What is Live Blackjack?
Live Blackjack means that you play Blackjack just like in a physical casino but via a webcam. Live Blackjack casinos broadcast the live game either from a real casino or from a live studio and there is always a real, professionally trained, Blackjack dealer hosting the game. You and the other participants at the Live Blackjack table participate via an online connection.
Differences between Live Blackjack and Online Blackjack
The differences between playing Live Blackjack and playing regular online Blackjack are several. If you have taken the step to go from regular, virtual Blackjack to Live Dealers Blackjack, you will probably prefer the latter type from now on.
Above all, it is the feeling that is different. Live Blackjack is as close as you will get to a real Blackjack table in a physical casino, but without leaving the couch so to speak. Live Blackjack games are convenient while providing maximum excitement and entertainment.
When you play at UK Live Blackjack casinos, you have the same high level of safe and fair play as you always have when you play at online casinos with a UK license.
Side bets
Blackjack Live provides the same playing conditions as all other Blackjack games. Rules for bets as well as side bets look the same, but can of course vary depending on the variant. If you want to play Blackjack live with finesse, we recommend that you read about the various common side bets that can be made in Blackjack. Below we present some of the great classics.
Perfect couple
The perfect pair side bet is based on the first two cards you are dealt, these are the ones that have the potential to be a perfect pair.
Examples of pairs:
- Pairs in different suits, eg: a jack of diamonds and a jack of spades.
- Pairs of the same suit but with different card symbols, eg: a 9 of clubs and a 9 of spades; or a Queen of Diamonds and a Queen of Hearts.
Perfect pair: cards of the same suit and with the same symbol, eg two hearts 10.
21+3
In this side bet, your cards and the dealer’s cards are counted together, so the value of only the cards in your hand has no meaning. In this side bet you can win i.a. trick, straight, or suit (three of a kind, straight or flush).
Insurance
Insurance is your security against the dealer having blackjack. If this is the case, you deal half damage to the bet.
Bet behind
The last form of the side bet is by playing on other players’ hands – if they win, you win in relation to the stake for your side bet. If they lose, you lose too.
Are all Live Blackjack variants worth playing?
Overall, Blackjack offers the best winning odds of all casino games and Live dealer Blackjack online is of course no exception. Most Live Blackjack games offer an RTP of over 99%. Among the Live Blackjack variants that, for good reason, have become the most popular, we find:
- Infinite Blackjack
- VIP Blackjack
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Lightning Blackjack
- Live Blackjack Party
The list consists of Live dealer Blackjack games that offer really high RTP, a satisfactory range of side bets, and, not least, a maximum excitement factor. Some online casinos have created their own Live Blackjack games such as LeoVegas and Unibet – these may also be worth exploring.
Criteria for choosing the best live blackjack casinos?
What makes an online casino make it to our top list of the best Live Blackjack casinos is largely the range of Live Blackjack on offer. The list above consists of casinos with an impressive range of different Live Blackjack games. However, there are more aspects to consider when you want to play Live Blackjack. Let’s take a closer look at these aspects.
- The online casino offers different Live Blackjack variants
RTP stands for Return to Player and is a decisive factor for how large a percentage of your bets have the potential to return to you as a player over a longer period of playing. Different Blackjack variants come with different RTP%, so when a casino offers several different variants of Live Blackjack, you have better prospects of making strategically profitable choices.
- The payout ratio is high
Each live casino has a total payout ratio and the higher this ratio is, the more of the money that is bet at the live dealer casino ultimately goes to the players. In addition to the number of Live Blackjack games offered at the casinos that managed to make it onto our top list, I have also taken into account the casinos’ payout ratio. If you choose a casino with a high payout ratio and a Live Blackjack game with a high RTP, you are setting yourself up for great winning opportunities.
- You get access to advantageous Live Blackjack bonuses and offers
If you are at all familiar with the online casino world, you know that casino bonuses are rarely aimed at live casino games, but when they do happen, these bonuses can provide a really great boost for those who want to get started with Live Dealers Blackjack. In the creation of our top list, access to live casino bonuses has also played an important role. An exciting bonus in combination with a high RTP and high payout ratio gives you optimal conditions for playing Live Blackjack.
How to start playing live blackjack online for real money?
Live Blackjack is played in the same way as you play Blackjack in a land-based casino. All rules and strategies are the same. You can also communicate with the dealer when playing Live Blackjack, which gives a great advantage if something is not clear.
Time Needed: 10 Minutes
Tools Needed: Laptop/Mobile
Software Needed: Email
Step 1
Choose the best live blackjack casino and sign up
To play live blackjack online at a UK-registered online casino, it is necessary to create a gaming account. In addition, UK gambling legislation requires that you validate your identity.
Step 2
Make your first deposit
All online casinos accept many different deposit options, both credit and debit cards, as well as many other payment services. Some online casinos also accept cryptocurrency.
Step 3
Claim a welcome bonus
All casinos offer bonuses for new players. Typically, you have to deposit an amount to get the bonus. Some casinos offer bonuses without a deposit. Note that there is typically a playthrough requirement before a bonus can be paid out.
Step 4
Request a payout
Once you have won the winnings from your blackjack live dealer, the payout from an online casino works smoothly, but the payout itself takes longer than the deposit. The payout period differs from casino to casino, but generally, it is a few days.
Top 10 UK live blackjack online casinos 2024
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The most popular types of live blackjack
- Infinite live blackjack
In Infinite live blackjack, you can be an unlimited number of players. There is often a restriction on e.g. 6, 8, or 12 players, but not here.
- Classic speed blackjack
This is for the quick. The faster you react, the sooner you get the cards. You are forced to wait a while before you can play, but usually, this time has passed before the last person has been dealt their cards.
- VIP live dealer blackjack
In VIP live dealer blackjack, both the minimum bet and the maximum bet are significantly increased, so it is only for the more serious players.
- Free bet live blackjack
When you play free bet live blackjack it is either a free bet or a free game of live online blackjack. If it’s a free game, you can’t win real money. If it is a free bet, you probably have to play through the winnings a number of times before it can be paid out.
- Live Blackjack Party
In Blackjack Party, party and colors are guaranteed, as two hosts take you through the session from start to finish. It is a more entertaining version of the classic live casino blackjack but is essentially the same game.
- Salon Private blackjack
This is probably the most luxurious form of live blackjack, as you get the opportunity to play in private rooms with only you as a player. However, the limits for stakes are also usually significantly increased.
Live Blackjack Rules
Live Blackjack is played between the croupier and the players. All gamblers play against the live dealer, not against each other. The goal is to get a card value that does not exceed 21 but is still higher than the dealer’s value. Each card has its own value, except for the Ace, which can be counted as “1” or “11”. Queens, Jacks, and Kings are 10 each.
The game is played in the following stages:
- Each gambler places a bet.
- Then the cards are dealt.
- The croupier deals one face-up card to each player and one face-up card to himself.
- After that, each player gets another face-up card, but the dealer’s second card remains closed. Thus, each player, except the dealer, receives two open cards.
- The croupier receives one face-up card and another face-down card.
- If the player’s first two cards are an ace and another 10, then he is lucky the first time and he gets exactly 21 and the gambler wins. If both the dealer and the gambler have 21, it is called a tie and the player returns the bet amount.
Live Blackjack Moves
Blackjack rules are not difficult to learn, but there are some basic rules that you should know before playing your first round of Live Blackjack:
- Stand – You keep the cards you have been dealt and receive no more.
- Draw – You get another card.
- Split – You create two Blackjack hands by splitting your dealt cards into two separate piles.
- Double – You get another card and at the same time double the bet.
- Surrender – You give up before the dealer has received all his cards and get half of the bet refunded (far from all Live Blackjack games offer this option).
Live Blackjack Strategies
Like many other live dealer games, live blackjack has its own strategies that gamblers use to improve their hands and increase their chances of winning. Since this game is a card game, winnings depend not only on how the card falls out but also on the player’s skill level.
But when using real money, the question always arises, how do you win here? Are there better ways and tricks? Yes! But if you don’t have the right live blackjack strategy yet, remember that it will take you some time to choose the best strategy. Finally, there are 340 possible combinations that the croupier can exploit.
Live Blackjack strategy chart
They are partially allowed in live casinos and are easy to find online. Blackjack strategy charts work the same way. They are built on mathematics and always work if everything is calculated correctly. These blackjack tables were designed using a computer simulation program.
Millions of gimmicks were used to determine which maneuver works best in certain situations. Following these live blackjack charts can help you reduce the house edge and make playing blackjack easier. Look for a clear blackjack strategy table that also explains the individual pairs of cards. The table is easy to print out to have with you during the game in a live casino.
Live Blackjack card counting
In live blackjack, some players count cards, which means they keep track of which cards have already been drawn from the deck. For example, if several aces have already been dealt with, the likelihood of drawing another ace becomes much less. Card counting is an activity for professional blackjack players who know the game well. If you don’t know how to count cards, you’re more likely to get confused than help yourself in the game.
Four strategy rules
- Soft Hand Wants a Card.
If the croupier has a 4, 5, or 6, only hit if he has a soft hand. This means that the points remain under 21 regardless of the card dealt. These three numbers are the most problematic for the dealer and this is where the croupier overcalls the most.
- Standing at 17 (17 means to stop or high risk).
From 17 points the risk increases immeasurably, so stay tuned. This strategy is also called “Stand on 17”. Even if the croupier has 10 or 11 points, stay calm. Of course, your 17 points in blackjack is a dangerous number, but the only advantage you can count on is that the croupier can beat you.
- Proper card splitting, good card splitting.
Gambler Mike Caro once said, “Aces are bigger than life and bigger than mountains,” and when it comes to playing live blackjack, he’s absolutely right. An ace is a strong card, two together – twelve in total. Always split them and bet on double blackjack. Conversely, you should never separate tens and eights. 10 is a good base for the hand, but 20 is too good to risk a split. Two eights make 16, which is the worst combination. But if you share these cards, you can always make and have an equal or better hand.
- To insure or not (Never take insurance).
Whenever the dealer has an ace, you have the option to hedge. This will cost you an extra bet equal to half your original bet. If the croupier has blackjack, this side bet pays 2:1. That sounds good in theory, but in practice, the odds of getting a blackjack are very slim. Insurance is always very risky, but mostly a good solution.
The best software providers of Live Blackjack games in the UK
There are three game developers that dominate the market for Live Blackjack casino games at UK-licensed live casinos. Check out the list of the best Live Blackjack game makers below!
- Evolution
Evolution is the game manufacturer that by far delivers the most Live Casino Blackjack tables on the market with recording studios in Europe, the USA, Canada, etc. If you log into any live casino with Live Blackjack on the menu, you are guaranteed to find games from Evolution. The range includes all the Blackjack variants you can dream of with the lowest to the highest stake levels.
- Pragmatic Play
Although Pragmatic Play doesn’t measure up to Evolution’s massive range of Live Blackjack games, this is also a game maker to explore. Many of the best Live Blackjack casino games come from Pragmatic Play, broadcast from Pragmatic Play’s studio in Romania.
- Playtech
Playtech also offers an impressive range of Live Blackjack casino games. Most of the games are broadcast from glamorous studios in Latvia, the Philippines, and Romania.
Bonuses and promotions in live blackjack casinos
In the world of online gambling, bonuses and promotions are an integral part. There are many types of bonuses with which live casinos try to reward their existing players and at the same time attract new ones. We will introduce you to all types of bonuses that live blackjack casinos offer.
- Welcome bonus
As the name suggests, this is a bonus for newly registered players. Each live dealer casino has a specific form. Sometimes players receive a bonus immediately after registration, sometimes it is conditional on a deposit. Sometimes it is in the form of a sum of money, other times live casinos will give players free spins or free games.
- Bonus without deposit
This bonus is probably the most popular among players. This is a new player bonus where players receive a small amount of money for completing registration. It is not necessary to deposit any money to get the bonus from live dealer casinos.
- Bonus for high-stakes players
This bonus is for loyal players who regularly push high amounts in live dealer casinos.
- First deposit bonus
As a rule, this bonus is 100% at all live casinos. This means that if you make your first deposit of 100 pounds, you will get another 100 pounds for free. Often, obtaining a bonus is conditional on some minimum deposit amount, or there is some other restriction. It is always worth reading the terms and conditions of the live dealer casino directly.
Advanced Live Blackjack tips
In Live Blackjack, the goal is to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as possible without going over. To succeed in this requires a good knowledge of rules and strategies, but of course also some luck. Here we offer some pro tips for those of you who want to further increase your chances of winning!
- Always split pairs into 8s or Aces
- Pair of 8s gives you a score of 16 which is the worst starting position to continue in Blackjack. The risk is high that with the next card you end up over 21 points and lose, while with only 16 points you run a high risk of losing. Two hands with 8s each give a better starting position than a hand with pairs of 8s.
- Two Aces give 2 or 12 points, which is not a bad starting position, but a very neutral one. By splitting the pair, you instead have a golden starting position to win Blackjack x2.
- Never split pairs into 10s or 6s
- Pairs of 10s (or face cards) give you 20 points which give a very high winning chance, don’t split them in greedy hopes of higher winnings.
- If you split a pair of 6s, there is a high risk that you will end up with two hands worth 16 points, which is the worst starting position in Blackjack.
- Let the Ace decide whether to call or stay
If you have a hand with a high value (17-18 points) and one card is an Ace, it is a good position to take another card in the hope of an even higher point value. Otherwise, you should stay as the risk of losing with a hand higher than 21 points is high.
Final thoughts on live blackjack casinos
Live Blackjack is as close as you’ll get to the feeling of playing Blackjack live at a land-based casino, without having to leave home. The level of excitement, entertainment, and payouts is high, while you can play wearing softies from home on the couch via your mobile phone or computer.
Live Blackjack is one of many beloved casino games, partly because it is easy to learn to play and partly because it is a game with very good winning conditions – especially if you take the time to read about different strategies.
If you play at a Live Blackjack casino licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, you can rest assured that you are playing under fair playing conditions. All results are determined using RNG software.
Always keep an eye on your bankroll and never play for money you can’t afford to lose. Live Blackjack, just like any other casino game – should primarily be seen as entertainment, so play responsibly!