Play Live Blackjack
Live Blackjack at GALA CASINO
Here at Gala Casino, our live blackjack gives you the chance to play blackjack online from the comfort of your own home or wherever you may be. But instead of a computer algorithm, you'll be playing against a real live dealer.
Our live casino offers a more realistic and exciting live blackjack experience, as you can interact with the dealer and other players at the table. You will be able to hear the dealer, although to communicate with them, you will need to use the chatbox.
How to Play Live Blackjack?
You'll find lots of different versions of blackjack available to play here at Gala Casino, including live blackjack. Every type of blackjack is based on the same classic game, but with live blackjack, you'll be playing in real-time with a live dealer.
Reading about the different strategies for blackjack can be a good place to start, and we've included some top tips below. However, once you know how to play, you can dive right in - one of the beauties of blackjack is that it's a simple game that everyone can enjoy.
Here’s a quick overview of how to play:
- Decide what you want to bet and place it in the relevant betting area .
- Every player will receive two cards from the dealer. Each card has a value, and your goal is to reach a score of 21 without going over it, i.e./busting. The numbered cards are valued as per their face value, while the picture cards are worth 10. Aces can be used as either 1 or 11.
- It doesn’t matter how close you get to 21; you’ll only win if you get closer than the dealer. The hands of the other players don’t matter - you’re competing directly with the dealer and no one else.
- To reach the best score, you’ll have the choice of sticking with the two cards that you were dealt, or adding more cards. The former is known as standing while the latter is hitting. If you choose to hit, you’ll receive one card at a time where you can opt to stand or hit again. Remember: if you go over 21, you’re out.
- There are more advanced options to choose from as you progress with your gameplay. These include doubling down and splitting. Doubling down allows you to double your original bet but also get an extra card; this is useful if you’re feeling confident but still want to increase your tally. Splitting is permissible if you have two cards with the same value; the dealer will allow you to split them into two hands while giving you two extra cards. You will play with two hands but don’t forget you’ll need to place a second bet, so it will cost you twice as much.
- If you get a card worth 10 points plus an ace in the first two cards you are dealt, this is called blackjack. Nothing beats blackjack, so unless the dealer also has blackjack, you’ll win.
- Once you're happy with your hand, the dealer will work through their hand. Unlike the players, the dealer must hit or stand depending on the value of their hand; it's not up to the discretion of the dealer. If the dealer busts, then all players still in the game win. If the dealer doesn't bust, then any players who score higher than the dealer without busting will win.
- Some types of live blackjack also include side bets you can place at the start. These include perfect pairs, insurance bets, and more.
How to Place a Bet in Live Blackjack?
The idea of playing live blackjack may be daunting, but it's much easier than you think - even if you're a new player.
- To start, you’ll need to be logged into your Gala Casino account. You’ll also need to make sure you have money deposited in your account to be able to place a bet on the game. If you don't have an account, you can sign up here.
- Navigate to the live dealer casino area, and choose a game of live blackjack which has available seats at the table. Once a new hand begins, you'll be able to join in and place your bet.
- Each game has a minimum and maximum betting amount; not all games are the same as some cater to lower budgets, while others specialise in high stakes. Make sure the bet you want to place falls within the permitted limits.
- Click on the chip that you want to bet; you can click on more than one if you want to increase your bet. Your bet needs to be placed before the cards are dealt; there is a timer to help make sure that you place your bet before the round begins.
What Are the Live Blackjack Rules?
The rules in live blackjack are the same as in other types of blackjack, broadly speaking. Some of the types of live blackjack we offer may have small differences, such as the side bets that are included, so it’s a good idea to check if this is important to how you want to play.
Blackjack rules can be difficult to understand if you’re new to the game as lots of jargon is thrown around. Here are some of the most common words used in the blackjack rules and their meaning:
| Stand | Choosing to stick with the cards you are currently holding. |
| Hit | Asking the dealer to give you another card from the deck. |
| Double down | If you think you have a good chance of winning, you can double your bet and take one more card. This is known as doubling down. |
| Split | If you hold two cards of the same value, you can split them and treat them as two separate hands, receiving an extra card for each. Your stake will be doubled. You will only be allowed to hit once on each hand. |
| Side bet | An additional bet made on the blackjack game which is unrelated to whether or not you hold a winning hand. A side bet can only be placed when you’re participating in a hand of blackjack. |
| Side bet | An additional bet made on the blackjack game which is unrelated to whether or not you hold a winning hand. A side bet can only be placed when you’re participating in a hand of blackjack. |
| Hard hand | A hand that does not include an ace - for example, a 10 and a 7 would be a hard 17, but an ace and a 6 would be a soft 17. |
| Insurance bet | A common type of side bet which can be placed which protects against the dealer holding blackjack. |
| Push | A draw between the player and the dealer - the stake is returned, but there is no winnings payable. |
Best Live Blackjack Games To Play
With the increasing popularity of live blackjack and live dealer games in general, more games and variations are available here at Gala Casino by the month, if not the day.
As there is no Play for Free option in live casinos, it can be hard to decide which to choose. But so you don't have to spend too much time browsing the offers, we've put together a shortlist of the top three best online live dealer blackjack games.
- Quantum Blackjack Live - In this game by Playtech, three cards from an eight-deck pack are selected to act as multipliers. Form a winning hand with one of these, and your payout can be up to x10. If you have two in a winning hand, you could receive a payout of x100.
- Lightning Blackjack - After the success of Lightning Roulette, Evolution Gaming brings us Lightning Blackjack. This game is a standard eight-deck one that gives the player a bonus payout of x2 to x25 if they win two consecutive hands. Of course, it costs more to play as you have to make the lightning side bet as well as your main bet on each round.
- Lounge Blackjack 2 - This game by Playtech is for lovers of classic blackjack. It is a no-frills, no special bets game streamed live from the elegant Playtech studios.
Why Play Live Blackjack at Gala Casino?
Live blackjack and online casino games are one of the most popular forms of online entertainment, but there are lots of reasons to choose Gala Casino.
We might be a bit biassed but we believe we offer outstanding quality and unparalleled customer service. Some of the reasons to choose us for live blackjack include:
- Huge variety of live blackjack and online blackjack
- The newest titles for all casino games
- We only use trusted game providers who are fully regulated
- We have live blackjack games for all budgets
- Every game has clear information, so you know what you’re playing
- We offer a wide choice of deposit and withdrawal methods
- Our live blackjack games can be played on desktop or mobile devices
- We regularly offer promotions and special offers
- We have a friendly customer service team who are always happy to help
- We are fully regulated and authorised
Live Blackjack FAQs
Below you’ll find some of the most common FAQs we get asked about live casino. If you don’t see the answer to your question, please just get in touch with us - we’re always happy to help.