Pragmatic Play Live Blackjack

Blackjack has been a staple casino offering for years, so it’s no surprise that Pragmatic Play, one of the leading providers in live online crypto casino games, has such an extensive blackjack offering.

Renowned for its cutting-edge technology and immersive gaming experience, the company offers a variety of blackjack tables that cater to players of all skill levels. These live dealer games combine high-definition streaming and professional dealers to recreate the thrilling atmosphere of a land-based casino. Pragmatic Play's commitment to innovation and player engagement is evident in their seamless integration of features such as real-time statistics and interactive chat options. The wide variety of tables and gameplays gives us quite a bit to look at in this review.

Pragmatic Play’s Blackjack at a glance:

• It is played with an 8-deck shoe
• Dealer Stands on a 17 and above, otherwise he Hits
• You can Double Down on any two cards in your initial hand
• When Doubling Down, you only receive one more card
• You can Split your initial two cards if they are of the same value
• You can Split once each box
• You can Split Aces
• You cannot hit on Split Aces
• When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you are offered Insurance
• Blackjack pays 3:2
• Insurance pays 2:1
• When your hand and the dealer’s hand are a tie, then your bet is Pushed

Pragmatic Play is a top-notch i-gaming provider, so any decent casino will have their live casino games. The quickest way to find Pragmatic Play’s Blackjack games is to use the search bar in the “Live” section of your favorite crypto casino. If you’re hunting for a new gaming spot, we’ve got you covered. Our list with handy filters and in-depth reviews can help you find the best crypto casino sites to try your luck with blackjack. Once you’ve picked your casino, just follow these simple steps:

1. Sign Up: Most licensed casinos will need some personal info for the KYC process. Even if they don’t ask for it right away, they’ll likely need it before you can withdraw any winnings.
2. Make a Crypto Deposit: Each casino does this a bit differently, so follow their instructions. Our reviews usually have helpful details about deposits and withdrawals for each casino.
3. Find a Game: Head to the Live Casino section. If you can filter by provider, do that, and then choose your game. Or, use the search bar to find the Pragmatic Play lobby and see all their available games. More info is in the Features and Side Bets section below.
4. Get Comfortable: Check out the game’s interface, betting options, and maybe the Help section. Once you’re feeling good about it, start betting. You can use the Bet Behind feature (see below) if you want to ease into it.
5. Start Playing: Place your bets and hope for a good hand. You can also check out our game guide for crypto Blackjack for some simple strategies to make the most of your bankroll.

Card Values

Cards have the same value as in the classic blackjack game:

• Cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value
• Face cards are worth 10 points (Kings, Queens and Jacks)
• Aces are worth 1 or 10, whichever is best for the hand.

If you want to know more about the rules and bet types in blackjack, as well as the Basic Strategy, we’ve got you covered. Our Blackjack game guide can give you an overview of how to play blackjack with crypto and give you all you need to maximize your game’s entertainment value.

Take a seat

When you open a game, you will see the dealer behind the blackjack table, showing the virtual positions available. You will usually see 7 seats, and the free ones will be indicated by a “Sit Here” icon. In most tables you can take more than one seat, if they are free.

Visual cues in the game tell you where the game round is currently. There are prompts like “Please take a seat”, “Please place your bets” and more. Once betting time is over, the dealer will deal the cards, giving you a two-card initial hand and for themselves one card facing up (upcard) and one card facing down (hole card).

When everyone has their cards, it’s time for players to decide how they want to proceed with their hand, starting from the person sitting on the right-most side facing the dealer.

If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, then you are offered Insurance, the choice to place a bet of up to half your initial bet amount that the Dealer has Blackjack. If the dealer does indeed have blackjack, this bet pays 2:1, essentially allowing you to break even.

Players can choose to:

• Hit: Get more cards to get closer to 21
• Stand: Not get more cards and maintain their current hand
• Split: If you have a pair of the same value, you can choose to Split them into separate hands which will be played independently. To do this, your current bet amount goes to one of the two hands and you must match your initial bet on the second hand.
• Double Down: Double the amount of your bet and get one more card. You can choose to do this no matter what your first two cards are.

If you don’t make a choice within the allotted time, the Honest Decision feature takes over. If your hand is 12 or more, then it automatically chooses Stand - no more cards. If your hand total is 11 or less, it chooses Hit.

The Auto Decisions feature is also worth noting. It allows you to configure automated decisions to reflect your strategy. It’s highly customizable and it helps your game run faster, without you having to manually think about your strategy every single time.

Players can also choose to Bet Behind other players - meaning they’re betting that the other player’s hand will beat the dealer. You can do this even if you are occupying a seat at the table and have your own main bet - the only restriction is that you can’t Bet Behind your own hand..

Determining the round

As in all blackjack games that follow the classic rules, you win when your hand’s total is closer to 21 compared to the dealer’s hand. Blackjack (Ace + ten-card) is the best hand, as it wins over all other hands. If both you and the dealer happen to get Blackjack, then your bet is Pushed (you don’t lose the money that you wagered, rather your bet amount is returned to your balance).

Most tables follow the classic payouts of 3:2 for Blackjack, 1:1 for non-Blackjack winning hands, and 2:1 for Insurance. Hands that end in a Tie between you and the dealer Push your bet, meaning your bet amount is returned to your Balance. The RTP is 99.28%, based on the Basic Strategy.

Most of Pragmatic Play’s live dealer blackjack offer the two most popular blackjack side bets. These are placed during betting time, but only if you have already placed a main bet.

Perfect Pairs

You wager that your initial two-card hand forms some kind of pair. The RTP for this type of bet is 95.90%, but each combination has a different payout, so see the table below for clarification.

21+3

This is a wager that your initial two-card hand and the dealer’s upcard will form Poker-inspired combinations. The RTP is 96.30%, with the following combos dealing out different payouts:

Blackjack (Ruby/Emerald/Azure/The Club)

There is a vast number of these tables available. They are all regular blackjack, played with the rules, characteristics and side bets mentioned above, offering a range of bet amounts. Each table will have different betting limits, to satisfy the size of any bankroll.

As for the Azure, Ruby, Emerald and The Club varieties, each of them signifies the cosmetic differences between types of tables. Unsurprisingly, Ruby tables will have a burgundy and gold coloration, Azure tables will feature a backdrop and table in deep blue, while Emerald will have green with gold accents. Finally, The Club tables are adorned with cool blue and gold designs that imitate the feeling of luxurious land-based casinos.

VIP Blackjack

VIP Blackjack tables were created to offer players a luxurious gaming experience, with just 3 different players at each table and professional live dealers. At VIP tables, you get more time to place bets and make your decisions - 20 seconds. Also, you may occupy up to 7 different seats at VIP tables - you could play all the seats on your own. The “Deal Now” button is available at all times and you are also allowed to be idle for up to 3 rounds, before you are removed from the game.

VIP Blackjack also comes in the Ruby and Emerald variations.

Privé Lounge Blackjack

In Privé Lounge Blackjack, you get to experience a 1-on-1 with the dealer, since only 1 player is allowed to join at a time. The player controls the action at a Privé Lounge Blackjack table, as they can request to change dealer, extend the game time, change the shoe or even reshuffle the cards.

Other than that, the rules remain the same as in Regular Blackjack.

Speed Blackjack

Speed Blackjack plays with the classic Blackjack rules, so you don’t need to learn anything new for it. What makes it faster is the fact that players don’t wait for their turn to make their decisions after their 2 initial cards. Instead, everyone decides at the same time within the allotted 10 second-window. If you’re Hitting, you press the “Deal Now” button. The implication is that players are dealt cards in the order in which they make their decisions.

This game is up to 30% faster than regular blackjack and it offers the Pairs and 21+3 Side bets. An exciting twist on regular blackjack, it can be made more efficient with features like Auto Decisions and Honest Decisions, as described above.

Blackjack X

Another interesting version is Blackjack X, which comes in the Azure, Ruby, and Emerald varieties. This game doesn’t feature a live dealer or a real table - it’s built on a Random Number Generator - but it looks and plays just like Pragmatic’s live dealer blackjack tables.

Where the innovation comes in is the fact that although this is an RNG game with no dealer, you play alongside other players and you’re able to interact with them through the chat. Most RNG games are solo games - you play on your own on the table.

The fact that there is no dealer makes the game considerably faster, while maintaining some sort of social element through the player-to-player interaction.

Other Live Blackjack Versions by Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play has also created One Blackjack, a variant that allows an unlimited number of players to play on the same table at the same time. It works a lot like Evolution’s Infinite Blackjack but it has some interesting additional features that we feel warrant a separate review.

Overall, Pragmatic Play's live blackjack games really shine with their top-notch quality and immersive gameplay. The blend of cutting-edge tech and professional live dealers makes for an authentic and engaging experience. With cool features and a user-friendly interface, Pragmatic Play shows its commitment to keeping players happy. As the online gaming world grows, Pragmatic Play stays ahead, setting new trends for live blackjack fun. For anyone looking for a great live casino experience, Pragmatic Play’s games are both exciting and rewarding.

Use our advanced filtering options to find the best crypto casino sites where you can play Pragmatic's live blackjack games. Just tick "Pragmatic Live" in the Provider section and get a comprehensive list with casinos, their welcome bonuses and in-depth reviews for each of them.