CANADA

People seem to be surprised to discover that they can play Black-jack legally in Canada. Every year there are two hundred Black-jack tables open at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampede takes place during the first two weeks of July. In the second two weeks, there are about two hundred tables open at the Edmonton Exhibition in Edmonton, Alberta. All the games are played using four decks and typical Reno, Nevada, rules. However, the insurance bet is not available and the dealer doesn't take a hole card (British style).

Betting ranges are from a mini-mum of $2.00 to a maximum of only $50. Two-hand play is $10 minimum each hand; three-hand play is $25 minimum. The game is played in Canadian dollars, and the casino cashier and dealers give even money only in exchange for American dollars. Since at this time the American dollar is worth slightly more than the Canadian dollar, you will want to exchange your money for local currency at the airport or a local bank before playing. Entry to the Calgary Stampede fairgrounds costs $2.50, and the casino is open from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 A.M.

Experienced casino personnel are brought in from Nevada to supervise the games, while the dealers are all local students.. Some dealers deal out almost all of the cards, which is extremely favorable to the player. Minor dealer errors are common, and tipping is rare and unexpected. As you can imagine, the tables are usually crowded. For more information you can telephone the city of Calgary and ask for the Stampede Information Office.

Recent legislation in western Canada has also made it possible to play Blackjack six days a week throughout the year. If this proceeds satisfactorily, Blackjack may soon spread to a11 parts of Canada.

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