Quick answer: Star Blackjack at The Star Sydney uses 6 or 8 decks, pays 3:2 and the dealer hits soft 17 (the rule says stand on hard 17 or soft 18). Blackjack Challenge pays more on blackjacks, but tied hands lose, so its house edge is 2.53%. The lowest house edge on the floor belongs to Pontoon at about 0.42%.
We went through The Star's current game rules (Star Blackjack, version 15, dated 15 August 2025, and the Blackjack Challenge rules order signed on the same day) and checked them against the published maths. Sydney has a reputation among players as one of the tougher rooms in the country. Is that fair? For the standard game, mostly yes. For Pontoon, no.
Star Blackjack: the core rules
- Decks: 6 or 8.
- No hole card: the dealer draws the second card after all players act.
- Soft 17: the dealer must stand on a hard 17 or a soft 18, which means the dealer hits soft 17.
- Blackjack pays 3:2. Insurance is offered when the dealer shows an ace.
- Doubling: 9, 10 or 11 only (the Australian standard).
- Surrender: not part of the standard game.
When Wizard of Odds visited in 2008, the standard game used 8 decks, one split only, stand on soft 17 and the BB+1 hole card rule, for a house edge of 0.59%. Hitting soft 17 adds about 0.22%. So if the other rules are unchanged, today's game sits at roughly 0.8% (our estimate, not an official figure).
What a dealer blackjack takes at The Star
Wizard of Odds recorded the BB+1 rule in Sydney: the dealer takes any busted bets plus one more unit from what is left. Some players and books call a similar rule OBBO, so the names get mixed up. Before you play, read the doubling and splitting clauses in the current rules.
- Your doubles: under BB+1 a double on 11 against a 10 is still worth making.
- Your splits: splitting 8s against a 10 is still right under BB+1, but hit 8,8 against a 10 under OBBO.
- Unsure? The ENHC setting on our strategy chart never costs you much under any rule.
Blackjack Challenge: generous payouts, costly ties
Wizard of Odds first spotted Blackjack Challenge at The Star in December 2014. The Star publishes the current Blackjack Challenge game rules (official PDF). The rules look friendly at first glance:
- 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17.
- Double on any two or three cards, double after splitting allowed.
- Resplit any pair (aces too) up to three hands, and hit or double after splitting aces.
- Blackjack pays at least 2 to 1 and up to 5 to 1.
And the catch:
- Ties lose. A hand that would push in normal blackjack is a loss here.
A blackjack that pays 2 to 1 sounds generous. So why is the house edge 2.53%, about three times the standard game? Because ties happen far more often than blackjacks, and every one of them now goes to the house. As one Whirlpool poster put it years ago, the bigger blackjack payout only softens the blow a little.
Pontoon: the best bet on the floor
This surprises most people. Australian Pontoon takes the 10s out of the deck, yet Wizard of Odds puts the Sydney version at 0.42%, about a third lower than conventional blackjack there. The main reason: a player 21 always wins, even against a dealer blackjack. Our Pontoon vs blackjack guide explains the rules and the house edge in every city.
The Star Sydney games side by side
| Game | Key rules | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon | 48-card decks, player 21 always wins | 0.42% (Wizard of Odds) |
| Star Blackjack | 6 or 8 decks, dealer hits soft 17, 3:2 | About 0.8% (our estimate) |
| Blackjack Challenge | Blackjack pays 2:1 to 5:1, ties lose | 2.53% (Wizard of Odds) |
Put your table into the house edge calculator to see what each game costs per hour at your bet size.
NSW rules every player should know
- Carded play: under the Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) all gaming at the casino must be done with a player card (section 71A).
- Cash limit: the same law caps cash use at A$1,000 per customer per day (section 73A).
- No counting devices: section 87(2) bans using any device to count or record cards without the casino's approval. The maximum penalty is 50 penalty units or 12 months in prison, or both. Counting in your head is a different matter (see our card counting in Australia guide).
- 18+ only. Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858 (24/7).
Minimum bets and electronic tables
The Star does not publish a fixed minimum list. The last detailed player report we found (2019) described A$40 to A$50 minimums for a hit-soft-17 game, A$100 for a stand-on-soft-17 game and shuffling machines across the main floor. Another visitor that year mentioned A$20 Blackjack Challenge and A$5 video blackjack machines. Treat these as old reports. We track newer ones in blackjack minimum bets in Australia.
In my experience, the cheapest seat is not always the cheapest game. At the same stake, a Blackjack Challenge table costs about six times more per hour than a Pontoon table.
Rules change from one casino to the next, and sometimes from one table to the next in the same room. Want every casino in one view? See blackjack rules at every Australian casino (one table, with sources). Or use these guides side by side before you choose a table: New to Aussie tables? Start with our Australian blackjack rules guide and keep the strategy chart open while you practise.Compare with other Aussie casinos
Casino guide What stands out Key number Crown Melbourne blackjack Rules Version 29.0: no hole card, double 9-11, Crown Blackjack hits soft 17 Pontoon 0.38% The Star Sydney blackjack Star Blackjack hits soft 17, Blackjack Challenge, NSW carded play Pontoon 0.42% Crown Sydney blackjack Traditional vs Crown Blackjack, partial doubles, no pokies A$20 legal minimum Crown Perth blackjack Soft 17 set by table layout, dealer blackjack takes all, resplit aces Pontoon 0.38% The Star Brisbane and Gold Coast Star Blackjack hits soft 17, 2026 ownership change About 0.8% SkyCity Adelaide blackjack Freebet and 6:5 Party Blackjack, SA's only casino Pontoon 0.64%
Game and tool guides What it covers Key number Blackjack Plus Dealer 22 pushes, instant pays on 21 and five cards 6.36% house edge Pontoon vs blackjack 48-card decks, player 21 always wins, house edge by city 0.34% to 0.64% Side bets in Australia Crown Pairs, Buster Blackjack, Any Pair, insurance 1.9% to 22% Minimum bets in Australia What players report at Crown and The Star, electronic tables Checked Sept 2026 Card counting in Australia What is legal, counting devices, bet limits and bans NSW s87(2) House edge calculator Enter your table's rules and see the cost per hour A$ per hour
Frequently asked questions
Does the dealer hit soft 17 at The Star Sydney?
Yes, in Star Blackjack. The rules say the dealer must stand on a hard 17 or a soft 18, so the dealer draws to a soft 17.
What is Blackjack Challenge?
A Star Sydney variant where blackjack pays 2 to 1 up to 5 to 1 and doubling and splitting are generous, but tied hands lose. Wizard of Odds puts the house edge at 2.53%.
Is Pontoon better than blackjack at The Star?
On house edge, yes. Wizard of Odds puts Sydney Pontoon at 0.42%, about a third lower than conventional blackjack there.
Can I use a card counting app at The Star Sydney?
No. Section 87(2) of the NSW Casino Control Act bans any device used to count or record cards without the casino's approval.
Do I need a player card at The Star?
Yes. NSW law requires all casino gaming to be carded, and it limits cash use to A$1,000 per customer per day.
Practise before you visit
A hand you have played a hundred times at home is a hand you will not freeze on at the table. Try our free blackjack game with Aussie rules and practice points only.