What Is an Insurance Bet in Blackjack?

In blackjack, an insurance bet is a side bet that the dealer will have a blackjack. It is offered when the dealer’s upcard is an ace.

The bet is placed in a designated area in front of the player’s betting box. The insurance bet is equal to half of the player’s original bet and pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has a blackjack. .

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PRO TIP:An insurance bet in blackjack is when a player bets an additional amount (usually half their original wager) as a form of protection against the dealer having a blackjack. If the dealer does have blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2:1. However, if the dealer does not have blackjack then the player loses both their original wager and the insurance bet.

The insurance bet is a bad bet for the player because the house has a built-in advantage. The odds of the dealer having a blackjack are about 9 to 4, but the player only gets paid 2 to 1 on the insurance bet.

That means that for every $5 insurance bet, the player can expect to lose $2.50 on average.

The insurance bet is a sucker bet and should be avoided.