We all know and love blackjack, but sometimes it can be frustrating to see that the dealer always wins. Even though blackjack comes with one of the lowest house edges from every other casino game with just 2%, in most cases we see that the dealer is winning the game.

Does the dealer know something we don’t? and How does the dealer manage to win always?

Obviously, the dealer doesn’t always win, but the players feel like the dealer wins more times than them which leads to a disproportionate outcome of a random game. 

Well, the first and most important thing to consider is the house edge. The dealer is backed up by the game with the house edge, which means that the dealer has higher winning chances than the players.

So, no matter which strategy or blackjack calculator you use, in the long run, the dealer should win more hands.

But this does not suggest that the dealer should always win. In the long-term, the dealer should only win slightly more hands than a perfect player.

So, what is the advantage that the dealer has in blackjack over the players?

Let’s find out.

Advantages of the Dealer over Players in Blackjack

There are certain rules of the game that favor blackjack which is the reason why people feel that the dealer is winning always. On top of that, dealers are professionals that know the game from top to bottom, which means they are far better players than the average blackjack players who don’t have too much experience.

With that said, let’s highlight some of the advantages that the dealer has over players.

Players Make the First Action

In a 1 on 1 game like blackjack, the person that makes the first move is at a disadvantage. In blackjack, players have to decide first whether or not they stand, hit, split or double down, which opens up the option for going bust even without the dealer doing anything.

The win rate of the dealer is higher just because players decide first on which action they take, which often leads to losing the game.

Number of Hands you Play

As we mentioned before, the dealer is backed up by the house edge of blackjack that is embedded in the roots of the game. This means that over the long-term the dealer will have a higher win rate than the player.

With that said, the number of hands you play in a game is really important. If you sit on an empty blackjack table and play 1 on 1 with the dealer, you can play as many as 200 hands per hour. However, if there are other people at the table, each hand will take longer causing you to play fewer hands.

The more hands you play, the more likely the dealer win.

Not using a Betting Strategy

Beginners in blackjack usually sit at a blackjack table without learning more about strategies and styles of play. These strategies can lower the house edge of the game by helping you make better in-game choices.

So, if you are someone that entered the game and plays blackjack without a proper strategy, there is a good chance that the dealer will beat you most of the time. That is why it is important to do your research and at least start with the blackjack basic strategy and move your way up from there.

Taking Side bets or insurance

Even though side bets and insurance give you the opportunity to make more money, at the end of the day, they are just increasing the house edge of blackjack allowing the dealer to win most of the time.

This is why you need to avoid insurance bets since there is a higher chance that you’ll lose money instead of making money. According to recent research, the average insurance bet will get you 16 wins and 33 losses.

Dealer’s Experience

Remember, the dealer’s job is to get good at blackjack, and since he is playing the game every day, there is a good chance that the dealer understands the probabilities in a game more than you do.

On top of that, the dealer is backed up by complex strategies that have been developed for years in the casino space allowing the dealer to increase the winning chances.

Basically, the dealer can make better choices whether to hit, stand or split due to the experience he has in blackjack.

Final Words

Blackjack is a game that favors the dealer, and there is no running away from this fact. In the long run, no matter what strategy you use, the dealer should end up winning more hands than you.

However, this shouldn’t get you discouraged from playing blackjack. After all, this game gives you plenty of opportunities to win money and comes with the lowest house edge compared to all different casino games.

You just have to follow a good blackjack strategy and know when to quit your gambling session and secure your profits.