Should you be playing Progressive Blackjack?
As one of the most popular casino games to exist, blackjack does have one downside: with the standard game, the wins aren’t exactly on the large side. There are plenty of games that are all about luck alone where players can enjoy much bigger wins. The thing is, those behind great casino games are only too aware of the fact that players like to win big and that’s where Progressive Blackjack comes in.
Players love the blackjack variants that come with that progressive jackpot ticking away. Everyone knows that, at some point, it has to payout and people are happy to keep on playing until it does. So, is the lure of a possible big win enough to make Progressive Blackjack worth your while? If you want to know more about this game, how to play it, and understand some of the downsides, stay with us while we explore all that there is to know about Progressive Blackjack.
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Firstly, what is a progressive jackpot?
Before we get into the detail of Progressive Blackjack, it’s worth taking a look at what a progressive jackpot actually is. These started to be introduced over the last few decades and, on the whole, they are mainly associated with slots.
A progressive jackpot differs from a standard one because it is always changing. By changing, we mean growing, and it continues to grow until it payout. The reason this happens is that every time that you play, part of your bet is taken and added to the jackpot. The most attractive progressive jackpots are known as wide-area ones.
Wide area progressive jackpots have hundreds, if not thousands, of machines all showing the same game and all contributing towards the jackpot. That’s the reason that some of the biggest wins on progressive jackpot slots have run into millions of dollars. As soon as someone wins this mammoth amount of money, the jackpot is reset and then it starts to build all over again.
So, what is Progressive Blackjack?
The name may give it away, but this is a variant of blackjack that comes with a progressive jackpot in much the same way as the slots that we have just discussed. It is the huge jackpot that makes this stand out from other variants of the game and when it comes to the blackjack rules, there is no difference at all.
If you’re playing Progressive Blackjack at an online casino, it will usually be played with 6 or 8 decks. The game starts pretty much like any other version of blackjack in that the dealer will deal two cards to the player and two to themselves. The dealer will then turn their second card up. Progressive Blackjack has been produced by numerous developers and so you may see some variations in the rules. However, the vast majority have the rule that says that the dealer stands on a soft 17. This is a player-friendly rule and one that is welcomed.
When it comes to placing your bet, you need to place one just as you would in the standard version of the game, There is the option to place a side bet. it’s this side bet that allows players the opportunity to win the progressive jackpot. Generally speaking, the size of your side bet will match your main bet. It’s also worth knowing that some versions of Progressive Blackjack have a multi-hand mode. This means that you can play more than one hand at the same time. If you can keep track, this can give you more chances of a win.
Why do people choose to play Progressive Blackjack?
Players choose Progressive Blackjack for the same reasons that they choose to play progressive jackpot slots – there is the chance to win a huge jackpot that can be life-changing. Players are already playing a game that they enjoy, so to many, it makes sense to try and up the winning potential. Yes, you need to place an additional bet to be in with a chance but, should you win, the cost of that additional bet pales into insignificance.
What’s great about Progressive Blackjack is the fact that it’s featured at so many online casinos. This means that as well as being able to enjoy the game from the comfort of your own home, you also have thousands upon thousands of other players all feeding into that jackpot. There’s little doubt that seeing the figures add to the excitement of the game.
Does Progressive Blackjack have any downsides?
The progressive element of Progressive Blackjack is a side bet. As is often the case with blackjack side bets, the house edge is extremely high. As most players know, if you’re playing the standard game, and if you’re using the right blackjack strategy, the house edge can come down to around 0.5%, and that’s where we like it. With the progressive side bet, the house edge can go all the way up to 40%. At times it can go even higher.
This high house edge means that your chances of winning the progressive jackpot aren’t particularly favourable. You could go as far as saying that there is more chance of winning the lottery. The thing is, while the game itself takes skill, the progressive element is all about luck. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth a try. It may be something that you enjoy just occasionally rather than every time that you play.
Final thoughts
As we’ve seen, Progressive Blackjack sees the standard version of the game being given a slight twist. That twist is that you can win life-changing money. While the chance to win this kind of money is certainly appealing, the chances aren’t exactly great.
There are some side bets that really aren’t worth the hassle and are simply a waste of money. However, that’s not the case here. The side bet adds an extra dimension and certainly increases the excitement levels. It’s a side bet worth taking but just don’t expect to walk away rich anytime soon.
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| $25 FREE on Signup 100% up to $1.000 on First Deposit Hotspot Leaderboard | Visit Casino |
