Live blackjack at VegasNow: seats, side bets and variants
Real cards, a real shoe and a dealer working the table on camera. Our live blackjack tables range from classic seven-seat games to Infinite and Power Blackjack. This page explains how each one is dealt, what the side bets cover and how blackjack fits with your VegasNow bonus and loyalty points.
- 7 seats at standard tables
- Unlimited players at Infinite
- 8 decks in Power Blackjack
How live blackjack works at VegasNow
The aim of blackjack has not changed: finish with a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's without going over. Live blackjack keeps every part of that game physical. The cards come out of a real shoe, the dealer turns them over on camera and the table settles each hand against the dealer's final total.
What live play adds is a timer and a table. You take a seat, place a bet inside the betting window, and once betting closes the dealer deals two cards to each seated hand and one face-up card to themselves. You then make your decisions in turn, using the buttons on your screen, while the dealer waits for each player before moving on.
Our live blackjack tables come from Evolution, which publishes the rules for its tables on its live blackjack page. Each table also has its own help panel with the exact rules, payouts and deck count for that game. Deck counts vary from variant to variant, so the help panel is always the final word for the table you are sitting at.
From betting window to settled hand
A standard live blackjack round runs through four stages. Once you have played a few hands, the rhythm feels natural.
Take a seat and bet
Choose a table with a free seat, or use Bet Behind if it is full. Place your main bet, plus any side bets you want, before the betting timer runs out. The table limits are shown on the table itself.
The deal
The dealer deals two cards to every seated hand and one face-up card for the dealer. Side bets that depend on the first cards, such as Perfect Pairs and 21+3, are settled at this point.
Your decision
When your turn comes, choose whether to hit, stand, double or split where the table rules allow it. A decision timer runs for each player. If it expires, the table applies its default action as described in the help panel.
Dealer plays and hands settle
After every player has acted, the dealer completes their hand according to the table rules. Each hand is then compared with the dealer's total and paid or collected, and your balance updates.
The live blackjack variants in our lobby
Evolution builds several kinds of blackjack table. The main differences are how many players can join, how the shoe is made up and which side bets are offered.
| Variant | Players | Shoe | Side bets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard blackjack tables | Seven seats, plus Bet Behind | Varies by table; see the help panel | Perfect Pairs and 21+3 on most tables |
| Infinite Blackjack | Unlimited players | See the help panel | Any Pair, Hot 3 and Bust It |
| Power Blackjack | See the help panel | Eight decks with the 9s and 10s removed; picture cards kept | Any Pair, Hot 3 and Bust It |
Standard seven-seat tables
The classic format. Seven players each play their own hand against the dealer, so the pace depends on how quickly everyone decides. Tables such as Emerald Blackjack, Ruby Blackjack and VIP Blackjack appear in our lobby, each with its own limits.
Infinite Blackjack
There is no seat limit, so you never wait for a chair and the table never fills up, even at the busiest times of the evening. You still make your own decisions on your own hand, and the help panel explains exactly how the cards are shared out and settled.
Power Blackjack
Dealt from eight decks with every 9 and 10 removed, while the picture cards stay in the shoe. Changing the make-up of the shoe changes how often certain totals appear, so read the table rules before you play.
Bet Behind
When every seat is taken, Bet Behind lets you place a bet on a seated player's hand. You win or lose with their hand, but the seated player makes the decisions, so choose a hand you are happy to follow.
Side bets explained
Side bets are optional extra wagers placed alongside your main bet. They settle on their own terms, so a side bet can win while your main hand loses, and the other way around.
| Side bet | Where you find it | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Pairs | Most standard tables | Whether your first two cards form a pair: a mixed pair, a coloured pair or a perfect pair |
| 21+3 | Most standard tables | A poker-style hand made from your first two cards plus the dealer's face-up card |
| Any Pair | Infinite and Power Blackjack | Set out, with payouts, in the table's help panel |
| Hot 3 | Infinite and Power Blackjack | Set out, with payouts, in the table's help panel |
| Bust It | Infinite and Power Blackjack | Set out, with payouts, in the table's help panel |
Decisions that shape every hand
Blackjack is the live game where your own choices matter most. The core options are simple. Hit takes another card. Stand keeps your current total. Double doubles your bet in exchange for exactly one more card. Split turns a pair into two separate hands, each with its own bet. Which options are available, and when, depends on the table rules shown in the help panel.
Most players learn a few broad principles first. A hard total of 17 or more is usually kept, because any card above a 4 would bust it. Low totals such as 8 or less cannot bust with one more card, so standing on them gives up value. The dealer's face-up card matters too: it is the only information you have about the dealer's hand, and good decisions take it into account.
Aces deserve a special mention. An ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand, so a hand containing an ace counted as 11 is called a soft hand. A soft 17, for example ace and 6, cannot bust with one more card, because the ace can drop back to 1. That flexibility is why soft hands are often played more boldly than hard hands with the same total. Picture cards count as 10 and every other card counts at its face value, so a pair of picture cards already gives you 20.
None of this guarantees a win. Blackjack outcomes still depend on the cards, and even well-played sessions can lose. What sound decisions do is avoid giving away value through rushed or emotional choices, which is especially easy on a timer. If you are unsure about a hand, it is better to slow down, use the full decision time and take the option you understand.
Live blackjack, bonuses and loyalty
Blackjack counts at 10% towards bonus wagering and earns 1 loyalty point for every A$250 wagered.
| Example | Bonus | 40× requirement | Blackjack stakes needed (10%) | Loyalty points earned on those stakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A$100 first deposit, 150% match | A$150 | A$6,000 | A$60,000 | 240 |
| A$50 first deposit, 150% match | A$75 | A$3,000 | A$30,000 | 120 |
| A$20 first deposit, 150% match | A$30 | A$1,200 | A$12,000 | 48 |
Blackjack on the weekly calendar
Our promotions list includes Diamond Club Blackjack Cashback, which is aimed at live blackjack players. Its percentage, cap and conditions are shown on the offer inside your account rather than on the public overview, so check them there before you play for it. Loyalty points from blackjack still count towards your level and can be exchanged in the Loyalty Store, starting at 200 points for a A$5 bonus at Golden Glimmer level.
See weekly promotions
Higher limits for regular players
Players for our Sin City VIP lounge are selected based on dedication and regular activity, and you are welcome to contact us about VIP access. Listed benefits include higher betting limits, larger and faster withdrawals, a dedicated VIP account manager and VIP-only tournaments and promotions.
VIP status may carry different withdrawal or daily limits at our discretion. The seven loyalty levels, from Golden Glimmer to Bella Vista, are set out on our VIP page.
Explore VIPBlackjack tables in the lobby
A selection of the blackjack tables you can open today, plus two other live favourites.
All live tables →Play at a pace that suits you
Live blackjack can feel calm, but hands come around quickly and it is easy to play far more of them than you planned. Choose a stake that lets your budget last; with A$200 set aside, A$5 a hand gives you plenty of room, while A$25 a hand can be gone in a handful of losing rounds. Set a deposit limit in your account before you start and stop when your session budget is spent.
You must be 18 or older to play. VegasNow is operated by Just Entertainment B.V. (Curaçao company 160603) under Curaçao Gaming Authority licence OGL/2024/164/0246; see our licensing page. Withdrawals are requested from My Account after verification, with method limits on our withdrawals page. If gambling stops being fun, our responsible gambling page explains limits and self-exclusion, and Gambling Help Online offers free support on 1800 858 858.
Live blackjack questions
How many players can sit at a live blackjack table?
Standard tables seat seven. Infinite Blackjack has no seat limit at all, so any number of players can join the same table.
What is Bet Behind?
Bet Behind lets you bet on a seated player's hand when a table is full. You win or lose with that hand, but the seated player makes the decisions.
What makes Power Blackjack different?
It is dealt from eight decks with all the 9s and 10s removed, while the picture cards stay in. It also offers the Any Pair, Hot 3 and Bust It side bets.
Which side bets are available?
Most standard tables offer Perfect Pairs and 21+3. Infinite and Power Blackjack add Any Pair, Hot 3 and Bust It. Payouts are in each table's help panel.
How does blackjack count towards a bonus?
At 10%. Each A$100 staked moves your wagering by A$10, and the A$8 maximum bet applies to each hand while a bonus is active.
How many decks are used?
It varies by variant. Power Blackjack uses eight decks with the 9s and 10s removed; for other tables, the help panel shows the deck count.
Can I play live blackjack on my phone?
Yes, in your mobile browser with no download. Our mobile page shows how to add VegasNow to your Home Screen.