Pragmatic Play Adds Two New Features to Prive Lounge Blackjack

^{Pragmatic Play has added two new gameplay features to its premium Privé Lounge Blackjack tables. (Photo: Images Money / Wikimedia Commons)}

Pragmatic Play has added two new gameplay features to its Privé Lounge Blackjack product, expanding the supplier's premium live casino range with extra strategic options and a higher theoretical return to player.

The additions, called Face Down Double Down and Split After Split, were announced on 11 August. Pragmatic Play, one of the largest content suppliers to the online gambling industry, said both features were designed to enhance the traditional land-based blackjack experience while preserving the exclusivity associated with the Privé Lounge.

Two New Blackjack Features

Face Down Double Down allows players to double down without revealing their final card until the dealer has completed their hand, adding an element of suspense to the round. In standard blackjack, the doubled card is usually dealt face up.

Split After Split lets qualifying hands created after an initial split be split again, giving players more decisions per round. Pragmatic Play said the feature increases the game's return to player to 99.51%, a figure that assumes optimal strategy.

Both mechanics mirror rules found on some land-based tables and change the maths of the game rather than the format. Face Down Double Down keeps the pressure on until the dealer acts, while Split After Split rewards players who follow correct strategy with additional decisions and, in turn, a slightly higher long-run return.

The Privé Lounge is positioned as a premium blackjack environment, offering dedicated VIP hosts, experienced dealers and personalised options such as dealer changes, extended sessions and shoe reshuffles. The format is aimed at higher-stakes players who want a more tailored experience than standard live tables provide.

Building on the Privé Lounge Range

The latest features follow the Double Down After Split option that Pragmatic Play introduced last year across its blackjack titles, part of a wider effort to combine familiar land-based rules with additional mechanics on its live tables. The supplier has continued to expand its live casino catalogue in 2026, adding new game show and table formats as it competes for space on operator lobbies.

Sharon McHugh, director of public relations at Pragmatic Play, said the two features were intended to deepen gameplay without altering the fundamentals of the game.

"Face Down Double Down adds a new level of suspense to every hand, while Split After Split gives players greater strategic freedom and improves their potential edge," McHugh said in a statement supplied to the trade. "Together, they deliver a richer blackjack experience while remaining true to the classic gameplay that players know and enjoy."

The rollout continues a busy stretch for the supplier's live casino division, which competes with rivals for placement on operators' live casino lobbies. Full details of the update were set out in a press release issued by Pragmatic Play. The new features are available to operators offering the Privé Lounge Blackjack tables, adding to a live dealer product that Pragmatic Play positions at the premium end of its portfolio.