If you’ve heard of blackjack, but aren’t sure how it works, or if betting terms sound confusing, this guide is for you.
Blackjack is a card game you’ll often find at many UK casinos, both online and in person. It's a mix of chance and strategy, and like most casino games, it has rules that can vary depending on where or how you're playing.
This guide will focus on one part of blackjack known as the insurance bet. You’ll learn what this option means, how it works, and when it may be offered. Everything is written with beginners in mind—so, there’s no need to know anything about cards or betting to follow along.
Let’s start by understanding what insurance in blackjack actually is.
What Is Insurance In Blackjack?
In a blackjack game, insurance is a side bet offered when the dealer’s first card, which is face-up, is an Ace. It’s called “insurance” because it gives you the option to place a separate bet to try and protect yourself in case the dealer ends up with a blackjack—a two-card total of 21 made up of an Ace and a ten-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King).
This side bet is separate from your main bet. If you decide to take insurance, it will usually cost you half the amount of your original wager. So, if your original bet was £8, the insurance bet would cost £4.
Here’s how it works:
-
If the dealer’s second card (face-down) turns out to be worth ten points, the dealer has a blackjack. Your insurance bet wins and pays out 2 to 1. This means you receive £8 from your £4 insurance bet.
-
If the dealer does not have a blackjack, your insurance bet is lost. However, your main hand continues as normal, unless it also loses separately.
It’s important to know that not all blackjack tables offer insurance, and rules may differ depending on the casino or version of the game. Before playing, you can check the game’s rules to understand what options are available.
Insurance In Blackjack Examples
Let’s look at a few examples to help you understand how an insurance bet can play out.
Winning Blackjack Insurance
Imagine you're playing a blackjack game and place a £10 main bet. The dealer’s first card is an Ace, so you’re offered the chance to take insurance. You choose to do so, placing an additional £5 insurance bet.
The dealer reveals a 10-value card as their second card. This gives the dealer a blackjack. While you lose your main £10 bet, your insurance bet pays 2 to 1, meaning you receive £10 in return. In this case, your insurance payout cancels out the loss of your main bet.
Losing Blackjack Insurance
Let’s say the same £10 bet is placed, and again, the dealer shows an Ace. You take insurance with a £5 side bet.
This time, the dealer’s second card is a 6. That means the dealer does not have blackjack. You lose your £5 insurance bet. The game then carries on using your original £10 bet. The result of that hand will depend on how the rest of the cards are played.
These examples show that an insurance bet does not change your hand. It is simply a separate wager that can pay out only if the dealer gets blackjack.
Is Insurance In Blackjack Worth It?
Many people ask whether insurance is a good idea. To answer that, it helps to understand how blackjack works behind the scenes.
In a standard 52-card deck, there are 16 cards worth ten points: the 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings. That’s 16 out of the remaining 49 cards (after the Ace is dealt face-up), which gives the dealer roughly a 31% chance of having a blackjack.
The insurance bet pays 2 to 1, but for that payout to break even over time, the dealer would need to have blackjack more than one-third of the time. Statistically, this doesn't happen often enough, which means insurance bets tend to favour the casino.
That said, the choice to take insurance is up to you. Some players may find it helpful for peace of mind, especially when holding strong hands like 20.
Also, the house edge—which is the built-in advantage the casino has—can be higher on insurance bets. While blackjack can have a low house edge of around 0.5% if played using optimal basic strategy, using insurance regularly has the potential to increase that edge.
What Are The Odds For Insurance Bets In Blackjack?
The odds involved in an insurance bet depend on how likely it is that the dealer’s hidden card is worth ten points. In a single-deck game, once the dealer shows an Ace, there are 51 cards left in the deck. Out of those, 16 have a value of ten.
This gives the dealer approximately a 31.37% chance of making a blackjack.
If the game is played with multiple decks, which is often the case in UK online casinos (such as six or eight decks), the probability remains quite close—typically between 30% and 31%.
Since insurance bets can pay out at 2 to 1, but the actual chance of winning is around 30%, it’s not considered a favourable bet over time. This is why many players decide not to use it.
Again, rules and deck numbers can differ from one blackjack game to another. Some versions may offer features like dealer hitting or standing on a soft 17, or blackjack payouts at 6:5 instead of 3:2, which can all impact the house edge. For example:
-
A 3:2 blackjack payout (common in many UK games) offers a higher potential return to the player.
-
A 6:5 payout lowers a player's possible winnings and increases the casino’s advantage.
-
Games with fewer decks usually offer slightly better odds for the player.
All of these differences can influence whether an insurance bet feels worthwhile to you, depending on how you approach the game.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.