Communicated Content – Blackjack is the casino gambling veteran’s number one choice. There is little doubt about that. Hardly anyone will ever stumble upon a professional gambler playing slots or betting on roulette spins. That is so because at twenty-one tables, decision-making improves odds, and implementing simple blackjack strategy tips can almost even out the winning probability between a player and the operator offering the game. That is impossible in all other products available on gaming floors, except for video poker.
It is interesting to note that, at one point in the mid-1980s, blackjack was responsible for slightly over 50% of all casino gaming revenues. However, today, that percentage has fallen below the 30%-mark. Factors contributing to this occurrence are venues upping their minimum limits, migrating to only featuring 6:5 games, and the increasing interest in playing online. Despite all this, blackjack remains dominant at the top of the table game mountain with no contenders in sight.
While some New Yorkers may not understand how gambling legislation in the Empire State works. Both Native American and commercial venues are up and running in New York. There are twenty-five establishments in total within the state’s borders that allow casino-style entertainment. Some of these are traditional casinos, while others are race tracks that feature a range of gaming products. Below, we review the five best spots in and around Hudson Valley where residents of this region can go to test their luck at the world’s most popular card gambling option.
Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway
Technically, this is the only casino in Hudson Valley, located in Yonkers. It features a one-half-mile harness racing dirt track and a gaming floor. The raceway opened way back in 1899, but the casino section launched in 2006 via a two-phase roll-out. In 2019, MGM Resorts purchased the whole 97-acre estate for $850 million from the Rooney family. Empire City Casino only houses electronic blackjack games, mainly sticking to classic twenty-one gameplay fun with few variations on hand.
Rivers Casino & Resort
Rivers Casino is a brand under which Rush Street Gaming operates venues in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Des Plaines, and Schenectady. The latter destination can get found at 1 Rush Street in the mentioned county, just above the Hudson Valley. It opened its doors in upstate New York in 2017 and is part of the mixed-use Mohawk Harbor project. It boasts a 50,000 square foot gaming floor that houses sixty-five live table games. Naturally, classic blackjack that allows doubling down, surrender, and splitting pairs is an option here. The venue also provides Blazing 777 Blackjack. That is a progressive game where the more sevens a player has, the more money he wins.
Resorts World Casino New York City
Adjacent to the Aqueduct Racetrack, north of JFK Airport, Resort World Casino opened its doors in 2011. It remains the only gaming establishment in the five boroughs besides Jake’s 58 and Empire City Casino. This spot has a two-story 175,000 square feet gaming area, with a machine count of well over 5,000 games. The electronic blackjack offer here has beneficial 3:2 payouts and bet sizes that range from $5 to $100. Those confused regarding locating this venue may need to search for it using Genting World Casino New York City.
Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel
Formerly the Islandia Marriott Long Island hotel, Jake’s 58 claims to bring casino excitement to all residents of Long Island and the New York City region in a spot about ten minutes from Long Island MacArthur Airport. This venue got up and running in 2017, spreading one thousand machines over an 18,600 square feet area. One hundred of these devices feature electronic table action, with several supplying classic no-fuss blackjack.
Resorts World Catskills
Owned and operated by Empire Resorts, World Catskills in Monticello has been accepting guests since 2018 on the site of the former Concord Hotel. Its floor spans 100,000 square feet, housing over one-hundred and fifty table games. Aside from these, blackjack can also get enjoyed at Resorts World Catskills via high-tech 3D and 4D interactive machines. This resort also boasts a 5-star and 5-diamond designed 18-story hotel. A Rees Jones-designed golf course should open here soon.
To Wrap Up
Most commercial casinos in New York stick to Video Lottery Terminals and electronic table games. That is due to legal restrictions. Native American casinos can possess Class III licenses, meaning they can offer gambling products under this classification. That includes live tables and Vegas-like slots. Most non-tribal establishments connected to racetracks can only feature blackjack and other table games in machine form. That is likely to change, as there are rumblings of new vaster gambling legislation getting introduced in NY soon.
About the Author
Shelly Schiff has been working in the gambling industry since 2009, mainly on the digital side of things, employed by OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com. However, over her eleven-year career, Shelly has provided content for many other top interactive gaming websites. She knows all there is to know about slots and has in-depth knowledge of the most popular table games. Her golden retriever Garry occupies most of her leisure time. Though, when she can, she loves reading Jim Thompson-like crime novels.
