Blackjack Insurance: What It Is & How to Use It Wisely
If you love blackjack, you need to know about blackjack insurance. Blackjack is one of the few casino games where skill plays a big role in the outcome.
But not all bets work in your favour—blackjack insurance bets are one of the most debated side bets in the game. Some players swear by them, while others avoid them like the plague.
So, what’s the truth? In this guide, we’ll break down how insurance works in blackjack, when it makes sense to take it, and when you’re better off skipping it.
What Is Insurance in Blackjack?
An insurance bet in blackjack is a side bet offered when the dealer's upcard is a dealer's ace. You can wager up to half of your original bet, predicting that the dealer has a ten-value card as their hole card—meaning they have blackjack. If the dealer does have blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2:1, helping you break even. If they don’t, you lose the insurance bet, and the hand plays out as normal.
On the surface, it sounds like a smart backup plan, but the reality is a bit more complicated. Whether insurance is a good move depends entirely on your playing style and the situation at hand.
How to Take Insurance in Blackjack Online
When playing blackjack online, a pop-up will appear whenever the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, offering you the option to take insurance. Here’s how it works:
- Accepting Insurance: Click “Yes” or “Take Insurance,” and an additional wager (up to half your original bet) will be placed.
- Declining Insurance: Click “No” or “Decline,” and your hand continues as normal.
- Mobile Tip: Some online blackjack games show insurance as a side bet rather than a pop-up, so check your game’s interface.
One thing to keep in mind is that online casinos often push insurance more aggressively than land-based ones. Because online games move faster, you get more insurance offers—leading to more unnecessary losses if taken too often.
Calculating The Odds For Insurance Bets
Here’s where things get interesting. Statistically speaking, the odds of the dealer having blackjack when showing an Ace are about 30.8%. That means that nearly 70% of the time, the insurance bet loses.
To put it in perspective, if you take insurance 100 times, you’ll only win about 31 of those bets—but you’ll lose the remaining 69. This significantly increases the house advantage, with a house edge of over 7%, making insurance far worse than the standard blackjack house edge of 0.5% when using basic blackjack strategy.
In short, if you a casual play and know the basics of how to play blackjack, an insurance bet is a long-term losing bet that’s best avoided.
Blackjack Insurance Strategy: When (If Ever) Should You Take It?
Understanding when to take insurance in blackjack—and when to avoid it—is key to making smart bets. For most players, the insurance wager is not a great bet, but there are specific situations where it can be useful.
✅ When to Take Insurance
- If You’re a Card Counter – Advanced players using a card counting system, like the Hi-Lo strategy, can track the ratio of ten-value cards left in the deck. If the true count is +3 or higher, it means there are a lot of 10-value cards remaining, increasing the likelihood of the dealer's hole card being a ten-value card. In this situation, taking insurance can actually be a profitable move.
- If You’re in a Game with a High Percentage of Face Cards Remaining – While not as reliable as card counting, if several rounds have passed and you’ve seen an unusually low number of 10-value cards, the probability of the dealer having blackjack may be slightly higher.
❌ When to Avoid Insurance
- If You’re Not Counting Cards – Without an accurate way to measure the deck composition, insurance becomes a blind bet that favours the house.
- If You’re Playing for the Long Run – Over hundreds of hands, taking insurance consistently will cost you money. The house edge on insurance is over 7%, making it one of the worst bets in blackjack.
- If You’re Playing for Fun – Casual players should focus on playing their hand correctly rather than worrying about an insurance bet, which won’t improve their chances of winning in most cases. The rules surrounding insurance bets can vary by casino and influence the game dynamics at different blackjack tables.
The bottom line?
Unless you have a mathematical reason to take insurance, it’s best to avoid an insurance bet and focus on making solid blackjack decisions.
Blackjack Insurance Bet Examples & Practical Insights
To really get a feel for insurance, let’s look at how it plays out in different scenarios:
Imagine you place a $20 bet, and the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. You’re given the option to take insurance by betting $10.
Scenario 1: You Take Insurance, Dealer Has Blackjack
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Your Hand | 10♦️ 9♣️ (19) |
| Dealer’s Upcard | A♠️ |
| Your Choice | Take insurance ($5 bet) |
| Dealer’s Downcard | K♦️ (Blackjack!) |
| Outcome | Lose original $10 bet, win $10 from insurance (2:1 payout) |
| Net Result | ✅ Break-even ($0 loss or gain) |
Scenario 2: You Take Insurance, Dealer Doesn’t Have Blackjack
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Your Hand | Q ♥️ 8 ♠️ (18) |
| Dealer’s Upcard | A♦️ |
| Your Choice | Take insurance ($5 bet) |
| Dealer’s Downcard | 7 ♣️ (No Blackjack) |
| Outcome | Lose $5 insurance bet, game continues |
| Net Result | ❌ -$5 loss, plus the original game outcome |
Scenario 3: You Decline Insurance, Dealer Has Blackjack
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Your Hand | K ♠️ 9♦️ (19) |
| Dealer’s Upcard | A ♣️ |
| Your Choice | Decline insurance |
| Dealer’s Downcard | J ♠️ (Blackjack!) |
| Outcome | Lose full $10 bet |
| Net Result | ❌ -$10 loss |
Scenario 4: You Decline Insurance, Dealer Doesn’t Have Blackjack
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Your Hand | J♦️ 7 ♥️ (17) |
| Dealer’s Upcard | A ♠️ |
| Your Choice | Decline insurance |
| Dealer’s Downcard | 5♦️ (No Blackjack) |
| Outcome | Game continues as normal, chance to win |
| Net Result | ✅ No extra loss, potential to win or lose $10 in play |
Many players take insurance out of fear of losing their main bet, but this often leads to unnecessary losses over time. Instead of relying on insurance, focus on smart decision-making and playing the hand correctly.
The “Even Money” Rule: A Disguised Insurance Bet
Ever been offered even money when you have a blackjack and the dealer shows an Ace? That’s just an insurance bet in disguise.
Instead of paying 3:2 for your blackjack, the dealer offers you a 1:1 payout upfront, guaranteeing a win no matter what their hole card is. But mathematically, taking even money is the same as taking insurance, which involves betting on the dealer's hole card being a ten or picture card, indicating a blackjack. Over time, it reduces your expected winnings.
If you’re looking to maximise profits, declining even money and playing your blackjack at the normal 3:2 payout is the way to go.
4 Common Myths About Blackjack Insurance
Let’s clear up some misconceptions:
- “Insurance protects my hand.” → False. It’s a separate bet that doesn’t affect your main hand.
- “Insurance guarantees I won’t lose money.” → False. In reality, it leads to more losses over time.
- “Even money is a smart play.” → False. It’s just another version of insurance that reduces long-term earnings.
- “Only beginners take insurance.” → False. Some pros take it—but only when the deck favours them.
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Conclusion
Blackjack insurance bets are one of those bets that sound good in theory but don’t hold up in practice—at least for most players.
For casual players, blackjack insurance bets are a long-term losing bet that’s best ignored. For advanced players tracking the deck, insurance can sometimes be a smart play—but only in specific situations.
At the end of the day, the best approach is simple: focus on smart strategy, decline insurance, and keep your bankroll strong.
Insurance in Blackjack FAQ
Emily is our seasoned content writer. She writes easy to read and helpful game guides, so you can quickly understand the rules of each game and get some useful tips that can help boost your chances of winning.
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