Live blackjack tables, from rules to limits
A live blackjack table is defined by a short list of published rules: the payout for a natural blackjack, what the dealer does on soft 17, the number of decks, and the stake range. Read those four items before you pick a seat. They change what each hand costs you.
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Studios and providers
Who runs the tables and publishes the game rules.
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Claims checked
Table claims tested against primary sources.
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Live blackjack questions
Short answers on rules and limits.
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Casinos we checked
Criteria C3 and C4 cover rules and limits.
Rules that change the cost of a hand
- Blackjack payout. 3:2 pays £15 on a £10 stake; 6:5 pays £12. The same stake, a different return.
- Soft 17. Does the dealer stand or hit? The rule is published by the studio.
- Decks. The number in the shoe, where the studio states it.
- Insurance, split and double. The conditions for each, as written in the rules page.
- Side bets. Extra wagers on the same hand with their own odds; read them separately.
Who publishes which fact
| Fact | Usual source | How long we trust a reading |
|---|---|---|
| Payout, soft 17, decks, split, double | Studio rules page | About 30 days |
| Minimum and maximum stake | Casino lobby | About 7 days |
| Number of tables | Casino lobby | About 7 days, as a snapshot only |
| Licence | Gambling Commission register | Checked on the day, then weekly |
A lobby's table count is a snapshot, not a sign of quality, and we publish it only with a date and a source.
Variants and limits
Studios offer variants such as Infinite Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack, Speed Blackjack and Lightning Blackjack. Each has its own rules page, and the rules can differ from the classic table. Limits vary by operator and table. No limit figures are recorded on this page yet; each will appear with the lobby, the table and the date read.
Before you play, decide how much you will spend and set a deposit limit: see safer live play. For the studios behind the variants, see studios and providers. To see how tables are weighed against operators, read casinos we checked, and for quick answers use live blackjack questions.
Quick answers
- What does 3:2 mean at a blackjack table?
It is the payout for a natural blackjack: a £10 stake returns £15 in winnings. A 6:5 table pays £12 on the same stake, so the rule changes your cost per hand.
- Who publishes table rules, the studio or the casino?
The studio publishes the rules of its game; the casino publishes the stake limits in its own lobby. We cite whichever source holds the fact.
- What is soft 17?
A soft 17 is a hand of 17 that counts an ace as 11. Whether the dealer stands or hits on it is a published rule that affects the house edge.
- Do bigger limits mean a better table?
No. A high maximum is a parameter of the table, not a sign of quality, and it raises the amount you can lose.