Playtech is among the oldest and most recognized suppliers of online casino software, boasting an impressively large selection of blackjack games. The company’s blackjack suite is a great option for players outside the United States who want to play 21 for real money.
Playtech’s rich blackjack selection is unfortunately unavailable to U.S. players. The software studio exited this market in October 2008 after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was signed into law. Nevertheless, the supplier operates in twenty regulated markets, including Italy, France, China, the United Kingdom, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Sweden.
The studio impresses with a large roster of online blackjack games, most of which have been optimized for play on portable devices. Playtech’s versions of 21 offer some of the most favorable playing conditions you can find online.
One standout title is the company’s take on Geoff Hall’s Blackjack Switch, which has one of the highest theoretical return percentages we have seen so far in online blackjack. When played with perfect basic strategy, this game has a casino advantage of only 0.13%.
Continue reading if this piques your interest as we take a closer look at Playtech’s suite of blackjack variations, their distinctive features and their standard rules. We also cover the supplier’s progressive jackpot versions of the game along with its suite of live dealer blackjack tables. We finish with detailed overviews of six Playtech blackjack games we find particularly compelling.
Live Dealer Blackjack Gameplay by Playtech
Useful Features in Playtech’s Blackjack Games
Playtech’s blackjack variants impress with a rich set of features that greatly enhance players’ gaming experience. Most virtual tables are customizable, allowing you to tailor the action to your personal preferences. The interface is very user-friendly, making Playtech’s games suitable for blackjack novices who are still learning how to play 21.
Multi-hand Play
Strategy Warning Messages
Fast Play
Rebet and Deal Button
Double and Deal Button
Customization Options
Broad Table Limits
Cross compatibility
Multi-hand Play
Multi-hand play is available in many Playtech blackjack releases, including the highly intuitive Blackjack Surrender, UK Blackjack and Cashback Blackjack. You can place chips on up to five betting spots and play five hands at once.
Strategy Warning Messages
Strategy warning messages appear whenever a player deviates from optimal strategy. If you accidentally click the wrong button or deliberately misplay a hand because you are unsure of the correct move, the software will ask you to confirm whether you really want to hit or stand. This feature can also speed up your learning curve regarding basic strategy.
Fast Play
Fast Play lets you increase the speed at which your cards are dealt. This is especially useful when you play five hands at once. The feature is called “Turbo Mode” in some older Playtech blackjack releases. You can enable it in the settings menu located in the upper right corner of the interface.
Rebet and Deal Button
The Rebet and Deal button becomes active at the start of each round. It automatically repeats your previous wager(s) and deals a new hand. This option is very useful for players who prefer to flat-bet, placing the same amount of chips in every round.
Double and Deal Button
The Double and Deal button is similar to the previous feature, the only difference being that it doubles your last wager instead of repeating it. This option is handy for players who use progressive betting systems such as the notorious Martingale, where you double your previous wager after each loss. That said, we advise blackjack players to avoid such systems because they are largely ineffective and harmful to one’s bankroll.
Customization Options
Playtech’s blackjack software also offers extensive customization across many of the studio’s releases. Our favorite option is the ability to change the color of the virtual table felt to match your personal preferences. Games like Blackjack Surrender, American Blackjack and Blackjack Switch let you choose from multiple felt colors, including purple, green, dark gray, orange, white, blue and pine green.
Broad Table Limits
One of the greatest advantages of Playtech’s blackjack releases is their broad table limits. Because casinos can customize these limits, the minimum and maximum bets for the same variation may vary from one online venue to another. The current limits are displayed on plaques at the virtual tables, so you always have them at a glance.
The games are generally friendly to low-stakes bettors, with minimum wagers typically set at $1 or even $0.50. You would rarely find such low stakes at land-based blackjack tables. In some cases, the same game offers three limit options: $0.10/$200, $1/$2,000 and $5/$2,000.
Cross compatibility
Cross-compatibility is another benefit of playing Playtech online blackjack. Most titles have been optimized for mobile play, giving you the flexibility to enjoy a hand or two on your smartphone or tablet.
You can also load them directly in your browser, as many Playtech-powered casinos offer instant play on both desktop and mobile. The games run on iOS and Android devices and support both landscape and portrait modes.
Standard Set of Rules in Playtech Blackjack
Listing the exact rules for every Playtech blackjack variant is impossible, given the studio’s extensive catalog. Suffice it to say, most options follow fairly favorable rules.
These include late surrender, peeking, and liberal doubling and splitting. Another distinctive aspect of Playtech blackjack is that some games feature the rare Charlie rule. The rules outlined below apply to the majority of Playtech variations.
Number of Decks
Dealer Rules
Hole Cards and Peek Rules
Blackjack Odds
Pair Splitting Rules
Doubling Rules
Insurance
Late Surrender
Charlie Rules
Number of Decks
The number of decks varies between games, but most Playtech blackjack variants are dealt from a virtual shoe containing multiple packs. Deck counts typically range from two to eight, although some Playtech-powered casinos also offer single-deck versions. Single-deck blackjack is less common because it reduces the house edge.
Dealer Rules
Dealer standing rules are generally consistent across most Playtech releases. Virtual dealers normally draw to 16 and stand on soft 17 instead of hitting. A few variants, such as Blackjack Switch, apply the less favorable rule where the dealer hits soft 17, but they compensate with other player-friendly conditions.
Hole Cards and Peek Rules
Hole-card and peek rules are in force in most Playtech versions of blackjack. In games with hole cards, the virtual dealer checks for blackjack when the exposed card is an ace or a ten. This benefits the player by preventing additional losses on unsuccessful splits or double downs if the dealer does have blackjack. Some titles, such as Duel 21, do not support the peek rule.
Blackjack Odds
Blackjack payouts are standardized across most Playtech releases. No 6-to-5 versions are available, which is good news because that reduced payout increases the house edge. The vast majority of variations offer the standard 3-to-2 bonus odds. A select few, including Blackjack Switch, pay even money on player blackjacks.
Pair Splitting Rules
Pair-splitting rules usually favor the player, who often has the option to resplit up to four hands. Games like Duel 21 are an exception because they do not allow doubling after a split. Resplitting aces is generally prohibited, and you cannot draw additional cards to split aces.
Doubling Rules
Doubling rules are just as liberal as the pair-splitting rules. In many games, including Blackjack Surrender, you can double on any two-card hand. A few titles allow the move only on hard totals of 9 through 11. Doubling after a split is usually permitted.
Insurance
Insurance is available in the vast majority of Playtech online blackjack games. This option appears whenever the dealer’s exposed card is an ace. The player may accept or decline insurance, which costs half of the original stake. The dealer then peeks under the ace; if the hole card is a ten, the insurance bet pays 2 to 1 and the original wager loses.
If the dealer does not have blackjack, the round proceeds as normal, but the insurance bet is forfeited. Insurance is highly disadvantageous to the player and should generally be declined. If you would rather avoid the constant prompts, you can disable the insurance option for the session.
Late Surrender
Late surrender is one of the most advantageous rules in online blackjack. While not many digital variations include it, several Playtech titles do. This rule saves you money on weak starting totals when the dealer holds a strong upcard.
Late surrender lets you fold a poor hand and reclaim half of your stake after the dealer peeks for blackjack. In some Playtech games, such as Blackjack Surrender, you can use this option with any two-card total.
Charlie Rules
Charlie rules appear in certain Playtech variations, including Blackjack Surrender, which features the seven-card Charlie. Under this rule, a player who draws seven cards without busting automatically wins at even-money odds, regardless of the dealer’s total, unless the dealer has blackjack. The rule also applies to split hands.
Side Bets in Playtech Blackjack Games
Playtech’s blackjack portfolio includes several optional side wagers that can yield higher payouts. One of the newer releases, All Bets Blackjack, is especially impressive because it features five popular groups of side bets. We examine them in more detail below. Please note that the house edges for all side bets are significantly higher than those of the main games.
Perfect Pairs
Top 3 Bets
21+3 Bets
The Buster Bet
Lucky Lucky
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is arguably the most popular blackjack side bet. It wins when the player’s or dealer’s first two cards form a pair: mixed (6 to 1), colored (12 to 1) or perfect, matching in both rank and suit (25 to 1).
Top 3 Bets
Top 3 Bets are another exciting group of side wagers in this Playtech title. They pay when the dealer’s upcard and the player’s first two cards create a qualifying three-card poker hand. The top payout is 270 to 1 for a suited three of a kind.
21+3 Bets
21+3 wagers bring poker elements to the game of 21. If your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard form a qualifying hand, you receive a bonus payout. The paying three-card poker hands are flush, straight, offsuit trips, straight flush and suited trips, the last of which pays 100 to 1.
The Buster Bet
The Buster Bet awards bonus payouts whenever the dealer busts with a specific number of cards. The highest return, 2,000 to 1, goes to a player holding blackjack against a dealer who busts with eight or more cards. The lowest prize, 2 to 1, is paid when the dealer busts with only three or four cards.
Lucky Lucky
Lucky Lucky is another popular side bet often found at land-based tables. Playtech brings it online, allowing players to win payouts of up to 200 to 1 when their first two cards and the dealer’s upcard form certain combinations. The top prize is awarded for three suited sevens.
Classic Blackjack Variants by Playtech
Playtech offers several authentic releases that will appeal to fans of classic blackjack. They are available at a wide range of Playtech-powered casinos, so tracking them down is easy. The games deliver a classic, lifelike feel and feature relatively low house edges.
Blackjack Surrender
American Blackjack
Premium Blackjack
Blackjack Surrender
Blackjack Surrender is easily our favorite in the entire Playtech blackjack suite. If you want favorable rules and flexibility with splitting and doubling, this variation is an excellent choice.
The game offers some of the best playing conditions we have encountered while reviewing online blackjack. As its name suggests, it includes the advantageous late surrender rule, allowing players to forfeit any two-card total they consider weak.
The remaining rules are equally appealing, as shown in the table below. A newer, enhanced version now lets you place Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side wagers for additional payouts.
Rundown of Playtech’s Rules
| Deck Number | 6 decks in play |
| Blackjack Odds | 3 to 2 |
| Dealer Standing Rules | Draws to 16 and stands on soft 17 |
| Peek Rule | Hole cards are in play, the dealer checks under aces and tens |
| Doubling Rules | On any two-card total |
| Doubling after a Split (DAS) | Available |
| Splitting Rules | Resplitting to four hands is possible, players cannot draw to split aces |
| Surrender | Late surrender is available on any two-card total |
| Theoretical Return | 99.66% |
American Blackjack
In American Blackjack, you may play up to five betting spots per round, but the game’s conditions are not as favorable as those in Blackjack Surrender. It uses six decks and lacks both the surrender and peek rules.
Playtech offsets this with an intuitive interface that offers several customization options. For example, you can change the felt color, selecting from multiple hues. Exact table limits differ between online casinos, although the minimum stake is generally low enough for most budgets. The Charlie rule is also available.
Rundown of Playtech’s American Blackjack Rules
| Deck Number 6 decks in play |
| Blackjack Odds | 3 to 2, even money is offered for player blackjacks when the dealer shows an ace |
| Dealer Standing Rules | Draws to 16 and stands on soft 17 |
| Peek Rule | Unavailable |
| Doubling Rules | Doubling on any two-card total |
| Doubling after a Split (DAS) | Available |
| Splitting Rules | No resplitting and split aces receive only 1 card |
| Surrender | Unavailable |
| Theoretical Return | 99.53% |
Premium Blackjack
This Playtech variation truly delivers a premium experience, combining impressive visuals, realistic sound effects and excellent playability. Its rules are also favorable, resulting in a house edge below 0.50%. Table limits typically range from a $1 minimum to a $500 maximum, and players can handle up to five hands simultaneously.
The game also includes 21+3 and Perfect Pairs side wagers, a welcome addition for fans of side bets. You can speed up play by activating Turbo Mode. The payouts for both side bets are listed below.
- 100 to 1 for suited trips
- 40 to 1 for straight flushes
- 30 to 1 for three of a kind
- 10 to 1 for straights
- 5 to 1 for flushes
- 25 to 1 for perfect pairs
- 12 to 1 for colored pairs
- 6 to 1 for black/red pairs
Rundown of Playtech’s Premium Blackjack Rules
| Deck Number | 6 decks in play |
| Blackjack Odds | 3 to 2 |
| Dealer Standing Rules | Draws to 16 and stands on soft 17 |
| Peek Rule | Unavailable |
| Doubling Rules | On any two-card total |
| Doubling after a Split (DAS) | Available |
| Splitting Rules | Resplitting and hitting split aces are unavailable |
| Surrender | Unavailable |
| Theoretical Return | 99.58% |
Unorthodox Blackjack Releases by Playtech
Playtech’s catalog also includes several unorthodox blackjack variations, as shown below. Some of these games are unique to Playtech and are available only at casinos powered by the supplier. A few introduce unconventional mechanics, while others showcase the side bets discussed earlier.
Blackjack Super 21
All Bets Blackjack
Double Attack Blackjack
Blackjack Super 21
Blackjack Super 21 introduces several intriguing rules, though they are not overly favorable to the player. Its most distinctive feature concerns blackjack payouts: a blackjack pays even money unless it consists of a suited ace and the ten of diamonds, in which case it pays 2 to 1. This rule applies even if the dealer also has blackjack.
The game also awards even-money payouts for a six-card Charlie totaling 20 or less, while a six-card Charlie totaling exactly 21 pays 2 to 1. See the table below for additional details.
Rundown of Playtech’s Blackjack Super 21 Rules
| Deck Number | 6 decks in play |
| Blackjack Odds | 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 for a blackjack with an ace and a ten of diamonds |
| Dealer Standing Rules | Draws to 16 and stands on soft 17 |
| Peek Rule | Unavailable |
| Doubling Rules | On any two cards |
| Doubling after a Split (DAS) | Available |
| Splitting Rules | No resplitting or hitting split aces |
| Surrender | Late surrender is available |
| Theoretical Return | 99.22% |
All Bets Blackjack
All Bets Blackjack combines five distinct side bets, giving players the chance to secure impressive bonus payouts. A live-dealer version is also available, but we focus on the RNG-based game here. You can even try it for free at some of our recommended Playtech-powered casinos.
Aside from the extra wagering options, All Bets Blackjack follows standard 21 gameplay. It uses six decks, pays 3 to 2 on blackjacks and offers insurance at 2 to 1. This S17 game requires the dealer to stand on all 17 totals. We covered the associated side bets earlier in the article. The game also features a progressive jackpot. Other key rules include the following:
Rundown of Playtech’s All Bets Blackjack Rules
| Deck Number | 6 decks in play |
| Blackjack Odds | 3 to 2 |
| Dealer Standing Rules | Draws to 16 and stands on all 17s |
| Peek Rule | Hole cards are in play, |
| Doubling Rules | On any two cards |
| Doubling after a Split (DAS) | Unavailable |
| Splitting Rules | No resplitting or hitting split aces |
| Surrender | Late Surrender |
| Theoretical Return | 99.55% |
Double Attack Blackjack
Double Attack Blackjack is one of the most innovative games in Playtech’s lineup. It features the optional Bust It side bet, allowing you to wager on either the dealer’s bust hand or their bust card.
Moreover, insurance pays 5 to 2, giving you 2.5 times your stake instead of the standard 2x. The Bust It side bet awards the following payouts:
- 200 to 1 when the dealer busts with suited 8/8/8
- 5 to 1 when the dealer busts with 8/8/8 of the same color
- 15 to 1 if the dealer’s bust card is a 6
- 10 to 1 if the bust card is a 7
- 8 to 1 when the dealer busts with an 8
- 6 to 1 when they bust with a 9
- 3 to 1 when the bust card is a ten-value card
The game is dealt from eight 48-card Spanish decks, with all tens removed. This decreases your chances of winning the last side-bet option because fewer ten-value cards remain. Blackjacks pay even money.
Rundown of Playtech’s Double Attack Rules
| Deck Number | 8 48-card Spanish decks |
| Blackjack Odds | 1 to 1 |
| Dealer Standing Rules | Draws to 16 and stands on all 17s |
| Peek Rule | No hole cards in play, unavailable |
| Doubling Rules | On any two cards, the player must double the side bet as well |
| Doubling after a Split (DAS) | Available |
| Splitting Rules | Twice up to 4 hands |
| Surrender | Late surrender after hitting, splitting, and doubling |
| Theoretical Return | 99.50% – 99.53% |
