Expert guide to the best casinos to play blackjack online - Top online blackjack real money sites play in tournaments learn basic blackjack strategy & rules!
Similarly, blackjack is the most popular casino game online, and with so many variants available you'll never get bored. From Chemin de Fer to Pontoon and European Blackjack to Spanish 21, there's never been a better time to do some casino online gambling at the blackjack tables. Online Blackjack for Real Money. As we mentioned earlier, there’s no shortage of online casinos for you to choose from. It’s unlikely that there’s a single casino site out there that doesn’t have at least one blackjack game, and most have several different versions of it to choose from.
When it comes to table games, blackjack is undoubtedly the most popular casino game in the world. Almost everyone understands the basic rules, and hundreds of books have been written about it. The combination of fast action, strategy, and one of the lowest house edges in the casino has made it a timeless classic – and an obvious game for online casinos to offer to their clients.
Online blackjack is hugely popular, with most online casinos offering multiple forms of the game (many of which we’ll talk about on other pages). In most respects, the rules found in a real world casino will be the exact same as those found in blackjack online. Usually, the only differences will be that the action moves a little faster, and that the cards are reshuffled after each hand. At some online casinos, you may even have the option of playing with a live dealer via streaming video!
Online blackjack games can have rules that vary slightly, but for the most part, the general framework of the game will be similar to the one we describe here. A hand begins with the player making a bet. The dealer then deals two cards each to the player and the dealer. The player’s cards are both dealt face-up, while the dealer will have one card face up (the “up card”) and one face down (the “hole card”). The object of the game is to make a hand worth as close to 21 points as possible, without going over.
Each card is assigned a number of points based on its rank. Numbered cards are worth a number of points equal to their rank (i.e., a four is worth 4 points). Tens and face cards are worth 10 points. Finally, aces are worth 11 points, unless they would cause a hand to go over a total of 21; in that case, they are worth 1 point. If at any point the player or dealer hand goes over 21 points, that hand is said to have “busted.”
A hand with an ace that is still worth 11 points is known as a “soft hand,” because it cannot go bust; if the hand would go over 21 points, the ace would revert to being worth 1 point instead. Other hands are known as “hard hands.”
The best possible starting hand is an ace plus a card worth 10 points. This totals 21 points, and is known as a blackjack. If the dealer’s up card is a ten or an ace, the dealer will check for blackjack. If the dealer has 21, it is immediately revealed, and all player hands lose – except for players who also have been dealt 21, which results in a push. It’s worth noting that before the dealer checks, the dealer will offer the player insurance. The insurance bet costs half the amount of the original bet, and pays 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack.
Essentially, the combination of losing the original bet but winning the insurance bet causes the player to break even for the hand, “saving” their original wager. If the dealer does not have 21, the insurance bet loses, and the hand continues as normal. If the player has 21 the dealer will typically offer the player “even money” on their hand; this is, mathematically speaking, the exact same bet as the insurance bet. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the hand continues. Players with twenty one win immediately at 3-2 odds. If a player does not have a blackjack, the player has several options for playing their hand.
At any time, a player may choose to stand. This means the player will take no further cards for their hand.
If the player chooses to hit, the dealer will give them one additional card for their hand. A player may choose to hit as many times as they like, until they either go over 21 and bust, or decide to stand.
Doubling down is available to the player only on their initial two card hand. If the player chooses to double down, they must make a second bet equal in size to their original wager. The player will then receive one more card from the dealer, after which they must stand. The player now stands to win or lose both bets depending on the outcome of the hand.
If the player was dealt two cards of the same rank, they have the option to split them into two separate hands. Each of these new hands will be dealt a second card, and each hand will be played for a full bet. Typically, players will be allowed to do anything they wish with these new hands, including doubling down or splitting again (resplitting is usually only allowed for up to a maximum of four hands). However, in most games, players do not get these options when splitting aces – they will simply receive one card for each ace and be forced to stand at that point. In addition, “blackjacks” after splitting will normally only count as 21 points, and not as an automatic win at the higher 3/2 odds.
In some games, players will be given the option of surrendering their hand. A player who surrenders gives up on the hand, forfeiting half of their bet. The other half is returned to them. There are two variations of this rule. In late surrender, the player may choose to surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack. In early surrender, the player may choose to surrender before the dealer checks. If at any point a player busts, they immediately lose the hand, and the dealer collects their bet. After all players have busted or decided to stand, the dealer reveals their down card.
Dealers are required to play their hands according to very strict rules that are usually printed on the table. In most games, dealers are required to hit with hands of 16 or less, and must stand with hands of 17 or more, regardless of what hands the players hold. In some games, however, the dealer will also be required to hit on a soft 17. If the dealer goes bust, all players who are still in the hand win even money on all bets. If the dealer stands, the dealer’s hand is then compared to each player hand. If the dealer hand is higher, the player loses their bet. If the player hand is higher, the player wins even money on their bet. If the two hands are equal, the bet is considered a push.
This image from an online blackjack game shows the options available to the player during a hand
As we mentioned earlier, there’s no shortage of online casinos for you to choose from. It’s unlikely that there’s a single casino site out there that doesn’t have at least one blackjack game, and most have several different versions of it to choose from. Oftentimes, these different games will have various side bets, and are otherwise identical. In other cases, the number of decks or some other rules may be different; this means that one game might be better for the player than another one at the same casino.
There are other factors to consider when you play blackjack for real money. At some casinos, you’ll have the opportunity to play in tournaments, while others offer special perks like games dealt by live dealers. However, for most players, choosing the best place to play will come down to where the house edge is lowest, and where the games are the most fun to play. Below, we’ve picked out some of our favorite places to play 21 online.
There is no one strategy that’s appropriate for every online blackjack game. There are hundreds of different online casinos that offer dozens of different variants of blackjack; since each game may have slightly different rules, the correct strategy for each one is also different.
The first element of blackjack strategy is what’s known as basic strategy. Basic strategy is the collection of mathematically best plays for every situation you might encounter during a hand. Each game has a slightly different basic strategy depending on the exact rules being used, including the number of decks, whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17, surrender rules, and other factors.
While publishing a comprehensive list of strategies for every one of these would be nearly impossible, there are shortcuts possible for players who want to learn a simple strategy that comes close to emulating the basic strategy for most the commonly played variants. The following simple strategy doesn’t require you to memorize the right play for every situation, or search a large chart while you’re playing. For most games, the house edge when using this strategy should be no more than 0.2% higher than with perfect basic strategy.
It’s also worth mentioning that this strategy is similar to one developed by Michael Shackleford, and his work was invaluable in the development of our strategy.
Our simple strategy is divided into three parts: what to do with hard hands, what to do with soft hands, and what to do with pairs.
To clarify that last rule, it’s important for all serious players to know that under any basic strategy, players should never take insurance or even money on blackjacks. The house edge on insurance is over 7% (varying slightly depending on the number of decks being used), which is much higher than the standard game, even for players using relatively poor strategies.
A chart displaying perfect basic strategy. Our simpler version above has almost the same house edge
For internet blackjack, card counting simply isn’t an option. In most cases, the casinos “reshuffle” the entire shoe after each hand, meaning there is never any true deck penetration. This is even more effective than the automatic shuffling machines employed in many live casinos, and means that regardless of what cards have come out on even the previous hand, all cards are equally likely to be selected for your next hand.
While card counting is not effective for online play, we will still outline a very basic card counting system for those who are interested in understanding the basics of how they work! Card counting relies on the fact that some cards are better for the player than others; a shoe that is still rich in those cards – namely, tens, aces and (to a lesser extent) other high cards – can actually tilt the odds in the player’s favor against the house. Conversely, fives and other low cards are bad for the player, and make the odds better for the house. By tracking which cards have removed from the deck, the player is able to wager more money on hands in which the odds are in their favor, and less money (or none at all) when things are looking bad for them.
In addition, players may be able to make informed decisions on surrendering, taking insurance, or violating basic strategy based on the cards that have been removed from the shoe. The simplest card counting systems are known as “Ace-Five” systems. These card counting techniques only require the player to track the number of aces and fives being removed from the deck during play. Each ace that is removed from the deck is counted as a -1; each five that is seen adds +1 to the count. Here is an example that shows how such a system might work.
The player starts with a count of 0, and makes a small wager – perhaps the minimum allowed at their table. This bet size is known as a “unit.” If the count reaches +2, the player should double their bet to two units until the count drops back down. If the count reaches +4, the player should raise their bet to three units. After that point, add an additional unit for every +1 added to the count.
At the beginning of each shoe, fall back to betting your initial one unit bet. Obviously, much more precise and intricate systems are available for players to use, many of which can produce rather sizable advantages for the player – presuming they can avoid detection by the casino, which may choose not to allow known card counters to play in their games. However, even the simple Ace-Five systems like the one outlined above are powerful enough to reduce or eliminate the house edge from most blackjack games.
As we mentioned earlier, the rules of blackjack vary greatly from game to game. Online casinos therefore, can have very different odds depending on the rules that are being employed. For a baseline, let’s talk about a game with the following rules:
This game has a house edge of approximately 0.45%, and is a typical form of the game that can be found either online or in a brick-and-mortar casino. However, several common rule changes can alter the house advantage, sometimes significantly.
For instance, reducing the number of decks used in the shoe is a surefire way to improve the players’ odds. A single deck game will reduce the house edge by .48%, while a double deck game lowers the house edge by .19%. Other rule changes that can help the player include the ability to surrender (.08%), allowing the player to draw more cards after splitting aces (.19%), or allowing players to surrender before the dealer peaks for blackjack (.24% if this is allowed against a ten, and another .39% if it is allowed against an ace).
Of course, casinos aren’t usually in the business of giving players something for nothing, and there are also many rules that can tilt the balance back in the casino’s favor. The most insidious of these is paying only 6-5 on a blackjack. Most online variations of 21 do not resort to this tactic, but it is becoming increasingly common in live casinos, particularly in single deck games. This rule has a devastating effect, adding 1.39% to the house edge.
Luckily, you won’t run into short paying blackjacks too often, but there are other rules that can hurt your chances, too. If the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17, that adds about 0.22% to the house edge. Other rules that can hurt the player include not allowing the player to double down after splitting hands (.14%), or limiting how many hands the player can split (0.10% if the player can only split to two hands, or 0.01% if the player can split to three hands).
As one of the most popular casino games around the world, it’s no wonder that blackjack is extremely common to find at online gambling sites. In this guide on blackjack online casinos, we’ll point you in the right direction on where to play the game. However, it doesn’t just stop there. This page is also packed with lots of other vital details you won’t want to miss about playing blackjack online.
If you’re ready to find the best blackjack online casinos right away, then be sure to check out the list of gambling sites below. What you’ll find here is our list of recommended casinos offering blackjack. While there are many options out there, the ones featured below are the best of the best if you plan on playing blackjack online. We’ve even included a section which talks about our selection process if you’d like to read about how we came up with these suggestions.
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Some of you reading this page won’t be ready to visit potential casino sites offering blackjack just yet. If you’re one of those individuals, that’s perfectly fine. We’ve built this page to equip you with all of the vital details you need to know about playing blackjack online. Once you gather up all of the information you’re seeking, simply remember to come back to our list of suggested online casinos offering real money blackjack.
In our guide about blackjack online casinos, we’ve included lots of helpful information no matter if you’re new to playing blackjack online or an experienced player. For those of you who are tight on time, you can use the links below to skip ahead to the parts of our guide which you want to review. Just be sure to check out all of the details on this page if you’d like to ensure you get the most out of everything we’ve included here.
If you’re asking yourself why we selected the blackjack online casinos above over all other options, you’ve come to the right section of this guide. Below, we’ll walk you through a high-level explanation of the detailed selection process used to come up with our recommendations for the top online casinos offering blackjack.
As our team did their analysis of blackjack casino sites, the first thing they looked into was the security associated with any given option. While there are some very safe places out there to play blackjack online, others don’t have the proper security measures in place to keep players and their money safe. We scrubbed all of the unsafe online casinos offering blackjack to ensure our list only includes options we trust to use ourselves.
That said, safety isn’t the only qualification which we took under consideration. Instead, our team investigated a dozen other areas of each casino website. Things such as payment methods, time in business, customer service, and others were carefully scrutinized to help us identify the top blackjack online casino sites from the rest of the pack.
Finally, you should know we’ve not been paid by any of our recommended blackjack online casino sites for their placement on our list. It’s vital to us our recommendations are earned and not bought by the highest bidder. Thanks to this, you receive a clear and independent picture of the best places for you to play blackjack online.
Up next, we’re going to preview the common types of blackjack available to you as an online player. Luckily, there are many different versions of the game at the best blackjack online casinos. Check out descriptions below to see which of these seem like they may be a good fit for you when playing blackjack online. Keep in mind our descriptions are not meant to describe all of the nuances of each version, so we’d suggest you do more research before starting to play a new variant of blackjack.
In the classic version of real money blackjack, you’re in a battle against the dealer to see which of you can get closest to the total of 21 without going over. Depending on the table you’re playing at, the number of decks being used can vary somewhere between one and eight decks. With more decks in play, the odds are more in the house’s favor.
The main difference between Atlantic City Blackjack and the classic variant of the game is that the Atlantic City version always makes use of eight decks of cards. Also, there are a few other minor differences, including the fact that players can split up to three hands and the dealer can stand on a soft 17.
When it comes to European Blackjack, there are a couple of key differences from the classic version of the game. One of the most notable things is that European blackjack is always played with just two decks of cards at many blackjack online casinos. Another significant difference is the dealer doesn’t take his hole card (face down one) until all players have made their playing decisions relating to their hands.
Spanish 21 is a variant of blackjack which provides the house (casino) with a better edge over players. The reason behind this is the decks used in Spanish 21 have all 10s removed from them. In turn, there are only 48 cards as opposed to the typical 52. Outside of this significant difference, there are a few other smaller tweaks to things relating to blackjack rules including insurance and surrendering.
Vegas Strip Blackjack is a form of the game which is very similar to the Atlantic City format. However, instead of using eight decks of cards, Vegas Strip Blackjack only uses four. The dealer at blackjack casino sites can stand on a soft 17 and players can split up to three times in this version just as with the Atlantic City one.
Super Fun 21 is a variant of blackjack which only uses a single deck of cards. However, there are some significant differences between this version of the game and the classic one. For starters, blackjack only pays even money instead of the typical 3:2. But a player with a natural blackjack will win the hand if up against a dealer’s natural blackjack. Another oddity is a player with a diamond blackjack (consisting of diamond only cards) will see a payout of 2:1.
Blackjack Switch stands out at online casino sites with blackjack as a rather unique version of the game. When a new round begins, each player is dealt two sets of cards instead of the typical one. In total, it gives players four cards to start with. Then, players of Blackjack Switch have the option of switching cards between the two hands to make the best possible hand. However, since this helps increase the player’s chances of winning, the payouts for this version of blackjack are less than the classic form.
The game of Pontoon is set up just like Spanish 21. Here, the deck has had all of the 10s removed. However, the interesting part of Pontoon is that it uses different terminology from the forms of the game. Instead of saying “blackjack,” “stand,” and “hit,” you’ll say “stick,” “twist,” or “pontoon” in turn. Outside of the odd terminology, the rest of the game plays out the same as Spanish 21.
One other popular variant found at the best blackjack online casinos is a version which makes use of a progressive jackpot. If you’re familiar with the idea of progressive slot machines, this functions much of the same way. The game is played using the classic blackjack form and rules. However, the player can opt to make a side bet for the potential to win the associated jackpot. In some casinos, the progressive jackpot can be a sizeable amount, which can make the game even more exciting to play.
Now that you’ve got a good idea for the types of blackjack available, it’s up to you to decide which of them you’d like to play online.
We’d suggest using a free practice mode to try things out while you’re learning about new versions of the game. Once you feel comfortable with the rules of the game, you can then begin to wager real money on a trusted blackjack casino website.
If you decide you’re going to play real money blackjack online, you’ll also want to choose which online format of the game is going to be the best fit for you. Below, we’ve added details on three of the most popular online forms of the game found at blackjack online casinos. Be sure to check these out to see if one of them jumps out at you.
The original way folks played blackjack online was in the standard format. Under this form, the game functions very much like a computer game. Players using this format play blackjack using a video game utilizing a random number generator. Here, there’s no physical cards or dealer. Instead, everything is digitized. To help you get a feel for standard online blackjack, you’ll find an image below of what it commonly looks like.
To help provide players with a different experience, many real money blackjack online casinos and websites offer live dealer blackjack formats. If you’re not familiar with live dealer casino games, they are one of the hottest trends in the online gambling industry at this time. With this format, you’ll see a live feed which includes an actual dealer situated in a casino somewhere around the globe. Instead of just playing a computerized version based off a random number generator, it functions more like you’re seated at the table yourself.
While it will almost feel like you’re at the casino, you’ll instead be in the comfort of your own home. Therefore, you won’t have to travel to your local land-based casino and deal with any of the added noise and distractions which can often come along with that experience.
Understandably, this concept can be a bit hard to grasp at first. However, after checking out the example below, you’ll get a good feel for what this version looks like at online casinos that offer blackjack and how it differs from the standard video version of the game.
One other option available to you for playing blackjack online is mobile blackjack. Here, you can use your smartphone or tablet to play both standard and live dealer games at blackjack casino sites from the palm of your hand. What we love about this format of the game is the convenience of not needing to be at your computer. Below, we’ve added an example of what the mobile blackjack experience will be like on your mobile devices if you choose to play this format.
We’re huge fans of the available variety of ways which blackjack can be played online. If you’re inexperienced online casino sites with blackjack, our advice would be to try playing all three of these formats to find which ones you enjoy most. If you enjoy more than one of them, nothing is stopping you from changing formats from time to time as you see fit.
Outside of what we’ve already covered on this page about blackjack real money online casinos, we also have a wealth of other blackjack related resources on our website. Below, we’ve included links to some of our favorite pages which may be able to assist you to learn more about playing blackjack online. If any of these sound helpful to you, be sure to check them out so that you don’t miss out on their important details.
If you’re new to playing blackjack in general, no matter if it’s at blackjack online casinos or in land-based casinos, one of the first resources you should check out is our guide for beginners of the game. On the link below, you’ll find all kinds of useful information which will help you quickly get started. Here, you’ll find basic strategies, terminologies, and so much more.
While there’s plenty of similarities between playing real money blackjack online and in your local brick and mortar casino, there are also some key differences you should be aware of. In our online blackjack strategy guide, we’ll get you up to speed on all of the essential things you’ll want to be mindful of when playing blackjack online.
One of the things we’re often asked about the most here is card counting in blackjack. Due to the immense popularity of this strategy when playing blackjack, we’ve developed an entire page all about it. However, many folks don’t know there are many different ways you can go about counting cards when playing blackjack. In our guide, we’ll help you learn about each one of the major blackjack card counting methods to help you find the one that’s the best fit for you.
If you’re looking for other details relating to the game of blackjack, then you’ll most likely find all of them on our primary blackjack hub page. Using the link below, you can explore all of our blackjack resources in one single location. No matter your current level of blackjack skills and experience, there’s plenty on this page which can assist you with elevating your game.
While we’ve done our best to provide as much detailed information about online casinos with blackjack above, we understand we may not have answered all of your questions. For that reason, we’ve added in a collection of FAQs about playing blackjack online below. If you’re still missing some answers, be sure to check these out.
No. If you don’t have a laptop or desktop computer, you can still play real money blackjack online. This is possible thanks to online casino websites making use of mobile-friendly technologies. Thanks to this, you can find blackjack online casinos which work well with mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. With one of these devices and a connection to the internet, you’ll be able to enjoy the same online casino action as folks using computers are.
Playing blackjack online is a matter of preference. While it’s not for everyone, many individuals enjoy it for several reasons. One of the primary benefits of using a blackjack online casino is that it’s usually simple to earn lots of bonus cash while playing the game. Between welcome bonuses and other promotional offers, there’s often no shortage of bonus opportunities.
Another reason so many folks use blackjack online casinos is because of the convenience which comes along with them. Since everything is done electronically, there’s no need to leave home to head to your local casino. Instead, simply pull out your smartphone or computer, and you’ll be playing blackjack online in a matter of moments.
If you’re new to the game, we’d suggest you first learn how to play the standard version of the game. Luckily, standard blackjack is one of the easiest casino games to learn. For most individuals, they’re able to pick up on the basic game rules in practically no time at all. For those of you who are new to playing blackjack, check out the additional resources guide above. There, you’ll find a link to our blackjack guide for beginners. In it, we’ll get you equipped with all of the details you’ll need to know.
Absolutely. If you don’t want to risk real money when playing real money blackjack online, it is possible to play the game for free. Since many blackjack online casinos offer free practice options, you’re able to enjoy the game without betting real money. Luckily, many casinos offering blackjack allow free play to players without them even needing to open an account.
If you’re new to playing blackjack online or just new to the game in general, these free practice modes are an excellent way to get a feel for how things function. We’d highly recommend trying these out to ensure you’re comfortable with everything before you begin betting real money on the game.
It is possible to find other online casinos offering blackjack. However, we’d caution you against using any of them not featured on our list of blackjack online casinos at the top of this page. While there are many blackjack casino sites out there, not all of them are the best quality. Based on our research, we’re sure our selections above represent the top places in the entire industry for playing blackjack online.
However, we understand some of you might want to check out other options to compare them against our recommendations. If you plan on doing that, be sure to visit the page linked below. Here, you’ll get access to our current list of blacklisted casino websites. These are online casinos which you’ll want to avoid to keep yourself protected.
We hope this page about real money online casinos offering blackjack was a benefit to you. For those of you who haven’t visited our website before, we’ve got many more ways we can benefit you. Be sure to take a small amount of time to explore our main menu to see a preview of the other helpful gambling-related guides we’ve created. We’re here to be your one-stop shop of information, not just about playing blackjack online, but for anything you’re into when it comes to gambling. Thanks for stopping by, and best of luck with your upcoming blackjack action!