Play Live Blackjack Online Casino Games
Live blackjack is probably one of the most exciting live dealer games. Regardless of your status and preference, beginners and experienced players are welcome in this game. With a wide range of exciting live blackjack games to choose from, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into a real-life casino.
Play Live Blackjack at ICE36 Casino
At ICE36 Casino you can enjoy all the fun of a real casino, from the comfort of your own home or on the go. From Live Classic Blackjack to Live Perfect Pairs Blackjack and more, there are plenty of great options to choose from at ICE36 casino.
Ready to play live blackjack at ICE36? Register today and join the fun.
With ICE36, you can play casino games like live blackjack from the comfort of your own home. You can even interact with a live dealer, just like at a real blackjack table. But before placing your bet, you need to know how to play.
Read on to learn more about live blackjack, including what it is, how and where to play it, and the huge variety of live blackjack games on offer.
What Is Live Blackjack?
Live blackjack is a popular casino game where you can enjoy a real-life casino experience through a live stream. The game is optimised to give you the best possible playing experience straight from your own PC, tablet, or smartphone.
Live blackjack is distinguished by its main feature: the idea that a live dealer is present and the games are played online. It’s as if you’re actually in a real casino, competing with other players. You’ll be able to interact with the dealer and your fellow players via the gaming interface.
Live Blackjack vs Online Blackjack
Online blackjack is a virtual version of the game and utilises a random number generator to mimic real-life blackjack, while live blackjack has real dealers, tables and cards. You can see the game in real-time via streaming cameras in HD quality. A chat feature allows players to interact with one another.
Let's dig deeper into how online blackjack differs from live blackjack in terms of accessibility, best odds, and the kind of experience it brings.
In terms of accessibility, online blackjack has no time limit and you can play at your own pace. Another benefit is that you will always have an available seat no matter what time of the day, unlike live blackjack.
Live and online blackjack both have a similar average return to player (RTP) in best odds. However, live blackjack is dealt from a six- or eight-deck, shoe shuffled between each hand.
The bottom line
Despite many similarities, there are also some differences between live and online blackjack. It really depends on the player's preference, although many prefer the live dealer games. They value the fun interaction with other people and the realistic set-up of the environment.
Live Blackjack Game Types
Today there are many different varieties of live blackjack game, offering players exciting new ways to enjoy this classic card game. Read on to find out more about some of the most popular live blackjack games, from Live European Blackjack to Live Spanish 21 Blackjack and more.
Live Classic Blackjack
Eight 52-card decks are used in classic blackjack. The decks are mixed together before each hand is dealt, and the dealer does not receive a whole hand. Dealers must hit on all totals of 16 or less and soft 17 (a hand with an ace that totals either seven or 17), and you will be rewarded at 3:2 odds if you hit Blackjack.
Live European Blackjack
This is one of the most common blackjack game variants today. With the European version, there are often two decks without the jokers, while the card values remain the same.
Live Face Up 21 Blackjack
Live Face Up 21 Blackjack, commonly known as Double Exposure Blackjack, is a blackjack variation. With this game type, the dealer is dealt two face-up cards as part of the first deal. Knowing the dealer's hand provides lots of information to the player.
Live Perfect Pairs Blackjack
This is a side bet that is similar to the rules of the classic blackjack but with a fun twist. During the game, players will bet on the Perfect Pairs side. They must do this before any cards are dealt. You can make a side bet before the main blackjack game starts. The house rules will decide how much you can bet.
Live Spanish 21 Blackjack
Spanish 21 has a lot of ways for you to win. If you know how blackjack works, you’ll understand Spanish 21 quickly. It has a unique payout pattern and consists of 48 cards only. You don’t need to have any of the 10 value cards for this game. Kings, Queens, and Jacks are still valued at 10 and these cards remain, and work as they do in standard blackjack.
How to Play Live Blackjack
One of the reasons live blackjack is so popular worldwide is that it is simple to play, has good payouts, and is a fun game.
Here’s the basic step-by-step procedure for playing this live table game:
- Place your wager. This is the amount of money you want to put on the table.
- The live dealer distributes two cards to each player and one to himself. One card is displayed face up, while the other is displayed face down.
- The game's goal is to make a hand that comes closest to 21 without going over. A bust occurs when the total amount in your hand exceeds 21.
- Each card is equal to its value. The ace might count as either 1 or 11, depending on which is more favourable to your hand. If you have a jack of spades and a two of hearts in your hand, the total value is 12.
- Following the initial deal, players must select whether to stand, hit, fold, double, or split.
- If the dealer's total is 16 or fewer, he must hit; otherwise, he must stand.
- When the dealer busts and they have 21 or less, you win. You also win if your hand is greater than the dealer's but not higher than 21. You only compete with the dealer, not with the other players.
Live Blackjack Seats
Like a real blackjack table, you will need to have a “seat” in order to participate. Most live dealer blackjack tables have seven seats, which means that only seven players are allowed per game. This is the classic seven-seat blackjack set-up and is the most common type of table.
If a table is full, you will need to wait for a seat to be available. Once you are logged in to the casino and there’s an open table, you’ll be able to select a seat and place your bet alongside other seated players.
Blackjack Side Bets
Blackjack side bets are optional bets you can make in addition to your main hand bet, giving you more opportunities to win.
Side bets can also offer the potential of a big payout.
Let's be clear on how side bets work:
First, you need to add additional chips to make a side bet before the cards are distributed. You bet on making a winning hand from your first two cards, or a combination of your cards and the dealer's face-up card.
Check out the three different side bets below to learn how it works:
Insurance
Insurance is the most popular side bet that can be played if the dealer’s up-card is an ace, which usually pays half of 2 to 1 of your original bets. It is made on a dealer having a ten-value card other than the ace, resulting in a Blackjack. Any player who chooses to make an insurance bet will place half of their current bet in chips on the Blackjack table's “insurance bar”.
Perfect Pairs
Blackjack Perfect Pairs is a side bet in which the player's first two cards form a pair, with three different pairs paying out at varying odds. Two cards with the same numerical value (two to ten) and the same face value (jacks, queens, kings, and aces) are considered pairs.
A pair can be one of three types:
Mixed pair: two cards of the same value, but a different suit and colour
Colored pair: two cards of the same number and colour
Perfect pair: identical cards
Before any cards are dealt, players must determine if they want to participate in the Perfect Pairs side bet. Before the main Blackjack game, the side bet will be determined according to the house rules of the land-based or online casino where you're playing.
21+3
In this type of blackjack side bet, you bet on whether your first two cards and the dealer's face-up card will combine to form one of the three-card poker hands listed below:
Flush: all cards are matched
Straight: all cards are straight
Three of a kind: different suit
Straight flush: consecutive cards of the same suit
Suited triple:three similar cards
Before your cards are dealt, you will place your wager. There will usually be a 21+3 box on the table where you can place your side bet stake. If your first two cards combined with the dealer's up-card result in one of these five hands, you will win your 21+3 blackjack bet. If not, you will lose your side bet stake.
Payout Table
The table below lists the most common live blackjack bets and their corresponding payouts:
| Main Bet | Payout |
|---|---|
| Regular Win | 1:1 |
| Blackjack | 3:2 |
| Insurance | 2/1 |
| Street | 11:1 |
| 21+3 Side Bet | Payout |
|---|---|
| Suited Three of a kind | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a kind | 30:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Flush | 5:1 |
| Pair | Payout |
|---|---|
| Perfect Pair | 25:1 |
| Coloured Pair | 12:1 |
| Mixed Pair | 6:1 |
Live Blackjack Demo
Like all live dealer games, live blackjack does not have a demo feature. If you want to see a demo of this card game, a recorded video demo is your best option. This will show you how the game is played and what to expect from a gaming environment with real cards, a real table, and a live dealer.
Most Popular Live Blackjack Game Providers
At ICE36, we have a huge selection of live blackjack games from some of the best games providers in the industry. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the biggest names in the game:
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming is one of the world's major software providers in the online casino industry. The company is well established and provides some of the top gaming goods and services in the world.
Playtech
Playtech was created in 1999, so you can rest assured that the software supplier has extensive experience in the online gambling industry. They offer online fixed-odds arcade games, bingo games, sports betting, and software for online casino games, poker rooms, and live dealer games.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play bought Extreme Live Gaming and entered the live casino world back in 2018. Soon after the company decided to start over with a new live casino product, so they built a studio in Bucharest and employed industry experts to host blackjack, roulette and baccarat tables.
Games Global
Games Global had been around long before Playtech. The company is said to have developed the world's first online casino software in 1994. Since then, it has kept its place as a live casino software industry leader by providing unique and high-quality live dealer games.
Live Blackjack FAQ
How does live blackjack work?
Live blackjack is played at a real table in a casino or studio, with a real croupier who can interact with players via a live stream. In this game, the dealer is in charge and uses an automatic shuffler to shuffle the cards. The cards are then given to the participants in the designated spaces on the table. The table reads the microchips in the cards, displaying the graphics on each player's monitor. Players bet real money and play the same way the dealer does in response to their actions. The casino pays out the prizes to the winning hands automatically.
Is it legal to play live blackjack in the UK?
Yes, live blackjack gaming is legal in the UK, on the condition that you are playing at a regulated online casino like ICE36. This casino has a licence from the UK Gambling Commission and strictly adheres to all applicable regulatory rules and conditions.
Is it safe to play live blackjack?
Yes, live blackjack gaming is safe if you are registered and playing with an online casino that is licensed by a reputable organisation like the UK Gambling Commission. Live dealer games that have been checked and verified by this government body provide a safe and fair gaming experience.
What is the best live blackjack game?
There are several variations of live dealer blackjack and they all deliver lots of thrill and excitement. Rather than looking for the best live blackjack game, it’s a good idea to play each game variety and find your favourite. ICE36 has a huge selection of titles from leading games providers like Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Pragmatic Play and Games Global.
How many decks are used in live blackjack?
8 or 9 decks of cards normally are used in a live dealer blackjack game here at ICE36. The number of decks usually depends on the game software provider.
Can I play live blackjack for real money?
Yes, you can play live blackjack for real money. Live blackjack is very much like playing in a real casino; the only difference is that you’re betting via your computer or smartphone, rather than with physical chips on the table.
What is the minimum bet for live blackjack?
The minimum bet may start at £0.10, £1.00, or another amount. This depends on the live blackjack game title you are playing. For example, Alexandrite Blackjack by PlayTech has a minimum bet requirement of £0.10, while for Blackjack 11 the minimum bet is £10. Be sure to visit the page of the game you are interested in to find out what the minimum bet is.
Is there a live blackjack demo?
No. There are no demo versions of live blackjack games. There may be some games that will allow users to watch an ongoing game, but this is limited to just a few viewers. Other online casino games are sometimes available in demo mode, but this does not apply to games with live dealers.
Here at ICE36, we offer a friendly user experience and a huge selection of live blackjack games from renowned game providers. Play with real dealers, real cards, and real tables, all via a high-quality live stream.
If you’re ready to join the fun, register at ICE36 Casino now and experience the thrill of live blackjack gambling from the comfort of your own home.
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