Complete Guide to Blackjack Insurance Bets

Blackjack, sometimes known as Twenty-One, is one of the most popular table games in the real-money gambling world.

In brick-and-mortar casinos, the game is played on a semi-circular table with the dealer facing five to seven players. Each player is dealt two face-down cards while the dealer receives one exposed card and another facing down. The aim of the game is to get a hand that sums up to 21 or close, and beat the dealer to it.

When playing blackjack, players can place several side bets to complement their main wager. One of the available options is the blackjack insurance bet.

Read more about this incredibly popular wager in this strategy article. We will also tell you when it's best to use it when playing blackjack at your favorite online casino.

Blackjack Insurance Bet Basics

As the name suggests, a blackjack insurance bet is a wager that players use to cover possible losses during a hand.

We have already mentioned that the objective of the game is to beat the dealer by getting close to 21 without running over. A hand is calculated by adding up the numerical value of the cards dealt to the player or dealer. Usually, cards 2 to 10 are worth their face value while Jack, Queen, and King are worth 10. Aces can be worth 1 or 11.

A combination of an Ace and one of the face cards (K, Q, J) or ten is called a natural or blackjack, and whoever gets this hand first in the game wins the round. The insurance bet comes in handy if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace. If you take this bet, you're basically protecting your wager from the dealer's hand in case their hidden card is a 10, Jack, Queen, or King.

The wager is pretty popular, and you can find it alongside other side bets like Perfect Pairs and 21+3 at most online casinos for Canadian players.

How Does the Insurance Bet Pay

A blackjack insurance wager is usually worth half your initial stake, and you can only place one bet per round.

For example, if your initial wager was $100 and you want to insure your bet against the dealer, you will place $50 in the relevant box on the table. While playing online blackjack, you will see a tab asking you to take the insurance bet or forfeit it.

The bet pays 2:1, which means that you will get two times the wager if the dealer's hidden card has a value of 10. Two times the insurance bet is basically $100, which means that you won't lose a cent if the dealer gets a blackjack. Consequently, you will lose the wager if they reveal any other card.

When to Use the Blackjack Insurance Bet

The blackjack insurance bet is only available after the first round of cards has been dealt. The other rule is that the dealer's face-up card has to be an Ace.

The aim of the insurance wager is to cushion the player against all the money they bet in the round in case the dealer gets a blackjack. The bet should, therefore, be placed only when you have a strong hand and your only worry is that a dealer's blackjack will stand in your way of banking the chips.

A practical case is when the value of your first two cards is 20. The dealer can only beat this if they have a blackjack. In case they reveal a ten, you will lose your initial bet but win the insurance wager. You can also take the insurance if your hand sums up to 18 or 19.

Where to Play Blackjack Online

Playing online blackjack online is an exciting venture, but you can make the experience even better by choosing a top-rated, secure, and trusted online casino.

For the ultimate experience, we recommend that you take a look at our list of best online casinos for Canadian players and select a suitable platform based on expert ratings and reviews. We can guarantee that these casinos offer blackjack insurance and many more side bets to make your gaming experience even more fun and rewarding.