Lightning Blackjack: The new game from Evolution Gaming

A few days ago, Evolution Gaming announced to all online casino players a new kind of blackjack: Lightning Blackjack. In this article, Lucky7Bonus will explain in detail how this new blackjack works.

What is Lightning Blackjack?

Lightning Blackjack is the latest live game released by industry giant Evolution Gaming. Lightning games are not new to the online casino world. Roulette and dice already have their lightning versions. The difference between a lightning version and a normal version is that multipliers are added to your winnings. For example, in roulette, certain numbers receive a multiplier on a specific spin. In blackjack, it is the same, depending on your hand, you will receive a different multiplier. So the goal is to give you a game that is even more volatile than the original.

Explanation of how Lightning Blackjack works

But how does lightning blackjack work? As you will see in the following paragraphs, it is a very easy to understand game that is very similar to the original blackjack, with a few notable differences.

The first is that there are no side bets in this lightning blackjack. Thus, it will be your hand against the dealer's hand and nothing else. In classic blackjack, there are several players at the same table and each one has his own game. In lightning blackjack, there are no seat limits, so the game is the same for all players and each player's choice can affect everyone else's game.

Blackjack Rules

The rules of Lightning Blackjack are the same as regular blackjack. To win your game, you must have a higher hand than the dealer. If you go over 21, you automatically lose your hand.

A few months ago, Lucky7Bonus did an article on the rules of blackjack. To find it, please click here.

How to get multipliers

In order to get multipliers, you will have to agree to pay a 100% commission on your bet, which is double your original bet. For example, if you decide to play lightning blackjack, but you don't want to pay the commission, then you only win your bet once, if you manage to beat the dealer.

However, if you decide to pay it, you will earn a multiplier. So if you decide to bet €2, with your commission also being €2, your total hand will be €4. If you win, your multiplier will boost your full bet, which is the €4.

The different multipliers in Lightning Blackjack

There are two different multipliers available to you in lightning blackjack. As you can see in the following screen, each possible hand has a specific multiplier.

Winning hands between 4 and 21 have a multiplier that can range from 2x to 15x. The closer your hand is to 21, the higher your multiplier.

The second multiplier is valid only on a blackjack, i.e. getting 21 directly with only two cards. The multiplier for this one varies between x6 and x25.

Finally, it is important to know that the multiplier of your hands changes with each round of play and that these are only visible behind the person presenting the game live.

What is the RTP of Lightning Blackjack

The theoretical return to the player is the money you should receive over the long term. The closer it is to 100%, the closer you will get to your stake. The RTP is calculated over thousands of spins or bets. So, depending on how you play, how much you bet or how much you win, RTP is just an average and not something to be taken for granted. Thus, it can be largely positive for you or negative, depending on your luck.

Thus, the RTP of Lightning Blackjack is 99.56%.

The specifics of Lightning Blackjack

A few months ago, Evolution Gaming announced that several live games would be released during the end of 2021, including Lightning blackjack. The latter was long awaited by blackjack players, as it promised great winnings, and lightning roulette had already been one of Evolution Gaming's biggest hits.

As it has been said, there is no side bet possible in this lightning blackjack. On this Evolution Gaming live game, the minimum bet is 1 euro, while the maximum bet is 5,000 euros.

During a Split

When you decide to split, your bet is automatically doubled. When you make a split, it will be impossible for you to double your split.

However, if you are not happy with the value of the cards you received in your split, you can draw until you are happy with it. If the value of your cards exceeds 21 on your draw, you automatically lose one hand. However, if the other hand is still in play, you do not lose that hand. After that, the rules work just like the basic game.

If you manage to win your split, your lightning will be calculated based on the best hand of the two you have. It is important to know that when you make the split decision, you do not have to pay the commission again.

During a Push

A push in blackjack means that the value of your hand and the dealer's hand are the same. Usually in blackjack, when your hand is the same as the dealer's, the bank gives you your entire bet back.

However, in lightning blackjack, it is different. If you decide not to use the lightning feature, then the bank will return 100% of your bet. However, if you decide to use the lightning feature, then you will have to pay a fee.

If you have a hand that is the same as the dealer's, only your original bet is refunded, not the commission.

During a Double

In a hand, if the value of your cards does not equal 21 on your draw, you may double your hand. When you decide to double your hand, you automatically double your bet. Only one draw will be made after you decide to double your hand, regardless of whether you are happy with the value you get.

If you manage to win your hand, then the value of the lightning is on your entire bet, not just your starting bet. As with a split, you will not be charged the commission if you decide to double down.

Conclusion on Lightning Blackjack

Lightning blackjack has been anticipated for several months and for good reason, it promises great winnings. It's very easy to learn, but unlike roulette, lightning blackjack doesn't seem to be a popular game with the community.

Indeed, the influence of other players on your way of playing is too important and some people make sometimes "useless" decisions which have a complete influence on the continuation of the game.

Even though the payouts can be very nice in the end, some players will always want to go for the highest multiplier, even if it means increasing their chance of a bust. Also, blackjack games are much slower than average.

On paper, lightning blackjack had great potential. Unfortunately, the game doesn't seem to have found its audience, unlike its big sister, lightning roulette.