Pontoon is also popularly known as British Blackjack. This isn’t surprising, as the rules are very similar. However, there are also differences between these games. It’s precisely these small adjustments that make Pontoon just a little bit different, and according to many players, extra exciting — especially when played at £10 deposit casinos not on GamStop, where the game is widely available.
Best Pontoon Casinos Without GamStop
Pontoon is Blackjack’s quirky little brother, but not every non GamStop casino offers it. That’s why we’ve listed the best Pontoon casinos without GamStop for you here:
Wager Land
Casino 007
Booming Slots
Vegas Hero
Super Spin
G4mble
Vegas Hero
What is Pontoon?
You’ll find Pontoon in the live casino of an online casino. But is it a variation on Blackjack, or is Blackjack a variation on Pontoon? Opinions differ widely on that. And frankly, it’s not very interesting for explaining the rules and strategy.
It’s important to know that Pontoon is a British version of classic Blackjack. What’s also confusing is that the Australian version is completely different from British Pontoon and more closely resembles Spanish Blackjack.
If you’re a big fan of Blackjack, it’s fun to try a variation of it. The goal of Pontoon is to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 than the dealer. An ace with a picture card or a ten means a “Pontoon,” and you win. In classic Blackjack, this is called “Blackjack.”
Many of the rules of Blackjack and Pontoon are the same. All cards are worth the same as in classic Blackjack. The interfaces of Blackjack and Pontoon are also almost identical. In non GamStop casinos, both games are played with eight decks of cards. This is to prevent card counters from turning the house edge against the casino. A live dealer deals the cards, allowing you to make decisions about the game’s progression, and otherwise, the cards and table are the same. There are a minimum of two and a maximum of eight players — as detailed in our in-depth look at Casino Peaches features, where both games are frequently offered.
There are, however, some minor differences you should be aware of before you start playing. The terminology is also different from Blackjack. Furthermore, no official rules have ever been established, meaning they can vary from one online casino to another. Therefore, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the exact rules beforehand. The average payout percentage is 99.60%, which is extremely high.
How to play Pontoon?
If you’ve played Blackjack before and enjoyed it, chances are Pontoon is for you too.
Game explanation and rules
Pontoon is British, so the terms differ from Blackjack, which are American. A Blackjack (21 points) is called a Pontoon or Natural. To buy a card, you don’t press “hit,” but “twist”; “stick” means to stand, and “double down” means to double your bet. The dealer is called the “banker.”
Fortunately, the differences in the rules of the game are not very big:
- A player can only pass when he has 15 or more points in his hand.
- Furthermore, the banker (the dealer) must take an additional card on a soft 17. A soft 17 occurs when you have an ace with a value of 11. In this case, a soft 17 would consist of an ace and a 6.
- In Pontoon, when there is a tie, the banker always wins.
- If you have five cards in your hand and the total is 21, you have a “Charlie.” A Charlie is paid out the same as a Pontoon. The payout is 2:1.
Variants of Pontoon
Although Pontoon is a variation of Blackjack, the game itself has several variations. The most popular are:
- Federal: You can split up to three hands, except with aces and it is played without the “10” card.
- Jupiters 21: This variant is played without 10s, the cards are dealt face up, and you play with seven players and one banker.
- Treasury 21: In this variant you can only split once and it is played with six decks of cards.
When do you win?
The goal of Pontoon, like Blackjack, is to get as close to 21 points as possible, or to reach 21 exactly. You want to beat the dealer’s cards, and you achieve this through the decisions you make during the game. If you reach 21, you win. Reaching 21 exactly is therefore called “Pontoon.”
Bet and winnings payout
Betting limits can vary greatly from one online casino to another. You only win if you have a better hand than the banker. If your cards equal the banker’s, you automatically lose. In Pontoon and Charlie, the payout is 2:1. When playing Blackjack, the payout is only 1.5:1. If you win by any other means, you receive a standard 1:1 payout.
