Live Speed Blackjack Review - Rules, Strategies for Playing in SA Casinos

What Is Speed Blackjack?

Speed Blackjack is a variation of Live Blackjack from Evolution, but it sticks to the same core rules, like 8 decks and a dealer that stands on all 17s. The difference is just that the dealing process changes to facilitate more rounds per hour.

The game's defining feature is the simultaneous decision step. All players at the table are offered the choice to hit, stand, double down, or split at the same time, after the initial two cards are dealt to everyone. 

If you make the fastest decision, you get your next card dealt immediately, which means less lengthy pauses on account of slow players.

RTP & House Edge

Apart from the change in dealing order, the Evolution’s Speed Blackjack’s odds mimic that of the OG Classic Blackjack. 
The base game RTP is a highly favourable 99.29%, with a house edge of just 0.71%, provided you strictly follow basic blackjack strategy. Traditionalists like myself enjoy this variation particularly because it's one of the lowest house edges available in any live casino game.
Just be aware of the lower RTP on optional side bets:

• Perfect Pairs has an estimated 95.9% RTP / House Edge of 4.1%
• 21+3 has an estimated 96.3% RTP / House Edge of 3.7%

The reason that Speed Blackjack’s RTP remains the same is that the cards are shuffled and dealt randomly regardless of the player's action speed.

Speed Features & Gameplay Experience

• Faster Gameplay: Speed Blackjack is engineered to be 30 to 40% faster than standard live tables, according to Evolution, which, of course, increases the hands per hour drastically.
• Reduced Decision Time: The decision window is only 7 seconds, which keeps you on your toes and challenges your strategy knowledge.
• Simultaneous Play: All players make decisions at the same time, so the game progresses per the fastest player, instead of the slowest.
• Auto-Commands: The built-in fail-safe (Auto-Hit for 11 and under / Auto-Stand on 12 or more) guarantees continuous flow – no more waiting around for action.
• Bet Behind Option: This means you always get a seat at the table, even if all seven primary seats are taken. 

Strategy & Tips for Speed Blackjack

Since the rules of this live speed blackjack variant are mathematically identical to Evolution’s standard, basic strategy still applies here. There are some practical considerations that come with the fast pace, though:

• Memorise Basic Blackjack Strategy: You still need to make the right decision between Hit, Stand, Double, and Split based on your hand total and the dealer's up-card. But due to the reduced time limit, memorising the chart becomes non-negotiable.
• Understand the Auto-Commands: The 12-or-more Auto-Stand rule is helpful for the most part, but it can make a mistake when Basic Strategy requires you to Hit (on hands like 12 or 16 against a high dealer card) or Double Down. So, try to make a decision before you’re forced into one.
• Strict Bankroll Management: The increased number of hands per hour means you are risking your money faster. Before you start playing, set strict limits for your session to prevent massive losses.
• Use Side Bets Sparingly: If you are a high-volume player who wants to maximise the game’s high RTP, you pretty much want to avoid or minimise side bets like Perfect Pairs and 21+3 altogether, as their higher house will drag down your overall long-term return.
• Use “Bet Behind” to Start: If you’re new to the game, the pace might feel overwhelming. That’s where the "Bet Behind" option comes in handy, as it allows you to wager on a seated player's hand while you get used to the speed.

How We Pick the Best Speed Blackjack Casinos

We select South African casinos that offer a secure experience for players into fast-paced live casino gaming. Some of our considerations include: 

• Licensing: I don’t recommend any casinos that aren’t licensed to operate with a dedicated focus on the South African market.
• Powered by Evolution: It’s first confirmed that the casino hosts the original, high-quality Evolution Speed Blackjack stream.
• Local Banking Options: The platform should support a variety of efficient deposit and withdrawal methods familiar to SA players, like Ozow, 1Voucher, and Instant EFT, so you never have to worry about the legitimacy of your transactions.
• Streaming: High video quality and low latency are non-negotiable, especially when it comes to the rapid decision-making in Speed Blackjack.
• Table Limits: I want to see inclusive bet limits, so low limits for casual players and higher stake tables for VIPs, so all SA budgets are catered to.
• Responsible Gambling Tools: The casinos I recommend are all legitimate, so you’ll find that most of them are equipped with player tools like session timers and deposit/loss limits, which help you stay in control in fast-paced games like Speed.
• Bonus Suitability: Not all casinos offer promotions for Live Dealer games specifically, but when they do, we check that the wagering requirements are fair. For general Match Bonuses, we check the T&Cs to confirm whether Live Blackjack actually contributes to wagering

Promotions & Bonuses for Speed Blackjack

The game’s favourable RTP generally results in a lower wagering contribution of around 10 to 20%, compared to slots, which contribute up to 100%. 

If you tend to stick to Live Casino games, you are probably better off finding a casino that offers long-term value through loyalty schemes or regular cashback and reload offers.

These rewards benefit high-volume play, where a percentage refund or boost on every bet can add significant value to your overall bankroll, making them much more practical than large, restrictive welcome bonuses you can’t ever meet the wagering requirement for. 

Just always check the T&Cs carefully, as even these loyalty promotions can carry unfavourable rules like maximum bet limits or exclude side bets.

SportsBoom Suggests

Speed Blackjack is an excellent pick for fast-paced action that still values the traditional strategy of Blackjack. It offers the classic 99.29% RTP, and you never have to skip the table because there aren’t any seats. 
You want to go into it after you master basic strategy so you can make strong, timely bets. Also make use of the casino’s session limits to avoid too many losses that deplete your bankroll over a short space of time.