A Detailed Guide to Online Live Blackjack Insurance

While some players see blackjack insurance as a necessary evil, others view it as a lifesaver when luck isn't on their side. It's definitely one of the more debated topics in the gambling world. If you're relatively new to blackjack, this guide will break down what blackjack insurance is all about and why it's often best to steer clear. Keep reading!

What Exactly is Blackjack Insurance?

Blackjack insurance is a side-bet offered to players when the dealer's face-up card is an ace. As the name implies, it's meant to protect your bet if the dealer's hand turns out to be a blackjack. Typically, an insurance wager costs half of your original bet and pays out at 2 to 1. So, the most you can bet on insurance is half of your main stake.

This side bet is only settled after the dealer reveals their second card. If it's a ten-value card (king, queen, jack, or ten), the dealer has a blackjack. In this scenario, you win the insurance wager. If the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, you lose your insurance bet, but you can still win your original wager.

Should You Take Blackjack Insurance in Zambia?

For most players in Zambia, taking insurance is generally not a good bet. The odds are against you, and it's statistically a losing proposition over the long run in games played at your favourite online casino. While there are very specific, advanced card-counting scenarios where it might make sense, for the average player enjoying a casual game of blackjack in Zambia, it's best to treat insurance as a gamble you should probably skip.

• Imagine you're playing a hand at your top Zambian online casino and place a K100 blackjack bet. If the dealer shows an ace, you might be offered insurance for K50. If the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, you lose that K50. If they do have one, you win K100 (your K50 insurance bet plus K50 profit). However, remember that the dealer only makes a blackjack about one-third of the time.
• 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.