Progressive Blackjack

Reviewed By Michael Kates

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More than 30 years working in online gaming and sports journalism. I hope to explain the growing US online casino market to help those new to internet gambling have a better understanding.

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Last Updated: Feb 12^th, 2024

Progressive betting in blackjack is easy to learn, and you can even try games for free with zero risk. Plus, at Gambling.com, we’ll point you in the right direction to the very best blackjack sites with the biggest online casino bonuses.

Progressive Blackjack Rules

Learning blackjack progressive betting is easy, and you’ll find a list of casinos offering blackjack games on this page.

Step 1: Open the game in your web browser or in your mobile app.

Step 2: Select your stake using the chips at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Click on the circular betting area to place your chips. You also have the option of placing a side bet to win a special prize or the progressive jackpot.

Step 4: Click on the “Deal” button to receive cards. The dealer will also receive one up card and one card face down.

Step 5: You’ll have two options: “hit” and receive another card, or “stand” and receive no more cards. The idea is to reach as close to 21 as possible without going over (“bust”). Aces are worth 1 or 11, picture cards are worth 10, and every card their face value, just like at a traditional blackjack table.

Step 6: Once you choose to stand, it’s the dealer’s turn. The dealer will draw to 16 and stand on 17. If the dealer beats your total, you lose. If the totals are the same, the hand is a “push” and your stake is returned. If your total is higher, you win.

Double Down & Split

During the game, you’ll also have the chance to double down. This is an extra bet you can make when you have a total of 9, 10 or 11. To double down, place an additional stake equal to your initial bet. You will receive one extra card (and one only) to improve your hand.

You can also split cards if you are dealt a pair (adding an additional wager equal to your initial bet as well). By splitting, you form two new hands on which you can continue to place bets.

Regular Payouts in Progressive Blackjack

There are three regular prizes you can win in Progressive Blackjack:

Beat the Dealer: 1/1 | By beating the dealer, the player wins even money. That is, a return equal to the player’s stake as well ast he original stake back.

Blackjack: 3/2 | If a blackjack player is dealt an ace and a picture card, it’s a natural blackjack and they win 3/2. However, if the dealer also has blackjack, the hand is a push.

Insurance: 2/1 | A blackjack player can take an insurance bet if the dealer’s up card is an ace. If the dealer reveals his other card to be a picture card, making blackjack, the player wins 2/1 on the insurance bet.

Progressive Blackjack Side Bets

A side bet is an additional wager you must make in order to win the progressive blackjack jackpot. You’ll need to place the side bet alongside your regular bet. A portion of your progressive blackjack betting stake goes to the jackpot pool. The jackpot will “seed” at a set amount and increase for every contributing bet.

For example, in the Progressive Blackjack betting game from Playtech, the jackpot seeds at 50,000x the size of the side bet. Three percent of every side bet contributes toward the jackpot. As well as the progressive, you can win smaller side bet payouts. These vary depending on the game.

For example, in Playtech’s game, you win 5x your stake by getting a hand containing an ace. Two unsuited aces awards a prize worth 50x stake, and two suited aces pays 100x. You’ll win a staggering 5,000x stake payout by getting a hand containing three suited aces.

And if you strike it lucky and make a hand with four suited aces, you will win the entire progressive jackpot. Note that the win conditions can be strict. The four consecutive aces must start from the first card in your hand.

Blackjack vs. Progressive Blackjack

In terms of regular play, there are similarities between standard online blackjack and progressive blackjack. However, with the addition of side bets and jackpots, you will find one or two interesting differences.

Minimum/Maximum Stakes: The range of stakes for regular online blackjack can be anywhere from $0.50 to $1,000. Typically, progressive blackjack betting will include a strict set amount for the side bet. This can be $1-$5.

Side Bets: Classic online blackjack won’t feature any side bets other than insurance. Beat the dealer and win even money, or win 3/2 for hitting a blackjack. However, all progressive blackjack jackpot games feature several side bet payouts depending on your hand.

Maximum Payouts: The top payout in classic blackjack is 3/2 for a natural 21. However, with progressive betting, blackjack prizes can be a lot higher. Regular side bets can range from 5x for a hand containing any ace, up to 5000x for three suited aces. Get four suited aces or sevens – depending on the blackjack variant – and you’ll win a six-figure jackpot.

Progressive Blackjack Betting Systems and Strategy

Learning progressive betting in blackjack is just the first step to sensible play. You should also be looking at employing simple progressive blackjack strategy in order to improve your long-term chances at the table.

Use Good Bankroll Management

It’s important to use a good staking plan whenever you play blackjack online. First, decide what your total budget is and keep to strict bets on every hand.

For example, good blackjack progressive betting strategy is to bet 1% of your bankroll on your hand, while saving enough for 100 side bets. Remember that to win a side bet you may have to lose your hand, so you’ll need to factor that in to the overall cost.

By playing optimal blackjack strategy and avoiding the Insurance bet, however, you can reduce the house edge in blackjack to 0.5%.

Try a Blackjack Progressive Betting System

Gamblers have tried to use betting systems for centuries to try and beat the house. But does a staking plan work in practice?

The Martingale system is probably the most famous negative progression plan. With the Martingale plan, you double your stake after a losing hand and keep on doubling it until you win. You then reset your stake to its original value and start again.

The problem with the Martingale system is that your losses can increase exponentially if you go on a cold streak. And when you factor in a run of losing side bets, your bankroll can take a huge hit.

Take the Side Bet

The beauty of a side bet in progressive blackjack is that you can win a prize, even if you don’t win the hand.

For example, you can win 250/1 for getting three unsuited aces. You don’t even need to beat the dealer to win the side bet here as A-A-A will do. Similarly, the prize for suited A-A-A is 5000/1 but only makes a total of 3 or 13 in a hand of blackjack.

You must always be aware of the true odds, however. The odds of being dealt a consecutive A-A-A are extremely low, so the payout of 5000/1 doesn’t accurately reflect that. And even though the minimum payout for a suited A-A-A-A is $100,000 – or 100,000/1 – the real odds should be in the millions.

Play Multi-Hand Blackjack

A progressive blackjack betting system only works if you are maximizing your chances to win. Luckily, most progressive blackjack games online can be played multi-hand. In multi-hand games, you can play up to three hands at once. This is perfect for increasing game volume, keeping track of cards, and maximizing profits.

Who Makes Progressive Blackjack Games?

You can try a progressive blackjack betting system in games by some of the world’s biggest providers.

Microgaming

UK casino developer Microgaming was one of the earliest manufacturers to produce an online progressive blackjack game. Triple Sevens Progressive Blackjack works like a standard blackjack casino game, but there are special payouts for forming a winning hand that contains a seven.

For instance, you can win 5x stake by having one seven of any suit, 25x for two sevens, and 50x for a hand with two sevens of the same suit. However, if you make a 21 with three diamond sevens, you’ll win the progressive jackpot.

Playtech

You can also find a multi-hand progressive blackjack game by Playtech, one of the world’s leading developers of online casino games and slots. Best of all, Playtech’s table games are slowly being introduced at online casinos in the US.

Like Microgaming’s game, Playtech’s progressive blackjack awards special prizes for anyone making a hand with certain cards. This time, you must form a winning hand with one or more aces. Make a hand with four consecutive suited aces and win the whole jackpot.

Playtech have also developed a new game called All Bets Blackjack. In this game, you can switch between side bets on every game. Choose from Perfect Pairs, 21+3, or Lucky Lucky, or go straight for the progressive side bet and try to scoop the jackpot.

WGS

WGS Technology supply online blackjack games all over the world. As well as Perfect Pairs Blackjack and Vegas Strip Blackjack, WGS has also developed its own game with progressive blackjack betting. As with other developers’ games, WGS’s Progressive Blackjack features a special side bet that gives you a shot at winning the jackpot.

You’ll win 10% of the progressive jackpot by forming a winning hand containing four unsuited aces. However, you can win the full jackpot prize by hitting a hand with four suited aces in it.

Where Can I Play Progressive Blackjack for Real Money?

Ready to use a blackjack progressive betting system? Perhaps you dream about winning a big jackpot, all from the comfort of your own home? At Gambling.com, we only recommend the best online casino sites. All of our top-rated casinos offer lots of games to play for real money. Enjoy a safe, legal gambling experience every time and go for the jackpot!

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More than 30 years working in online gaming and sports journalism. I hope to explain the growing US online casino market to help those new to internet gambling have a better understanding.

Read Full Bio

Michael Kates

Last Updated:   Feb 12^th, 2024

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