Australia: Blackjack payout reduced

VICTORIA, Australia -- New changes to blackjack payouts at Crown Casino are disadvantaging small players according to a report in the Herald-Sun newspaper.

Experts have suggested that the casino will gain millions of dollars from the new rules, which include reduced payout odds on blackjack tables, an extra house humber added to roulette machines and a requirement that dealers hit on soft 17.

None of these new rules apply within high-roller rooms, the newspaper stated.

Crown was quick to point the rules have been approved by the Victoria Commission for Gambling Regulation, when questioned in the newspaper report.