Online Blackjack UK: Play Live Dealer Casino Blackjack

Blackjack has been played for centuries in card rooms, and in recent years it has become a mainstay at many UK-licensed online casinos. 

At Ivy Casino, you will find digital versions that use computer software and live dealer tables streamed from a studio. 

This page explains how both work, what the rules usually involve, and why some tables may play differently from others. 

By setting out the terms, the options you might see on-screen, and the way outcomes are decided, it aims to help you feel more comfortable when approaching blackjack online. 

Whether you are completely new, or simply curious about how the digital and live formats compare, the sections below break down the essentials in straightforward terms.

Understanding How Online Blackjack Works

Online blackjack is a game between you and the dealer. Your aim is to finish a hand with a total that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s total, without going over 21. If your hand exceeds 21, this is called “busting” and your stake on that hand is lost.

Card values are simple:

• Number cards (2 to 10) are worth their face value.
• Picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) count as 10.
• An Ace can count as either 1 or 11, depending on which total may be more helpful for your hand.

When you play a digital blackjack game, the cards are dealt using a Random Number Generator (RNG). This is computer software that is tested by independent laboratories to make sure outcomes are random and fair. 

In live dealer blackjack, the cards are real, dealt by a professional dealer and streamed to your screen from a studio. The way each format feels can differ, but both follow the same basic rules.

Before the round begins, you decide how much to stake. Once the hand is dealt, you then make decisions such as whether to take another card (hit), stay on your current total (stand), or use options like doubling or splitting if the table rules allow them.

Top Real Money Blackjack Games

When browsing blackjack games at a UK-licensed casino such as Ivy Casino, you may notice a choice between digital software tables and live dealer tables. Both versions can be played for real money, but the way they are presented is different.

• Digital blackjack tends to be faster, as the software deals cards almost instantly. The pace is usually suited to players who prefer quick rounds.
• Live dealer blackjack streams a real table with a dealer managing the cards. Decisions are made on-screen, but at the natural pace of a human-dealt game.

Game libraries may often include several variations, each with their own rules, side bets, and table limits. Checking the paytable and rules before you join can help you understand how a specific blackjack game works, as no two versions are guaranteed to be identical.

Live Dealer Blackjack Tables

In live dealer blackjack, you play against a real dealer who manages the game on camera. Cards are dealt onto a physical table, and you make your decisions through the interface on your screen. Common decisions include:

• Hit: request another card.
• Stand: keep your total.
• Double: increase your stake and take exactly one more card.
• Split: if you are dealt a pair, you can divide it into two hands (when the rules allow).

Most UK live dealer tables use multiple decks of cards, often six or eight. Some also use continuous shuffling machines, meaning the deck can be reshuffled frequently. This ensures the game remains unpredictable.

Blackjack payouts are normally 3:2 in UK live dealer games. For example, a £10 stake on a blackjack hand would return £25 in total. In rare cases, some casinos may use a 6:5 payout, where the same hand would return £22 in total. Checking the table paytable shows which payout applies.

Many live tables also feature optional side bets. These do not affect the outcome of your main hand, but give the option of placing an extra wager on possible card combinations. Payouts for side bets should be explained in the information panel of each table.

Mobile Blackjack

Blackjack can also be played on smartphones and tablets. At Ivy Casino, both digital blackjack and live dealer tables are designed to work on smaller screens. Betting chips and decision buttons are scaled for touchscreens, so gameplay remains clear.

The rules and potential payouts are the same as those on desktop, but table limits and side bet options may vary from one game to another. Live dealer tables on mobile usually support multiple players at once, with the action streamed in real time. Digital tables tend to remain one-to-one between you and the software.

Before joining a game on mobile, it may be helpful to open the information tab, which sets out the house rules, paytable, and any side bet details.

Beginner’s Guide: How to Play Blackjack Online

When a round begins, you place your stake and confirm it. Two cards are then dealt to you and two to the dealer. Your cards are usually face-up. The dealer has one card face-up (the “upcard”) and one card face-down (the “hole card”).

From here, you choose how to play your hand. If your total looks low, you might choose to hit. If you are close to 21, you may prefer to stand. Doubling is an option where you place a further stake equal to your original bet and take one more card only. If you are dealt a pair, such as two 8s, the rules may let you split them into two separate hands, depending on the game.

Once you finish your hand, the dealer reveals their cards and must follow the set rules. In most UK tables, the dealer must hit until they reach at least 17. If your total is higher than the dealer’s without busting, you win even money on that hand. 

If you have a natural blackjack (an Ace plus a ten-value card), the payout is higher depending on the table rules. If your total matches the dealer’s, the result is called a “push” and your stake is returned.

Popular Blackjack Side Bets & How They Work

Side bets are optional wagers placed alongside your main hand. They depend on specific card combinations and are settled separately from the main outcome.

Common examples include:

• Perfect Pairs: Pays if your first two cards form a pair. A suited pair (for example, two Kings of Hearts) usually pays more than a mixed-colour pair.
• 21+3: Combines your first two cards with the dealer’s upcard. If the three cards form a poker-style hand such as a straight or flush, the side bet pays.
• Insurance: Offered if the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. It is a bet that the dealer’s hidden card is a ten, which would give them blackjack. Insurance usually pays 2:1, but if the dealer does not have blackjack, the insurance stake is lost and the main hand continues.

It is worth noting that side bets usually have a higher house edge than the main game. Details of potential payouts and house edge should be displayed in each game’s information section. 

Not every blackjack table includes side bets, so if this is something you are interested in, it may be a good idea to check the game rules or paytable first to see whether they are available.

Blackjack Odds, Payouts & House Edge

In blackjack, payouts depend on the hand outcome:

• A standard winning hand pays 1:1.
• A natural blackjack usually pays 3:2.
• A push results in your stake being returned.

The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino has over players. How high or low it is depends on the rules of the table and how you make your decisions:

• Optimal basic strategy: If you follow the mathematically correct move for every possible situation, the house edge can be as low as 0.5% on favourable tables.
• Mistakes and poor strategy: If you play without basic strategy, the house edge can rise significantly. Casual players often face an edge of 2% or more.
• Rule variations: House edge is influenced by how the game is set up. For example:
  • Dealer hitting on soft 17 (an Ace plus another 6) increases the house edge.
  • More decks of cards generally increase the house edge, while fewer decks may lower it.
  • Tables that pay 6:5 on blackjack instead of 3:2 increase the house edge considerably.

This is why checking the paytable and rules before joining a table is important. 

Play Real Money Blackjack Online at Ivy Casino

At Ivy Casino, blackjack is available in both digital and live dealer formats. You can explore a variety of tables with different rules, side bet options, and limits. Our platform provides clear information panels within each game, so you can see the potential payouts and rules before joining.

Account tools at Ivy Casino let you set personal limits that suit your own comfort level, and customer support is available if you need guidance. 

Remember, blackjack involves an element of chance. No strategy or decision-making can remove the uncertainty of the cards, so any winnings can never be guaranteed.

Online Blackjack FAQs

What Is The Best Blackjack Strategy?

There is no single strategy that guarantees success, as blackjack involves chance. Many players use “basic strategy”, which is a chart of mathematically correct plays based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard. Using it has the potential to reduce the house edge, but outcomes still depend on the cards dealt.

Is Online Blackjack Rigged?

No. UK-licensed casinos, including Ivy Casino, must use software that is tested by independent laboratories. Digital blackjack relies on certified Random Number Generators, while live dealer tables use real cards dealt in real time. The house edge is defined by the rules of the game, not by hidden adjustments.

Can You Card Count Online Blackjack?

In digital blackjack, the virtual deck is reshuffled after every hand, making counting pointless. Live dealer games often use multiple decks and frequent reshuffling, sometimes with continuous shuffling machines. These conditions make card counting impractical.

What Is Insurance In Blackjack?

Insurance is an optional side bet offered when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. It pays if the dealer’s hidden card is a ten-value card, completing a blackjack. 

The payout is typically 2:1. If the dealer does not have blackjack, the insurance bet is lost, but the main hand plays out as normal. 

Not every blackjack game provides the option of insurance, as it depends on the specific rules of the table. Some versions of blackjack may exclude it entirely to try and keep the game faster or simpler, so it can be worth checking the game information first if you want to know whether insurance is available.

Blackjack can be enjoyable, but it is important to approach it responsibly. At Ivy Casino, you have access to account tools that let you set limits on deposits, losses or time spent. 

It is wise to think of blackjack as entertainment, rather than a way to make money. If you choose to play, set a budget that you are comfortable with, stick to it, and take breaks when you need them.

_{*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.}

_{**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.}