Review of Progressive Blackjack & Free Demo Play
Nothing makes a casino game more exciting than the chance to play for big money, and that’s exactly what you get in this variant. This variation on the standard game of blackjack features a side bet, which provides the chance of winning a progressive jackpot. The game can be played with up to five hands, and as you’d expect from Playtech, it features top graphics and customisable options.
- Progressive Jackpot
- Multi-hand Available
- User Friendly Layout
- Licensed by:
- UK Gambling Commission
- #1611
- Accepted Payment Methods:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Paypal
- Skrill
- Paysafecard
In this review, you will find everything you need to prepare you for playing with real money. You will find out about the rules, features and payouts. What’s more, we have a demo version of the game, which you can try out for free.
Learn the Rules and Try for Free!
This blackjack variant uses six decks, which are shuffled after each round. You can play with up to five hands per round. If you are dealt a pair, you can split these into two hands by placing another wager. You can then draw as many more cards to each hand as you wish. However, only one more card will be drawn to split aces. Once a hand has been split, no further splits are permitted. The game also allows you to double down, even after splitting.
In this variant, the dealer will draw another card when their total is 16 or less. The dealer will stand when their total is 17 or above. This includes both soft and hard 17s. If the dealer’s first card is an ace, you will be given the chance to insure yourself against the dealer getting Blackjack. The wager is half of your initial bet, and if the dealer does get Blackjack, you will receive a payout of 2 to 1.
In this variant, Blackjack pays 3 to 2, which works to the player’s advantage. As does the option to double down on any hand. You will find many variants that do not allow this move after splitting. What’s more, if the dealer’s up card is a ten, and they go on to get Blackjack, you will get your double bet back. However, if the dealer’s up card is an ace and they then get Blackjack, you will lose both your initial bet and your double bet. It is also worth noting that when any 10 value card is drawn to a split ace, it is counted as 21, rather than Blackjack, and subsequently pays 1 to 1.
Special Features, Progressive Jackpot Side Bet and House Edge
The stand out feature of this game is the progressive jackpot side bet, which you can place before the round starts. A small percentage of all side bets made on this game at all Playtech casinos go into a pooled prize fund, which continues to build until it is won. In order to crack the jackpot, you need to draw four consecutive suited aces, starting from the first card in the hand. There are also payouts for getting one or more consecutive aces, starting from your first drawn card.
The main game has a theoretical payout of 99.53%, which is impressive by all accounts. The RTP for the progressive side bet is 94.85%. Of course, this is considerably lower than just playing the main game. Yet given there is the possibility of much higher wins, it can add more the thrill and excitement to the game.
Strategy for Success
Blackjack is one of the few casino games which does not rely simply on luck. You can increase your chances of success by using basic strategy charts, which indicate the optimum action to take in any situation. This depends not only on your own hand, but also on the dealer’s up card. Unsure whether to hit, stand, double or split whilst playing Progressive Blackjack? Then you can use the table below to help decide on the best move.
Given that the progressive side bet has higher house edge than the main game, some experts may advise not to place this additional bet in order to improve your overall success. There is also no strategy table linked to this side bet, the result is simply down to the luck of the draw. However, as mentioned above, this is one of the big appeals of this game variant. So it is up to you whether you want to try your chances at scooping the jackpot.
Progressive Blackjack Comes Highly Recommended
Progressive Blackjack provides the best of both worlds. The standard game allows you to play with up to five hands, has a low house edge and pays a favourable 3 to 2 for Blackjack. Of course, the big difference between this game and other blackjack variants is the progressive jackpot side bet. This gives you a shot at winning substantial payouts, which adds an extra level of excitement to the game. To top it all off, it features superb graphics and has a user friendly and intuitive layout, as you would expect from Playtech. If you like the sound of this game, the best place to play for real money is Ladbrokes Casino. Not only is Ladbrokes one of the UK’s most trusted and reputable operators, they also provide plenty of rewarding bonuses and promotions.