Blackjack Challenge at Crown Perth Casino Burswood

There aren’t too many special blackjack events held in Australia these days. You can find small-time action sporadically throughout the country at various casinos, but if you’re looking to compete in the best blackjack tournament in Australia, none compare to the Black Challenge.

The Crown Perth Casino in Burswood, WA hosts this special event twice a year, usually around March, and then again in November. The best players from all over Australia come together to compete in the blackjack tournament, boasting a guaranteed $25,000 prize pool.

There are only 112 seats open at the casino’s Blackjack Challenge events. Considering how little action there is – worthwhile action, anyway – at other casinos around the country, interested players should make sure to get their name on the list as soon as registration opens.

Blackjack Challenge Tournament Structure

The entry for the the bi-annual Blackjack Challenge is $110. The first $100 goes into the players bankroll, while the remaining $10 is scooped by Crown Resorts as a hosting fee. But don’t think for a minute that the Burswood casino is making a profit. 112 players at $110 a piece only amounts to $12,320; barely adding up to half of the prize pool paid to the winners of the blackjack tournament.

Of the 112 players who enter the event, only 6 will walk away with a reward for their efforts. The prize schedule for the top contenders is as follows:

• 1st Place: $15,000
• 2nd Place: $5,000
• 3rd Place: $2,000
• 4th Place: $1,500
• 5th Place: $1,000
• 6th Place: $500

When the tournament begins, each player has a stack of chips worth $100 (purchased with the buy-in). The minimum bet throughout the tournament is $5.

In the first round of play, 7 players are seated at each table. The round lasts for 60 minutes, after which the top 3 stacks from each table will move on. The remaining four from each table will be eliminated.

The tables are consolidated, with 6 players to a table for the second round, the preliminary final, also lasting 60 minutes. From this point on, the top 3 of 6 stack holders will progress to the next level, including the quarter final, the semi final, and the grand final, where the last 8 competitors battle it out across two tables for the ultimate prize in the best blackjack tournament in Australia.

Why Blackjack Tournaments?

Tournaments are bring a whole new strategic aura to the game of blackjack. Instead of competing solely against the dealer, participants must also compete against the others players. This adds a new element of strategy that can greatly alter the average player’s use of basic blackjack strategy in a standard setting.

Maybe the proper game tactics are telling you to double down, but because the clock is running out on the current round, and your stack is a bit too close to average, you decide to hit instead. You get a low card and are beaten by the dealer, but because you didn’t double the bet and lose twice as much, the guy next to you was eliminated instead, while you live to fight another day.

Blackjack tournaments in Australia aren’t for everyone, but if you think you’re ready to take your game to the next level – if you think you can handle the pressure (and have $110 to spare) – check out Crown Perth’s Blackjack Challenge next time it rolls around.