While the popularity of Blackjack dates from World War I, its roots go back to the 1760s in France, where it is called Vingt-et-Un (French for 21). Today, Blackjack is the one card game that can be found in every American gambling casino. As a popular home game, it is played with slightly different rules. California blackjack is a banker blackjack game, whereby players will receive the opportunity to play as the bank and win all of the bets at the table, or an amount equal to their bank. The game is played with five decks and is only played in brick and mortar casinos - not online. Blackjack pays 6-5: Common on single-deck games on the Las Vegas Strip, this game is a bankroll breaker for players. For example, a two-card 21 pays only $6 for a $5 bet instead of the usual $7.50, which adds 1.4 percent edge to the house-more than the usual house edge against the basic strategy of seasoned players in nearly all games with the. The rules for being the banker are actually quite favorable because you don't have to bank the entire table. You can say up-front how much you want to bank, and if there are bets over and above the amount you want to bank then the 'corporation' covers the rest. I've never done it, and this is info I just gleaned from others. As the host of the blackjack game you must also be the banker. Players will give you their cash in exchange for chips to use in the game. You have a responsibility to keep this money secure so that all players may cash out at the end of the game.

I've never heard of such a thing, though I am from New York I am curious to know if it exists and what the catch is.

You have to paya couple bucks to bank and the bank rotates so you will be playing some hands as a player at some point. Different clubs have different rules but if you watch the tables and try to find a table full of players who are making a lot of bad plays then sit there and find out how to play the minimum number of hands as a player in order to be entitled to bank. Just try sitting at a BJ table at the card room, watch and ask the banker/dealer questions. They wont mind explaining it to you.Here is a link to an older article on the blackjackforum.com site.
In non-tribal card rooms, I think the player banking option rotates every two hands. You can also co-bank with the house if you don't have the bankroll, but there is a minimum amount you need to cover.

You have to paya couple bucks to bank and the bank rotates so you will be playing some hands as a player at some point. Different clubs have different rules but if you watch the tables and try to find a table full of players who are making a lot of bad plays then sit there and find out how to play the minimum number of hands as a player in order to be entitled to bank. Just try sitting at a BJ table at the card room, watch and ask the banker/dealer questions. They wont mind explaining it to you.

It is a flat commission or is it based on total action on the hand, win/loss, etc?
I would think the best strategy would be to find the table with the heaviest action (assuming you have the bankroll). You make 4x the EV off a $100 player vs. a $25 player, which will likely exceed the additional EV from bad play by the $25 player.As I understand it, it is a flat amount for each position. Also, the player banker is not responsible for the 'bonus' bet payouts for premium hands (suited blackjack, three sevens, etc.).
This wackiness all stems from California requiring all table games to be parimutual. It is illegal to play against the house.

Blackjack Banker Rules Card Game

As I understand it, it is a flat amount for each position. Also, the player banker is not responsible for the 'bonus' bet payouts for premium hands (suited blackjack, three sevens, etc.).
This wackiness all stems from California requiring all table games to be parimutual. It is illegal to play against the house.

Except for tribal casinos right?Table games in California tribal casinos are supposed to be parimutual too. The only house vs. player games allowed are class III slot/vp machines.

Blackjack Banker Rules List

Here is a link to a more up to date article on banking California table games.
Edit: Many tribal casinos in California have been allowed to offer house banked card games if they have had their compact with the Governor renewed since 1999.