Blackjack Dollar Sevens

A description and mathematical analysis of a Blackjack side bet.
By Andrew MacDonald, Senior Executive Casino Operations
and Pryna Ypma Business Analyst
Adelaide Casino, 1996

1. Definitions

1. “A major participating Casino” will be a Casino that is able to secure 49 Tournament heat entrants in a 90 day period and has entered into an agreement to be a part of the Sevens Tournament.

2. “A minor participating Casino” will be a Casino that is not able to secure 49 Tournament heat entrants in a 90 day period and has entered into an agreement to be a part of the Sevens Tournament.

3. “Dollar Sevens Wager” is a wager that may be made in addition to a players original wager in the space provided for Dollar Sevens wagers.

4. “Sevens Tournament” is a joint promotion where entrants are sourced, by a process of elimination, from all major and minor participating Casinos for eligibility to play in the final Tournament.

2. Dollar Sevens Wagers

1. A player may choose to place a wager additional to their original wager in the area provided for Dollar Sevens Wagers.

3. Winning and Losing Dollar Sevens Wagers and Payout Odds

1. A Dollar Sevens Wager wins if:-

a. The first, second and third cards dealt to the player placing the wager are all sevens;

b. The first and second cards dealt to the player placing the wager are both sevens but the wager does not win under paragraph a).

2. Winning Dollar Sevens Wagers are paid as follows:-

a. For 3 sevens (as per 3. 1) a.) :-

i) If the three sevens are all the same suit – 7770 to 1 *

ii) If the three sevens are not the same suit – 500 to 1

* plus free “Sevens Tournament” entry

b. For 2 sevens (as per 3.1) b.):-

i) If the two sevens are both the same suit – 150 to 1

ii) If the two sevens are not the same suit – 50 to 1

3. A Dollar Sevens Wager loses if:-

a. The first card dealt to the player placing the wager is not a seven.

b. When the first card dealt to the player placing the wager is a seven, the second card dealt to the player is not a seven.

4. a. After each player has been dealt their first two cards, the dealer takes all losing Dollar Sevens wagers.

b. The dealer then goes on to deal with each hand in the usual way.

c. If a player with two sevens declines a third card, the dealer immediately makes a payout for the players winning Dollar Sevens wager.

d. If a player with two sevens takes a third card and it is a seven, the dealer immediately makes a payout for the winning Dollar Sevens wager.

e. If a player with two sevens takes a third card and it is not a seven, but the player does not bust, the dealer immediately makes a payout for the players Dollar Sevens wager.

f. If a player with two sevens takes a third card and busts, the dealer takes the players Blackjack wager, then makes a payout for the players winning Dollar Sevens wager and then takes the players cards.

4. Splitting Sevens

1. If a player who makes a Dollar Sevens wagers splits two sevens, the players Dollar Sevens result is decided from these two cards and the next card dealt to the player, ie the two sevens that were split and the card dealt as the second card to the first of the split sevens. The dealer makes a payout for the Dollar Sevens wager immediately the result is decided. The rest of the hand is determined as per the standard rules for Blackjack.

5. Sevens Tournament Heats

1. Players who have bet on Dollar Sevens and receive three sevens of the same suite not only win $7,770 as per rule 3. 2.a)i. but also receive a free entry to a subsequent Sevens Tournament heat.

2. Each 49 entrants shall constitute one Tournament heat.

3. By a process of elimination, Tournament heats will be reduced to one Tournament heat winner who shall participate in the Sevens Tournament final.

4. Tournament heats and the Tournament final will be conducted at a major participating Casino and will be conducted every 90 days or at a later time if insufficient entries exist at that time.

5. The total prize pool for each Tournament heat will be $370,000 broken down as follows:-

Prizes

*1st	Entry to the Sevens Tournament Final with a minimum guaranteed win of $55,000 to the last place getter.
2nd	$50,000
3rd	$25,000
4th	$15,000
5th	$10,000
6th	$10,000
7th	$10,000

* Tournament heat winners will be sent to the final venue with the heat venue providing $250,000 for each finalist sent to the final to cover final prize money disbursements.

6. The format for each Tournament heat is to have the 49 eligible entrants play seven shoes of Blackjack to reduce the number of players to 7. This is achieved by having 7 tables of 7 players each playing 7 shoes to determine one winner from each table.

7. The seven remaining players will then play the last heat to determine the prizes in accordance with rule 5.5) and have one player proceed to the Sevens Tournament.

6. Sevens Tournament

1. A minimum of two major participating Casinos shall be required in order for a Sevens Tournament to be held.

2. Each participating Casino will provide a conservative estimate, for each 90 day period, of the number of Sevens Tournament entrants they expect to provide.

3. On the basis of this estimate the total prize pool shall be determined. A Sevens Tournament will not proceed with less than two finalists. Final prize money will be based on the total number of finalists. Last place-getter will receive $55,000 with each placing above that incrementing by a further $5,000 up to and including second place. All residual funds shall be paid as first prize along with a Sevens Tournament trophy.

Example five finalists : total pool $1,250,000

1st	$1,000,000
2nd	$70,000
3rd	$65,000
4th	$60,000
5th	$55,000

4. The format for the Sevens Tournament final is to have the finalists (with a minimum of 2 for any final) play sevens shoes of Blackjack. The overall winner will be the person who has the highest value of chips remaining at the conclusion of the final. All other places will be determined in accordance with the value of chips held by the respected players, in descending order, with the player holding the least value of chips deemed to be last place. Should there be more than seven players in the final, then multiple tables will be used for semi-final heats with the winners from those tables going into a final heat to determine the overall winner.

7. Tied Result in Heats or Final

1. In the event of a tie for any of the heats, the winner will be determined by the dealing of additional hands until the tie is broken. Only those players who are tied will continue the contest in this case.

2. In the event of a tie in the final the first prize winner will be determined by a play-off over one shoe. Should the tie remain unbroken at the end of the shoe the first place winner will be determined by the dealing of additional hands until the tie is broken. A tie for second, third place etc, the same procedures will be applied as 7.1.

8. Identification

It will be necessary for each participating Casino to send both a photograph and signature of the patron they send to the Sevens Tournament. Upon registration they will be required to sign themselves into the Tournament which will be checked against the copy held on file.

Blackjack Dollar Sevens

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