- Evolution Gaming’s Live Blackjack is the best Blackjack experience online without a doubt. With its 7 seats at the live table, 7 lucky players can enjoy the ultimate Blackjack experience available online.
- Live Blackjack; Live Roulette. Live Game Shows. Evolution Malta Holdings Limited and Evolution Gaming Malta Limited are licensed and regulated in Great Britain.
Live online Blackjack by Evolution Gaming plays an exact same game that you may be familiar with if you've ever played a session of Blackjack in a land based casino. The aim of the game is of course to.
In January 2020, Evolution Gaming announced the launch of their new Live Blackjack game – Speed Blackjack.
The game was announced as a super-fast Blackjack variant where one feature was changed – the dealing order. According to Evolution’s representatives, with this game, they have changed the way Blackjack has been played for the last hundred years. Stay tuned to learn how to play Live Speed Blackjack and make the most of it.
Basic Rules and Gameplay
Speed Blackjack is an 8-deck card game accepting up to 7 players at the same time. It is played by standard Vegas rules, meaning that the dealer gets two cards and peeks for a Blackjack. When it comes to game rules, it shares most of them with standard Blackjack. The player can double down on the first two cards and split any pair. If they split Aces, they can get only one card. As for the dealer, they stand on all 17s, both soft and hard. A natural pays 3:2 while Insurance pays 2:1.
Now, on to crucial differences between the regular version of the game and the Evolution fast-paced take on it. Speed Blackjack is from 30% to 40% faster than the standard game, which translates in time for betting and making decision reduced by 7 seconds.
Initial two cards are dealt as usual, in the regular order, left to right. When the dealing of the first two cards is complete, players who have joined the table are offered to hit, stand, double down or split at the same time. The one who makes their decision first gets their next card first. Such a pattern is applied to all the players. Of course, those who decide to stand won’t get additional cards. The dealing order does not change the math of the game, though.
The game offers two new Autoplay features. If you have a hand worth more than 12 and you don’t make your decision in time, you will automatically stand. With a hand total less than 11, failing to make a decision within the given time will automatically result in hitting.
Speed Blackjack Side Bets
A round of Live Speed Blackjack starts with the players placing the main bet. If they wish so, they can also play one of the side bets available at the table:
- Perfect Pairs: This optional wager pays when the first two cards create a pair. A payout is determined by the type of a pair with a mixed coloured pair paying 6:1, a pair of the same colour paying 12:1 and the perfect pair consisting of the same suit paying 25:1.
- 21+3: Another standard side bet available at Evolution Blackjack tables requires a qualifying poker hand to pay a prize. A flush earns you the lowest payout of 5:1, a straight wins 10:1 while a trips and straight flush pay 30:1 and 40:1 respectively. A suited trips grant the top prize worth 100:1.
—–
Just like other Blackjack variants by the reputable provider, Speed Blackjack offers the Bet Behind option. Given that there are only 7 seats at the table, Bet Behind allows you to play the game by placing bets behind one or more of the players who have already joined it. You will see hot players as they have one or more gold medals next to their name. They indicate how many game rounds they have won so far. If you decide to make use of this option, you will be notified when one of the seats becomes free.
House Edge and RTP
This version of the game does not differ from other Blackjack games in Evolution’s portfolio when it comes to a house edge for the main bet or the side bets. When it comes to the main hand, a house edge sits at 0.71%, meaning that the expected return to player (RTP) is 99.29%.
As for the side bets, the Perfect Pairs side bet has a house margin of 4.1% and an RTP of 95.9% while the 21+3 bet has a house edge of 3.7% and an RTP of 96.3%.
How to Win at Live Speed Blackjack Table
There is no specific strategy you can use for this game variant. Since the math behind the game is the same as in the standard version, you should use the basic Blackjack strategy to play Speed Blackjack. Take your time and make decisions according to it or simply use a cheat sheet for the game where the dealer stands on all 17s. That will help you minimise the house edge to 0.71%, which is pretty low, we have to admit. Another useful piece of advice would be to manage your bankroll and stick to it without risking more than you can afford.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing Live Speed Blackjack
As you can see, when it comes to Speed Blackjack, it is all about the way additional cards are dealt. If you want to play Blackjack and you don’t want to wait for your turn, this game might be a perfect fit for you. This feature makes it ideal for seasoned players who are confident enough to make their decisions fast. As for other features, Speed Blackjack is an excellent variant with the rules favourable to the player, including the dealer standing on all 17s and a natural paying 3:2. A standard set of side bets makes it more attractive for those players who like to take risks for a chance to win bigger prizes.
Speaking of the disadvantages of playing the Evolution product, we have to mention that fast-paced gameplay may not be suitable for all players. Those who are new to the game of Blackjack may need more time to make decisions and the action at the table may confuse them. Keep in mind that if you don’t respond in time, the Autoplay feature may complete your moves in the way set by the developer.
Closing Thoughts
As the industry first, Speed Blackjack is a great addition to the Evolution portfolio that gives players more control over the action at the table. We expect that it will be highly popular with experienced players who prefer playing casino games at a faster pace. Make sure to follow the basic strategy in order to make the most of the time you spend at the table.
Click here to visit Evolution Gaming-powered live casinos and give Speed Blackjack a try!
Evolution Gaming is one of the leading providers of Live casino games. Multiple casino operators feature Live casino games that are provided by Evolution Gaming. Even though the operator is based in Europe, there is a number of Australian online casinos that offer Live games, including Live Blackjack provided by Evolution Gaming.
History and Reputation
Evolution Gaming was founded in 2006 and during the following 2007, it signed multiple deals with some of the leading casino providers. In the past 10 years the company has firmly established its presence as one of the most reliable Live casino providers. Evolution Gaming has offices in 5 European countries:
- Estonia – Tallinn
- Latvia – Riga
- Malta – St. Julian’s
- Sweden – Stockholm
- United Kingdom – London
In two of those countries, Latvia and Malta, Evolution Gaming is running Live casino studios, from where Live casino games, including Blackjack are streamed. But it also streams Live games from several land-bases casinos in several countries. Recently it opened its seventh studio on Romania.
So, if you’re sitting at your home in Australia, playing Live Blackjack in an online casino powered by Evolution, the dealer that you see on your screen is dealing your cards from a location in Europe. These two countries are one of the Live casino hotspots and many operators have studios located there.
Offer
Evolution Gaming’s Live casino studios are located in actual land-based casinos and that certainly increases the authenticity. Furthermore, Evolution Gaming also offers a high degree of flexibility and customisation. Operators can choose dedicated environments and have the Live casino games adjusted according to their needs and preferences.
In addition to Live Blackjack, Evolution Gaming also offers:
- Live Roulette
- Live Baccarat
- Live Casino Hold ‘em
- Live Three Card Poker
- Live Caribbean Stud Poker
- Live Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em
Evolution Gaming also offers a VIP Red Room, designed particularly for VIP players and high rollers. The company also provides Live VIP environments for all casino operators that want to offer something special to their players.
Live Blackjack
When it comes to Live Blackjack, Evolution Gaming is one of the most innovative providers and that is why their games are favoured by many fans. Live Blackjack, as well as other Live games are available on mobile devices, like tablets and smartphones as well as desktop computers.
Their games feature a lot of additional features, like Side Bets, Bet Behind, Pre-Decision which make the game more dynamic and original. Blackjack tables provided by Evolution Gaming feature 7 seats each. But, even if there isn’t an available seat at the moment and you have to wait, you can still enjoy the action with the Bet Behind feature, which allows you to place wagers on other players.
The interface through which you place wagers is really easy to use and it also features a full-screen video mode. Players are allowed to purchase insurance. Double Down and Splitting are also available at Evolution Gaming’s Blackjack.
In addition to the Bet Behind, players can also place 21+3 and Perfect Pairs Side Bets. With the 21+3 you can bet on an array of different combinations of your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card. Whereas with the Perfect Pair bet you can win extra money if your first two cards make a pair. The pair can be either Mixed, Coloured or Perfect.
Evolution Gaming Live Blackjack Vegas World
The Pre-Decision option allows to choose whether you want to hit, stand, double down or split at the same time as the first player on the table, so that you won’t have to wait.
VIP Live Blackjack
As we mentioned, Evolution Gaming also has a VIP program. There are several VIP versions of Blackjack that are included:
- VIP Live Blackjack
- Diamond VIP Live Blackjack
- Platinum VIP Live Blackjack
- Fortune VIP Live Blackjack
- Silver VIP Live Blackjack
VIP Live Blackjack is the ‘basic’ VIP option, if a VIP option can be basic. It includes Pre-Decision and 21+3 and Perfect Side Bets. There are multiple tables and it operates 24/7.
Diamond Live Blackjack is one of the most exclusive Blacking options on the market. This game also features the standard Pre-Decision and the two Side Bets, but players have to wager at least $1,000 to participate, whereas the maximum amount is $5,000.
The Platinum VIP Blackjack features a lower minimum wager of $250, but the maximum is unlimited, i.e. it can be only limited by the laws of the particular state where the operator is licenced and located.
Fortune VIP Live Blackjack is very similar to the Platinum version, in an exclusive setting, it provides a perfect gaming atmosphere for every high roller.
Evolution Gaming Live Blackjack Games
Last, but not least, is the Silver VIP Live Blackjack with a reasonable low minimum bet of $50, and a maximum bet of $5,000. There are two Silver tables, and each of them is available 12 hours a day.