Las Vegas-based supplier AGS announced the first installation outside the U.S. of its hugely popular Buster Blackjack side bet, in a strategic partnership with Australia’s Crown Melbourne to trial the side bet at its blackjack tables.
The partnership “allows the well-respected casino operators at Crown Melbourne in Australia to trial Buster Blackjack and expose their table game players to this exceptionally simple and fun blackjack side bet,” said AGS in a statement.
“Working with the team at Crown has been such a great experience—they are true professionals and very strategic operators,” said John Hemberger, senior vice president of table products at AGS. “Crown’s executives know their players seek excitement from games with high volatility, which is one of the reasons they were attracted to this side bet; it’s also why we’re confident this will be a lasting partnership that allows us to expand our reach internationally with more of our core-gambler-style table products.”
As part of the deal, Crown Melbourne will install Buster Blackjack on 15 of its blackjack tables as a trial, with an opportunity to extend across further blackjack tables throughout the property.
Easily added to existing blackjack games and side bets, Buster Blackjack is an optional post-game bet where players win odds-based payouts when a dealer busts. The more cards in the dealer’s busted hand, the more players win. Its simple game play doesn’t interfere with or slow down the game, since bets are quickly resolved with all players losing or getting paid equal amounts.
“We first saw Buster Blackjack during a visit to the California market this autumn, and were really impressed,” said Tim Barnett, general manager of table games strategy and commercial at Crown Melbourne. “Our players have a strong appetite for this type of betting, and we’re confident it will do well as a dual side bet on our blackjack tables,” added Sean Knights, the casino’s executive general manager, table games.
