Blackjack Insurance Rule – How it works
Rachel Elam | January 26, 2021 | Updated on: November 20th, 2023
If you are new to blackjack, you probably have not heard of the blackjack insurance rule. It is an additional wager that the dealer will get blackjack. While most players may think this sided bet is a scam. Others believe you can truly benefit from it.
So, we had our experts break down the blackjack insurance rule in our guide below. Find out how it works, the odd, and the payouts. Is playing with Blackjack Insurance Worth It? Find out below.
Best Online Blackjack Casino Sites
-
24/7 live chat and telephone customer service
-
Play on any mobile and desktop device
-
Bitcoin supported
-
90% Cost coverage, no annual limit
-
Easy, straightforward claims process
-
No annual or lifetime limits
-
Great selection of casino games
-
Wide variety and selection of bonuses
-
All licensed vets are covered
-
Up to 90% reimbursement
-
VetConnect™ 24/7 helpline
-
Save 40% for eligible multiple bets
-
Great range of RTG slot machines.
-
Reliable and experienced gaming operator.
-
Networked RTG progressive jackpots.
-
Proven fair by TST
-
Mobile gaming abled
-
Downloadable Android app also available
-
Good selection of casino games.
-
Generous welcome bonus.
-
Accepts US Players.
-
Good Selection of Casino Games
-
Hosts Varied Live Dealer Games
-
Offers Generous Casino Bonuses
-
Quick cashouts with Bitcoin
-
24/7 live chat and email support
-
Play on the tablet, mobile, and desktop
-
Good selection of casino games.
-
Generous welcome bonus.
-
Accepts US Players.
-
Great selection of casino games
-
Wide variety of casino banking methods
-
Available to USA players
-
More than 200 casino games
-
Bitcoin boost adds 5% in bonus money
-
12. Mobile website compatible with all major devices including iOS and Android
-
Quality casino games
-
Great selection of bonuses and promotions
-
No withdrawal fees
-
Quick Payouts.
-
Easy to earn bonus
-
Free Bitcoin payouts and deposits.
-
Bitcoin-friendly
-
Customer support available
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
47. Offers bonuses as high as $777 with a low staking limit
-
24/7 live chat, telephone, and email support.
-
All USA players accepted.
-
Best banking options
-
Great customer service
-
Top real money games
-
A large variety of casino games
-
24/7 live chat support
-
Instant play games
-
Player-friendly bonus.
-
Industry recommended casino with a long history of the first-class service.
-
6 figures in player cash-outs paid every week.
-
Free casino games available
-
Top banking options available
-
Live dealer games available
-
Best VIP program with great benefits.
-
Available in instant play and download.
-
24/7 support by US phone, live chat, or email.
-
A wide range of games on offer
-
Established Casino providing top service and security
-
Download and on-site games
-
Offers a wide variety of slot games.
-
High-quality games with big jackpots.
-
Accepts US players
-
24/7 customer support available
-
SSL encryption
-
Proven fair by TST
-
Proven fair by TST
-
Mobile gaming abled
-
Downloadable Android app also available
-
Offers a wide variety of slot games.
-
High-quality games with big jackpots.
-
Accepts US players
-
Offers a wide variety of slot games.
-
High-quality games with big jackpots.
-
Accepts US players
-
Loyalty Program for most consistent players
-
The unique and high-quality design of the website
-
Good 24/7 customer service
-
Loyalty Program for most consistent players
-
The unique and high-quality design of the website
-
Good 24/7 customer service
-
Offers a wide variety of slot games.
-
High-quality games with big jackpots.
-
Accepts US players
-
Accepts bitcoin
-
Great customer service
-
Free casino games available
-
A wide range of games on offer
-
Established Casino providing top service and security
-
Download and on-site games
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
Live chat support is also available 24/7
-
Modern website design
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
Live chat support is also available 24/7
-
Modern website design
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
Live chat support is also available 24/7
-
Modern website design
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
Live chat support is also available 24/7
-
Modern website design
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
Live chat support is also available 24/7
-
Modern website design
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
Live chat support is also available 24/7
-
Modern website design
-
Live dealer casino games are available
-
Live chat support is also available 24/7
-
Modern website design
-
Bitcoin accepted
-
Live dealer games are available
-
Good 24/7 customer service
-
Guaranteed fair gaming
-
Employs top-notch technology to protect private data
-
24/7 customer support via e-mail, live chat, and toll-free number
-
Range of deposit methods.
-
Excellent slot gaming games.
-
Regular casino promotions.
-
Range of deposit methods.
-
Excellent slot gaming games.
-
Regular casino promotions.
-
Range of deposit methods.
-
Excellent slot gaming games.
-
Regular casino promotions.
-
Range of deposit methods.
-
Excellent slot gaming games.
-
Regular casino promotions.
-
Range of deposit methods.
-
Excellent slot gaming games.
-
Regular casino promotions.
-
Win free chips while playing slots tournaments
-
Take daily quests and special adventures
-
Upgrade to six levels of VIP rewards
-
Large Sign-Up Bonus and Reload Bonuses.
-
Excellent for recreational and professional players.
-
Early odds for most events.
-
35. 24/7 support available through live chat, phone, and email
-
Proven fair by TST
-
Mobile casino also included
-
Best VIP program with great benefits.
-
Available in instant play and download.
-
24/7 support by US phone, live chat, or email.
-
Instant play and downloadable casino software.
-
A diverse selection of WGS slots
-
numerous progressive jackpots with huge jackpots.
-
24/7 support by US phone, live chat, or email.
-
SSL encryption Secured.
-
Proven fair by TST.
-
Well Rounded web Casino
-
US Players are Accepted
-
No Scams or any Complaints
-
Huge welcome bonus offers.
-
Special 200% bonus offer for Bitcoin users
-
Fair staking requirements.
-
Variety of RTG gambling Games.
-
The great theme of the site.
-
SSL encryption technology.
-
Collective RTG progressive jackpots.
-
24/7 customer support via email, phone, and live chat.
-
Strong reputation for good service and fairness.
-
Customer support is available 24/7
-
Fast Withdrawals
-
Mobile Compatible
-
49. 24/7 live chat, telephone, and email support.
-
All USA players accepted.
-
Player-friendly bonus.
-
Industry recommended casino with a long history of the first-class service.
-
6 figures in player cash-outs paid every week.
-
Variety of RTG gambling Games.
-
The great theme of the site.
-
SSL encryption technology.
-
56. Customer support is available 24/7
-
Fun and entertaining games offered
-
Instant withdrawals
-
57. Plenty of Games to Choose From
-
Customer support is available 24/7
-
58 Diversity of RTG Games
-
24/7 support via live chat, email, and toll-free phone
-
Secure encryption: Regularly audited by TST
-
Various Real-Time Game Games
-
24/7 Customer Support Available
-
SSL encryption code used
-
Bitcoin is accepted.
-
Average withdrawal limit.
-
24/7 Live chat support.
-
Bitcoin accepted
-
Average withdrawal limit
-
Live chat support is available 24/7
-
65. Play instantly without downloading any files
-
Excellent customer support
-
Bonuses and promotions added weekly
-
Instant VIP Benefits
-
More than 150 Games Available
-
Live Help And 24/7 Support
-
Features both bingo and casino games
-
Instant-play interface
-
Available on most smartphones and tablets
-
Mobile-friendly design
-
Easy to navigate through the site
-
SSL Security Certificate visible
-
The casino is Bitcoin-friendly
-
The casino accepts players from many countries
-
Live dealer games are available
-
Instant withdrawals for e-wallets
-
Crypto-friendly establishment
-
Daily specials
-
Proven fair by TST North America Inc
-
Fast Withdrawals
-
Certified Casino
-
Neteller and Bitcoin withdrawals are quicker
-
Bitcoin is accepted
-
Exclusive promotions
-
Offers a wide variety of slot games.
-
High-quality games with big jackpots.
-
Accepts US players
-
Proven fair by TST
-
Mobile gaming abled
-
Downloadable Android app also available
-
Quick cashouts with Bitcoin
-
24/7 live chat and email support
-
Play on the tablet, mobile, and desktop
How Blackjack Insurance Rule Works
The insurance rule is basically a side bet on the dealer hitting blackjack. The bet pays out independently from your original wager, similarly to any other side bet. The side bet is only made available after all the initial cards are dealt. Also, the dealer has been showing an Ace before their hole card.
For the insurance rule to take, you will have to put up half your wager. What this means is that if your initial bet was $30, you will have to put up $15 for your insurance rule bet.
Should the dealer have blackjack, you will win the insurance bet. the bet pays out 2:1, meaning you will break even on the hand. However, if the dealer does not have blackjack, you will lose the bet, and the play will continue normally.
You may be wondering when you will know to make the bet. Well, in live blackjack games, the dealer will make an announcement. With online blackjack games, there will be a pop-up message on the screen or a button.
Blackjack Insurance Payout
Now that you can buy insurance even in gambling, you need to be more alert about how much you stand to win or lose. There are essentially four ways in which this bet can go. We give you an example of all four scenarios below. We will use the same example as above; you made a $30 bet, and the insurance bet is worth $15.
- You make the insurance bet of $15, and the dealer also has natural. The round will end in a push, and you will win a net profit of $30
- Again, you decide to take the insurance, but the dealer does not have a natural. You will lose $15 from your insurance bet, but the blackjack earns you 1,5 of your initial $30 bet. So, you will get $45.
- Should you decide to not the insurance, then the dealer ends up with a natural you will not win or lose anything.
- Lastly, there is a way for you to win even money regardless of the dealer having a natural or not. If you don’t take the insurance bet and the dealer does not have a card valued at 10 in the hole, you will earn $45 in profits plus your initial $30 bet.
Is Blackjack Insurance Worth It?
Essentially the insurance bet can cause a loss in the long run. Your probability of winning is based on the dealer holding a King, Queen, Jack, or Ten card face down. You can approximate this probability by counting these cards and dividing them by the number of cards in a deck
So, in every deck of cards, there 4 of the King, Queen, Jack, and Ten. That makes a total of 16. A deck of cards has 52 cards. Therefore, your probability of winning is estimated to 16/52. This is less than 31%. So, if you win two times 31% of the time but lost once 69% of the time, you are losing most of the time. That is -7%. In monetary terms, for every $100 you take in insurance. Assume that you will lose about $7.
Most experts only advise card counter to take the bet also, only if you are playing in a land-based casino. The bet requires you do a bit of math to statically see if you will be losing money in the long run.
Odds in the Insurance bet
The odds of this bet are dependent on the number of decks being used to play the game. Therefore, this means the odds of winning the bet are not always the same. The number of 1rn that have already been dealt with will also be taking into consideration.
Unless you are really good at counting cards, the odds are honestly against you, more so because of online games. See, at a virtual casino, the deck is shuffled before each hand, making it hard to keep track.
The more deck that is being used in the game, the worse the odds get. The house edge on the insurance rule is 5.8% for a single deck, and when eight decks are being used, it jumps to 7.5%.
Final Thought
Well, we are not a fan of this side bet for obvious reasons. We stand to lose so much in the long run that we would rather employ a strategy and hope that lady luck is on our side. Also, the house edge is bit much for us.
If you are keen on taking this bet, we would suggest only doing so when one deck is being used. Again, take notice of the number of ten cards that have been dealt.
If you are good at card counting, you are more than welcome to give this bet a try. Remember, this side bet is hardly ever included in any blackjack strategies for good reason. Don’t say we didn’t warn, instead check out other blackjack guides for better winning strategies.