Casinos
Real Money
More
Live Casino
Regions
Lightning Blackjack Review
Blackjack is an iconic live casino game. The ability to play following a set strategy to improve your odds makes it a player favourite on all websites.
That popularity has led to many interesting variants popping up over the years. Including Playtech’s Quantum Blackjack, which introduced multipliers into the game.
For years, that title stood unopposed in the live casino space. Now, Evolution is preparing to take its own with its entry, called Lightning Blackjack.
Where to play Lightning Blackjack?
Evolution is the most popular live casino software provider. As such, Canadian online casinos will do their best to ensure they always have their latest and greatest titles.
However, our criteria did not stop with the casino having Lightning Blackjack in their library. We also considered casino bonuseses, payment methods, mobile support, and several other factors.
If you want to play this title, we recommend doing so at one of the following real money casinos.
How to Play Lightning Blackjack?
If you have played other titles in the lightning series, the décor should be immediately familiar. The black and gold background looks great, as do the lightning machines behind the blackjack table.
All players share the same two cards dealt by the host. Like regular Live Blackjack, the dealer draws four cards total. Two go to the player, and two are kept by the host. You can see both of your cards, but only one of the dealer’s cards.
Using this information, you can decide if you want to keep playing or stop while you are ahead. The game is played using eight fifty-two card decks, which are shuffled after four decks of cards are played.
While planning your bet, you should keep an eye on the lightning fee. This fee increases 100% of each initial bet you place. It allows Evolution to place multipliers into the game without changing any of the rules that make blackjack so attractive.
After you place a wager and cards are dealt, you can choose to hit, stand, split or double your hand. The lightning fee does not affect splits and doubles.
After choosing how you want to play your hand, the host will reveal their second card. If their hand is under 17 they will also keep drawing additional cards. To win, you want your hand sum to be exactly twenty-one.
If neither side has twenty-one, then the one closest to twenty-one wins the round. Going over twenty-one means you bust, which is an automatic loss. This rule applies to both player and dealer.
Lightning Blackjack features & betting options
How do multipliers work exactly? Each round determines six multipliers, whose value ranges from 2x to 25x. What multiplier you receive depends on your hand sum.
The better your hand sum, the stronger the awarded multiplier will be. Multipliers are available to 17 and below, 18, 19, 20, 21, and blackjack wins. That said, multipliers are not applied immediately.
The multiplier you win is increased carried into the next round. If you win the upcoming round, the multiplier will increase your cash prize. If you lose, then the multiplier is lost as well.
In case of a push or insurance, you receive your main bet but lose the lightning fee and multiplier. The multiplier covers your bet in the amount you paid the lightning fee.
If you place a larger bet and win, the multiplier will not apply to the entirety of the wager. It will increase the original wager, while excess funds will pay normally.
If you choose to split your hand, the multiplier will only apply for one of those hands. In case both hands win, the multiplier will be applied to the best hand score.
Lightning Blackjack RTP, volatility, minimum stake & maximum stake
You can bet between $1 and $5,000 with every round. The exact betting range may be different depending on what online casino you play this game.
The RTP for Lightning Blackjack is 99.56%, assuming you follow the basic blackjack strategy.
We are pretty happy that Evolution found a way to keep the low house edge blackjack is known for. The lightning fee may not be perfect, but it beats playing blackjack without a strategy.
Lightning Blackjack hints and tips
Deciding to activate the blackjack multiplier in the upcoming round was a great move on Evolution’s part. It allows players to play each round optimally following basic blackjack strategy.
If you keep playing well and get lucky, you can count on that multiplier being there. However, this also introduces an element of risk. You have to get two back-to-back wins to benefit from increased payouts.
Final Thoughts
Fans of blackjack have a fantastic treat on their hands with Lightning Blackjack. The game maintains the gameplay loop, so many of us love while still introducing something new.
The only downside of Evolution’s release we can think of is the absence of other side bets. However, side bets were always a way to get bigger wins by playing risky wagers.
Now, you can score that big win while playing it safe using a mathematically proven blackjack strategy. If you love blackjack, this game is a must-play!
