Blackjack is played all over the world. It’s been among the most popular card games for centuries. These days, live dealer casinos are continuing to advance the game, making it more accessible and entertaining than ever. BetMGM Casino alone features quite a few online blackjack games, plus live dealer options.
Some of the reasons it’s enjoyed by so many people include the low house edge and the simple rules. Payouts are typically 1:1 for a win, with 3:2 for blackjack. However, in some exceptional circumstances, blackjack is paid at the higher rate of 2:1.
Read on to discover the different types of blackjack payout, including the unusual 2:1 reward, and the best online blackjack strategy to use when playing at live casinos.
What Are Blackjack Payouts?
Blackjack is an incredibly simple game to play, with a high return-to-player rate if you use the correct strategy. You win by beating the dealer without exceeding 21. You can elect to stand, hit, split, or double down, depending on your cards and the dealer’s up-card.
Throughout the history of blackjack, people have refined their strategies to ensure they get the lowest possible house edge. A perfect strategy now exists and, when combined with card-counting techniques, it’s actually possible to make money.
When you play online blackjack, a regular win doubles your stake. This is a 1:1 payout, meaning that if you bet $10 and win, you win a further $10 in profit for a total payout of $20.
Natural Blackjack Payouts
However, there’s another, more rewarding way to beat the dealer when you play casino online blackjack. If your first two cards total exactly 21, that’s a natural blackjack. To achieve this, you’ll need an ace, plus any of the ten-point cards, meaning a ten, jack, queen, or king.
Hitting blackjack is usually an instant win, paying out at the higher rate of 3:2. This means you’ll win exactly 1.5 times your bet. For example, if you bet $10, your blackjack will return $25 instead of the standard $20. That’s a profit of $15.
However, some casinos have different rules if both you and the dealer have blackjack. Some classify this as a push, meaning your stake is returned. Others will treat it as a loss for the player. This is a great example of why you must always double-check the rules before sitting down to play table games.
2:1 Payouts
Everything discussed so far is pretty much standard. However, the casino gaming industry is a competitive one. Some websites and brick-and-mortar casinos like to run special promotions to attract new customers. This has given rise to the 2:1 blackjack payout.
It’s certainly not common, but it does exist. Instead of the standard 3:2 reward for your natural blackjack, these tables pay a greater rate of 2:1. Instead of the payout being set at 1.5x your bet, it’s 2x. Therefore, a $10 wager would return $30 instead of the standard $25. Your profit would be $20, as opposed to just $15.
If you’re lucky enough to find such a unicorn of a blackjack table, take advantage. The house edge on such games is actually negative, meaning it’s in the player’s favor.
Blackjack Insurance
There is another set of circumstances in which you might hear players discussing a 2:1 payout at the blackjack table. A common side bet that you probably know about is insurance. It’s designed to protect you against those frustrating situations when the dealer has blackjack, so you automatically lose.
Insurance is offered whenever the dealer’s up-card is an ace. You place an additional bet at half your original stake, and you’ll win a 2:1 payout if the dealer really does have blackjack.
Although insurance is usually paid at 2:1, you won’t ever make a profit from this side bet. After all, if the dealer shows blackjack, your hand, and therefore your initial wager, loses. The insurance payout of 2:1 simply means you’ll break even on the hand.
For example, if you bet $10 and the dealer has an ace, you can take insurance for an extra $5. You have now wagered a total of $15. When the dealer reveals their blackjack, your initial $10 is lost. However, the new $5 insurance bet returns a total of $15, which is exactly equal to your overall stake.
Live Blackjack Payouts
Live dealer blackjack works in exactly the same way as regular online blackjack. The only difference is that, instead of RNG software determining the cards, you’re playing against a real human dealer, just like a brick-and-mortar casino. The action is live-streamed from a casino studio straight to your device.
Because the game works in the same way, you can expect the same payouts in live dealer blackjack. In other words, a win pays 1:1, while blackjack traditionally earns you 3:2. In theory, a live casino could increase that payout for promotional purposes.
Blackjack Tips
Blackjack is a straightforward game to learn, with only a few rules to remember. However, it can be very complex in terms of strategy, especially for beginners. Here are some top tips for winning at blackjack that you can easily incorporate into your own game.
Follow Basic Strategy
Blackjack is a solved game. There’s a known strategy to follow in every single situation to ensure the best long-term results. For example, you should always stand when you have a hand between 12 and 16 if the dealer shows 2–6. You can easily find a basic strategy chart that plots every scenario.
Avoid Insurance
The insurance bet might pay 2:1, but it’s best to avoid it. Statistically speaking, it loses the majority of the time. The payout is not high enough to compensate for the increased house edge. It’s a long-term losing play.
Don’t Chase Losses
Losing runs are inevitable in all online casino games. Even in blackjack, which has a higher return-to-player rate, streaks of bad luck are possible. Keep calm and avoid increasing your bets during a poor run.
Play Responsibly
Responsible play means keeping your bets within a range you can afford to lose and sticking to your budget. When enjoying live dealer casino games, keep a close eye on your wins and losses. If you need to, use the deposit limit tools found at responsible gambling sites like BetMGM Casino.
Play Today at BetMGM Casino
BetMGM Casino offers a wide variety of RNG games and live dealer online casino tables alike. Register today and experience the thrill of online blackjack.
