Live Blackjack Guide for South African Players
Live blackjack is the live casino variant of the traditional blackjack game. It was introduced in the mid-2000s and has become one of the most beloved live dealer games since.
Play Live Blackjack At These Casinos
How Does Live Blackjack Work?
Live dealer blackjack works a lot like the random number generator-powered variant in traditional online casinos. There are, of course, a few major differences between the two. RNG blackjack, for example, “shuffles” the cards before every round, whereas in live blackjack, there’s a shoe with several decks that are played through before shuffling.
In front of the shoe, there’s a scanner that uses OCR to scan and recognize the cards being dealt. This is then transmitted by the game control unit to the user interface on your side. The same GCU then transmits your bets and decisions to the dealer’s display. An important part of the game is the camera that streams the actions of the dealer as they happen.
Live Blackjack Rules
The rules of live blackjack are, in general, the same as the rules of the game played in casinos like Sun City or Montecasino. There can be certain deviations from the standard rules at South African live casinos. We'll cover them in more detail below.
As a reminder, here are the basic rules of blackjack that are common among all variants:
Card Values
- 2 through 9: these cards have a face value or the value that is written on them
- 10 and face cards (J, Q, K): 10 points
- Ace: 1 or 11 points, depending on whether the hand is hard or soft
What Does an Average Live Blackjack Hand Look Like
You sit down at the live blackjack table at your favourite South African online casino, decide your bet, and place the money in the appropriate spot - this is how you join the game. Live blackjack tables usually have several seats, with people joining and leaving the table at any time. Depending on the game rules, you can occupy one or more seats - this means one or more concurrent bets.
- The dealer gives each participating player a card facing up, from right to left. They deal one for themselves, too - this is the upcard
- Every player receives a second card facing up, and the dealer gets one - but this one is concealed. This is the hole card.
- If the dealer's upcard is a face card, or a 10, the dealer peeks at the hole card to see if they have a blackjack. If they do, the house wins and all bets are lost.
- If the dealer's upcard is an Ace, you get the chance to take insurance:
- The Insurance bet is equal to half of your original bet
- If the dealer has a blackjack, the Insurance bet pays 2:1
- If not, the Insurance bet is lost
- The game begins from your right (the dealer's left). The first player gets the chance to hit, stand, double, or surrender.
- Each player's hand is played out until they go bust or decide to stand
- Once all players are served, the dealer reveals their upcard. Depending on their hand total, they can hit or stand
- Depending on the table's rules, the dealer might have to act differently - e.g. they have to stand on a soft 17 or hit on the same hand. This depends on the table's rules.
- When the dealer is served, the hands are compared.
Winning Conditions
There is more than one way in which you can win a hand of live blackjack:
- 1. You have a Blackjack (a face card or 10 and an Ace)
- 2. Your hand total is closer to 21 than the dealer's total when the dealer stands (e.g. you have 20, and the dealer has 18)
- 3. The dealer goes bust
Some blackjack variants have extra winning conditions. For example, Five Card Charlie and Six Card Charlie games will pay you when you have a hand consisting of five or six cards, without exceeding a total of 21. For more details on these and the complete Blackjack glossary, check out this page.
Live Blackjack Variants
Several blackjack variants are used by live casinos today. Many of them are standard deviations from the basic rules, but there can be some that have extra rule variations or side bets you need to take into account. These are the most common live blackjack variants you may stumble upon at South African casinos:
- Freebet Blackjack by CreedRoomz gives you a free double-down when you split your original hand
- VIP and Salon Privé games usually have higher bet limits, making them perfect for high rollers
- Pragmatic Play's Blackjack ONE is a single-seat live blackjack table just for you
- Vivo Games' Limitless Blackjack allows an unlimited number of players to sit at the same table
Any deviations from the standard blackjack rules are listed in the game's rulebook accessible once you connect to the game. Make sure you read and understand them before you start playing to avoid any surprises.
Live Blackjack FAQ
What is Live Blackjack?
Live blackjack is a way to play blackjack at online casinos. You play against a real dealer sitting in a studio streaming the action on the table directly to your computer or smartphone.
How to play live blackjack?
The rules of live dealer blackjack - aside from a few variations - are the same as those for traditional blackjack.
How to win at live blackjack?
Use a smart strategy and refer to the basic strategy charts to outwit the dealer and win at live blackjack.
When can you split in live blackjack?
It depends entirely on the table rules and game variant. In essence, if you have two cards of identical value, you can split them into separate hands.
Is there insurance and other side bets in live blackjack?
Yes, there is - insurance, as well as other side bets are a staple in live dealer blackjack.
How many live blackjack variants are there?
There are dozens of live dealer blackjack variants. Check out your favourite South African online betting sites to explore them all.