Live Blackjack in South African Online Casinos

Live casino blackjack is a popular game that is played in real-time over the internet with a live dealer. Players interact with their dealers via a video stream and can make all of their decisions through the game interface, just as they would in a land-based casino.

The main point behind the live dealer version of blackjack is to create the feeling of a real-life casino experience even as you play online. Some live blackjack games that you can play in SA are set up in a studio, while others are broadcast from actual land-based casinos, allowing players to enjoy the added atmosphere of a real venue. The rules and overall objective here are no different from those of land-based blackjack tables. Also, live blackjack can come in different variants. 

Once you’re set to play blackjack with a live dealer, you’ll see a semi-circular table on your screen, with a dealer positioned in the inner arc. You’ll also notice how the blackjack table is marked to create different areas, each with its own specific use. Also visible on your screen are the cards in a shoe and some virtual chips. 

A player must make a bet within the specified time frame to start a round, usually around 15 seconds. The time limit may vary from game to game, so it is important to check the rules of the particular game before playing. The croupier deals two cards each to him (her) and the player and then waits for the player’s move. The player then makes a move based on the croupier’s up card.  

The player can either “hit,” which means to take another card, or “stand,” if they are confident that their total makes a winning hand. The player wins if their hand is equal to or closer to 21 than the dealer’s. If their hand is the same as the dealer’s, nobody wins and the round ends in a push.

The basic rules of the blackjack live casino game are quite simple, like those of online blackjack. You’ll always find the rules inside the game, so you can refer to them if necessary. The rules of the game stipulate that the dealer must always stand on a total of 17 or above but must draw on a score of 16 or lower. The player, on the other hand, has more flexibility in deciding whether to stand or hit. The main caveat is that the player must make his move before the dealer draws any further cards. Let’s look at the sequence of actions that occur during a hand.

To begin the game, the player is dealt two face-up cards, while the dealer is dealt one face-up and one face-down card. That means the player can only see one of the dealer’s two cards. Knowing the value of each card is key, as this determines the move a player must make. 

In blackjack, all numbered cards are counted at their face value. However, Kings, Queens, and Jacks are counted as 10. Aces can either count as 1 or 11 based on a player’s total hand. If a player gets a 10-value card and an Ace on the initial deal, that’s automatically a blackjack (since the ace can count as 11 here), which pays 3:2, provided the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack too. If he does, it’s a draw, so you neither win nor lose.

Once the player takes an action, the dealer can then draw until they get a hand of 17+ or exceed 21. If the dealer crosses 21 or the player gets the closest hand to 21, the player wins. If both parties end up with a matching total, the hand is a draw (a push), so nobody wins or loses.

Pragmatic Play published their first live dealer blackjack game in 2018 with no fancy title save for the word “Blackjack”. While that will be our game of focus here, it’s good to note that the operator also has another blackjack game called ONE Blackjack. It has a minimum bet of $10 and a maximum bet of $2000, and its RTP is 99.59%. 

In 2018, Pragmatic Play bought Extreme Live Gaming and used the studio’s operations to get into the live casino business. Shortly after that, the company’s management decided to launch a brand-new product. A studio was set up in Bucharest, and qualified people were hired to host games like blackjack. Pragmatic Play’s successfully represented the traditional game in its “live blackjack” adaptation, so there are no new rules to be learnt.

Overall, Live Blackjack by Pragmatic Play comes with standard and player-friendly rules. The Pragmatic Play blackjack is quite basic in terms of appearance, so experienced players will find the interface familiar. Also, the bulk of the game’s features is arranged at the upper right end of the screen. In terms of the side bet options available, it doesn’t go beyond the Perfect Pairs and 21+3. 

How to play Pragmatic’s Live Blackjack

To play, you’ll join a table that seats seven people and uses eight standard decks of playing cards. The edition, however, includes a few interesting features and wagering opportunities. Incorporating these into a game increases the player’s payoff and the fun factor. The betting interface is minimalistic, thus keeping the viewer’s attention squarely on the high-quality live feed.

Once the game loads, you’ll get a prompt to take any of the available seats at the table. There are seven available seats and a Bet Behind option in Live Blackjack by Pragmatic Play. The round starts once the croupier deals the cards, two per player and two for the house (one face up and the other face down).

Now, it’s time for the player to make a move by deciding how best to form their hand so that it’s close to or equal to 21 without going bust. A player may hit, double down, split, stand, or leverage the early decision feature (they can use this function to choose their options without having to wait for their turn to play). Insurance pays 2:1; blackjack pays 3:2. Also, the dealer must stand on 17 and draw until 16. 

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Vivo Gaming, one of the leading providers of live casino games, launched its live blackjack game in 2013, followed by three other variations over the years. The game titled Live Blackjack is played with eight decks of cards, and players can place bets from $1 to $250. What we have here is a standard blackjack table that accommodates up to seven players. There is also a Bet Behind feature, so if all seats are taken, you can choose any of the seven players and bet behind them. As expected, once bets are placed, each player gets two cards, and the dealer gets a face-up and a face-down card as well. Here the dealer must always stand on a soft 17 as per the rules, and you can split just once. There are also two side bets in Vivo Gaming’s Live Blackjack: Perfect Pairs and 21+3.

The player can choose between a 2D and 3D presentation as soon as the game starts. Interactions with other players and lively dealers greatly enhance the fun. Multiple live blackjack tables are always available from the provider; the only real distinction is the studio from which the action is being broadcast. If you have a perfect internet connection, the game runs with fluidity and no delays across all mobile gaming devices. 

The other three blackjack games from this provider are Las Vegas Blackjack, Limitless Blackjack, and Turkish Blackjack.

There is no other way to enjoy a near-realistic blackjack game online unless you play the live dealer option. Since the rules are the same as when you play at land-based casinos or when you opt for the RNG version, there is nothing new to learn. To try live casino blackjack in South Africa, you can explore the top sites we’ve recommended on this page. Also, different live dealer game providers have tried to give their own unique touch to their live blackjack offerings. Depending on what you like in terms of streaming quality, aesthetics, and even bet range, you’ll find a live dealer blackjack game that suits you.