UK Live Blackjack Online Casino Sites
About Live Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most widely-played casino games in the world. While its origin is unknown, it is presumed to date back to the 17th century. Miguel de Cervantes first mentioned this game in his novel written back in 1613.
Modern live blackjack or online blackjack belongs to a group of games called “21”. Other variants in this category are Vingt-et-Un and Pontoon. Over time, many different blackjack iterations appeared in online casinos, all working on the same basic principles.
With the invention of live casino games in the early 2000s, players got to experience the thrill of real-life blackjack right from their computers. Nowadays, the games have advanced so much that we can find some immersive and entertaining titles that leave their RNG counterparts in the dust.
How We Choose the Best Live Blackjack Casinos for British Players
Our in-house casino experts approach online casino reviews with seriousness and care. We know the importance of choosing the right operator, so we rely on rigorous criteria to assess these websites. Here are the main features we consider:
- Security and licensing — We check whether the reviewed live blackjack casinos have valid operating licences from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. They must also employ advanced security measures to protect users’ data.
- Gaming portfolios — A good blackjack live casino has a varied offer of live dealer blackjack titles from reputable providers. It also features a wide range of other popular casino games.
- Bonuses and promotions — The operators that make our list grant lucrative bonuses with player-friendly bonus terms for new and existing players.
- Mobile casino — We test the casinos’ mobile apps and websites to make sure they provide functionality and ease of use.
- Banking methods — We check the payment systems of UK online casino sites. We make sure the payment methods are convenient and secure and that they facilitate easy and fast payouts.
What Is Online Live Dealer Blackjack?
Live dealer blackjack is a variant of blackjack hosted by a real human dealer. The games are filmed in HD from professional studios and land-based casinos. They are called “live” games because they’re streamed in real time, providing the most authentic casino experience without going to an actual casino.
Live casino blackjack plays like regular blackjack and has exciting variants you can try. The integrated chat function lets you communicate with the dealer and other players. Depending on the game, there are different table limits, making it accessible to players with all bankrolls.
Live Dealer Blackjack — Advantages and Disadvantages
Live casino blackjack is certainly one of the most popular online casino games. However, we must look at its advantages and disadvantages to get a clearer picture of this option.
Advantages of playing Live BlackJack
- Authentic casino experience — Thanks to HD streaming and the presence of a live dealer, players can get the most authentic live casino experience without visiting an actual casino.
- Availability — Blackjack is one of gambling websites’ most represented casino game categories. Thus, you’ll be able to find multiple blackjack variations at our recommended live blackjack casinos.
- Human interaction — Thanks to the live chat function, you can interact with other players and the dealer, making your casino experience more genuine.
- Excellent for high-rollers — Live casino blackjack games also come as VIP variants with high table limits, catering to players who like to bet big.
- Slower pace — In contrast to RNG blackjack games, live casino blackjack plays at a slower pace. This allows you to focus on the game better and enjoy it more.
Disadvantages of Live Blackjack Casinos
- Limited number of seats — Most live blackjack games place a limit on the number of players that can join at the same time. Therefore, you may have to wait to sit at some tables or opt for other titles.
- High minimum bets — Casinos and providers spend incomparably more to run live dealer games as opposed to RNG games. Therefore, these titles usually have higher minimum bets.
- Bonus availability — Bonus funds from most online casino bonuses aren’t valid in live blackjack games. You may run into a bonus offer explicitly aimed at live casino players, but this doesn’t happen very often.
Why Should You Play Live Online Blackjack?
Live casino blackjack is among the most prominent variants of this mega-popular casino classic. Players enjoy these games so much mainly because they’re entertaining, look great, and offer a chance for interaction with other players and the dealer. If you employ the basic strategy, blackjack can also be the game with the highest RTP — up to 99.54%.
Moreover, leading live casino providers produce these games in abundance, so they are widely available on UK online casino sites. However, if you want to secure the best gaming experience, we recommend choosing an operator from our list.
How Does Live Blackjack Online Work?
When you open a blackjack live casino game, you’ll see a professional dealer sitting behind a blackjack table. As the year is 2024, the games are streamed in full-HD quality from real brick-and-mortar casinos or professional studios. There are usually multiple camera angles, showing your hand, the dealer’s cards, and more to create a more authentic experience.
You can also communicate with live blackjack dealers via the integrated live chat function, and they will respond by speaking into the camera. You can also chat with others currently playing the game.
To start playing, simply make a bet using the controls you can see on the screen. The dealer will then hand out the cards. All that’s left to do is follow the flow of the game and hope that your hand will be stronger than the dealer’s without going bust.
Live Dealer Blackjack vs. Land-Based Casino Blackjack
The main difference between live dealer blackjack and its land-based counterpart is that the former is an online casino game, while the latter plays in-person in real brick-and-mortar venues.
Still, there are some overlapping characteristics. For instance, live casinos and land-based blackjacks are in an actual venue up to a point. The difference is that you have to be physically present in a land-based casino for the first one, while you can play the other remotely while it is being streamed.
Another distinction is that live dealer blackjack games offer much greater diversity than land-based games. Online casinos can feature innovative and exciting titles like Lightning Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack, whereas brick-and-mortar casinos only offer standard iterations.
How to Play Live Blackjack Online
Blackjack is famous for being one of the easiest card games to learn and play, and blackjack live follows suit. Fundamentally, blackjack is a comparison game between a player and a dealer — whoever has the stronger hand wins.
Basics
Players should aim for a sum of cards close to 21 without going “bust”. If a player’s hand is over 21, they automatically lose the round, even if the sum of their cards was higher than the dealer’s.
To calculate the sum of the cards, you should know that the numbered cards are worth their face value, whereas face cards (J, Q, and K) are worth 10. When it comes to aces, players can decide whether they are worth 1 or 11 based on what is better for their hand.
Betting Round
At the beginning of the round, players place their bets. The dealer then deals two cards for themselves and two for each player involved. Depending on the game variant, the player’s cards may be dealt face-up or face-down. At least one of the dealer’s cards is always dealt face-up.
Live Blackjack Player’s Moves
Once the dealer has dealt the first cards, players can do the following:
- Stand — Stop taking cards.
- Hit — Receive another card from the deck.
- Double down — Double your bet and receive another card from the deck. Players usually do this when they believe they can make a strong hand.
- Split — If the first two of their cards have the same value, players can choose to split them into two separate hands, place a second bet equal to the original one, and receive one additional card for each new hand.
- Surrender — Some casinos and live blackjack variants feature this option, allowing players to keep half of their original bet.
Live Blackjack Dealer Moves
Once all players have played their hands in live blackjack casino game, the dealer will step onto the scene. If one of their cards was dealt face-down, they turn it, showing the result of their hand. The dealer then compares their hand to those of the players.
Players can’t win the round if a dealer has a blackjack (hand sum 21). At best, they can receive their bet back if they also have a blackjack. Players can also get their bet back if they have the same hand value as the dealer.
If the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, players can win if they have a blackjack or a stronger hand. If a player goes bust, they automatically lose, even if the sum of the dealer’s cards is also over 21.
Blackjack Live Dealer Variations
Blackjack live dealer games come in different versions you can try. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular iterations:
- Classic Blackjack — This is the simplest version of live blackjack, and it’s played with up to eight decks. Some rules characteristic of this game include dealers standing on a hard 17 and hitting on a 16 or soft 17. This version doesn’t feature surrender, and players are allowed to double down on any hand. Its RTP is 99.65% if played using the right strategy.
- European Blackjack — In this blackjack variant, players can split only pairs of cards with the same value. They can also double down only on hands that have the value of 9, 10, or 11. With optimum strategy, the RTP of this variant is 99.60%.
- Double Exposure Blackjack — This rendition of the game gets its name because the live blackjack dealers deal their cards face-up. It lets players make more informed decisions about their next move. However, the game features a 1:1 blackjack payout in contrast to the standard 3:2. The average payout of this variant is 99.33%.
- Multi-Hand Blackjack — As the name of this live blackjack game suggests, each player plays a round with multiple hands, usually between three and five. However, this form of blackjack most often comes in RNG.
- Speed Blackjack — If you don’t like the slower pace live blackjack games usually have, you can try Speed Blackjack. In this variant, players should be fully focused on the game and be able to make decisions quickly.
- Spanish 21 — In Spanish 21, all tens are removed from the decks. The game has special payouts corresponding to the player’s number of cards. Also, when the player and the live blackjack dealers have a blackjack in Spanish 21, the player wins. Like Multi-Hand Blackjack, this game comes mainly as an RNG variant.
Top Live Blackjack UK Casinos — What to Expect
If you choose a UK live casino from our list of recommended operators, you can be sure you’ve made the right decision. Here is what you can expect from these blackjack live casinos:
- Security — All online casinos on our list possess valid UKGC operating licences, making them completely legal and safe. They also use SSL encryption and firewalls to protect your information and money.
- Superb gaming portfolios — You’ll find the best choice of casino online blackjack live titles. You’ll have the opportunity to play other fantastic live dealer games, table games, and slots.
- Finest game developers — The best UK blackjack live casinos partner up with some leading game developers. You will be able to find titles from Microgaming, NetEnt, and Evolution Gaming.
- Great casino bonus offers — When you sign up with these casinos, you’ll have the chance to seize generous player promotions. Some operators even offer bonuses valid in live casino sections.
- Easy and fast payouts — If you play live blackjack on these sites and win, you can withdraw your winnings using various fast and secure payment methods.
Online casinos with live dealer blackjack have promotional deals featuring different kinds of bonuses. While many of these offers aren’t valid in live dealer online blackjack, they can provide bonus funds for slots and table games.
Some of the most notable online casino bonuses include:
- Online casino welcome bonus — This incentive is aimed at new players in a casino. It is usually valid on their first deposit or a few of their first deposits. Welcome bonuses can bring bonus cash, free spins, or consist of some combination of the two.
- No-wagering bonus — This is the best type of bonus you can claim. It has no wagering requirements, so you can make your winnings withdrawable with little effort.
- No-deposit bonus — Players can claim these promotions after they sign up or verify their email or phone number. These offers are attractive because players don’t need to make a deposit to claim them; however, they are rare.
- Reload bonuses — These are deposit-based promotions you can claim daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the casino. They usually offer a deposit match in bonus cash, free spins, or even a package including both.
Live Dealer Blackjack Online Games for Real Money
Live dealer blackjack games come in many different variations and with various table limits. While it is true that live casino blackjack generally has higher minimum table limits, there are games with diverse betting options catering to all kinds of players
Some of the most popular low-limit UK live blackjack games include Evolution’s Infinite Blackjack, Ezugi’s Unlimited 21 Blackjack and 1xBet Live Blackjack, and Playtech’s Quantum Blackjack. These games have table minimums of just $1, accommodating all bankroll sizes.
On the flip side, you can also find titles with particularly high table limits. Dedicated Evolution Gaming and Playtech live blackjack tables let you bet anywhere from £10,000 to £50,000.
Live Blackjack Casino Games With the Highest RTP
Unlike some other live casino games, blackjack is not purely luck-based. Therefore, if you use the recommended optimum strategy, you can minimise your losses and drive the RTP up to its maximum capacity. Still, because of the differences in game rules, live blackjack games have varying average RTPs.
Blackjack online live dealer games with the highest RTPs include Playtech’s Unlimited Blackjack with 99.54% and Quantum Blackjack with 99.47%. There are also Evolution Gaming’s Infinite Blackjack with 99.51% and First Person Blackjack with 99.21%.
Live Blackjack Dealers Online Software Providers
Choosing the right software developer is crucial for the quality of live dealer casino games. The following few stand out among numerous casino online blackjack live providers:
- NetEnt — Before Evolution Gaming bought it in 2020, this well-known provider ventured into a live dealer realm. Some of the most notable titles included Perfect Blackjack and Common Draw Blackjack. However, these games are no longer available since the company gives precedence to Evolution’s releases.
- Evolution Gaming — Not only does this provider specialise in live dealer games, but it’s also the absolute leader in the category. In more than 16 years that it’s been operating, it has produced mesmerising casino live blackjack titles like Infinite Blackjack with no seat limits, the unique Party Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack, and Speed Blackjack, to name a few.
- Microgaming — Having provided the very first online casinos, Microgaming is one of the most prominent game developers in the whole iGaming industry. While it is primarily famous for its slots, it has also produced high-quality live blackjack games.
- Pragmatic Play — Founded in 2015, Pragmatic Play is a relatively new casino game provider. Like Microgaming, it is mainly known for its slots, while it also has a prolific live casino. Its most popular live blackjack titles include Italian, VIP, and ONE Blackjack.
Live Blackjack Online Casino Sites — Accepted Banking Options
Online casinos where you can play blackjack live feature many different banking methods you can use for deposits and withdrawals. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular payment processors:
- Debit cards — Cards like Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in online casinos. This payment method is extremely secure and lets you deposit and withdraw big amounts of money. However, it is much slower than other options, as payouts can take up to five days.
- E-wallets — Options like PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Trustly are available in almost every online casino. These services let you transfer money to and from your casino live blackjack account without sharing your banking info. They are also one of the fastest withdrawal options, as they process transactions within 24h.
- Pay by Phone — Methods like Siru and Boku let you deposit money into your casino account via your mobile phone. These are postpaid options, as the deposit you make is added to your phone bill. The biggest disadvantage of these methods is that they are only available for deposits and have low maximum limits.
- Prepaid cards — You can use prepaid cards like AstroPay and Paysafecard to deposit money into your casino account. They let you do so safely and without sharing sensitive banking data with a casino live blackjack. In addition to that, AstroPay can also function like an e-wallet, so it’s also available for withdrawals, while Paysafecard isn’t.
Casino Live Blackjack and Responsible Gambling
The most important thing about playing online blackjack live dealers games is to remember to gamble responsibly. Live Blackjack game help to create a safe and secure environment for players, as well as provide them with the opportunity to play with a blackjack live dealer. All online casinos on our list let their players use different tools to help them keep their gambling habits in check. These include setting session, deposit, and loss limits, along with the option to exclude themselves from the casino’s services.
In addition to that, players who notice signs of gambling problems can contact the following organisations for help:
Final Thoughts – Blackjack Live Dealer
We hope our thorough guide on live casino blackjack answered any questions you might have had about this popular casino game. If you want to try it, make sure to choose a casino from our list of reviewed operators. The casinos we recommend are top-rated operators with the best gaming offers and some of the fastest withdrawals in the market. Simply click on the link next to your chosen casino, sign up, deposit, and you can start playing in minutes!
