Live Casino
Live Blackjack Explained
Live blackjack is blackjack dealt by a real dealer and streamed to your device. You make your decisions — hit, stand, double or split — on screen within a time limit, and the dealer follows fixed rules for their own hand.
This guide covers the live format. For card values, player options and basic strategy, read the blackjack rules guide
How a live round works
- Place your bet during the betting window.
- Initial deal: each seated hand and the dealer receive cards; one dealer card is usually face down or dealt later.
- Your decisions: when it is your turn, buttons appear for the options available to you. A timer limits how long you have; if it runs out, the table applies a default action, usually stand.
- Dealer's hand: the dealer completes their hand by fixed rules — for example, drawing until reaching 17.
- Settlement: hands are compared and bets are paid automatically.
Seats and bet behind
Traditional live tables have a limited number of seats, often seven. When seats are full, some tables offer bet behind: you stake on another player's hand and share its outcome, but the seated player makes the decisions.
Shared-hand tables
Some live formats deal one set of starting cards that every participant uses, with each player making their own decisions from there. This allows an unlimited number of players. Rules and payouts on these tables can differ from classic blackjack, so read the table information first.
Table rules to check
| Rule | Better for the player | Worse for the player |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack payout | 3:2 | 6:5 |
| Dealer on soft 17 | Stands (S17) | Hits (H17) |
| Doubling | On any first two cards | Restricted totals only |
| Surrender | Offered | Not offered |
| Decks in the shoe | Fewer | More |
The payout for a natural blackjack matters most of all: a 6:5 payout significantly increases the house edge compared with 3:2.
Practical points
- Decision timers are short. Knowing basic strategy in advance avoids rushed choices.
- Insurance is offered when the dealer shows an ace. Basic strategy advises declining it.
- Side bets can be entertaining but usually have a higher house edge than the main game.
- A dropped connection can mean the default action is applied to your hand. Play on a stable connection.