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Las Vegas Gambit

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Las Vegas Gambit
Premiere October 27, 1980
Finale November 27, 1981
Creator Bob Noah
Host Wink Martindale
Network/Provider NBC
Style 30-minute game show
Company Heatter-Quigley
Episodes 5 per week
Origin USA

Las Vegas Gambit was a blackjack-based game show that aired on NBC. It was a revival of the show Gambit which aired on CBS from 1972 to 1976.

The game was identical to the CBS show in that it pitted two couples answering questions and accepting or giving away oversized playing cards coming as close to 21 without going over.

An "up" card is shown on the first game and a question is posed. Whoever rings in first answers and if correct may take the card or pass it to the other couple. Questions are asked and as they are answered, the couple correctly answering accepts or passes ensuing face-down cards. If a couple believes that they may go over 21 with the next card, they may freeze. The other couple must now answer questions correctly and try to beat the other couple's hand. A couple wins by htting 21 exactly, besting the other's frozen score or if the other couple goes over 21.

21 in any combination during the regular game wins a bonus of $500. It goes up $500 each match it is not won.

A couple winning two games wins the match and championship and goes to the Gambit board. Also similar to the CBS show, except this version used 52 people from the audience as a "Living Deck." Each of the 52 people held a playing card and the chosen members won the same prizes as the couple, provided they do not go over 21.

Las Vegas Gambit originated from the Tropicana Hotel in the titular city.

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