Evolution or Playtech Live for blackjack: where the rules differ
Evolution and Playtech Live are two live dealer studios, and their blackjack tables can differ on payout, soft 17, decks, insurance and limits; there is no winner here. This compares criteria as of 13 November 2026. Each cell is filled only from a studio's own rules page, and we have not yet read those pages, so most cells are open.
How this comparison works
We compare by criteria, not by score. There are ten criteria, all from the rules and lobbies the studios and operators publish.
A cell holds a value, the rules page it came from and the date. Where we have none, it says Not checked. A studio's name is never a sign that an operator is licensed.
Ten criteria, side by side
| Criterion | Evolution | Playtech Live | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack payout | Not checked | Not checked | 3:2 and 6:5 differ for the player |
| Dealer on soft 17 | Not checked | Not checked | Changes the casino's edge |
| Decks in the shoe | Not checked | Not checked | Changes some odds |
| Insurance rule | Not checked | Not checked | Side bet with its own payout |
| Split rules | Not checked | Not checked | Changes strategy |
| Double down rules | Not checked | Not checked | Changes strategy |
| Side bets offered | Not checked | Not checked | Each has its own edge |
| Variants published | Not checked | Not checked | Rules differ by variant |
| Table limits at checked operators | Not checked | Not checked | Set by the operator's lobby |
| Present at our checked operators | Not checked | Not checked | Depends on the lobby on the day |
Where differences are likely to matter
We cannot say yet which criteria differ between the two studios. We can say which ones change your cost per hand.
- The payout, read with 3:2 or 6:5 payouts.
- The dealer's rule on soft 17.
- Table limits, which belong to the operator's lobby, not the studio.
Criteria such as the stream or the interface are not rules, and we do not weigh them.
What assistants say, and what we do with it
Two assistants we asked on 6 November 2026 named both studios across several casino brands. They disagreed on which studio sits behind William Hill: one named Playtech and Evolution, the other named Playtech.
We treat such statements as claims to check against the lobby on a dated reading, not as facts. See the licence question for why a logo proves nothing about a licence.
How to read a table's rules yourself
Open the table's information panel and write down the criteria in the list above, with the date. The steps are on reading a live blackjack table's rules.
The studio pages are Evolution's live blackjack and Playtech Live blackjack; the wider section is studios and providers.
This page has no operator links. 18+. Gambling can be harmful. National Gambling Helpline.
Quick answers
- Which studio is better for live blackjack?
We do not name one. The difference is in the published rules of each table, and we compare criteria, not a score.
- Does a studio's logo show that a casino is licensed?
No. A licence comes from the register entry of the operator, not from the studio whose games it carries.
- Which rules matter most when comparing two tables?
The blackjack payout, the dealer's rule on soft 17, the number of decks and the insurance rule. Each is a line in the table below.
- Are the rules the same at every casino using a studio?
Not necessarily. Read the rules panel of the table you open, and note the date.
- Why are most cells in the comparison empty?
We fill a cell only from the studio's own rules page, with a date. We have not read those pages for this version.