Live Dealer Blackjack at UK Casino Sites

The times when you had to go to a land-based casino in order to play blackjack against a real dealer are long gone. Today, every single online casino licensed in the UK has a live-dealer section where you can enjoy an authentic casino environment no matter where you are. And needless to say, most of the tables you will find there will be blackjack tables.

Most players choose live blackjack to its computerised counterpart only to recreate the feeling of playing in a real casino, but the fact to the matter is that playing live dealer games, and especially blackjack, offers some unexpected advantages. Stay with us to learn more about what playing your favourite game in this innovative way can really offer you and where to find the best live dealer tables.

The Best Online Casinos with Live Blackjack

As I already mentioned, pretty much all online casinos offer live dealer games, but which ones are the best? This is a question that doesn’t have only one answer, as the different casinos offer different perks. To give you options, we’ve chosen the absolute best casinos for live gaming:

So let me tell you in brief a little bit about our recommended casinos. To start with, the Playtech-powered Ladbrokes which features the lowest betting limits you can find at a live dealer casino making it the best choice for the low rollers. 888 is among the best Evolution Gaming-powered casinos, which makes it a top choice for live blackjack promotions. And BetVictor deserves a top spot in our shortlist of live blackjack casinos for the mere reason that it features not one but 4 live casinos powered by 4 different software providers and over 30 different blackjack tables. Now compete with that!

Though each and every one of the casinos that we recommend has its individual perks, our top rankers also have something in common. They are all licensed and strictly regulated by the UK Gambling Commission which means that British players can enjoy their favourite games with the confidence that their banking and personal details are well-protected and that they are guaranteed 100% safe and fair gaming. But let’s go back to the topic at hand which is live dealer blackjack. We covered the different perks that our recommended casinos offer, now let’s learn more about the differences in the games themselves.

All You Need to Know about the Games

OK, so I think that the idea of how live online blackjack works is nothing new to you. In a nutshell, there’s a studio where professional dealers are sat at blackjack tables in front of an HD video camera. The players observe the game through a video stream and take part in the game through the special software that the live gaming provider has developed. From there on the differences begin. First of all, there are tables with different limits at any casino. Also, each provider has different rules for the game. And the most obvious of all – the blackjack tables of the different providers look differently and are set in a unique casino environment as you can see in the screenshots below.

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Something else that can set apart the live dealer tables is the different settings that they might have. Also, some tables have only one view, while others have several. Last but not least, some tables allow you to ‘bet behind’ and/or place side bets while others don’t. These are all important factors that, when considered, might tip the scales to a certain table. Therefore, we’ll take a closer look at all those differences in the next paragraphs.

Game Rules Variations

Something that is an absolute must for any player that enters a live blackjack room and plans on betting their money is to check the specific game rules of the table. Usually, you can find those in the ‘help’ section of the game and they will be the same for all the tables of a certain software provider. If you are familiar with the rules of blackjack, you will know that they differ slightly from game to game and that they have an impact on the house edge. For example, playing with fewer decks is more advantageous for the player than otherwise while getting only one card to split aces as opposed to being allow to hit afterwards is better for the casino. Below you can see the general rules for live blackjack at the tables powered the top live gaming providers which also happen to power the casinos that we’ve chosen for you:

• Rules of the Live Blackjack Games by the Different Software Providers
• Evolution gaming
  Side bets – Perfect Pairs, 21 + 3 Bet Behind 8 decks Double any two cards Stands on all 17s Split cards of equal value Single card to split aces One split No double after split Insurance offered when dealer has ace Up to 7 players
• Playtech
  No resplit Dealer stands on all 17s Dealer won’t check for blackjack One card to split aces If same value cards – you can only choose to split or fold If the dealer’s first card is 10 and he gets a blackjack you get half of your bet back 8 decks 10-card Charlie Split only once
• Netent
  6 decks Double after split Split cards of the same value No hit after split aces Insurance only with dealer ace Even money option – if you have blackjack and the dealer has ace Common draw blackjack – all players play the same hand Dealer stands on all 17s
• Microgaming
  8 decks Dealer stands on all 17s Double on 9, 10, 11 Cannot split unlike 10 valued cards Multiple cards to split aces Split once Cannot double after split Bet behind Insurance Autobet option

Though the rules of the live dealer blackjack games offered by these 4 software providers share some differences, the house edge for each one of them is actually pretty similar. All four developers have set the rules of their games in such way that the house edge ends up being around 0.50% which, while not the lowest one that an online game can offer you, is pretty nice.

Side Bets & Bet Behind

Something else that you would probably like to consider before choosing where to play is whether or not the live casino features tables that offer side bets. Though in blackjack there are many different side bets, at live casinos you will see at the most two of those – Perfect Pairs and 21+3. When it comes to the Perfect Pairs side bet, you can place a bet on your cards, the dealer’s cards or on the hand of any of the other players on the table. There are three winning combinations for this side bets which are as follows:

• Red/Black Pair – if both cards are black or both cards are red. Payout: 6 to 1
• Coloured Pair – if both cards are of the same suit. Payout: 12 to 1
• Perfect Pair – two identical cards. Payout: 25:1

Another side bet that you may find at live blackjack tables online is the so-called 21+3. It gives you the chance to bet on the combination of your first two cards and the dealer’s up card. There are five winning combinations and all of them refer back to poker with the only difference that your hand is made out of three cards and not five. Now let’s see those winning combos and the payouts for them.

• Flush – three cards of the same suit. Payout: 5:1
• Straight – three consecutive cards. Payout: 10:1
• Three of a Kind – all cards with the same ranking. Payout: 30:1
• Straight Flush – three consecutive cards of the same suit. Payout: 40:1
• Suited Three of a Kind – three cards of the same ranking and suit. Payout: 100:1

Another interesting feature of live blackjack is the Bet Behind option. This is a betting option that allows you to bet on another player’s hand. If that player wins, you win as well. This is an especially useful option if all the seats at the table where you want to play at are already taken and you don’t have the patience to wait until there’s an available seat.

Table Limits

An important aspect not only of the live blackjack games but of all casino games, in general, is the betting limits. There are some games and tables that allow you to bet very little while others have bets that start quite high. The first ones are, of course, more suitable for low-rolling players, while the second ones – for High Rollers, especially since they not only have higher minimum bet limits but also higher maximum bet limits.

The table limits also depend on the software provider. You will notice that casinos powered by Evolution Gaming, such as the BV Live Casino at Bet Victor and 888’s live casino, have a significantly bigger betting range than the others. Microgaming, on the other hand, have the smallest betting range. There, you cannot bet less than £5 at the live blackjack tables and more than £1000.

Software Options, Settings and Quality

As you may have noticed from what we’ve discussed in this review so far, most of the differences between the live blackjack games available online come from the fact that they are produced by different software houses. Furthermore, there are some very obvious differences in the interface and the functionalities of the virtual tables as well as differences in the quality of the video and the audio. So let’s take a closer look at the characteristics that set apart the blackjack tables of each software developer.

This company is considered to be the pioneer of live online gaming and, as such, it offers the biggest number of blackjack tables and also the best video and audio quality compared to other operators. The interface is pretty clean, featuring only the options that you might need. There are two camera views for your convenience and a chat where you can discuss the game both with the players and the dealers. Most importantly, at Evolution Gaming’s blackjack tables, you can make the two most popular side bets: Perfect Pairs and 21+3. Also, they feature the ‘bet behind’ option for which you have two additional options: you can decide whether or not you want to double when the player doubles and you can also decide whether to bet on both hands or only on the left one if the player splits. As far as variations of the tables go, they are all pretty much identical, with the sole exception of the Party Blackjack table. There you’ll have two chatty dealers who will keep you entertained with jokes and songs. A little bit too loud for my taste, to be honest, but I know that the party animals among you will be very happy to visit this table.

This software house is dominating the online gambling world in terms of how many sites have chosen it as their main casino and live casino provider. Therefore, you can expect to see many players and, consequently, many blackjack tables in their live casino. The quality of the video stream is great, though very dependent on your Internet connection. The interface is very neat and intuitive and features some very useful options. First of all, let me say that this is the only software that offers mini-games accessible in the ‘casino view’ of the interface. Furthermore, in this view, you can see the history of the last few hands plus the history of the mini-game table if you’ve chosen roulette as your side game. At any Playtech live casino, you can also see interesting blackjack tables under the name ‘Unlimited Blackjack’. In this variation of live blackjack, players don’t get individual cards, but rather ‘community’ ones and many players may play with the same hand. This means that there can be an unlimited number of players at the table. Exactly because of that, and so that the game goes faster, there are some different options for this game, like for example, if you get two cards of the same rank you’ll only get the option to split or fold. If you do fold, you’ll only lose 20% of your bet. Another nice thing about Playtech’s live blackjack is that you have the ‘Multi Seat’ option. This means that you can play with more than one hand at the same time.

This is one of the oldest companies in the online gambling industry and as such it offers the full range of services and products a casino operator would need, including a live casino. There, you can play blackjack in their regular live rooms or at the signature Playboy tables where attractive dealers dressed as Playboy bunnies host the game. The software is pretty solid and well-functioning though the video stream and the audio are not of the highest quality. You still have some very useful audio and video options, such as quality adjustments and diagnostics, as well as two camera views. You also have some useful auto bet options and the option to bet behind. An obvious omission on the part of Microgaming when it comes to their live blackjack tables is the lack of any side bets whatsoever. Oh, well, the bunnies should suffice!

As you can see, the different providers have some similarities among them and some differences as well. Something that neither one of them has, unfortunately, is a demo option for playing live blackjack or any other live-dealer game, for that matter. The only thing that you can do to get a better idea of the game is log into your account (if you have one, if not you will have to sign up) and go to a live table of your choice. You will be allowed to observe the game and play around with the different options of the table.

Mobile Compatibility

Nowadays, it’s pretty much unthinkable for an online casino not to be mobile-friendly and this is mostly true for their live dealer sections. Usually, if you have a relatively recent version of iOS or Android, you will have no problem playing live dealer blackjack on the go. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said about Blackberries and Windows Phones, but then again we cannot expect every operator to create apps also for the devices that account for less than 5% of the mobile traffic.

If you want to give live gaming a try while you’re on your mobile, then I would suggest you choose a casino powered by Evolution Gaming, such as 888’s Live Casino, as they have the best mobile-friendly apps for live gaming. Their apps are compatible with most devices running on Android or iOS, especially if their device is updated up to Android Gingerbread 2.3 or iOS 6.0.

Playtech also have optimised their live casino for portable devices and the requirements for playing there are pretty much the same as for the Evolution Gaming apps. Note, though, that the quality of the video stream and the performance of the app is definitely inferior to the ones of Evolution Gaming. Still, better than Microgaming who still don’t offer live dealer games on the go.

Useful Tips and Strategies

There are many little tricks and tips that can help you increase your chances at winning when playing blackjack, especially when you’re playing live. From one point of view, we have to note that even though blackjack has the element of luck, it’s also a game where the player can take decisions and, therefore, from another point of view, it’s a game of strategy. In fact, if you play with the perfect strategy, blackjack becomes the casino game with the lowest house edge. Still, though, there is a house edge and, in the long run, the casino would win, even if it’s a very small amount. Now, let’s take a look at some of the tricks that can help you decrease and even turn around the house edge.

The first thing you have to do to guarantee yourself the best possible conditions is to find a strategy chart for the specific blackjack game you’re playing and which takes into account all the little rules and details of the game. Thankfully, those are really easy to find and, in most cases, the operators themselves offer them in the help section of the game. Following those strategy charts will guarantee you the lowest possible house edge which, in the case of live dealer blackjack, will be around 0.50%. Note that if you want to give yourself the best chance of winning, you will have to forget about any of the side bets offered at the live tables. Though these side bets offer you payouts that no classic blackjack bet could offer you, you have to consider the big picture rather than opt in for the fast success. In the long run, it’s calculated that the Perfect Pair side bet has a house edge of 4.1% and the 21+3 one – 3.7% which is way more than the one of the base game.

The second thing you can do is claim a bonus to play with. We will talk more about this in the next section of this review, but in general playing with some bonus cash with reasonable wagering conditions can further reduce and even eliminate the house edge.

Tricks and Tips for Live Blackjack

So far I’ve mentioned tips that are applicable to all blackjack games, be it live or computer-generated ones. Now comes the time to check out the tricks that can be only applied when playing against a live dealer.

Firstly, when you play live blackjack, you can use card counting. The reason why this only works at live tables is that there the cards are shuffled only when the dealer gets to the cut card, giving you the chance to see a lot of hands and, therefore, a lot of cards, making card counting more and more accurate as you get closer to the cut card. When you play an RNG blackjack, on the other hand, the decks are virtually shuffled after each hand, making card counting pointless. Furthermore, when you play at live tables, you usually play with other players on the table which means you see an even bigger percentage of the cards played, making your card counting strategy even more accurate.

Another thing you should consider is that a human dealer is exactly that – human, and as such they are not immune to mistakes. If you are very observant, you might just catch some mistake and require a replay of the hand. Of course, if the dealer’s mistake is to your advantage, you should keep it to yourself. After all, don’t we all pay for every mistake we make?

Top Bonuses and Promotions

As I already mentioned, taking advantage of the different bonuses and promotions that online casinos offer might just be the thing that tips the scales in your advantage. The most generous promotions are usually the welcome ones so if you don’t have a registration at the casino you’ve chosen, this is the first thing you should look into.

Note that some operators, like Ladbrokes for example, have different welcome offers for their regular casino and for their live one. Also, some operators don’t count wagers made on live games toward the wagering requirements while all that do assign a lower wagering contribution percentage to live blackjack. So whenever you decide to claim a bonus, it’s an absolute must to check the terms and conditions of the offer.

One of the best places to play live blackjack is 888 Casino. Not only their live casino is powered by Evolution Gaming and their live tables have one of the best betting ranges I’ve seen, they also have a pretty nice welcome bonus and ongoing promotions which can be used on live blackjack. The conditions of the welcome bonus are also one of the best in the industry, set at 30x the bonus amount. Bets made on live blackjack count 20% toward the playthrough so that’s also a big advantage. On top of that, the generous promotions that the casino offers will keep you playing and claiming bonuses there for a long, long time.

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Conclusion: Live vs RNG Blackjack

So, I think we covered absolutely everything about the different aspects of playing online blackjack with live dealers. Now let’s summarise what are the advantages that a regular RNG blackjack game cannot offer you.

Let’s start with the most obvious advantage of all – when you play at the live casino, you can enjoy an authentic casino environment and interact with the professional dealers, as well as with the other players at the table. Also, at live casinos, there are many blackjack tables that have different table limits making them more convenient for both low and high rollers. Furthermore, if you’ve ever had some doubts about the fairness of the RNG games, you’ll be able to put your mind at ease as here the cards are dealt and shuffled by a real human dealer whose every move you can observe through an HD video stream. Last but not least, here you can take advantage of card counting and observing the other players.

Ready to play? I recommend you try BetVictor Casino as there you can find 4 different live casinos which feature in total over 30 different live dealer blackjack tables powered by some of the biggest names in the live gaming industry, including Evolution Gaming and Microgaming. On top of that, there you’ll be welcomed with a generous offer up to £1000. What more can you ask for, really?