# Decision time and timeouts at live blackjack tables

> How much time a live blackjack table gives you to act, what the studio does when you do not answer, and which UK pace rules may apply.

Source: https://seatcheck.uk/decision-time-and-timeouts/
Updated: 2026-11-13

How long you have to act is set by the studio's rules for each table, and we publish no figure until we have read it and dated it. If you do not answer in time, the rules say what happens. Separately, the Gambling Commission's RTS 14G sets a five-second pause between casino rounds. This is as of 13 November 2026.

## What the studio sets

Checked 13 November 2026. A studio's rules for a table can set three things:

- The time you have to act on your hand.
- What happens when you do not answer.
- The break between one round and the next.

All three can differ between variants. We list none here, because we have not yet read the rules pages.

**In short:** time to act is a table rule, read it for your table.

## UK pace and autoplay rules

**Remote Technical Standards on pace · source: Gambling Commission · checked 13 November 2026**

| Standard | What it says | Applies to live tables |
|---|---|---|
| RTS 14G | Minimum five seconds between casino game rounds, from 17 January 2025; slots and peer-to-peer poker excluded | Not yet confirmed |
| RTS 8A | No autoplay: the customer confirms each game cycle separately | Not yet confirmed |

Our question for a lawyer is whether RTS 14G and RTS 8A apply to a live table. See [pace of play rules](https://seatcheck.uk/pace-of-play-rules/).

**In short:** two standards exist; their reach to live play is still open.

## If you are slow, or the connection drops

Do not rely on a reading of a review. Check the table rules for the default action, and read [what happens when a connection drops](https://seatcheck.uk/dropped-connection-live-blackjack/).

A time limit is not a reason to rush. Set a deposit limit and a time-out in your account, as explained in [safety tools at the table](https://seatcheck.uk/safety-tools-at-the-table/).

**In short:** pressure to decide fast is a reason to take a break.

## What we will publish

For each studio we will record the seconds given, the default action, the source page and the date. Until then the cell says **Not yet checked**.

**In short:** no figure appears here without a source and a date.

## How we checked this

We read the Gambling Commission's pace and autoplay standards as RTS 14G and RTS 8A. We did not read any studio's timer rules, so no number of seconds is given for a table.

**In short:** every statement here names its source, and anything we could not read is marked as not yet checked.

## What changed

13 November 2026: first published. Nothing has changed since.

**In short:** this is the first version of the page.

## FAQ

**How many seconds do I get to decide?**

We have no verified figure. The time is set in the studio's rules for each table, and we publish a number only once we have read it and dated it.

**What happens if I do not answer?**

The studio's rules say. Some tables apply a default action. We have not yet confirmed which, so check the rules page before you play.

**Is there a legal minimum pause between rounds?**

RTS 14G sets a minimum of five seconds between casino game rounds, since 17 January 2025, except slots and peer-to-peer poker. Whether it applies to live tables is not yet confirmed.

**Can I turn on autoplay at a live table?**

RTS 8A does not allow autoplay: the customer confirms each game cycle separately.