Live Blackjack VIG

Visionary iGaming is one of the major providers in the sector of live dealer solutions, and they have strengthened their position on the market by releasing this live blackjack. The game does look simple and unsophisticated yet it offers two side bets and an easy-to-learn interface which is especially helpful if you are still new to live games. At the start of the game, you are asked to select from three table limits that would suit you best: $5–$500, $10–$1000 and $25–$2500.

Video, options and user interface

ViG’s live blackjack game is streamed in real time from a physical studio in Costa Rica and is sadly deficient in video settings. The video feed box is fixed on the screen and it cannot be enlarged. Moreover, the video stream is of low-definition quality that will not look great on high-resolution monitors; however, these drawbacks are offset by the overall simplicity and elegant design of the game.

To the right of the gaming screen, there is a chat box for getting in touch with the dealer and other players. The chat cannot be turned off and is always visible on the screen. On the opposite side of the live video feed, there is a link to How to Play section and game limits. Additional features include dealer tipping, Auto Rebet and Back Betting. The last of the mentioned features is actually the same as the Bet Behind feature which is used in Evolution or Extreme Gaming blackjack tables.

Basic rules

This live blackjack is played with 6 decks in the shoe. The objective of the game is the same as other blackjack variations: the player needs to score higher than the dealer without exceeding 21. The following rules apply:

• dealer hits on 16 but stands on hard 17’s. If the dealer has a soft 17 (the hand where an Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11), he hits. This is a very rare rule variation in live blackjack
• blackjack pays 3 to 2
• player is offered to purchase insurance if the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. Insurance pays 2 to 1
• player can split any cards of the same value and double down after split.

The player must make a decision (Hit, Stand or else) within a definite time, which is normally about 10 seconds. Failure to do so will cause the game acts according to the best strategy: e.g., the game hits on the player’s hand automatically if this decision is most beneficial for the player.

Side bets

The game has two side bets that are placed optionally in addition to a regular bet. Any outcome (win or loss) for a side bet is resolved independently of the outcome of a regular bet. The Pair side bet wins and pays 11:1 if the player’s initial two cards make up any kind of pair: a suited pair, colored pair or identical pair.

The second side bet known as Rummy wins if the player’s two cards plus the dealer’s card have the same suit, are of the same denomination or come in sequence. The award for any of these combinations is 9:1.