Dealer rules in live blackjack, from the first card
A studio's published rules fix what the dealer does: when to draw, how soft 17 is treated, when cards are shown and in what order players act. These can differ between variants. This applies to live blackjack tables as of 13 November 2026, and the exact rules are not yet checked for any named studio.
What the rules fix
Checked 13 November 2026. A provider's rules page should answer five questions for the dealer:
- The draw. The total at which the dealer must stand.
- Soft 17. Whether a hand of 17 that counts an ace as 11 is hit or stood on. See soft 17.
- The second card. When the dealer's other card is revealed.
- Order of play. Which seat acts first, and what happens when a seat does not answer.
- Dealing process. The shoe, the shuffle and the number of decks. See number of decks.
Rules by studio
| Studio | Dealer draw | Soft 17 | Second card | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution | Not yet checked | Not yet checked | Not yet checked | Not yet checked |
| Playtech Live | Not yet checked | Not yet checked | Not yet checked | Not yet checked |
| Pragmatic Play Live | Not yet checked | Not yet checked | Not yet checked | Not yet checked |
We fill this only from the studio's own rules page, with the date we read it. The rule variants snapshot holds the full comparison.
Who checks the studio
The Gambling Commission publishes a technical standard for live dealer studios, RTS 17. We link it and do not yet summarise it. Read what studios must follow.
Nothing on this page says a dealer's dealing is more or less fair than another's. For that question, see the claim check on whether live blackjack is fairer than the automated version.
What to read before a first hand
- Open the rules page for the exact variant.
- Note the draw rule and the soft 17 rule.
- Check the payout for a blackjack. See 3:2 or 6:5.
- Set your limit first, then sit down.
How we checked this
We used the definitions in our glossary and the title of RTS 17 as published by the Gambling Commission. We have not yet read a studio's rules page for this page, so no dealer rule is stated as a fact for any studio.
What changed
13 November 2026: first published. Nothing has changed since.
Quick answers
- Does the live dealer decide when to hit?
No. The dealer follows the draw rule in the studio's published rules for that table. Check the rules page for the variant you play.
- What is soft 17?
A hand of 17 that counts an ace as 11. Some tables make the dealer hit it and some make the dealer stand. This changes the house edge, so read the rule.
- Who checks the studio?
Live dealer studios are covered by the Gambling Commission's RTS 17 standard. We have not yet summarised its wording.
- Do all variants use the same dealer rules?
No. Variants can differ. We list them in the rule variants table once the studio pages are read.