Pontoon rules and house edge
Pontoon carries a 0.42% house edge as of 2026-08-25. 4 venues are listed here with table counts and minimums. Payouts and glossary below come from public sources; venue-specific rule variants are noted on each venue page.
The Australian/Asian variant of blackjack. The dealer takes no hole card and wins ties, but the player's 21 beats a dealer blackjack and multi-card 21s pay a bonus. Under Sydney rules a five-card 21 pays 3:2, a six-card 21 pays 2:1 and a seven-or-more-card 21 pays 3:1; a mixed-suit 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 pays 3:2. Doubling is allowed on 9–11 only and splitting once.
A variant of Blackjack — see the base rules
Source: wizardofodds.com · Measured 2026-08-25
House edge
0.42%
시드니 룰 8덱 기준 0.42%. 필리핀 육상 테이블의 룰은 업소마다 다르므로 이 값을 그대로 적용하지 않는다 — 딜러가 동점을 가져가는 규칙이 있어 블랙잭과 같은 게임으로 봐서는 안 된다.
Pace · 시간당 약 70핸드
Payouts
| 일반 승리 / Win | 1:1 |
|---|---|
| 6장 21 / Six-card 21 | 2:1 |
| 5장 21 / Five-card 21 | 3:2 |
| 폰툰(2장 21) / Pontoon | 2:1 |
| 7장 이상 21 / Seven-plus-card 21 | 3:1 |
House edge by bet type
Sorted by lowest edge. Within one table, what you bet on changes the expected loss several times over.
| Bet | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Main bet, Sydney rules, 8 decks | 1:1 · 21은 별도표 | 0.42% |
→ Scroll the table sideways for the rest
Basic strategy
- · Do not reuse the blackjack basic-strategy chart — the dealer winning ties changes the correct play on the same hand.
- · Because multi-card 21s pay a bonus, hitting where blackjack strategy would stand is sometimes correct.
- · Check the house rules (decks, doubling, five-card payout) before sitting down; the rules move the edge.
Glossary
- 파이브 카드 트릭 · Five-card trick
- A five-card hand of 21 or less, which pays a bonus.
- 노 홀 카드 · No hole card
- The dealer takes the second card only after players act.
- 푸시 없음 · No push
- Ties go to the dealer — the biggest difference from blackjack.
What to say at the table
| Meaning | Say this | When |
|---|---|---|
| 칩으로 바꿔 주세요 | Change, please. | 현금을 테이블에 놓으며. 돈은 딜러 손에 직접 건네지 않습니다 |
| 최소 얼마입니까? | What is the minimum? | 앉기 전에 테이블 리밋을 확인할 때 |
| 한 장 더 | Hit. / Twist. | 카드를 더 받을 때 — 업소마다 콜이 다릅니다 |
| 그만 | Stand. / Stick. | 더 받지 않을 때 |
| 이 테이블 규칙을 알려 주세요 | Could you explain the house rules here? | 앉기 전 — 폰툰은 변형이 많습니다 |
Etiquette
Most pontoon variants give ties to the dealer, so a standard blackjack strategy chart will misprice hands here. Confirm three things before you sit: whether both dealer cards are face down, whether a five-card hand pays, and whether you may draw after doubling. Place cash and chips on the felt, not into the dealer's hand. Finish betting before the dealer calls no more bets. Photography is restricted on most gaming floors — ask before taking out a phone. Tipping the dealer is customary but never required.
Where to play
Min bet Not verified · Tables Not verified
Source: sec.solaireresort.com · Measured 2026-08-25
Min bet Not verified · Tables Not verified
Source: cityofdreamsmanila.com · Measured 2026-08-25
Min bet Not verified · Tables Not verified
Source: nustar.ph · Measured 2026-08-25
FAQ
- What is the house edge in Pontoon?
- Pontoon runs at 0.42% under standard rules. The edge alone is misleading: what you actually lose is edge x stake x hands per hour, and Pontoon runs 시간당 약 70핸드. A lower edge at a faster pace can cost more per hour. This figure assumes standard rules. A venue that changes the payout or the rules changes the real number.
- How is Pontoon different from Blackjack?
- Pontoon is a variant of Blackjack. Variants sit alongside the base game on the same floor, and a Blackjack strategy chart misprices hands here. The rules and payout table above are specific to this game — check the payout sign before you sit.
- Can a first-timer sit at Pontoon?
- Not recommended until you have watched a few rounds. There are many decisions and a slow one holds up the table.
- What are the payouts in Pontoon?
- Standard payouts are 일반 승리 / Win 1:1 · 6장 21 / Six-card 21 2:1 · 5장 21 / Five-card 21 3:2 · 폰툰(2장 21) / Pontoon 2:1. Payouts are something a venue can change, and changing them changes the house edge — if the sign differs from the standard, the edge above does not apply at that table.
- Where can I play Pontoon in the Philippines?
- The section below lists the 4 venues we have confirmed. Each entry is transcribed from the venue's own page and carries the date we checked it. Figures the venue does not publish — table count, minimum — are left blank rather than estimated.
- What is the table minimum for Pontoon?
- Not stated by an official source. We do not fill this in with an estimate. Minimums vary by day, hour and floor within the same venue — the sign at the table is the only accurate figure.Not verified
- Is there anything I should not do at a Pontoon table?
- Most pontoon variants give ties to the dealer, so a standard blackjack strategy chart will misprice hands here. Confirm three things before you sit: whether both dealer cards are face down, whether a five-card hand pays, and whether you may draw after doubling. Place cash and chips on the felt, not into the dealer's hand. Finish betting before the dealer calls no more bets. Photography is restricted on most gaming floors — ask before taking out a phone. Tipping the dealer is customary but never required.