sands reno double down

This is funny. A few months ago I read a post from someone who doubled down on A-8 at the Sands Regency in Reno, got a 2, and then was informed this was an 11, not a 21, because you could only double down on 9, 10, or 11. I was incredulous at this decision, and thought it to be a total fluke.

On my most recent trip to Reno, the exact same scenario happened to me. I doubled on A-8 v. a 6, and received a 2. The floor person was watching and immediately stated this was an 11. I protested, not letting on I knew of this policy ahead of time. Before the hand continued, I insisted that if that was the policy I at least wanted my double down bet back. This the floor person agreed to do. The hand continued and the dealer proceeded to make twenty, and I stormed out of the building. While I was angry, I was also at the same time amazed that the same scenario I had read about had just happened again, this time to me.

After the linked incident, the subsequent owners of Sands Regency installed electric crawling signs on its tables advising of this rule. Unfortunately, the right words are not always crawling in front of a patron's eyes when he or she sits down to play.

I don't have a problem with it. They are being cheap bastards as allowing this to count to 21 does not really cost the casino much of anything in the grand scheme of things and telling players it's an 11 loses more in goodwill value to casual players.

It will be interesting to see what they do when someone doubles on A-9 and receives an ace for 11/21. But I have to agree with the casino on the A-8 senario. When you decide to double this hand it becomes 9, NOT 9 or 19. Since you cant double on 19 its must be 9, and 9 plus 2 is 11.

P.S.
I was recently playing at one of the Kewadin Casino double deck games with D10/11 only and I asked about their policy and was told whichever benefits the player (they would consider A-8-2 a 21 if you could double the A-8). So it is always good to asked the rules first.