Pros and Cons of Playing Live Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular games played in online casinos. Apart from being easy to learn, it also has a low house edge percentage, giving players better odds at winning.

Most online casino sites have taken it a notch higher by including live blackjack in their casino game collection. This enables individuals to have a more realistic gambling experience, just as they would in a physical casino, but in the comfort of their locations.

Below is a comprehensive guide on the pros and cons of playing live blackjack.

Pros of Playing Live Blackjack

Individuals Get a More Authentic Gambling Experience

This is probably the main advantage of playing live blackjack. This live casino game allows individuals to play against a real live dealer. What’s more, there are other real participants at the table and live chat features where everyone at the table can interact.

All these features provide the gambler with a more authentic gambling experience that is almost similar to that in brick-and-mortar casinos.

Live Blackjack Has a Lower House Edge Percentage Compared to Online Blackjack

While blackjack generally has a low house edge percentage, the live version has a lower house edge percentage than the online version. This is mainly due to the rules of the game.

For starters, a blackjack pays off at “3 to 2” in most live blackjack games on live casino platforms. On the other hand, most online blackjack games only pay off at “even money.” While this rule results in a slight house edge percentage difference between online and live blackjack, the difference becomes significant when applied to every wager a player places over time.

Players Get the Advantage of Counting Cards in Live Blackjack

Counting cards is a popular strategy gamblers use to increase their odds of winning. This strategy involves a player counting the cards being dealt by the dealer and the ones remaining on the deck. Doing so gives the participant a better knowledge of the likelihood of a good card being dealt, allowing them to bet accordingly.

While it is possible to utilize this strategy while playing live blackjack in a live casino, it can be challenging for several reasons. For instance, live dealers in most live blackjack games in online casinos reshuffle the cards at every hand. However, the bottom line is this strategy can be used in live blackjack games, which is an advantage.

Cons of Playing Live Blackjack

Higher Minimum Wagers Per Hand

One of the downsides of playing live blackjack on online casino sites is a higher minimum bet per hand compared to the online version. Typically, gamblers can play for as little as a dollar per hand on online blackjack in online casinos.

On the other hand, the minimum bet per hand in live blackjack games is higher. Some live casino platforms set their minimum wager as $3 or even higher.

The Game Is Played at a Slower Pace Than Online Blackjack

Another downside is the pace at which the game is played. Typically, with live blackjack, several factors affect the game’s speed. This includes the other participants’ playing decisions and the live dealer reshuffling the cards.

However, this doesn’t entirely count as a disadvantage, as more hands being played means more loss. Normally, live casino websites estimate how much loss a gambler will incur when playing live blackjack by multiplying the number of hands they play by the casino’s house edge percentage.

So, for instance, the minimum bet per hand in a particular live blackjack game is $5. And a player plays 50 hands in one hour, which is $250. On the other hand, the minimum bet per hand in online blackjack is $1, and the gambler plays 500 hands in an hour, which is $500.

Assuming the house edge for both games is 1%, the gambler’s expected loss when playing live blackjack will be $2.50 per hour. On the other hand, the player’s expected loss if they play online blackjack will be $5 per hour, which is higher.

Less Variety in Blackjack Game Versions

Live blackjack may not be the ideal option for gamblers looking for variety. Unlike online blackjack, the live version doesn’t come in different varieties, which is quite a downside.

Some online casino sites offer different online blackjack versions for individuals looking for something different. For instance, there’s a version called “Zappit blackjack”, where players can “zap” a card and exchange it with a different one.

Conclusion

Like other live casino games, live blackjack allows players a more authentic gambling experience, just as they would in physical casinos, but in the comfort of their locations.

However, gamblers should try out both live and online blackjack to make a more informed decision about which version is the ideal one for them.