Should you play Video Blackjack or Live Blackjack?
CasinoAre you a devoted gambler who can’t decide whether to sit in a live blackjack table or give a chance to Video Blackjack? Or perhaps are you that type of gambler who thinks technology is just there to trick you, so you feel safer with a human dealer?
In either case, you have landed in the right place because here you will learn, in detail, all about both Video Blackjack and Live Blackjack. Each one of these popular Blackjack game versions has its advantages, but certainly also some disadvantages. We won’t hide anything!
The choice is not so obvious because, on one hand, there is nothing like seeing what the dealer is doing in real time, but on the other hand, it’s hard to beat the comfort of just playing your favorite casino game from wherever you are, whenever you feel like it.
So, which one should you choose? Video Blackjack or Live Blackjack?
Stick around until the end and find out the tips and tricks about each one and ultimately, which one is more likely to make you win some money!
Ready for some answers? Let’s get started.
Video Blackjack is perfectly safe!
Stop blaming the machines! No, they are not rigged…
First things first. We need to start by addressing this urban myth. We get it, most of us feel safer trusting our fate in a human rather than putting it in the hands of a machine. It is undeniable that the fact that we see, in real time, every move the dealer does inspires a certain confidence that a machine can’t compete with…
Really… We get it! But c’mon…
It’s the 21st century and machines are not news anymore, right? In fact, technology has developed so much that nowadays the chances of a human error are way higher than an error committed by any artificial intelligence.
Are you still not convinced?
Is there still a part of you that believes Video Blackjack, because operated by a machine, will be programmed to make you lose?
The chances of encountering such a situation are close to none.
Here is how it works:
All video blackjack machines use a random-number-generator software algorithm to determine the game's outcome. The RNG gives you a random shuffle, whereas your payback percentage is based on your overall play combined with the rules of that particular machine.
So, does that mean the chances of winning are the same as in Live Blackjack?
Not really…
What happens is that the RNGs often work in favor of the casino, because the algorithm is set in a way that translates into a higher chance of losing.
This is known as the house edge.
And how is the house edge different in live blackjack?
Let’s find out in the next paragraph.
Lowest house edges, better odds and higher payouts
The lower the house edge, meaning, the percentage a casino will win over the long-term in a particular game, the better chances for you to win some money.
So which Blackjack version has the lowest house edge? Which one is more likely to be profitable?
Let’s start with Live Blackjack:
The house edge at Live Blackjack is determined largely by what rules and variations are in place. Your experience as a gambler will also play a role in it.
For example: in blackjack, the house edge over an inexperienced player is around 2%. However, it is possible to reduce the house edge, by following a solid blackjack strategy, until as low as 0.5%.
This is one of the lowest profit margins of any game in the online casino!
What about Video Blackjack?
The Video Blackjack house edge will depend a lot on the machine but, on average, the Video Blackjack game has a house edge average of 3.30%.
And that’s not all…
Live blackjack offers another huge advantage over video blackjack in terms of the rules, specifically the payout:
A blackjack pays off at 3 to 2 in most Live Blackjack games.
But Video Blackjack usually only pays off at even money.
What does that mean? Check out this easy example bellow:
Basically, 3:2 means you will receive your bet + half of it. So, if you make a winning 10$ bet, with a 3:2 payout you will receive 25$ (10+10+5).
Easy right?
On the contrary, with an even payout, a winning 10$ bet will give you, obviously, 20$ (10+10).
I imagine that after this you are thinking that the choice is obvious and you should choose Live Blackjack instead of Video Blackjack. Did I guess right?
But hold on… Wait a minute. Don’t make a decision yet before considering another crucial factor that we will discuss in the next paragraph and might completely change your mind.
Save money with lower minimum bets per hand
Is the minimum bet per hand an important factor to you?
Do you, sometimes, just want to play around with small money?
Then you better read the following.
We already concluded that Live Blackjack has a higher payout than Video Blackjack. That means you are more likely to gain more money in Live Blackjack.
But what about losses? What about the risk factor?
At any live dealer blackjack table, you’ll have betting minimums and betting limits – the least and most that you’re allowed to bet on a hand.
Of course, there are always exceptions but, overall, you won’t find a Live Blackjack table game with a minimum bet of less than 5$ or even 10$.
Maybe that’s not what you are looking for. Maybe you would rather place smaller bets per hand, and not risk so much money at once.
If that’s the case, then you are going to like what you will read next.
Unlike Live Blackjack, in Video Blackjack you can play for as little as 50 cents per hand. That’s right! You will find plenty of video blackjack machines where you can play for a quarter of a dollar per hand, which is impossible to find at Live Blackjack tables.
The difference is so big that one can even say Video Blackjack came to democratize blackjack, enabling gamblers to bet little amounts and still not lose any of the fun.
In conclusion, in terms of the lowest-limit blackjack games, Video Blackjack has a clear advantage over Live Blackjack.
But that’s not all.
There is an obvious difference between Video Blackjack and Live Blackjack that we haven’t addressed yet. And for some, it’s exactly this difference that makes gamblers choose one over the other.
Find out what that difference is in the next paragraph and decide for yourself.
No Dealers. Is that good or bad?
This will be the last comparison we will do in this article and then we will jump into the conclusion and finally answer the question: should you play Video Blackjack or Live Blackjack?
But before that, let’s talk about dealers!
This is the most subjective difference of the ones explained until now, since it varies from person to person, whether they enjoy the presence of a dealer, or not.
Are you someone who enjoys a casual chit chat in between hands or are you the gambler who would rather not be bothered and distracted while playing?
Live Blackjack fans will argue that nothing can beat human interaction and, without that human factor, the game just loses half its fun.
However, Video Blackjack fans will counter argue, saying that, with machines, you never have to worry about the hand being declared a misdeal or not getting paid correctly. Moreover, with machines you can take your time, while at a table, a dealer will probably warn you if you are being too slow.
And lastly, you do not have to worry about tipping the blackjack machine!
Final thoughts – Video Blackjack or Live Blackjack?
Congrats for reaching the end!
Probably by now you have realized Video blackjack is both less different and more different from Live Blackjack than you thought.
Let’s get down to what matters now…
Which blackjack version is more advantageous?
When all the advantages and disadvantages are combined, the house gets about 2% more on Video Blackjack than it does on the table game. This makes Live Blackjack a less risky option.
Nevertheless, if you prefer to bet $1 per hand rather than the typical $10 minimum at most tables, then you should stick to the machines.
Lastly, if the choice is between $5 at the table or $5 in a machine, then our advice is: choose the table.
But most importantly:
Do what you enjoy!
