards shall be dealt:
- 3.5.1 face upwards; or
- 3.5.2 the first two cards to each player may be dealt face downwards with the prior approval of an inspector. In this instance the players must expose the first two cards prior to receiving a third card.
3.6 Where rule 3.5.2 applies, the cards may be handled by the player, but may not leave the area of the table layout, nor be held away from the table.
3.7 No person shall handle, remove or alter any cards used in the game of Blackjack other than as provided for in rule 3.5.2.
3.8 Each player at the table shall be responsible for correctly computing the point total of their hand and no player shall be entitled to rely on the point total announced by the dealer.

4. The Shuffle and Cut

4.1 The dealer shall either use a multishuffler (which shall be positioned adjacent to the Blackjack table and to the left of the dealer) or manually shuffle the cards so that they are randomly intermixed:
- 4.1.1 immediately prior to the start of play;
- 4.1.2 when the cutting card is exposed or drawn as the first card of a new round of play; or
- 4.1.3 at the completion of the round of play in which the cutting card is drawn.
4.2 After the cards have been shuffled, the dealer shall offer the stack of cards, with backs facing away from him/her, to the players to be cut. The player to cut the cards shall be:
- 4.2.1 the first player to the table if the game is just commencing;
- 4.2.2 the player on whose playing area the cutting card appeared during the last round of play;
- 4.2.3 the player at the farthest point to the right of the dealer if the cutting card appeared on the dealer's hand during the last round of play;
- 4.2.4 the player at the farthest point to the right of the dealer if the cutting card is exposed or drawn as the first card of a new round of play; or
- 4.2.5 the player at the farthest point to the right of the dealer if the cards are replaced in accordance with these rules.
4.3 If the player designated in rule 4.2 refuses the cut, the cards shall be offered to each player moving clockwise around the table until a player accepts the cut. If no player accepts the cut, a game supervisor or, in the absence of a game supervisor a casino supervisor, shall cut the cards.
4.4 The person designated in rule 4.2 or 4.3 shall cut the cards by placing the cutting card in the stack at least one deck in from either end of the stack.
4.5 Once the cutting card has been inserted by the person designated in these rules the dealer shall take all cards in front of the cutting card and place them to the back of the stack, after which the dealer shall insert the cutting card in the stack up to half way in from the back of the stack. The stack of cards shall then be inserted in the card shoe for commencement of play.
4.6 When a shuffling device is used, the operation of rules 4.1 to 4.5 inclusive are amended to the extent necessary for the following to have effect:
- 4.6.1 prior to the start of play or the introduction of new cards in accordance with rule 3.4, the new decks of cards shall be manually shuffled by the dealer before being placed in the shuffling device;
- 4.6.2 cards shall be placed in the shuffling device to be shuffled;
- 4.6.3 the cards shall not be cut; and
- 4.6.4 the shuffling device takes the place of the card shoe.
4.7 The first card from the card shoe or shuffling device shall be burned by placing it face down in the discard rack and shall not be exposed.

5. Wagers

5.1 All wagers shall be placed by means of chips and/or casino promotional tokens or vouchers.
5.2 A wager by a player shall be placed on the appropriate playing areas of the Blackjack layout prior to the first card being dealt for each round of play.
5.3 Except as provided in these rules or until a decision and settlement has been made in respect of any wager, no wager may be handled, placed, increased or withdrawn after the first card of the round of play has been dealt.
5.4 Up to three players may wager on any one playing area of the blackjack layout but a casino supervisor may restrict the number of players to less than three.
5.5 Where more than one player wagers on a playing area the decisions with regard to the cards dealt to that area shall be called by:
- 5.5.1 the player who is seated at the playing area;
- 5.5.2 where there is no seated player, the player with the highest wager in the box;
- 5.5.3 where all wagers are of equal value, the player whose wager is nearest the dealer.
5.6 The dealer shall, prior to the commencement of a round of play, ascertain the player who shall call the decisions with respect to any playing area in accordance with rule 5.5.
5.7 The dealer shall ensure that:
- 5.7.1 the player calling the decisions places his/her wager in the portion of the playing area nearest to the dealer's side of the table; and
- 5.7.2 all other players wagering on the playing area place their wagers in a vertical line with the wager referred to in rule 5.7.1.
5.8 A player may be permitted to wager on more than one playing area at a Blackjack table providing that, where there are insufficient seats at the table to accommodate player demand, a player wagering on more than one playing area shall give up a playing area or playing areas to accommodate other players.
5.9 Where it is not possible to pay a wager exactly in chips it shall be paid to the next highest amount to which payment can be made in chips.
5.10 A casino supervisor may, where a card shoe is in use, restrict any player who has not made a wager on the first round of play or who declines to place a wager on any given round of play during the course of a shoe of cards, to wagering the minimum wager displayed at the table until that shoe of cards is completed and a re-shuffle occurs.
5.11 A Casino Duty Manager may restrict a player to the table minimum wager in accordance with the provisions of rule 5.10 for the duration of all further shoes of cards where the player does not make a wager on the first round of play or declines to place a wager on any given round of play. An inspector must be notified prior to a player being so restricted under this rule.
5.12 A Casino Duty Manager may limit a player to one playing area and to the minimum wager for that playing area displayed on the sign at the Blackjack table. An inspector must be notified prior to a player being so restricted under this rule.
5.13 Notwithstanding rule 5.8, a casino supervisor may reserve a series of playing areas at a table for the sole use of a specific player.

6. Minimum and Maximum Wagers

6.1 The minimum and maximum wagers permitted on each playing area shall be shown on a sign at the table. Unless stated on the sign, wagers are not required to be made in multiples of the minimum. The sign may also state the minimum unit in which wagers may be made above the table minimum.
6.2 Any wager less than the stated minimum or greater than the stated maximum made by a player and not rejected prior to the first card being dealt for a round of play shall be treated as a valid wager.
6.3 A casino supervisor may alter the limits on a gaming table at any time except that a minimum wager can only be changed to a higher minimum if a sign indicating the new minimum and proposed time of change has been displayed at the table at least 20 minutes before the change.
6.4 A casino supervisor may allow a player to wager in excess of the stated maximum wagers permitted on that table, provided that a sign denoting the new minimum and maximum wagers for that player is placed on an appropriate area of the table.

7. Initial Deal

The dealer shall call "no more bets" and starting from the left and continuing clockwise round the table, shall deal a card in sequence to each playing area containing wager/s and a card to the dealer's position. In a like manner the dealer shall then deal a second card to each of the wagered playing areas.

8. Insurance

Where the dealer's first card is an ace, a player may place an insurance wager, equivalent to not more than half the amount placed as his/her initial wager, that the dealer's second card will have a value of ten. All insurance wagers shall be made before the commencement of the subsequent deal and are to be placed on the insurance line of the layout.

9. Interim Settlement

9.1 Upon completion of the initial deal and before the subsequent deal;
- 9.1.1 where a player has a blackjack and the dealer's card does not have a value of ten or is not an ace, the dealer shall pay the wager(s) on that hand at odds of 3 to 2, remove the cards dealt to that playing area and place them in the discard rack or, with the approval of a pit manager or above, pay said wager(s) at Final Settlement in accordance with rule 15.1.1;
- 9.1.2 where a player has a blackjack and the dealer's card is an ace, the dealer shall, at the players request, pay the player in settlement an amount equal to the initial wager. In this instance, any insurance wager made by the player shall be void and returned to the player; or
- 9.1.3 where a player has a blackjack and the dealer's card has a value of ten, the dealer shall make no payment nor remove any cards from that playing area until the outcome is determined under rule 15.

10. Subsequent Deal

10.1 The dealer shall, beginning from the left, announce the player's point total and allow the player to indicate whether he/she wishes to:
- 10.1.1 double in accordance with rule 11;
- 10.1.2 split pairs in accordance with rule 12;
- 10.1.3 stand by electing to receive no additional cards; or
- 10.1.4 receive an additional card(s).
10.2 A player having a point total less than 12 shall be required, subject to rules 11 and 12, to receive an additional card or cards until his/her hand has a point total of not less than 12.
10.3 A player may elect to receive additional cards, subject to rules 11 and 12, whenever his/her point total is less than 21 except that a player having blackjack or a hard or soft total of 21 may not draw additional cards.
10.4 As each player indicates his/her decision(s), the dealer shall deal face upwards whatever additional cards are required to give effect to the decision(s) and shall announce the point total of the player's hand after each additional card is dealt.
10.5 Where a player's point total exceeds 21, any wager on that hand shall lose and the dealer shall immediately collect the cards from that hand and place them in the discard rack.

11. Doubling

11.1 A player may elect to double, by wagering an amount equal to their original wager, on the first two cards dealt to their hand or the first two cards of any split pair providing that:
- 11.1.1 the point total of the first two cards equals 9, 10 or 11; and
- 11.1.2 the hand does not contain an ace; and
- 11.1.3 one, and only one, card is dealt to the hand.
11.2 Notwithstanding sub-rule 11.1.2, a Casino Duty Manager may permit players at a specific table to double on a hand containing an ace subject to the further conditions of rule 11.1 and providing that:
- 11.2.1 all such players are notified of this option prior to the commencement of play; and
- 11.2.2 an ace in the first two cards shall have a value of 1 and not 11.
11.3 Where a player elects to double, the one additional card received shall be dealt face upwards and placed sideways on the layout.
11.4 If the player controlling the playing area elects to double, player(s) with a wager on the same playing area shall also have the option to double on that hand before the additional card is dealt. If the other player(s) do not double, the condition that only one additional card shall be dealt to that hand remains unchanged.
11.5 If the dealer obtains blackjack after a player doubles, the dealer shall only collect the amount of the player's original wager.

12. Splitting

12.1 When the initial two cards dealt to a playing area are identical in value, the player controlling that playing area may elect to split the hand into two separate hands providing that the wager on the second hand so formed is an amount equal to the original wager.
12.2 Except as provided by sub-rule 12.3.1, when a player splits a pair of cards the dealer shall deal a second card to the first of the hands so formed and shall complete the player's decisions with respect to that hand before proceeding to deal any cards to the second hand.
12.3 Subject to rule 11, after a second card is dealt to a split hand, the dealer shall announce the point total of that hand and the player shall indicate their decision to stand, draw or double with respect thereto except that:
- 12.3.1 subject to rule 12.5, a player splitting aces shall receive one, and only one, additional card on each ace which shall be dealt face upwards and placed sideways on the layout; and
- 12.3.2 a player splitting aces or 10 point value cards shall not be capable of achieving a blackjack.
12.4 A player may not split cards dealt to a split hand a second time (even if the second card dealt to either of the split hands is of identical value to the original split cards) and may not form more than two hands per playing area.
12.5 Notwithstanding rule 12.4, a Casino Duty Manager may permit players at a specific table to split again if the second card dealt to either of the split hands is of identical value to the original split cards providing that:
- 12.5.1 all such players are advised of this option prior to the commencement of play; and
- 12.5.2 the wager on a third hand is of an amount equal to the original wager; and
- 12.5.3 no more than three hands are formed per playing area in each round of play; and
- 12.5.4 a player splitting aces to form a third hand shall receive one, and only one, additional card on each ace which shall be dealt face upwards and placed sideways on the layout; and
- 12.5.5 a player who abstains from splitting their initial two cards may not elect to split after having received a third card.
12.6 If the player controlling a playing area decides to split, any other player who has placed a wager on that playing area shall either:
- 12.6.1 make an additional wager on the split hand(s) so formed of an amount equal to their original wager; or
- 12.6.2 have their original wager placed on the first hand so formed.
12.7 Subject to rule 10.5, if the dealer obtains a blackjack after a player splits a hand, the dealer shall only collect the amount of the player's original wager.

13. Additional Cards to the Dealers Hand

13.1 When the subsequent deal to all players' hands has been completed, a dealer shall, subject to rule 13.4, deal additional cards as necessary to his/her hand.
13.2 If the dealer's hand has a point total of not more than 16, additional cards must be dealt until a hard or soft point total of not less than 17 is attained. When the dealer's hand has a hard or soft point total of 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21, no additional cards shall be drawn.
13.3 If the dealer's first card is an ace and the second card does not have a value of 10, any insurance wagers shall be lost and collected by the dealer immediately upon the drawing of that card.
13.4 No additional cards shall be drawn to the dealer's hand, regardless of the point total, if decisions have been made on all players' hands and the additional cards would have no effect on the outcome of the round of play.

14. Super Sevens and Perfect Pairs (Optional)

14.1 The casino operator may in its discretion offer players the opportunity to make Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs wagers in accordance with this rule.
14.2 Where the Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs wager is offered, and the game of Blackjack is played at a table with a layout cloth marked in a manner substantially similar to that shown in diagram B for Super Sevens or diagram C for Perfect Pairs, any player may elect to place a Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs wager before the round of play commences. The Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs wagers shall be placed in the appropriate playing area of the layout corresponding to the area where the initial wager was placed. Up to three Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs wagers shall be allowed per playing area.
14.3 The amount required to make a Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs wager shall be shown on a sign at the table, and a player wishing to make a Super Sevens or Perfect Pairs wager must first have placed an initial wager in one or more playing areas.
14.4 Where a Super Sevens wager is made and:
- 14.4.1 the first card dealt to the player’s hand in that round is a seven (of any suit), the player shall win and be paid odds of three to one, unless the next card dealt to the hand is also a seven;
- 14.4.2 the first two cards dealt to the player’s hand in that round are both sevens (of different suits), the player shall win and be paid odds of fifty to one, unless the next card dealt to the hand is also a seven;
- 14.4.3 the first two cards dealt to the player’s hand in that round are both sevens of the same suit, the player shall win and be paid odds of one hundred to one, unless the next card dealt to the hand is also a seven;
- 14.4.4 the first three cards dealt to the player’s hand in that round are all sevens, but are not all of the same suit, the player shall win and be paid odds of five hundred to one;
- 14.4.5 the first three cards dealt to the player’s hand in that round are all sevens of the same suit, the player shall win and be paid odds of five thousand to one; or
- 14.4.6 any card other than a seven is dealt as the first card to that player, that player loses the wager.
14.5 If the first two cards dealt to a playing area on which a Super Sevens wager has been made are both sevens, and the option to split in accordance with rule 12 is taken, the next card dealt shall decide the settlement of the Super Sevens wager in accordance with rule 14.4, and that wager shall then be deemed completed.
14.6 Winning Super Sevens wagers shall be paid, and losing Super Sevens wagers collected, by the dealer as soon as the outcome of the Super Sevens wager is known.
14.7 For the purposes of playing "Perfect Pairs" a pair shall mean a hand that comprises the first two cards dealt in the initial deal that are:
- 14.7.1 of the same number, namely Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 or
- 14.7.2 of the same picture type, namely jack, queen or king.
14.8 Where a Perfect Pairs wager is made and the initial two cards dealt to that players hand in that round are:
- 14.8.1 A "Mixed Pair" being a pair that comprises two cards of the same number or picture type but of different colors (i.e. one red card and one black card), the player shall win and be paid at the odds of five to one.
- 14.8.2 A "Colored Pair" being a pair that comprises two cards of the same number or picture type and color but of different suits (i.e. clubs and spades), the player shall win and be paid at the odds of ten to one.
- 14.8.3 A "Perfect Pair" being a pair that comprises of two cards of the same number or picture type and suit (i.e. two Queens of Spades or two 5 of clubs), the player shall win and be paid at the odds of thirty to one.
14.9 Winning Perfect Pairs wagers shall be paid, and losing Perfect Pairs wagers collected by the dealer at the completion of the initial deal and before any subsequent deal.

15. Final Settlement

15.1 Settlement of wagers remaining on the table after the completion of the dealer's hand shall be as follows:
- 15.1.1 a player having a blackjack shall win and be paid at odds of 3 to 2 if the dealer does not also have a blackjack;
- 15.1.2 a player having a point total of 21 or less shall win and be paid at odds of 1 to 1 if the dealer's hand has a point total in excess of 21;
- 15.1.3 a player having a point total of 21 or less shall win and be paid at odds of 1 to 1 if the point total exceeds that of the dealer's hand.
- 15.1.4 an insurance wager made under the provisions of rule 8 shall win and be paid at odds of 2 to 1 if the dealer achieves a blackjack.
- 15.1.5 a player having a point total of 21 or less shall lose an amount equal to their original wager if the dealer's hand has a blackjack;
- 15.1.6 a player shall lose if the point total of the dealer exceeds that of the player without exceeding 21;
- 15.1.7 a wager on a blackjack shall constitute a stand off if the dealer also has a blackjack;
- 15.1.8 a wager on a hand with the same point total as that of the dealer's hand shall constitute a stand off;
- 15.1.9 a wager, other than a player's original wager, made in accordance with rules 11 and/or 12 shall constitute a stand off if the dealer achieves a blackjack.
15.2 At the conclusion of a round of play, all cards still remaining on the layout shall be picked up by the dealer and placed in the discard rack.

16. Irregularities

16.1 A card found turned face upwards in the card shoe or shuffling device shall be burned by placing it in the discard rack.
16.2 Subject to rule 16.5, a card dealt or burned in error shall be dealt to the players or the dealer as though it were the next card from the shoe or shuffling device.
16.3 Subject to rule 10.2, a player who refuses to accept the card referred to in rule 16.2 shall not receive any additional card during that round of play.
16.4 Where the card referred to in rule 16.2 is refused by all players it shall become the dealer's next card.
16.5 A card exposed and dealt in error to the dealer's completed hand shall be burned by placing it in the discard rack.
16.6 Should any round of play contain an error caused by the incorrect dealing of a card, every effort must be made to reconstruct that round of play in such a way as to cause the sequence of cards dealt to be as it should have been had the error not occurred. However, should every effort to reconstruct the round of play fail, then the casino supervisor may authorise that round being declared void and the wagers shall then be returned to the players.
16.7 If there are insufficient cards remaining in the shoe to complete a round of play, all of the cards in the discard rack shall be shuffled and cut in accordance with rule 4 and the dealer shall then complete the round of play and the game shall continue in accordance with these rules.
16.8 Subject to rule 5.5, where a player makes a wager in accordance with rule 5 and is not present to make decisions with regards to the cards dealt to the playing area containing the wager, cards shall be dealt to the playing area in turn by the dealer until the point total of the cards exceeds 11.
16.9 Should the dealer forget to burn the first card from the card shoe or shuffling device in accordance with rule 4.7, then play shall continue with that card remaining in play.

17. Shuffling Device Malfunction

17.1 This rule, and rules 17.2 to 17.3, apply if all of the following conditions are satisfied:-
- 17.1.1 a shuffling device is in use for a game of Blackjack; and
- 17.1.2 it becomes evident, in a round of play for which 1 or more cards have been dealt, that the shuffling device is no longer capable of operating in the way it is intended to operate; and
- 17.1.3 the malfunctioning of the shuffling device has not operated to the disadvantage of the casino operator or a player; and
- 17.1.4 another shuffling device is readily available; and
- 17.1.5 it is practicable to transfer cards to another shuffling device.
17.2 Where a shuffling device malfunctions without causing any damage to the cards in the shuffling device, the cards in the shuffling device must be transferred to another shuffling device and the game continued.
17.3 Where a shuffling device malfunctions and causes damage to any card in the shuffling device:-
- 17.3.1 the damaged cards in the malfunctioning shuffling device are to be removed from play; and
- 17.3.2 the undamaged cards still in the malfunctioning shuffling device are to be transferred from the malfunctioning shuffling device to another shuffling device; an
- 17.3.3 the damaged cards are to be replaced with cards from a new deck, and the replacement cards are to be placed in the shuffling device containing the cards transferred from the malfunctioning shuffling device; and
- 17.3.4 the game is continued.
17.4 Where a shuffling device malfunctions and the casino operator or a player is disadvantaged by reason of the malfunction, the round of play is terminated, and the amount wagered by each player must be returned to the player.
17.5 Where a shuffling device malfunctions and rules 17.1.4 or 17.1.5 cannot be satisfied:-
- 17.5.1 each player must be given the opportunity to have each amount wagered by the player in the round of play returned to the player; and
- 17.5.2 any damaged card must be replaced with cards from a new deck; and
- 17.5.3 the replacement cards, if any, and any undamaged cards in the shuffling device are to be shuffled and cut in the same way as applies under rule 4; and
- 17.5.4 the round of play for the players who elected not to have their wagers returned is completed using a dealing shoe.

18. Pontoon

18.1 Where the game in play is "Pontoon" the approved rules of Blackjack shall apply, except where the rules are inconsistent with the rules of "Pontoon", in which case the rules of "Pontoon" shall prevail. The layout cloth covering the table shall be marked in a manner substantially similar to that shown in diagram "D" or "E" with:

18.1.1 a minimum of five and a maximum of nine playing areas designated for the placement of wagers;
18.1.2 an area for the placement of insurance wagers;
18.1.3 where the Pontoon Pandemonium option is available an area for the placement of Pontoon Pandemonium wagers;
18.1.4 inscriptions to the effect that:
- 18.1.4.1 pontoon pays 3 to 2,
- 18.1.4.2 Dealer must stand on hard 17 or soft 18;
- 18.1.4.3 Insurance pays 2 to 1;
18.1.5 the name and/or logo of the casino imprinted thereon.

18.2 The following additional equipment shall also be used in the game of Pontoon:

18.2.1 surrender buttons;
18.2.2 where the Pontoon Pandemonium wager is offered a jackpot button and an electronic meter which displays the winning Pontoon Pandemonium bonus prize.

18.3 Additional Definitions

18.3.1 In the game of Pontoon the following meanings apply:
- 18.3.1.1 "forfeit" means that the player has the option after doubling to have the dealer return the doubled portion of the wager to the player and forfeit the original wager;
- 18.3.1.2 "jackpot button" is a device offered to a player with a winning "Pontoon Pandemonium" wager, which when activated randomly selects a bonus prize payable to each player in the playing area with a "Pontoon Pandemonium" wager;
- 18.3.1.3 "pontoon" means an Ace and any card having a point value of ten dealt as the initial two cards to a player or a dealer except that this shall not include an ace and a ten point value card dealt to a player who has split pairs;
- 18.3.1.4 "surrender" means that where the dealer’s initial card is equal to a Jack, Queen, King or Ace the dealer shall, after the initial deal and prior to any further cards being dealt, offer the player the option to surrender an amount equal to half of their original wager;
- 18.3.1.5 "surrender buttons" means the buttons placed on top of a bet to indicate that the bet has been surrendered.

18.4 The Cards

18.4.1 The game of Pontoon shall be played with either six decks or eight decks of cards, with the backs the same color and design and a cutting card. Each deck shall have 48 cards without jokers and the four Tens shall be removed i.e. Ten of Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades.

18.5 Insurance

18.5.1 Where the dealer’s first card is an Ace, a player who has achieved pontoon shall not be eligible to place an insurance wager.

18.6 Surrender

18.6.1 Subject to rule 18.6.4, where the dealer’s first card is a Jack, Queen, King or Ace, any players who do not have pontoon have the option to surrender half their original wager. Any player(s) who wish to surrender must do so before the commencement of the subsequent deal.
18.6.2 A marker button will be placed on top of the surrendered wager and no further cards shall be dealt to that hand.
18.6.3 If a player controlling the playing area elects to surrender, the player(s) with a wager on the same playing area shall have the option to surrender. If the other player(s) do not surrender, the condition that no further cards shall be dealt to that hand remains unchanged.
18.6.4 If the player controlling the playing area elects not to surrender, player(s) wagering on the same playing area may not choose to surrender.
18.6.5 Where the dealer obtains pontoon, the surrender shall be void and the player shall lose their entire wager.
18.6.6 Where the dealer does not achieve pontoon the dealer shall complete theirhand and collect all surrendered wagers in the final settlement.

18.7 Interim Settlement

18.7.1 Upon completion of the initial deal and before the subsequent deal where a player has pontoon the dealer shall pay the wager(s) on that hand at odds of 3 to 2 and remove the cards dealt to that playing area and place them in the discard rack, except where the player(s) has also placed a Pontoon Pandemonium wager in which case the cards shall be placed face up under the Pontoon Pandemonium wager.
18.7.2 During the subsequent deal and before the final settlement;
- 18.7.2.1 where a player achieves a point total of 21 the dealer shall pay the wager(s) in accordance with rule 18.13, Table 1 and then remove the cards dealt to that playing area and place them in the discard rack.
- 18.7.2.2 where a player achieves the Super Bonus the dealer shall pay the wager(s) in accordance with rule 18.13, Table 1 and remove the cards dealt to that playing area and place them in the discard rack.
- 18.7.2.3 where a Super Bonus is achieved on a round of play and there are other players wagering on that round the dealer shall pay any other player’s bonus payments according with rule 18.13, Table 1 before removing the Super Bonus cards and placing them in the discard rack.
18.7.3 The dealer may, with the approval of a Pit Manager or above, pay the said wagers(s) at Final Settlement in accordance with rule 18.13, Table 1.

18.8 Subsequent Deal

18.8.1 Players may stand on the total of any two cards.

18.9 Doubling

18.9.1 A player may elect to double by wagering an amount equal to their original wager on:
- 18.9.1.1 the player’s original two cards (excluding pontoon); or
- 18.9.1.2 the first two cards of any split pair (except when splitting Aces); or
- 18.9.1.3 any hand with a point total of less than 21 formed with a third or subsequent card; provided that only one additional card shall be dealt to any hand on which a player has elected to double.
18.9.2 An Ace in the initial point total of any double shall have a value of one not eleven.
18.9.3 All winning double wagers shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1 and shall not be eligible for payout odds and Super Bonus odds as set out in rule 18.13, Table 1.
18.9.4 If the player controlling the playing area elects to double, player(s) with a wager on the same playing area shall also have the option to double on that hand before the additional card is dealt. If the other player(s) do not double, the condition that only one additional card shall be dealt to that hand remains unchanged and player(s) shall not be eligible for payout odds and Super Bonus odds as set out in rule 18.13, Table 1.
18.9.5 Subject to rule 10.5 a player who has elected to double, after receiving his/her next card (the card that constitutes the double) shall indicate whether he/she wishes to forfeit the original wager and retain his/her doubled portion. This shall be done before the next hand in turn is acted on.
18.9.6 Where the player(s) indicates that he/she wishes to forfeit the dealer shall return the double portion to the player(s), remove the original wager. If all bets on the playing area are forfeited the cards will be collected and placed in the discard rack.
18.9.7 Other player(s) with a doubled wager on the same playing area shall have the option to forfeit regardless of whether the player controlling the playing area elects to forfeit.
18.9.8 Subject to rule 10.5 and 18.12.1.2 if the dealer obtains pontoon after a player doubles, the dealer shall collect only an amount equivalent to the original wager and shall not collect the additional amount wagered in doubling.

18.10 Splitting

18.10.1 A player splitting Aces or 10-point value cards shall not be capable of achieving a pontoon.
18.10.2 If the initial two cards dealt to a player are sevens of the same suit and the player elects to split to form two hands the "Super Bonus" payout as set out in rule 18.13, Table 1 shall not apply in the event that an additional seven(s) of the same suit is drawn to any of the split hands.
18.10.3 Subject to rule 10.5 and 18.12.1.2, if the dealer obtains pontoon after a player splits a hand, the dealer shall only collect an amount equal to the player’s original wager.
18.10.4 Subject to rule 12.5, a player splitting aces shall receive one, and only one, additional card on each ace which shall be dealt face upwards and placed sideways on the layout.