Blackjack X is an online blackjack game by Pragmatic Play that blends live multiplayer elements with classic RNG blackjack. It aims to mix the convenience of RNG with some of the authenticity of live dealer games, offering a unique alternative to both types of games. The game boasts an RTP of 99.23% with a $5 minimum bet on most tables, with wagers going up to $2,500. It’s available on both desktop and mobile on any online casino with Pragmatic Play software.
Blackjack X tables appear in multiple languages and with varying betting limits, giving them a lot of versatility. Of course, this comes at the cost of not having actual dealers or cards. It’s clear that it’s a rather niche product, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good product. In either case, our review will examine it thoroughly to see how it compares to the rest of the industry.
Game Specifications | |
---|---|
Game name | Blackjack X |
Game provider | Pragmatic Play |
Game type | Blackjack |
Streaming from | |
RTP | 99.28% |
Bet range | €5 - €2,500 |
Max win | 100:1 |
Side bets | Yes |
Supported platforms | |
Supported OS | |
Languages |
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czech
Dutch
+26
All supported languages
|
Live casino blackjack tables come with a series of challenges and drawbacks. They’re much more complex than most live casino games and are much more expensive to maintain – especially classic tables with seven seats, in which dealers need to spend time on every individual player. That’s why the minimum bet is typically much higher than with other games, and rounds are much slower.
Blackjack X aims to tackle some of these problems by simply turning regular Pragmatic Play blackjack tables into RNG-based games. This means that there are no actual cards or dealers involved, and everything is handled by computer-based random number generation. It basically handles things the same way online slots or other non-live casino games do.
However, there are still some elements of live gaming in Blackjack X. For example, you still get to share tables with other players from around the world. You can talk to them using the chat function, too. Moreover, the game was made to look like a live studio even though it’s not. For reference, Evolution’s First Person series of games does things similarly.
That said, even a quick look at this game reveals some glaring issues. Namely, the minimum bet is still $5, the same as in the live version. The RTP is also not that great for a blackjack game, and the gameplay is only marginally faster than with a dealer.
The way we see it, Blackjack X just turns Pragmatic blackjack into a non-dealer game without offering any benefits for doing so. It’s a baffling decision, and we’re not really sure who the target audience is. If you don’t like live casino blackjack and prefer it with RNG, just play a standard non-live blackjack game.
That said, we still have a review to do. Who knows, maybe some other feature wows us instead.
Blackjack X is a classic blackjack variant that uses 8 decks. The game follows the typical steps seen at blackjack tables. The only real difference you’ll notice is that things move along a bit quicker than usual.
The first thing you’ll need to do is find a table with available seats. There are currently 30 tables available, each with 7 available seats. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding an available spot. However, tables may offer different limits, so be careful while making your pick.
The dealer deals two cards to the player and two cards to their own hand, with one dealer card face-down. Each player gets their own turn, as indicated by the interface.
Players have the usual options to Hit, Stand, Double Down, or Split if they have a pair. It’s important to note that doubling down is not allowed on splits, and players can only double down on the first two cards. When splitting Aces, players can only receive one additional card.
Betting time is limited to 12 seconds, providing enough time to make a wager. To improve their chances of winning, players can use game statistics and consider the pre-decisions of other players. The game also features an Auto-Stand function that automatically stops dealing cards when a specific hand total is reached.
The dealer must stand on both soft and hard 17s and must draw to 16. Additionally, the game’s table and studio design incorporate a mix of purple and gold to create an atmosphere of luxury and opulence.
The standard blackjack options of Bet Insurance and Bet Behind are also available.
Besides the main bet and other standard options, Pragmatic Play Blackjack X also offers two side bets. Any seasoned blackjack player will be familiar with these, as will most newbies. After all, these are some of the most common blackjack side bets in the industry.
You can place any of these side wagers in any round, including while betting behind.
As noted above, Blackjack X betting limits are fairly standard for 7-seat live casino blackjack. The minimum bet can be either $5 or $10, depending on the table. Similarly, maximums range from $1,000 to $2,500.
The problem with this is that this is not live casino blackjack. Having such a high minimum bet partially defeats the purpose of turning the game into RNG.
That said, the remaining payouts and prizes are industry standard.
Bet/Result | Payout | ||
---|---|---|---|
Blackjack X | |||
Main Hand Win | 1:1 | ||
Blackjack | 3:2 | ||
Insurance | 2:1 | ||
Perfect Pairs Side Bet | |||
Perfect Pair | 25:1 | ||
Colored Pair | 12:1 | ||
Mixed Pair | 6:1 | ||
21+3 Side Bet | |||
Suited | 100:1 | ||
Straight Flush | 40:1 | ||
Three-of-a-kind | 30:1 | ||
Straight | 10:1 | ||
Flush | 5:1 |
Blackjack X RTP is 99.28%, which is the same as with other tables by Pragmatic Play. Sadly, though, this rate is still below average for the industry, highlighting some better options you can find on our main blackjack page.
The side bets have different RTP rates at 95.90% RTP for Perfect Pairs and 96.30% for 21+3. Side bets in blackjack are always statistically inferior to the main bet, but they can be a nice way to add some excitement to the game.
Make sure to choose the game that suits your taste and budget. For more extensive guides on live blackjack basics, read this article.