Is It Smart to Buy Insurance in Blackjack?

It’s no secret that casino games are designed to make the house money, and blackjack is no different. The odds are always in favor of the dealer, and as such, insurance is generally not a smart bet for the player.

When you buy insurance in blackjack, you’re essentially betting that the dealer has a natural 21 (blackjack). The insurance bet pays 2-1 if the dealer does in fact have blackjack, but it’s a sucker bet more often than not.

For starters, the odds of the dealer having blackjack are only about 9%. That means the insurance bet has a 91% chance of being a loser.

Even if you happen to win the insurance bet, you’re still at a disadvantage because you have to risk $5 for every $2 you stand to win.

It’s also important to note that even if you do win the insurance bet, you’re not actually getting ahead. All you’re doing is recouping some of your losses from the initial hand.

In other words, you’re not making any money; you’re just not losing as much.

The bottom line is that buying insurance in blackjack is generally a bad idea. The odds are against you, and even if you do win, you’re not really winning anything.

If you want to minimize your losses at the casino, stick to games with better odds like poker or craps.