A Detailed Guide to Online Live Blackjack Insurance

While most blackjack players see it as a necessary evil, others consider blackjack insurance a lifesaver when bad luck strikes. So, it's safe to say that blackjack insurance is one of the most debated topics in the gambling world. If you're still new to blackjack in Nigeria, this article will give you all the details about blackjack insurance and why you should probably keep your distance. Let's dive in!

What Exactly is Blackjack Insurance?

Blackjack insurance is a side-bet you can take if the dealer's revealed card is an ace. As the name hints, it's meant to protect you if the dealer has a 'blackjack'. Usually, an insurance bet is half of your original bet and pays out at 2 to 1. So, the most you can stake is half of your main bet.

This side bet is only settled after the dealer shows their second card. If it's a king, queen, jack, or ten, the dealer has a blackjack. If this happens, you win your insurance wager. If not, you lose the insurance wager, but you can still win your original bet.

When Might Blackjack Insurance Make Sense (Even in Nigeria)?

It's worth considering insurance if the blackjack game you're playing is one where the dealer has to stand on soft 17. Also, you'd ideally want to have a strong hand yourself, like 20, 19, or maybe 18. Otherwise, your hand might still lose to the dealer's potential blackjack. For most Nigerian players, though, focusing on the main game is usually the smarter bet.

• Imagine you step into your favorite live online casino in Nigeria and place a ₦5,000 blackjack bet. If the dealer shows an ace, you might be offered insurance for ₦2,500.
• After that, you're dealt a nine or Jack of Hearts, and an ace is the dealer's upcard.
• Now you decide to take $2.5 insurance, which is half your original bet.
• Next, the dealer reveals ten as his/her second card. In return, the insurance bet will payout 2 to 1 and break even on your hand.

When It's Necessary to Take Insurance

Taking insurance during a blackjack game can be irresistible if an ace the dealer's upcard. There is a 1 to 3 probability that the subsequent card has a 10-value card in that case. But unless you're counting cards, it's not worth risking your hard-earned money on blackjack insurance. Mathematically, taking blackjack insurance will result in losses in the end.

You can generally win your insurance wager only if the dealer's hole card is a 10-value card. As said before, you must be an expert card counter to know for sure the amount remaining in the deck. So, if you're green about counting cards, stay away from this sucker bet.

Blackjack Insurance, Odds, Price, and House Edge

So, what are the blackjack insurance odds? The probability of a blackjack being dealt by the dealer when playing a regular table game is 9:4. However, the odds for a player to win an insurance wager aren't similar. They may vary depending on the number of decks and 10-point cards already dealt. In short, the odds are stuck against the punter.

When it comes to the price, the player can only win if the dealer's facedown card is a 10. In this case, the insurance payout is 1:1. If the player's hand is a blackjack, the payout is 3:2 or $3 for every two bets or 1.5 times the wager.

Lastly, a single deck blackjack insurance has a steep house edge of around 5.8%. But it's worth noting that you're likely to play modern blackjacks with 6 to 8 decks. In such cases, the house edge can hit 7.5%.

Blackjack Insurance: Final Advice

If you're an expert card counter, then blackjack insurance can be very profitable. Card counters have a rough idea of the number of 10-point cards remaining in a deck. Also, the payout is handsome if you already have a blackjack in hand. Bust, as said, the odds are always against the player. What's worse, taking insurance when playing multi-deck blackjacks will expose you to a painfully high house edge.