Playtech
Playtech is currently one of the leading online casino software brands that offer live dealer online casinos games to a number of geographical markets. Players interested in live dealer blackjack games can look forward to a wide variety on offer, each with unique betting limits, designs and additional features.
Live Blackjack Variations
Grand Blackjack
Blackjack VIP
Lounge Blackjack
Blackjack Soho
Soriee Blackjack
Royale Blackjack
Transylvania Blackjack
Unlimited Blackjack
Live dealer blackjack games are among Playtech’s most extensive subset, with a number of live blackjack variations to suit all playing styles, skill levels and budgets. Current Playtech Live Blackjack variations include:
Grand Blackjack
Streaming directly out of Playtech’s Riga studio, Playtech Grand Blackjack, along with Playtech Royale Blackjack uses the US style of blackjack deal. Grand Blackjack is available 24/7 and is a multiplayer 7 seat game.
Playtech Grand Blackjack rules include:
- Uses an 8 deck shoe
- Dealer must stand on all 17’s
- Double after split is permitted
- Doubling any two cards is permitted
- Hitting on split Aces is not permitted
- Re-splits are not permitted
- Insurance is available
- Side bets on offer include: 21+3 and Perfect Pairs
- Bet behind is available
- 10 Card Charlie applies
- House edge: 0.48578%
Blackjack VIP
Playtech VIP live blackjack offers blackjack players higher limits than the regular or lounge Playtech blackjack tables do. Currently only available during peak times, Playtech Blackjack VIP is a 7 seat multiplayer live blackjack game.
Playtech Blackjack VIP rules include:
- Uses an 8 deck shoe
- European style of blackjack deal
- Dealer must stand on all 17’s
- Doubling after split is permitted
- Doubling any two cards is permitted
- Hitting on split Aces is permitted
- Re-splits are not permitted
- Insurance is available
- 10 Card Charlie applies
- Bet behind is available
- House edge: 0.29593%
Lounge Blackjack
Streaming directly from Playtech’s European studios, Playtech Lounge Blackjack offers lower limits as well as the choice between US or European style of blackjack deal. Playtech Lounge Blackjack is a 7 seater multiplayer table and is available 24/7.
Playtech Lounge Blackjack rules include:
- Uses an 8 deck shoe
- Dealer must stand on all 17’s
- Doubling after split is permitted
- Doubling any two cards is permitted
- Hitting on split Aces is not permitted
- Re-splits are not permitted
- Insurance is offered
- Side bets are offered including: 21+3 and Perfect Pairs
- 10 Card Charlie applies
- Bet behind is available
- House edge: 0.48768%
Blackjack Soho
Select Playtech blackjack games that are now streamed from Playtech’s live studio in Romania are presented as Playtech Blackjack Soho. The Playtech Blackjack Soho tables are new for 2018 and are available 24/7 as 7 seater multiplayer options.
Playtech Blackjack Soho rules include:
- Uses an 8 deck shoe
- Dealer must stand on all 17’s
- Doubling after split is permitted
- Doubling any two cards is permitted
- Hitting on split Aces is not permitted
- Re-splits are not permitted
- Side bets offered including: 21+3
- Bet behind available Player Pair, Dealer pair, 21+3
- House edge: 0.48578%
Soriee Blackjack
Playtech Blackjack Soiree is aimed more at high rollers but with a low enough minimum bet to make it accessible to players looking for a slightly richer game than standard Playtech’s standard blackjack games. While many of the basic rules stay in line with Playtech’s standard live blackjack rules, there are some interesting variations here that may interest experience blackjack players in particular.
Playtech Blackjack Soiree rules include:
- Uses an 8 deck shoe
- Minimum bet is set at £/€/$50
- Maximum bet is set at £/€/$10,000
- Dealer window is 30 minutes
- Players can request a new dealer after 30 minutes or keep the same dealer
- Players can request a shoe change via the dedicated Playtech Blackjack Soiree Host
- Players can request the shoe be reshuffled
- Side bets are available including 21+3 and Perfect Pairs
- Insurance is available
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Multi seat
- Bet behind available
- US style of blackjack deal
Royale Blackjack
Playtech’s Royale Blackjack is another new live dealer blackjack variation aimed at VIP players and high rollers.
Playtech Royale Blackjack rules include:
- Uses an 8 deck shoe
- American dealing style
- Multi-seat
- Bet behind available
- Blackjack pays out 3:2
- Insurance pays out 2:1
- Side bets available including 21+3 and Perfect Pair
- Dealer must stand on all 17’s
- Doubling any two cards is permitted
- Insurance is available
- House edge: 0.48578%
Transylvania Blackjack
As the name suggests, Playtech Transylvania Blackjack offers a cool and dark variation on Playtech’s standard live blackjack platform. The game features seven seats with play behind as an option.
Playtech Transylvania Blackjack rules include:
- Uses an 8 deck shoe
- Dealer must stand on all 17’s
- Doubling after split is permitted
- Doubling any two cards is permitted
- Hitting on split Aces is not permitted
- Re-splits are not permitted
- Insurance is offered
- Side bets are offered including: 21+3 and Perfect Pairs
- 10 Card Charlie applies
- European betting style
- Bet behind is available
- House edge: 0.48768%
Unlimited Blackjack
Playtech’s Unlimited Blackjack can be played simultaneously by an unlimited number of players. As a result, some of the basic game rules are a bit different to other Playtech blackjack games and include:
- The game automatically splits certain hands
- In the case of a split, you have the option to split or to fold
- If you fold your bet will be returned to you minus 20%
Additional rules in Playtech Unlimited Blackjack:
- Dealer draws until 16 and always stands on any 17
- Re-splitting is not permitted
- Only one extra card is drawn for split Aces
- Doubling after splitting is permitted
- Dealer does not check for blackjack in any case
- When doubling: If the dealer gets blackjack, you lose both your bets if the dealers first card is of 11 value (ace).
- You get your double bet back if the dealer fist card is value 10 (dealer gets blackjack)
Live Blackjack Side Bets
One of the most exciting features found in Playtech live dealer blackjack is the side bet option. A side bet is simply an additional wager that players are able to make over and above their standard game bet. For example, players have the opportunity to bet that either their first two cards or the dealer’s first two cards will form a pair.
Here are some of the main side bet options available at Playtech live blackjack tables:
Side Bets:
- Player Pair side bet: First two Player cards must form either a Perfect Pair, Coloured Pair, or a Red/Black Pair to win.
- Dealer Pair side bet: First two Dealer cards must form either a Perfect Pair, Coloured Pair, or a Red/Black Pair to win.
- Perfect Pairs side bet: First two Player/Dealer cards must form a pair of the same suit to win.
- Coloured Pair side bet: First two Player/Dealer cards must form a pair of the same colour but different suit to win.
- Red/Black Pair side bet: First two Player/Dealer cards must form a pair, but with different colours + suits to win.
- Player Pair and Dealer Pair side bets can be placed simultaneously.
- Side bets can only be placed if a main bet has been placed.
21+3 Side Bets:
21+3 means that you can place a side bet that the first two player cards plus the dealer up card add up to a three card poker hand as follows:
- Suited three of a kind = three cards of the same suit and value.
- Straight Flush = three cards in sequence + same suit.
- Three of a kind = All three have the same value/ranking.
- Straight – three cards in sequence but not same suit.
- Flush – All three cards are same suit.
Live Blackjack Table Betting Limits
Here is table summarising the betting limits of each blackjack table available from Playtech:
| Table Name | Betting Limits |
|---|---|
| Privee Blackjack 1 | £10-£10k |
| Privee Blackjack 2 | £20-£20k |
| Grand Blackjack | £50-£2.50k |
| Royale Blackjack (5) | £10/£25-£2.50k |
| Blackjack Lounge (6) | £5/£10-£2.50k |
| Soho Blackjack (5) | £10/£25-£2.50k |
| Amber/Alexandrite Blackjack | £5-£2.50k |
| Sapphire Room Coral Blackjack | £20-£10k |
| Transylvania Blackjack | £5-£2.50k |
Playtech Live Blackjack on Mobile
These live blackjack games are also available across a wide variety of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. Live streaming through HTML5-powered mobile browsers allows for fast live gaming on the go and is best on newer models and operating system versions. Playtech live blackjack, along with other Playtech live dealer games, can be enjoyed on Android devices, iOS (iPhone and iPad), Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows Phone 10, as well as select Blackberry devices. Players with the latest mobile device specs can enjoy the same high definition quality live streaming on their preferred device which is on par (if not better in some instances) with the Playtech live dealer desktop platform.
Other Live Playtech Games
Aside from an excellent range of cutting-edge live blackjack games, Playtech also hosts a number of other popular casino games, all streamed live and in real time from their studios in Manila, Latvia and Bucharest.
There are several additional live dealer categories to choose from, each with its own variations. Here are some of the more popular options available:
Live Dealer Roulette
- Age of Gods Roulette
- Prestige Roulette
- Grand Roulette
- UK Roulette
- Speed Roulette
- Roulette Lounge
- Prime Roulette
- Slingshot Roulette
- Prime Slingshot Roulette
- Triumph French Roulette
- Roulette Lounge French
Live Dealer Baccarat
- Baccarat Lounge
- Mini Baccarat
- Grand Baccarat
- Baccarat Lounge No Commission
- Grand Baccarat No Commission
- Mini Baccarat No Commission
- Baccarat Squeeze
- VIP Baccarat
Live Dealer Poker
- Casino Hold’em
- 3 Card Brag
- Hi Lo
Playtech Asia Live Dealer Games
- Playtech Asia Baccarat
- Playtech Asia Roulette
- Playtech Asia Blackjack
- Playtech Asia Sic Bo
Playtech Live Dealer Studios
Playtech live studios at a glance:
- Spain
- Belgium
- Latvia
- Philippines
- Romania
Playtech has opened several state of the art studios across the globe with three main facilities located in Europe and Asia. Playtech Asia operates out of Manila in the Philippines, hosting the most popular live games in Asia including Sic Bo and Baccarat.
In 2017, Playtech opened the world’s largest live casino studios in Riga, Latvia. The 8,500 square meter capacity studio uses the very latest in advanced digital technology and facilitates hundreds of live dealer tables, streaming globally around the clock.
A second studio located in Bucharest, Romania, offers an extensive number of tables with a focus on Eastern European markets. Interestingly, Playtech has their own on-site live dealer training center, allowing them to rely on a diverse selection of highly trained and highly skilled live dealers, many of whom specialize in specific genres such as live blackjack for instance.
Available Languages
Playtech live dealer games are available in a wide range of languages including the following:
- English
- Russian
- French
- Spanish
- Italian
- Romanian
- Mexican Spanish
- Mandarin
RNG Blackjack Variations
| Blackjack Variation | BJ Pays | Soft 17 | Double | Re-Split Aces | Surrender | House Edge | Total Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack | 3:2 | Stand | Any 2 | No | No | 0.43% | 6 |
| Blackjack Surrender | 3:2 | Stand | Any 2 | No | No | 0.35% | 6 |
| Blackjack Switch | 1:1 | Hit | 9 to 11 | No | No | 0.14% | 6 |
| Lucky Blackjack | 3:2 | Stand | Any 2 | No | No | 0.04% | 1 |
| Pontoon | 4:2 | Hit | Any 2 | Yes | Yes | 0.32% | 8 |