Pontoon is the name for two different relatives of blackjack: the British card game played at home and in pubs, and the casino game dealt in Singapore and Australia, often called Malaysian Pontoon. Both aim for 21 without going over, but the casino version is the one with a measurable house edge, roughly 0.3% to 0.6% depending on local rules.
Pontoon at a glance
| Item | British Pontoon | Malaysian (casino) Pontoon |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | One standard 52-card deck | Four to eight Spanish decks (no tens) |
| Dealer | A player acts as banker | Casino dealer, no hole card |
| Ace plus ten-value card | Pontoon, paid double | Pontoon, paid 3 to 2 |
| Ties | Banker wins | Player 21 beats dealer 21 |
| House edge | Not a casino game | About 0.31% to 0.62% |
British Pontoon rules
British Pontoon has no official rulebook, so house rules vary. The modern version usually runs like this:
- Cards and values. One 52-card pack. Aces count 1 or 11, court cards 10, other cards their face value.
- The banker. One player deals and acts as banker against everyone else. A common way to choose is that the first player dealt a jack becomes banker.
- Staking. Each player sees their first card, then stakes between the agreed minimum and maximum. Everyone then gets a second card.
- Pontoon. An ace plus a 10-point card is a pontoon. A player holding one shows it straight away.
- Twist. Take another card face up, at no cost. This is the same as a hit in blackjack.
- Buy. Take a card face down and add to your stake for it. You cannot buy after you have twisted.
- Stick. Stand on your total. Under modern rules you cannot stick on less than 16.
- Bust. Go over 21 and you lose your stake at once.
- Five-card hand. You can hold up to five cards. A five-card hand of 21 or less, often called a five-card trick, beats everything except a pontoon.
How the banker settles
Once every player has finished, the banker turns over their cards and plays. If the banker busts, they pay everyone still in. Otherwise the banker pays players with a better hand and collects from the rest; the banker wins all ties. A player’s pontoon is paid double. If the banker has a pontoon, they collect every remaining stake, including from players who also hold a pontoon. A player who beats the banker with a pontoon may usually take over the bank.
Malaysian Pontoon rules
The casino game called Pontoon in Singapore and Australia is much closer to Spanish 21 than to the British game. Some Australian casinos give it their own name, such as Treasury 21 or Jupiters 21.
- Spanish decks. Four to eight decks with the ten-spot cards removed (jacks, queens and kings stay).
- No hole card. The dealer takes a second card only after the players finish, so you get no information from a face-down card.
- Player 21 always wins. A player’s 21 or pontoon beats a dealer’s 21 or pontoon.
- Pontoon pays 3 to 2. Bonus payouts for special hands generally mirror Spanish 21.
- Dealer hits soft 17.
- Doubling. Most casinos let you double on any number of cards; some allow it only on your first two.
- Splitting. Resplitting rules vary by casino, most do not let you resplit aces, and split aces get one card each.
- Surrender. Allowed only against a dealer ace or picture card.
Because there is no hole card, you could lose doubled or split bets to a dealer pontoon. Most casinos limit that loss so you do not give up the full extra amount.
Pontoon house edge
With correct basic strategy, simulations put the house edge on Malaysian Pontoon under 0.5% at most venues. A few examples:
| Rule set | House edge |
|---|---|
| 4 decks, up to two resplits (not aces), double on any cards, partial protection against a dealer pontoon (BB+1) | 0.31% |
| 8 decks, one resplit, double on any cards, only original bets lost to a dealer pontoon (OBBO) | 0.34% |
| 8 decks, no resplits, double on any cards, BB+1 | 0.38% |
| 6 decks, no resplits, double on any cards, BB+1 | 0.41% |
| 8 decks, one resplit (not aces), restricted doubling, no dealer pontoon protection | 0.62% |
The strategy is close to Spanish 21 strategy, with one big difference: an ace in a hand you double on counts as 1, so doubling on soft hands is a bad idea. British Pontoon, as a home game between players, has no fixed house edge, though the banker has the advantage of winning ties.
Pontoon vs blackjack
| Blackjack | British Pontoon |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | Pontoon |
| Hit | Twist (face up) or buy (face down, for a stake) |
| Stand | Stick |
| Dealer | Banker |
| Push on ties | Banker wins ties |
For more on the parent game, see our blackjack guides, including why to avoid 6-5 blackjack.
Pontoon FAQ
Is Pontoon the same as blackjack?
No. Both aim for 21, but British Pontoon uses different terms, lets the banker win ties and pays double for a pontoon. Malaysian Pontoon uses Spanish decks with no tens and has no dealer hole card.
What is a five-card trick?
In British Pontoon, a hand of five cards totalling 21 or less. It beats every hand except a pontoon.
What is the house edge in Pontoon?
For casino (Malaysian) Pontoon, about 0.31% to 0.62% with basic strategy, depending on the rules.
Where can you play Pontoon in a casino?
Mainly in Singapore, where the regulator has approved Pontoon rules for Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, and in Australia. Its closest relative is Spanish 21.
Please gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, help is available; in the US, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.