What Is Insuring a Bet in Blackjack?

In blackjack, “insuring a bet” means placing an extra bet in case the dealer has a blackjack. This extra bet is placed in a separate insurance betting box and pays 2-to-1 if the dealer does in fact have a blackjack.

The insurance bet is a side bet that is made when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. The insurance bet is placed in a separate betting box next to the main betting box where the player’s initial wager is made.

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The insurance bet pays 2-to-1 if the dealer has a blackjack.

PRO TIP:When insuring a bet in Blackjack it is important to remember that you are essentially placing a side bet that the dealer’s hand will contain an Ace and a ten-value card. It is usually best to only insure your bet if you are certain the dealer has a strong hand.

So, if you make an initial bet of $10 and the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you would place an insurance bet of $5 in the insurance betting box. If the dealer then goes on to have a blackjack, you would be paid $10 on your initial bet and $10 on your insurance bet, for a total of $20.

If the dealer does not have a blackjack, you lose your insurance bet but get to keep your initial wager. In this case, you would lose the $5 insurance bet but still have your original $10 wager on the table.

The key thing to remember about insuring a bet in blackjack is that it is a side bet that pays out if the dealer has a blackjack. The odds of the dealer having a blackjack are roughly 9-to-4, so the house has a significant edge on this side bet.

As such, it is generally not advised to place an insurance bet unless you are counting cards and know that there are more Aces left in the deck than there would normally be.