Bwin Blackjack Software

Thanks to their TV commercials and sponsorships of major sports teams,
Bwin has become one of the
world’s most famous bookmakers.

They became even more notable after merging with
PartyGaming plc in 2011,
and being purchased by GVC Holdings for €1.1 billion in 2016.

While much of Bwin’s fame comes from their sportsbook, they also offer an
online poker site and casino. We’re mainly interested in the latter, notably
Bwin’s blackjack action.

That being said, let’s discuss the general aspects of Bwin Blackjack, games,
strategy, and how to play.

We’ll finish by covering the company’s history, other games, and reputation.
As you’ll learn in the reputation section, Bwin’s fame hasn’t always translated
to fair practices.

General Aspects of Bwin Blackjack

Download and Instant Play Software

Like any good online gaming site, Bwin offers both instant play (in-browser)
and a mobile casino. But they’re also one of the few casinos these days that
feature download software too.

When visiting through a PC, you can find the Download link at the top of the
homepage.

We downloaded the software just to see if it had any more blackjack games.
While we did find a few different games, the downside is that it took over 20
minutes to download and install the software.

Huge Game Variety

Bwin has one of the largest varieties that we’ve ever seen from an online
blackjack provider. Combining everything offered in the instant play, download,
and live dealer casinos, Bwin offers 14 different games.

Below you can see the variants in each casino format:

• Instant Play Casino – 3D Blackjack, blackjack, Blackjack Charlie 7,
  Blackjack Perfect Pairs & 21+3, Blackjack Pro, Hi Lo Blackjack, Blackjack
  Micro Limit SP 10, and Blackjack Micro Limit SP 25.
• Download Casino – Blackjack high limit, blackjack single deck, blackjack
  single player, blackjack Bonus Pairs, and multi-hand blackjack. You’ll also
  find the same games as the instant play version, minus the SP 10 and SP 25
  variations.
• Live Dealer Casino – Blackjack and Blackjack Party.

Graphics

Given that Bwin uses blackjack variants from more than one software provider,
you’ll see different types of graphics depending upon the table. Here are three
examples of the differences:

• 3D Blackjack – The 3D table features rich colors on the felt and a
  realistic overall feel. But the wood trim going around the table looks
  cartoonish and ugly.
• Blackjack Charlie 7 – This is the best-looking table of the bunch
  because nearly every aspect features detailed graphics. Our only complaint
  is that the chip trays in the background could be clearer.
• Multi-Hand Blackjack – This table isn’t bad in comparison to the
  industry, but it doesn’t measure up to the first two tables we’ve discussed
  from a visual perspective. The biggest downside is the bland trim going
  around the table.

Table Layout

This is another area that varies depending upon what individual game and
rules you’re dealing with.

But most of the tables feature the same general layout, which includes: 3
betting circles; chip denominations in the lower middle or right-hand side;
rules written in the middle of the table; and decorations (i.e. chip trays,
cards, and shoe) in the background.

The main exceptions to this format include the bonus bet games, perfect pairs
& 21+3 and bonus pairs, which offer additional betting spaces.

How to Play

While some Bwin Blackjack variations differ in their rules, most Bwin
blackjack games play the same. We’ll discuss the basic process below and cover
individual game nuances later:

• Select the chip denomination that you wish to bet.
• Place your chip(s) in one or more betting circles.
• Click Deal to begin the hand, or Undo to clear your bets and start over
  again.
• Upon clicking Deal, you’ll receive your cards. Available actions
  include: hit, stand, double down, and split (w / pair).
• When the hand is over, you click New Game to start another round.
• You’re given the option to make the Same Bet, or you can place a new
  wager in the betting circle(s).

Betting

One thing we love about Bwin Blackjack is the wide betting range. Micro
Stakes SP 10 allows you to bet as little as $0.25 per hand, while blackjack high
limit lets you wager up to $5,000.

The average betting range for a Bwin table is $1 to $500. Chip denominations
for the standard table include: $1, $5, $25, $100, and $500.

Game Play Options

Some of the common game play options in Bwin Blackjack variations include:

• Game Speed – Settings include normal and turbo (skips certain
  animations).
• Graphics Quality – Settings include low, medium, high, and best.
• Offer Insurance – Settings include Normal, where insurance is offered if
  the dealer’s up card is an ace; Only on Player Blackjack, where insurance is
  offered when the dealer’s up card is ace & you have blackjack; and Never.
• Safety Net – Enable or disable a safety net that warns you when you’re
  about to hit a soft 20 or hard 17+.
• Voiceover – Turn voiceover audio on or off.

Multi-Hand

Unless otherwise specified, most Bwin Blackjack games offer multi-hand play
and allow you to use up to 3 hands per round.

Return to Player RTP

Bwin lists RTP for most, but not all, of their blackjack games. Here are the
ones that are listed in descending order:

• Bonus Pairs Blackjack = 99.65%
• Multi Player Blackjack = 99.65%
• Blackjack Charlie 7 = 99.60%
• Blackjack Perfect Pairs (main play) = 99.59%
• Hi Lo Blackjack (main play) = 99.59%
• Single Player Blackjack = 99.53%
• Blackjack Pro = 99.50%
• Multi Hand Blackjack = 99.50%
• Multi Hand Blackjack Pro = 99.50%
• Blackjack High Limit = 99.34%
• Single Player Blackjack = 99.34%
• Blackjack Micro SP 10 & SP 25 = Both 99.30%
• Blackjack Live Main Bet = 99.28%
• Blackjack Live 21+3 Side Bet = 96.30%
• Blackjack Live Perfect Pairs Side Bet = 95.90%

For how many different blackjack games they offer, Bwin rates average in
terms of house edge.

They have some high-paying games at the top, such as bonus pairs,
multi-player, and Blackjack Charlie 7. But then there’s the live game that only
returns 99.28%, along with several mediocre RTPs.

Security

Bwin uses different means to keep your data secure, including 128-big SSL
encryption, a 5-level security system, and multiple firewalls.

They also have early-warning alarm systems in place to catch suspicious
activity before any serious breaches happen.

Bwin Blackjack Games

While Bwin offers a large variety of blackjack variations, some of these run
close together in terms of rules, game play, and / or strategy.

We’ll cover all 14 games, but some of the variants will have more information
than the others. If there’s something in one game that can be covered in another
section, we’ll refer you back to the appropriate area.

(Standard) Blackjack Rules

The title is appropriate since this is a basic, multi-deck blackjack game.
The only rule that stands out is 8-card Charlie, where you automatically win
when drawing 8 cards without busting.

8-card Charlie happens so infrequently that it doesn’t play much of a factor
in this game.

• Natural blackjack (21 on first two cards) pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 6 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack with ace or 10.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• You can split up to three times (4 total hands).
• No re-splitting aces.
• No surrender.
• 8-card Charlie.

Return to Player RTP

Bwin doesn’t specify an RTP for this game. Based on the rules – most of which
are favorable – the RTP is around 99.50%.

How to Play

See the How to Play section in General Aspects.

Strategy

The following is strategy for a 6-deck blackjack game with no double-down
restrictions, and the dealer standing on a soft 17:

• Your total is 5 to 8: always hit.
• Your total is 9: double down when dealer’s up card is 3 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 2 and 7 to A.
• Your total is 10: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit when
  their card is 10 to A.
• Your total is 11: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 10. Hit when
  their card is A.
• Your total is 12: hit when dealer’s up card is 2 to 3 and 7 to A. Stand
  when dealer’s card is 4 to 6.
• Your total is 13 to 16: hit when dealer’s up card is 7 to A. Stand when
  their card is 2 to 6.
• Your total is 17+: always stand.
• Your cards are A2 to A3: hit when dealer’s up card is 2 to 4 and 7 to A.
  Double down when their card is 5 to 6.
• Your cards are A4 to A5: hit when dealer’s up card is 2 to 3 and 7 to A.
  Double down when their card is 4 to 6.
• Your cards are A6: hit when dealer’s up card is 2 and 7 to A. Double
  down when their card is 3 to 6.
• Your cards are A7: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 and 7 to 8. Double
  down when their card is 3 to 6. Hit when their card is 9 to A.
• Your cards are A8+: always stand.
• You have a pair of 2’s or 3’s: split when dealer’s up card is 2 to 7.
  Hit when their card is 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 4’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 5 to 6. Hit
  when their card is 2 to 4 and 7 to A.
• You have a pair of 5’s: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit
  when their card is 10 to A.
• You have a pair of 6’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit
  when their card is 7 to A.
• You have a pair of 7’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 7. Hit
  when their card is 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 8’s: always split.
• You have a pair of 9’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6; 8 to
  9; and A. Stand when their card is 7 and 10.
• You have a pair of 10’s: always stand.
• You have a pair of aces: always split.

3D Blackjack

Rules

The rules for this 3D blackjack game and the standard variation above are
similar. But the main differences include a 7-card Charlie (instead of 8), no
re-splitting of any pair, and more decks in the shoe.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Dealer checks for blackjack with ace or 10.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• You can only split once (a.k.a. no re-splitting).
• No surrender.
• 7-card Charlie (automatic win if you draw to 7 cards w / o busting).

Return to Player RTP

The one favorable rule change between 3D Blackjack and the standard game is
that 7-card Charlie is used instead of 8. But considering that 7-card Charlie
only reduces the house edge by 0.01%, this is a very small impact.

Rules that hurt you include only being able to split hands once, and 8 decks
being used instead of 6.

3D blackjack is another variant where Bwin doesn’t list the RTP. But
considering that the rules are worse overall, we estimate the RTP to be in the
99.40% range.

How to Play

See How to play in the General Aspects section.

Strategy

The strategy is the same as the basic blackjack game above since these are
both multi-hand variants with many of the same rules.

Blackjack Charlie 7

Rules

As the name implies, this variant offers the 7-card Charlie rule. But
including surrender in the title would’ve also been appropriate because you can
surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack.

Oher than the late surrender rule, most other rules are in line with Bwin’s
standard blackjack variation.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Late surrender.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• No re-splitting hands.
• 7-card Charlie (automatic win if you draw to 7 cards w / o busting).

Return to Player RTP

RTP for Blackjack Charlie 7 is 99.60%, or a 0.40% house edge. This is the
third-best RTP out of Bwin’s games and above average for the industry.

Blackjack Charlie has a couple of unfavorable rules such as no re-splitting
and 8 decks. But it also features the following player-friendly rules: 3-to-2
blackjack payouts; late surrender; double down on any two cards; and the dealer
stands on a soft 17.

How to Play

One rule worth noting here is late surrender, which is available after your
first two cards are dealt.

Strategy

While Blackjack Charlie 7 plays largely the same as the blackjack games we’ve
covered so far, the late surrender rule changes strategy in a few spots.

Below you can see strategy for an online blackjack game with late surrender,
8 decks, and no double-down restriction:

• Your total is 5 to 8: always hit.
• Your total is 9: double down when dealer’s up card is 3 to 6. Hit when
  their up card is 2 and 7 to A.
• Your total is 10: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit when
  their card is 10 to A.
• Your total is 11: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 10. Hit when
  their card is A.
• Your total is 12: stand when dealer’s up card is 4 to 6. Hit when
  dealer’s up card is 2 to 3 and 7 to A.
• Your total is 13 to 14: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 7 to A.
• Your total is 15: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when their
  card is 7 to 9. Surrender when their card is 10=A.
• Your total is 16: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when their
  card is 7 to 8. Surrender when their card is 9 to A.
• Your total is 17+: always stand.
• Your cards are A2 to A3: double down when dealer’s up card is 5 to 6.
  Hit when their card is 2 to 4 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A4: double down when dealer’s up card is 4 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 2 to 3 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A5: double down when dealer’s up card is 3 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 2 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A6 to A7: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6.
  Hit when their card is 9 to A. Stand when their card is 7 to 8.
• Your cards are A8: double down when their card is 6. Stand when their
  card is 2 to 5 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A9: always stand.
• You have a pair of 2’s or 3’s: split when dealer’s up card is 4 to 7.
  Hit when their card is 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 4’s: split when dealer’s up card is 5 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 2 to 4 and 7 to A.
• You have a pair of 5’s: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit
  when their card is 10 to A.
• You have a pair of 6’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit
  when their card is 7 to A.
• You have a pair of 7’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 7. Hit
  when their card is 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 8’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 10.
  Surrender when their card is A.
• You have a pair of 9’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6 and 8
  to 9. Stand when their card is 7 and 10 to A.
• You have a pair of 10’s: always stand.
• You have a pair of aces: always split.

Blackjack High Limit (Las Vegas Downtown)

Rules

The most-notable point about blackjack high limit is that you can bet up to
$5,000 per hand. This is also the first game in the list where the dealer hits a
soft 17 (A6).

While this rule goes against the player, it’s counteracted by late surrender
and splitting hands up to 3 times.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer hits on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Late surrender
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• You can split up to 3 times.
• No re-splitting aces.

Return to Player RTP

RTP for blackjack high limit is 99.34%, or a house edge of 0.66%. This is
below average for both Bwin and the online blackjack industry.

Some of the rules that increase the house advantage include 8 decks, the
dealer hitting a soft 17, and no re-splitting aces.

How to Play

See Blackjack Charlie 7 (late surrender rule) and the General Aspects
section.

Strategy

The strategy for blackjack high limit differs slightly from Blackjack Charlie
7 because the dealer hits a soft 17.

Below is a strategy guide for a late surrender game where the dealer draws on
soft 17. When looking at this, pay special attention to what you do with hard
totals 15 to 17:

• Your total is 5 to 8: always hit.
• Your total is 9: double down when dealer’s up card is 3 to 6. Hit when
  their up card is 2 and 7 to A.
• Your total is 10: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit when
  their card is 10 to A.
• Your total is 11: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 10. Hit when
  their card is A.
• Your total is 12: stand when dealer’s up card is 4 to 6. Hit when
  dealer’s up card is 2 to 3 and 7 to A.
• Your total is 13 to 14: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 7 to A.
• Your total is 15: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when their
  card is 7 to 9. Surrender when their card is 10 to A.
• Your total is 16: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when their
  card is 7 to 8. Surrender when their card is 9 to A.
• Your total is 17: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when their
  card is 7 to 10. Surrender when their card is A.
• Your total is 18+: always stand.
• Your cards are A2 to A3: double down when dealer’s up card is 5 to 6.
  Hit when their card is 2 to 4 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A4: double down when dealer’s up card is 4 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 2 to 3 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A5: double down when dealer’s up card is 3 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 2 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A6 to A7: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6.
  Hit when their card is 9 to A. Stand when their card is 7 to 8.
• Your cards are A8: double down when their card is 6. Stand when their
  card is 2 to 5 and 7 to A.
• Your cards are A9+: always stand.
• You have a pair of 2’s or 3’s: split when dealer’s up card is 4 to 7.
  Hit when their card is 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 4’s: split when dealer’s up card is 5 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 2 to 4 and 7 to A.
• You have a pair of 5’s: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit
  when their card is 10 to A.
• You have a pair of 6’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit
  when their card is 7 to A.
• You have a pair of 7’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 7. Hit
  when their card is 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 8’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 10.
  Surrender when their card is A.
• You have a pair of 9’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6 and 8
  to 9. Stand when their card is 7 and 10 to A.
• You have a pair of 10’s: always stand.
• You have a pair of aces: always split.

Blackjack Bonus Pairs

Rules

This game plays much the same as the other late surrender variations we’ve
covered. But the one big difference is that you have the option to place a bonus
bet(s).

This wager is dependent on if your first two cards are a pair. The closer you
get to a matching suit and rank, the higher your payout will be.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Late surrender
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• You can split up to 3 times.

Bonus Pairs Payouts

• Mixed Pair (same rank, different colors & suits) = 6:1 payout
• Colored Pair (same rank & color, but different suit) = 12:1 payout
• Exact Pair (same rank & suit) = 25:1 payout

Return to Player RTP

The RTP for Blackjack Bonus Pairs is 99.65%, or a 0.35% house edge. This is
tied with multi-hand blackjack for Bwin’s best paying variation.

How to Play

After placing at least one regular bet, you have the option to make a bonus
pairs wager as well.

To do so, click the space above the normal betting area and place your chips.
Once both your regular and bonus pairs wagers are made, click the Deal button to
receive your hand.

If your first two cards match any of those listed in the pay table, you
receive the appropriate prize. Also note that your bonus pairs bet is separate
from your main wager.

Strategy

The main strategy is the same as Blackjack Charlie 7.

Given that the house edge for the 25:1 bonus pairs pay table is 4.10%, you
should stay away from this wager. But as far as blackjack side bets go, bonus
pairs is one of the better ones.

Blackjack Perfect Pairs & 21+3

Rules

This variant combines the perfect pairs and 21+3 side bets into one game.

The perfect pairs bet works like the aforementioned bonus pairs wager
discussed before. The 21+3 wager is based on your first two cards and the
dealer’s up card, which we’ll cover later.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 6 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• You can split up to 3 times.
• Even Money Insurance – If dealer’s hand is an ace and you have
  blackjack, you can accept an automatic 1:1 payout.

Perfect Pairs Bet

Perfect pairs works just like bonus pairs, except for a few payout
differences, which you can see below:

• Mixed Pair (same rank, different colors & suits) = 5:1 payout
• Colored Pair (same rank & color, but different suit) = 10:1 payout
• Perfect Pairs (same rank & suit) = 30:1 payout

The house edge on this perfect pairs table is 5.79%.

The reason why the house advantage is higher than bonus pairs is because the
mixed and colored pairs pay less. And while the perfect pairs payout is bigger,
it doesn’t happen with enough frequency to make up for the other two payouts.

21+3 Bet

The 21+3 bet is based on a three-card hand formed by your first two cards and
the dealer’s up card. Here are the payouts for the three-card hands:

• Flush = 5:1 payout
• Straight = 10:1 payout
• Three of a Kind = 30:1 payout
• Straight Flush = 40:1 payout
• Suited 3 of a Kind = 100:1 payout

Return to Player RTP

Here are the RTPs for this game along with its two side bets:

• Main blackjack game = 99.59%
• Perfect pairs side bet = 94.21%
• 21+3 side bet = 95.38%

How to Play

The perfect pairs & 21+3 table features three betting boxes in each space –
one for your main wager and the other two for side bets.

You can play 1-5 hands per round and make a corresponding perfect pairs and /
or 21+3 side bet along with each hand.

Note that you must make a regular wager in the corresponding space where you
hope to make a side wager.

Strategy

See standard blackjack section for main strategy.

Both of the side bets in this game have high house edges. But if you’re going
to make one, the 21+3 wager is better at a 4.62% house edge.

Blackjack Pro

Rules

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 6 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• No double down after splitting.
• No re-splitting.
• No surrender.
• Even Money Insurance

Return to Player RTP

RTP for Blackjack Pro is 99.50%, or a 0.50% house edge. This is average for
both Bwin and the industry.

How to Play

See How to Play in the General Aspects section.

Strategy

See standard blackjack strategy.

Blackjack Micro SP 10, and Blackjack Micro SP 25

Rules

We’ve lumped both of these games together because the only difference is in
how little they allow players to bet. Everything else between these two games is
the exact same.

As the names imply, Blackjack Micro SP 10 allows you to play for as little
$0.10 per hand, while Micro SP 25 lets you play for $0.25 per hand.

You should also note that this game has a couple of interesting side payouts,
and different natural blackjack payouts than the previously discussed games.

• Natural blackjack pays 6:5. A suited blackjack pays 2:1.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• No re-splitting.
• Split aces can be hit more than once.
• No surrender.

Side Payouts

In addition to the 2:1 payout for the suited natural blackjack, these games
have two additional side payouts.

The first is a 3:1 payoff when your first three cards are 777. The second is
a 2:1 payout when you get a 21 with 5+ cards.

Return to Player RTP

RTP for both Blackjack Micro SP 10 and Micro SP 25 is 99.30%, or a house edge
of 0.70%. This is low for the industry, but it’s understandable when considering
how low the stakes are.

What drives the house edge up is the 6:5 blackjack payouts (unless suited).
Other games on this list pay 3:2, which lowers the house advantage by 1.39% when
compared to 6:5 payouts.

How to Play

Blackjack Micro SP 10 and Micro SP 25 allow you to play up to 5 hands per
turn, which is more inviting at these limits.

The playing process is the same as what’s described in the General Aspects
section, and the side payouts are automatically made when you qualify for them.

Strategy

See strategy for standard blackjack.

Blackjack Single Deck

Rules

Single deck blackjack is coveted because fewer decks mean a bigger advantage
for you.

Of course, some casinos push the house edge up with other unfavorable rules.
But this isn’t the case with Bwin’s single deck game.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer hits a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on 9-11.
• Double down after splitting (except aces).
• No re-splitting.
• No surrender.

Return to Player RTP

In their RTP section for all games, Bwin lists this single deck blackjack
game as having 98.39% RTP. But based on the rules offered, we calculate an RTP
of 99.80%, which is outstanding.

Don’t take this RTP and run with it, though, because Bwin didn’t publish the
return that we got through calculations.

How to Play

See How to Play in the General Aspects section.

Strategy

The big thing separating single deck from Bwin’s other blackjack games is how
you can only double down on 9 to 11. This impacts the strategy for blackjack
single deck, which you can see below:

• Your total is 5 to 8: always hit.
• Your total is 9: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit when
  their card is 7 to A.
• Your total is 10: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit when
  their up card is 10 to A.
• Your total is 11: always double down.
• Your total is 12: hit when dealer’s up card is 2 to 3 and 7 to A. Stand
  when dealer’s card is 4 to 6.
• Your total is 13 to 16: hit when their card is 7 to A. Stand when their
  card is 2 to 6.
• Your total is 17+: always stand.
• Your cards are A2 to A6: always hit (double down isn’t available for
  these totals).
• Your cards are A7: stand when dealer’s up card is 2 to 8 and A. Hit when
  their card is 9 to 10.
• Your cards are A8+: always stand.
• You have a pair of 2’s: split when dealer’s up card is 3 to 7. Hit when
  their card is 2 and 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 3’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 4 to 7. Hit
  when their card is 2 to 3 and 8 to A.
• You have a pair of 4’s: always hit.
• You have a pair of 5’s: double down when dealer’s up card is 2 to 9. Hit
  when their card is 10 to A.
• You have a pair of 6’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6. Hit
  when their card is 7 to A.
• You have a pair of 7’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 7. Hit
  when their card is 8 to 9 and A. Stand when their card is 10.
• You have a pair of 8’s: always split.
• You have a pair of 9’s: split when the dealer’s up card is 2 to 6 and 8
  to 9. Stand when their up card is 7 and 10 to A.
• You have a pair of 10’s: always stand.
• You have a pair of aces: always split.

Blackjack Single Player

Rules

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer hits on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting.
• Split up to three times.
• No surrender.

Return to Player RTP

RTP for blackjack single player is 99.34%, or a 0.66% house advantage. This
is among the lowest-paying blackjack games that Bwin has to offer.

How to Play

The key difference in this game is that you can only select one hand /
betting space to play.

Strategy

See strategy section in blackjack high limit.

Hi Lo Blackjack

Rules

The fun thing about Hi Lo Blackjack is that you get to bet on whether your
second card will be higher or lower than the first one. We’ll cover this side
bet later, but let’s first look at the rules.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 6 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting.
• No re-splitting
• No surrender.

HI Lo Side Bet

Here are the rules for the optional Hi Lo side bet:

• Winning bets are paid at 1:1.
• You win if you correctly guess whether the second card is higher or
  lower than the first card (2 through K only).
• You lose if you incorrectly guess if the second card is higher or lower.
• You also lose if the second card dealt is an ace (in non-blackjack
  hand); aces have no value for the side bet.
• The bet is a push if the first and second cards are aces.

Return to Player RTP

RTP for the main game is 99.59%, or a house edge of 0.41%. This is above
average when compared to the internet blackjack industry.

RTP for the Hi Lo side bet is 97.92%. Obviously this isn’t as good as if you
stick with the main game, but Hi Lo offers a better return than most other
blackjack side bets.

How to Play

To begin, you need to place a regular wager in one or more of the available
betting spaces. You can then make a Hi Lo side bet in the corresponding spaces.

When you’re satisfied with your wager, click Deal to begin the hand. Your
main bet and the Hi Lo wager are decided separately.

Strategy

See strategy for standard blackjack game.

Multi-Hand Blackjack

Rules

This game allows you to play up to 5 hands per round, with betting stakes
ranging from $1 to $500. Other notable multi-hand rules include late surrender,
8 decks, and no re-splitting.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer hits on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Late surrender.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• Double down after splitting.
• No re-splitting.

Return to Player RTP

RTP for multi-hand blackjack is 99.34%, or a house edge of 0.66%. This is
below average for both Bwin and the gaming industry.

How to Play

Each round begins with you deciding how many wagers to place. You can play up
to 5 hands per round at a maximum of $500 per hand.

Once you’re satisfied with the number and amount of your bets, click Deal to
begin the hand.

Strategy

Refer to strategy for blackjack high limit.

Live Dealer Blackjack

Rules

This is the first of the live dealer casino games that we’ll cover.

Bwin’s live blackjack plays like the Blackjack Perfect Pairs & 21+3 game
because you can make these side bets.

Of course, you also get the land-based casino atmosphere that live games have
to offer. Let’s discuss this along with the rules below.

• Natural blackjack pays 3:2.
• Dealer stands on a soft 17.
• Insurance pays 2:1.
• 8 decks.
• Dealer peeks for blackjack.
• Double down on any two cards.
• No doubling down after splitting.
• No re-splitting.
• No surrender.

Side Bets

This live dealer game pays the same on its side bets as Bwin’s bonus pairs
and 21+3 side bets. It pays better on the mixed and colored pairs than the
perfect pairs bet in Blackjack Perfect Pairs & 21+3.

Here are the perfect pairs payoffs:

• Mixed Pair = 6:1 payout
• Colored Pair = 12:1 payout
• Exact Pair = 25:1 payout

Here are live blackjack’s payouts for the 21+3 bet:

• Flush = 5:1 payout
• Straight = 10:1 payout
• Three of a Kind = 30:1 payout
• Straight Flush = 40:1 payout
• Suited Trips = 100:1

Return to Player RTP

RTPs for Bwin live dealer blackjack and its three side bets are as follows:

• Main blackjack game = 99.28%
• Perfect pairs side bet = 95.90%
• 21+3 side bet = 95.38%

How to Play

Here are the basics steps for playing Bwin live dealer blackjack:

• You first need to find a live blackjack table with an open seat, then
  click Take Seat. Please note that you must have real money funds to play
  live blackjack at Bwin.
• The betting works the same as any other online blackjack variant, where
  you select available chip denominations and place them into the appropriate
  betting squares. But the difference is that you have a time limit at the
  live tables so that nobody holds up the action.
• You’ll see both a traffic light and timer onscreen to indicate how much
  time you have to place wagers. The traffic light is green when you have
  plenty of time; yellow when time is running low; and red when no more bets
  can be placed.
• Once the time limit is up, the dealer will deal each player one face-up
  card, ending with the dealer. They’ll deal another face-up card to each
  player and a face-down to him / herself.
• Provided the dealer doesn’t have a natural blackjack, you’ll have the
  following options: hit, stand, double down, and split (w / pair).
• You’ll again see a traffic light and timer to indicate how much time you
  have to make a decision. If you don’t make a decision in time, the software
  will automatically stand for you.
• Also note that you can place the perfect pairs and / or 21+3 bets as
  long as you have a regular wager down. If you wish to play without these
  wagers, you can disable them with the Side Bets button.
• At the end of a round, you can either click Repeat to make the same
  wager or put a new bet(s) onto the table.

Bet Behind

Whether or not you’re seated at the table, you can use the Bet Behind feature
to wager on another player’s hand.

Your wager will share the outcome of the other player’s hand. And note that
you can’t use Bet Behind for your own hand.

Here are the simple steps to use Bet Behind:

• Place your chips in any activated Bet Behind spot at another player’s
  seat when the green or yellow light is up. You can hover over a Bet Behind
  spot to see how many other people have wagered on a particular player.
• The nickname displayed at a seat identifies the player who’ll make
  decisions for the hand. If the player decides not to participate in the
  round, your bet is refunded.
• You can decide whether or not you want to make an insurance wager
  through Bet Behind.
• You can also decide whether you want to double your bet or split hands,
  regardless of what the seated player does in these situations. Use the
  appropriate box to specify your preferences regarding doubling down and
  splitting.
• Look at the Hot Player icon to see who’s on the longest winning streak.
• Untick the box marked Allow Other Players to Bet Behind Me if you don’t
  want players wagering behind you.

Chat

Bwin allows you to interact with the dealers through a chat box. Type your
message in the Click to Chat Field to communicate with them.

Provided your comment / question is appropriate, the dealer will answer you
during downtime.

Also note that you can make both the chat box and game view larger by
clicking the maximize buttons. When using a PC or Mac, hit ESC on your keyboard
to exit the full-screen view.

Strategy

See strategy for the standard blackjack game.

Live Blackjack Party

Rules

This is virtually the same game as Bwin’s live dealer blackjack. But the key
difference is that Live Blackjack Party features two or more dealers – rather
than just one.

The idea is to create an entertaining atmosphere, where multiple dealers have
conversations with each other while also chatting with players.

Other than the additional dealers, the rules, RTP, side bets, and playing
process are the same (a.k.a. multi-tabling).

One point worth noting, though, is that you may have the option to join
multiple party tables. Here are the steps to play on multiple tables:

• When you’ve joined at least one game, click the Live Games Menu to visit
  the lobby.
• In the lobby, hover over any table you’d like to join and click the +
  button. Some tables won’t have a plus because multi-game play isn’t
  available.
• After joining multiple tables, you can resize your browser window as a
  whole, but not resize each table window separately.
• You can exit one table at any time without affecting your standing on
  the other tables. Just click the X button in the game you wish to exit.

Bwin History & Reputability

Bwin History

In 1997, an unknown company called betandwin opened and began developing an
online sportsbook. They launched their sportsbook in 1998 and have grown from a
small, 12-employee operation into one of the world’s largest bookmakers.

One landmark event in the company’s history was when they went public on the
Austrian Stock Exchange in March 2000.

By 2001, they purchased Simon Bold in Gibraltar and moved their headquarters
here. The same year, they launched their online casino.

2004 saw another big milestone as betandwin opened an online poker site.

In 2005, they purchased Betoto, a former rival and one of the biggest
internet sportsbooks. The move not only increased their presence in the Greek
Market, but also expanded their overall sports betting operation.

Yet another big move was made in 2005, when betandwin purchased Ongame
e-Solutions AB. This is the point when the company changed their name to Bwin,
an internationally recognized brand today.

Part of this recognition comes from Bwin’s sports sponsorships, with one of
the first coming when they bought media rights to the Germany Football League.
They also sponsored the European and World Basketball Championships in 2006.

Since then, the number of high-profile sponsorships has grown to include:
Real Madrid (2007 to 13), FC Bayern Munich (2010), Portuguese League Cup (2010
to 12), Italy’s Series B (2010 to 12), and MotoGP drivers (2010).

Merger with Party Gaming

On March 31, 2011, Bwin and Party Gaming merged in one of the largest gaming
transactions ever. This ended months of rumors and speculation that began in
2009.

The move formed Bwin.party Digital Entertainment and made sense when given
each company’s strengths. Bwin is a sports betting giant, while Party Gaming has
a top-ranked online poker site.

In November 2013, Bwin.party gained a foothold in America by applying for and
receiving a license in New Jersey. The company launched both casino and poker
games under their New Jersey partner Borgata Casino’s name.

Purchased by GVC Holdings

In 2015, 888 Holdings and GVC Holdings entered into a bidding war to buy
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment. GVC made the winning bid of €1.1 billion, and
the transaction was officially completed on February 1, 2016.

Much like Bwin, GVC Holdings has grown in size over the years, acquiring
Sportingbet in 2012 along with Bwin.party. This means that the company owns
Bwin, Foxy Bingo, PartyCasino, PartyPoker, and Sportingbet.

Licensing

Bwin is licensed by the Gibraltar Gaming Authority and UK Gambling
Commission. These are two of the world’s most-reputable gaming jurisdictions,
and they both feature a strict screening process for applicants.

As a result of their prestigious licensing, Bwin stays out of most grey
markets. Here’s a list of the countries and territories that are banned from
Bwin:

Afghanistan, American Samoa, Bermuda, Bulgaria, China, Congo (Brazzaville)
France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Greenland,
Guadalupe, Guam, Grenada, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel,
Lithuania, Lebanon, Liberia, Myanmar [Burma], New Caledonia, North Korea,
Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Samoa, Somalia, South
Korea, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, United States, Zimbabwe, U.S. Virgin
Islands, and U.S. Minor Outlying Islands.

eCOGRA Certification

In compliance with their gaming jurisdictions, Bwin’s casino software has
undergone extensive testing from both eCOGRA and iTech Labs.

Launched in 2003, eCOGRA is widely considered to be the highest-authority
testing facility for online gaming. iTech Labs has also become a highly
reputable testing company, ensuring fair gaming and randomness with their
audits.

Customer Service & Complaints

When considering Bwin’s size and reputation, you wouldn’t expect their casino
to have so many complaints. But we notice quite a few when looking at comments
on AskGamblers.

Two of the biggest complaints include Bwin customer service being slow to
respond, and the cash out process also being slow.

Specifically, a few commenter’s wrote that they waited 4 to 5 days for email
questions to be answered. But perhaps this issue will be fixed because Bwin
added live chat after great demand.

Others complained about the casino bonus wagering requirements and how Bwin
only cares about their sports betting customers.

Based on how Bwin has heavily skewed their promotional offers towards the
sports betting crowd, we can see why some casino players believe this.

Failure to Pay Affiliates

According to multiple reports, GVC Holdings closed its old affiliate program,
Cashcade, in 2016.

While this seemed like a reasonable move designed to revamp the old program,
the problem is that GVC also closed down lifetime revenue sharing contracts with
affiliates.

Affiliates and industry watchdogs ThePogg and CasinoMeister have since
blacklisted Bwin for unfair practices. Furthermore, they’ve warned players about
dealing with a company that’s so willing to drop long-term contracts with
affiliates.

Of course, it should be noted that most of these contracts were formed prior
to GVC purchasing the company in February 2016.

Socially Responsible Gaming

Bwin wins some points back for their commitment to socially responsible
gaming.

They set up a research project in cooperation with Harvard Medical School and
the Cambridge Health Alliance to study and prevent gaming addiction. The
research has proven an important step towards curbing problem gaming.

The social reasonability hasn’t slowed under GVC since the parent company was
involved in founding the European Gaming & Betting Association (EGBA).

This organization has set forth a code of conduct for how gaming companies
handle security, prevent minors from gambling, avoid misleading advertising, and
promote responsible gaming.

GVC Holdings and EGBA have jointly founded the European Sports Security
Association (ESSA). This arose after the Hoyzer affair, where state-owned German
betting provider Oddset lost millions of dollars through manipulated football
games.

ESSA now works to prevent match fixing and insider betting while promoting
fair sports betting.

Other Bwin Games

Sports Betting & Live Betting

As mentioned several times, Bwin’s biggest draw is their sportsbook. This is
one of the world’s 10 most-popular sportsbooks, and they cover every available
sport and offer numerous lines.

To give an example of how comprehensive Bwin is, their football lines include
lower-tier leagues like USL Pro America, Primera B Columbia, Premier Malaysia,
NPL Australia, and I League 2nd Division India.

Basically, if there’s a sports league you’re interested in, chances are high
that Bwin offers action on it.

Also note that you’ll find a large Live Betting area too. This section
features dozens of lines that allow you to bet on live games.

Casino Games

When you venture outside of Bwin’s blackjack action, you’ll have no shortage
of casino games to choose from. We count over 400 games in the slots section
alone.

Table games beyond blackjack include: 3D American roulette, Auto Roulette,
Blackjack Pro Perfect, Caribbean stud, Dragonara Roulette, European Roulette
Pro, no-commission baccarat, Speed Roulette, Texas holdem bonus, and three-card
roulette.

Also note that the live dealer casino offers nearly 20 selections, including
the 2 blackjack games.

Online Poker

Bwin Poker is on the PartyGaming network, which is the sixth-largest online
poker operation at the time of this writing.

The poker room being connected to PartyGaming means that players can enjoy
large tournaments and plenty of cash game action on the platform. Some of the
weekly tournaments feature prize pools as large as $20,000 and $40,000.

This poker site also features inexpensive satellites that let you play for
land-based tournament prize packages.

Conclusion

Bwin gives you a great reason to play their blackjack games by offering 14
variations to choose from.

You can access 12 games through a combination of the instant play, download,
and mobile versions, while two more games are found in the live casino. We also
like how you can try a few different side bets, including 21+3, bonus pairs, and
perfect pairs.

Another good thing about this blackjack selection is that players of all
stakes can enjoy it. With bets as low as $0.10 and $0.25 on the Micro Stakes SP
10 & SP 25 tables, anybody can play here.

One more thing we like is how Bwin casino is available in download, instant
play, and mobile formats. We don’t like how long the casino download takes, but
it does offer you a couple more games.

Downsides include a lack of bonuses and slow customer service.

We checked out the bonuses and were disappointed to find that their only
promo had nothing to do with table games. As big of an operation as Bwin is,
you’d think that they’d reward table players better.

As for the customer service, we saw lots of complaints about how Bwin does a
poor job of getting back to players. This is another area where it seems like
this casino would be stronger.

Nevertheless, we see more positive aspects about Bwin Blackjack than negative
ones. This being said, we recommend that you give their blackjack action a try
thanks to the large variety of games.