This is an educational guide to how casino games work. House edge and payout figures are typical values and vary by game, rules and operator. No casino game can be beaten in the long run — play for entertainment, never as a way to make money, and only stake what you can afford to lose.
What Is Insurance in Blackjack?
Insurance sounds sensible — a safety net when the dealer might have blackjack. But the maths tells a different story. Here’s what it really is.
How it works
When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you’re offered “insurance” — a side bet, up to half your original stake, that the dealer has a 10-value card underneath for blackjack. If they do, insurance pays 2:1, roughly offsetting your main loss.
Why to decline it
Despite the reassuring name, insurance is a poor bet. The dealer completes blackjack less often than the 2:1 payout requires to break even, so over time it carries a high house edge. Basic strategy is clear: don’t take insurance.
“Even money” is the same trap
If you have a blackjack and the dealer shows an Ace, you may be offered “even money” — this is simply insurance in disguise, and it’s best declined too. See blackjack basic strategy, how to play blackjack and what the house edge is.
Frequently asked questions
What is insurance in blackjack?
A side bet offered when the dealer shows an Ace, paying 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack.
Should I take insurance?
No — basic strategy says decline it; it’s a poor bet with a high house edge over time.
What about ‘even money’?
That’s just insurance on your own blackjack — also best declined for long-term value.
Related guides: blackjack basic strategy, how to play blackjack and what the house edge is.