Full Explanation
Insurance is a side bet in blackjack offered when the dealer's upcard is an Ace. It pays 2:1 if the dealer has a natural blackjack. The insurance bet costs half your original wager. Mathematically, insurance is a bad bet for players — it increases the house edge. Basic strategy says always decline insurance unless you're counting cards and know the deck is rich in tens.
💡 Example
Your bet: R200. Dealer shows Ace. Insurance costs R100. Dealer doesn't have blackjack → you lose R100 insurance.
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Written by
Sarah van der Berg
Casino & Betting Experts
Sarah creates educational gambling content to help SA players understand the terminology and make informed decisions.
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