Lightning balckjack

Introduction To Lightning Blackjack

Lightning Blackjack follows the same theme as Evolutions’ very successful Lightning Roulette, which uses multipliers to enhance wins.

We’ve been expecting a Lightning Blackjack from Evolution for a while. I’m pleased to say they have done an excellent job adding multipliers while maintaining the integrity of live blackjack rules.

If you know how to play Blackjack, you’ll be playing Lightning Blackjack without any problems and enjoy the additional payouts when the multipliers hit.

If you’re new to Blackjack, I’ll explain how to play, highlight the differences between other multiplier blackjacks, and cover a bit about strategy and the possible payouts.

The published RTP for the game is 99.56% (first-hand only). However, this is not the accurate RTP when including Multipliers hands.

The good people over at Wizard of Odds have calculated the house edge to be more like 17.6%, which is enormous.

The current recommendation is not to use Basic Blackjack Strategy on this game, as that is optimised for standard Blackjack.

What is Lightning Blackjack?

Lightning Blackjack brings the chance of multiplier payouts to regular Blackjack. The game is played on one of Evolutions’ scalable Blackjack tables, allowing an unlimited number of players.

The Lightning element of Lightning Blackjack is just like a side bet. With this bet, you’ll collect a 2x to 25x payout by winning two consecutive hands.

A fee is payable each game round which is used to fund the payment of the multipliers. No rule changes have been made to the game, ensuring both experienced and new players can play without learning a new set of rules.

However, there is a need to explain how the lighting fee and multipliers work, so you can get the best experience while playing.

This is how the lightning multipliers work.

You pay a mandatory Lightning Fee of 100% of your initial bet each game round (think of it like a side bet that you win or lose).

Once betting time has closed, multipliers are assigned to each hand value for the game round and displayed behind the dealer.

Six ranges of multipliers can be randomly assigned to a game round in the order of hand values 4-17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & BJ.

• 2x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x & 6x.
• 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x & 8x.
• 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x,8x & 12.
• 2x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 10x & 15x.
• 2x, 5x, 6x, 8x, 12x & 20x.
• 2x, 5x, 8x, 12x, 15x & 25x.

The multiplier range chosen will directly impact the strategy you should use. You’ll find more info here.

If your hand beats the dealer, your main bet will be paid at 1:1 or 3:2 if it’s a blackjack. You’ll then be assigned the multiplier corresponding to your winning hand value. (If you already have a multiplier active, it will be paid per the terms explained below).

The multiplier is carried over to the next hand you play.

Winning With A Lightning Blackjack Multiplier

If you win a hand with an active multiplier (usually the next hand after you get the multiplier), the main bet (up to the value of the previous lighting fee) will be boosted by the multiplier. The remaining part is paid at the standard payout rates if the main bet is more than the previous lighting fee.

It sounds complicated, but it isn’t really.

Things you need to know before you play Lightning Blackjack

You must understand that the multiplier only becomes active on the next hand you play and will only be applied if you win that hand.

If you lose, the lighting fee, the main bet, and the outstanding multiplier are lost.

Once you have won a multiplier you don’t have to use it straight away; you have up to 180 days to play the next hand. Some strategic thinking may be needed to ensure you use it at the right time.

Other points to note

• Only one Lightning fee is paid per hand. Hands that are Split or Doubled do not have additional lightning fees applied.
• If a hand is split, the hand with the highest value is used to assess which lightning multiplier is assigned if the hand wins.
• If the dealer and player end up with the same value hands, the Lightning fee is lost, and the main bet is returned to the player as a Push.
• In the case of a Push or Insurance, the player gets their main bet back but loses the lightning fee, and any multiplier applied to the hand.

Lightning Blackjack Multiplier Values

Multipliers are randomly assigned to all hand values.

The possible multipliers are 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x, 12x and 25x.

A Winning hand can pay between 2x and 15x, while a Blackjack can pay between 6x and 25x.

Multipliers are assigned to hand values:

• Four to Seventeen.
• Eighteen.
• Nineteen.
• Twenty.
• Twenty-One.
• Blackjack.