Sitting waist-deep in warm water with a drink in one hand and two cards in front of you is about as Las Vegas as it gets. Swim-up blackjack has been offered at only a handful of places, and arrangements change from season to season, but it remains one of the most memorable ways to play.
How a swim-up table works
The table sits at the edge of the pool, usually built into a bar-style counter. The dealer stands on dry ground behind it; players sit on stools fixed beneath the waterline, with the felt (often a waterproof surface) in front of them. Chips are standard casino chips, and the game is regular blackjack with the house's posted rules and limits.
Where it has been offered
- Tropicana Las Vegas. For years the Tropicana's pool was the best-known place to play swim-up blackjack on the Strip, typically in the warm months. The resort closed in April 2024 and was demolished later that year to make way for a baseball stadium, taking a piece of pool-gaming history with it.
- The Hard Rock Hotel. Its Beach Club pool, home to the Rehab pool parties, was another famous swim-up blackjack spot. The Hard Rock closed in 2020 and reopened in 2021 as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
- Other resorts. Several Las Vegas properties, and some casino resorts elsewhere, have offered poolside or swim-up tables at times, often seasonally. Because these offers come and go, check with the resort before you plan a trip around one.
Keeping chips and cash dry
The obvious problem with gambling in a pool is paper money. Players usually buy chips at a dry cage or table first, carry them in a waterproof pouch, and keep cash, phone and room key in a dry bag or a locker. Chips survive a splash; banknotes and phones do not enjoy it.
Blackjack basics for the pool
Blackjack is one of the best games in the casino for the player, but only if you play close to "basic strategy", the mathematically best decision for every hand. A few key rules cover most situations:
| Your hand | Dealer shows 2-6 | Dealer shows 7-Ace |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 17 or more | Stand | Stand |
| Hard 13-16 | Stand | Hit |
| Hard 12 | Stand against 4-6, hit against 2-3 | Hit |
| 11 | Double | Double (hit against an Ace under some rules) |
| Pair of Aces or 8s | Split | Split |
| Pair of 10s or 5s | Never split | Never split |
Played well under good rules, blackjack's house edge is around half a percent. Played on hunches after three cocktails, it is several times that.
3:2 or 6:5? Read the felt
The most important rule to check at any blackjack table, wet or dry, is the payout for a natural blackjack. A traditional table pays 3 to 2, so a $10 bet wins $15. Many tables, especially low-limit ones, pay only 6 to 5, so the same bet wins $12. That single change adds roughly 1.4 percentage points to the house edge, which is more than all the other common rule variations combined. It is printed on the felt; look before you sit down.
Swim-up etiquette
- Do not splash the table, the dealer or other players' chips.
- Use hand signals as you would on the casino floor: tap for a hit, wave flat for a stand.
- Tip the dealer occasionally if you are enjoying the game; it is customary.
- Drinks are usually served, but heat plus alcohol plus decisions is a combination to manage. Alternate with water.
Bring the idea home
You do not need a resort to play cards by the water. A shaded table, waterproof plastic cards and weighted chips turn any pool deck into a card room; see poolside poker and card games. For the backyard version of a swim-up bar, try a floating cooler on an island float, and for the bigger picture of Vegas pool culture read Las Vegas pool parties and dayclubs.
