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Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games, and finding it online is really easy. There are hundreds of casino sites where you can play online blackjack for real money, but you should not select your operator randomly.

I wrote this article to help you understand how online real money blackjack works. On top of that, I will list some of my personal favorite blackjack casino sites, along with their bonuses and other features.

To help you navigate through this page better, I’ve created a shortcut for each of the sections that this article will discuss.

Everything You Need to Know:

If you’re new to online gambling and want to try some blackjack games for real money, this is the place to be.

So, without further ado, let’s dig into some details, shall we?

Best Real-Money Blackjack Casinos For US Players

With the growing popularity of online gambling, it has become difficult for players to make clear distinctions between great and not so great casino operators.

The situation is even trickier in the United States, as not all casinos accept US players. Searching for a casino that has high-quality blackjack games can, therefore, prove to be a daunting task.

However, I am here to help you out. I have put in hours of research to find the absolute best US-friendly casino rooms where you can play blackjack for real money.

Check the list below to see top US online casinos, along with their welcome bonuses and the number of blackjack tables they offer. Enjoy!

Casino	Offer	Devices	Play Now / Review
$5,000 Welcome Bonus
First 3 Deposits, Get Up To $6000
$5500 Welcome Bonus
$5000 Welcome Bonus
255% Bonus up to $2555
First 3 Deposits, Get Up To $6000
First 3 Deposits, Get Up To $3000
300% up to $500
$500 other options also available
$3,000

Why You Should Play Real Money Blackjack

Playing blackjack online has plenty of benefits compared to playing it in land-based casinos. Here are some of the main ones.

• Convenience — If you ask online players about online blackjack benefits, the majority of them will talk about convenience. Enjoying a blackjack game at home and at any time is far better than wasting gas money and travelling several hours to the nearest card room.
• Bonuses — Land-based casinos don’t have bonuses and promotions. The money you deposit is the only money you can play with. On the other hand, online casinos give you a chance to take advantage of rewarding blackjack promotions that might give you a leg up.
• Game variety — Your local casino might only have a few blackjack tables and usually not more than a couple of variations of the game. If you explore real-money blackjack online, you will find that US casino sites have almost every version of the game available, and some blackjack forms can exclusively be found on the web.
• Banking — Buying chips in traditional brick-and-mortar casinos will usually leave you with only two options — cash and credit cards. On the other hand, online casinos have a multitude of different payment methods, including pre-paid cards, e-wallets, bank wires and checks, while some even allow cryptocurrency transactions.

Top 3 US Online Real-Money Casinos To Play Blackjack

According to my criteria and the fact that a lot of players join them, these are the top three casino sites for playing real money blackjack.

Wild Casino is a reputable online casino site that represents one of the most popular options for American players. The casino has a wide selection of games (not just blackjack), plenty of convenient payment options, and a simple interface that makes navigation super easy.

• 24/7 blackjack action
• $5,000 welcome bonus
• Special blackjack promotions
• US players accepted

Slots.lv is not one of the top names in the online gambling community, but I feel that it deserves to be mentioned on this list. Although it mainly focuses on slots, there are plenty of blackjack games to choose from, and the bonuses are massive. Players can also enjoy popular banking methods that allow for quick transactions with minimum fees.

• Multiple blackjack variants
• $5,000 welcome package
• Bitcoin welcome bonus
• US players accepted

Bo Vegas is a well-known casino site that entertains tens of thousands of players on a daily basis. With a solid selection of blackjack games and a generous welcome bonus, Bovada is definitely worth trying out. The site is mobile-friendly and has several high-quality live dealer rooms.

• Several high-quality blackjack games
• Popular payment methods available
• $5,500 welcome bonus
• US players accepted

How to Play Real-Money Blackjack Online: Step-By-Step

Are you new to online casinos and don’t know how to start playing? Don’t worry one bit, as I’ve created an easy-to-follow step-by-step protocol that will help you start playing your favorite blackjack games in minutes.

Pick a Casino Site

The first thing you need to do is choose a platform where you will play online blackjack. I’ve already listed some of the best US casinos, so it’s wise if you select an operator from there.

Check the website for bonus sizes, banking methods, mobile compatibility and game variety before fully committing to it. Each player has their own preferences, so make sure to find a website that suits you the most.

Deposit and Sign Up for the Bonus

Once you have an existing account, you can now fund it with real money. Use one of the available deposit options, but make sure to check minimum and maximum limits first.

If you’re a first-time depositor, you will be eligible for the casino’s welcome bonus. Check the box stating that you want to use the bonus and see what the terms and conditions are for unlocking it.

Start Playing!

After the money goes through, you can play any number of games on the website, including blackjack. Navigate to the website’s section with table and card games and explore its contents.

Most casinos will offer several blackjack games, on top of some live dealer blackjack games that I’ll talk about a little later on.

Mobile Blackjack

There are plenty of online players that are switching from desktop to mobile blackjack in the last several years. Playing blackjack on mobile — or any other casino game for that matter — is simply more convenient. You can gamble on the go as long as you have a stable internet connection.

Almost all US-friendly casinos have functional mobile platforms that you can easily access through your mobile browser. Some even have apps that are compatible with Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Developers have made sure that players don’t feel any limitation by having to play the game on a smaller screen. Games look good and have seamless and functional touchscreen commands.

Play Live Dealer Blackjack For Real Money

Live dealer games are one of the latest trends in the online casino industry. Instead of playing RNG games on a virtual table, players can now enjoy blackjack via live streams with real-life dealers running the game.

Live blackjack provides a unique opportunity to feel the atmosphere of a real casino without actually being in one. You can also use live chat to communicate with dealers and other players.

A dealer will place real cards on the table, and players decide on their moves by using action buttons on a virtual interface. Note that live blackjack games have higher betting limits, simply because they are more costly to operate.

Unfortunately, not all online casinos have live games in their library. However, I have carefully selected the best US-friendly operators, most of which have several live blackjack tables where you can always find a free seat.

Online Blackjack Bonuses

All online casinos have some bonuses and promotions for both their new and recurring players. However, not all those bonuses relate to real-money blackjack games.

That’s why you should really be careful when selecting casinos based on their bonuses, as some might leave you dry if you’re planning to play only blackjack.

Luckily for you, there are plenty of websites that have blackjack-specific promotions. I’ve listed some of these sites below, together with bonus details and bonus codes.

Match Bonuses

Match bonuses are the most common online casino promotions and are usually a part of the casino’s welcome package. When you deposit a certain amount to your account, a casino will match that amount and give you extra money to play with.

For example, if an operator claims that you can get a “100% match bonus up to $1000”, that means that once you deposit $1000, the casino will match that amount and grant you an additional $1000.

Of course, you should watch for minimum deposit limits, time limits, and wagering requirements associated with the bonus.

No Deposit Bonuses

Sometimes you can get a bonus without even depositing first. No deposit bonuses are a very popular option for new players who are a little timid about stepping into the world of online gambling.

Playing online blackjack without deposit carries no risk whatsoever, so these kinds of bonuses are some of the best in the industry. However, it is really hard to turn these bonuses into real money. They are not that big to begin with, and completing the wagering requirements can be really hard.

Can You Play Online Blackjack for Free?

All Gambling is what makes blackjack fun, but the game can be pretty entertaining even when played for free.

If you like blackjack but are still uncertain whether you should risk any money playing it, you’ll be glad to know that plenty of US casinos offer free versions of blackjack with no strings attached.

Free blackjack also represents a good way to get familiar with the game’s rules and betting structures. This is especially useful if you’re a beginner. As a matter of fact, I advise that you play free blackjack first before switching to a real-money game.

Low-Limit Blackjack

You should take your online blackjack campaign step by step. After you’ve played the free version of the game for a while, you might want to try some low-limit tables before breaking the bank.

There are a lot of US-friendly casinos with low-limit blackjack tables where the starting bets can be as low as $1. So, even if you have less than $100 in your account, these sort of games will allow you to play for hours without too much risk and still have some chance of making a sizable profit.

Real-Money Blackjack Rules, Tips & Strategies

Blackjack is a game that has straightforward rules but is nevertheless tough to master. The goal of the game is simple — beat the dealer by having a higher card total without going over 21. Each card is worth its face value, aces can be either 1 or 11, and face cards are worth 10.

You and the dealer get two cards each (only one of the dealer’s cards is revealed), and you decide whether you want to stand or hit (get additional cards).

Of course, you will be making your decision based on the dealer’s up-card as well. Apart from the main bet, a player can take an insurance bet that pays out if the dealer gets a blackjack.

If you get a total of 21 immediately from your first two cards, you automatically win.

Players in blackjack are allowed to split pairs and play them as two separate hands. Some versions of the game will allow you to split any two cards, and not just pairs. There’s also an option for doubling down or doubling your bet while receiving a single extra card in exchange.

The dealers will draw the cards for themselves until they hit a total of at least 17. If the dealer and the player tie, that bet is considered a push, and no money is won or lost.

Online Blackjack Basic Strategy

You can always play blackjack by relying on your instincts, but if you really want to win, it wouldn’t hurt to look at some basic blackjack strategies.

There are easy-to-follow charts that can tell you when to hit, stand, double-down, or split pairs. You don’t have to understand why you need to make a particular move in that situation. Just follow the chart, and you will lower the house edge by quite a bit.

Here are the three generally accepted blackjack strategies that are easy to remember:

• Always split aces and eights
• Never split tens and fives
• Always stand on hard totals of 17 or A9
• Always hit on hard totals of 8
• Always double-down on hard totals of 11
• Never take insurance bets.

Card Counting

Blackjack is a mathematically solvable game, meaning that you can always win if you know how to count cards. However, RNG-based software in online blackjack makes this strategy useless.

Card counting is only effective if you’re playing live blackjack or if you’re sitting at a blackjack table in one of the land-based casinos. Be careful, though. If the dealer notices that you’re counting cards, they may ban you from the casino since this technique is forbidden.

Final Thoughts

Online blackjack is one of the most exciting casino games that you can try out. The house edge is low, the betting limits can vary and be suitable to all types of players, and there are plenty of different versions of the game that you can try out.

If you’re seriously considering real-money blackjack, I advise that you try one of the great online casinos that I mentioned throughout this article. They all have amazing bonuses and plenty of tables to choose from.

Of course, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to use the comment section below. And, as always — good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to win real money on online blackjack?

Is playing online blackjack legal in the US?

What is live dealer blackjack?

Can I use casino bonuses to play online blackjack?

Can I play real-money blackjack on mobile?

The easiest game to play with the best chance to beat the house, blackjack is the most popular table game in just about every casino. From online casinos in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan, to landmark land-based casinos in Las Vegas, regional brick-and-mortar casinos all over the US, and Sweepstakes casinos you can play online all across the country, blackjack is king.

Those searching for an in-depth look at online blackjack across the US have come to the right place.

The following is a comprehensive real money blackjack guide, including everything you need to know about online blackjack and live dealer online blackjack. From where you can legally play to which online casinos offer the best blackjack games and the reasons why online blackjack is superior to the live version of the game, you’ll find it all right here.

Play online blackjack for real money at the best US casinos

Playing real money blackjack online

There are three real and truly identifiable advantages to playing blackjack online rather than your local casino.

The obvious first one is convenience. You can play blackjack online from your living room sofa. There’s no need to travel anywhere. Even if there were a casino across the street from your home, playing online blackjack at home would be the more convenient option.

Next is the cost.

By taking advantage of the bonuses available at online casinos or the offers from Sweepstakes casinos you can actually play blackjack for free and possibly build a bankroll out of thin air that allows you to continue playing. Plus, you can’t win every time you play. So, you’re going to want to limit your losses when things don’t work out as planned. Online blackjack games have much lower limits allowing you to do just that.

Finally, there’s the experience. While you can have new experience playing the electronic online version of blackjack, you can also have the same blackjack experience you find in a casino playing from wherever you are with access to the internet.

That’s because live dealer online blackjack delivers that experience to you, combining the best aspects of live casino blackjack and online blackjack together.

In fact, it may even be a better version of the live game, since the online betting interface employed by live dealer online blackjack promises quicker and more accurate payouts in what is essentially the same game.

Free blackjack vs real money blackjack

There are all kinds of free-to-play blackjack casino apps and games available on the internet and through various social media outlets. Plus, you can play demo versions of the online blackjack games at most online casinos across the US.

Free online blackjack can be a great learning tool, allowing you to test out different betting patterns and blackjack strategies until you find the ones that work.

The truth is there’s a correct decision to be made in every blackjack situation that leads to maximum profitability and free-to-play-blackjack can help you perfect this optimal playing style without risking any of your own money.

Unfortunately, with no risk comes no reward. In other words, play-money is the only kind of money you’ll ever win with play-money blackjack.

Fortunately, there is one way to win real money playing online blackjack for free. That’s taking advantage of the free bonus money online casinos give you just for signing up or making a deposit. Or, taking advantage of the free virtual currency offers from Sweepstakes casinos.

As we said above, there will be some wagering requirements attached to the online casino bonuses. Clearing these playing blackjack can be tough, but it will most definitely allow you to play blackjack for free and could help you turn nothing into something substantial.

Blackjack casino apps

US online casinos all have mobile casino apps that’ll practically turn your mobile phone or tablet into a mobile casino.

Download and install these apps to any iOS or Android device and you’ll be able to play blackjack online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever you are with access to the internet inside a state where online casinos are legal.

Some Sweepstakes casinos have mobile apps as well, or at the very least, you can play the games they offer through your device’s mobile browser anywhere you are in the US.

To limit size, mobile casino apps generally offer fewer games, but you can rest assured you’ll find blackjack on every single one. Even if it’s just one simple version of the game optimized for mobile devices.

Online casino bonuses and blackjack

Whether it’s free bonus money online casinos give you just for signing up, or a percentage match of your first deposit, most the bonus money you can get from online casinos across the US comes with some kind of wagering requirement attached.

That means you can’t just take the money and run. You have to stick around and gamble with it. In fact, most wagering requirements force you to gamble with the bonus funds multiple times. Of course, once you meet the wagering requirements, anything you win or have left over is yours to keep.

The easiest way to clear these wagering requirements is almost always slots. In fact, most of the time, blackjack or other table games play counts somewhere between 10% and 25% towards clearing the wagering requirements attached.

That means that while it’s not impossible to clear a typical wagering requirement playing blackjack, it’s almost always a lot harder to do than it would be playing slots. Possibly up to ten times as hard.

The low house-edge nature of blackjack is the obvious reason why.

How do you combat this? The first thing to do is look for bonuses with low wagering requirements. Then, try to find bonuses where blackjack counts 25% or more towards meeting the wagering requirements.

Find either and you should obviously pounce on it, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to try to clear any bonus playing blackjack.

The low house-edge nature of the game also makes it entirely possibly to clear even the toughest of wagering requirements.

Legal blackjack casinos

In most of these jurisdictions, established online casino brands have partnered with the brick and mortar casinos. They have a mix of websites and apps, allowing you to enjoy blackjack, slots and many other table games. You’ll be able to gamble legally within state lines.

While regulation of online casinos is spreading, many states have opted for online sportsbooks only. If you are in a state without regulated casinos, you can enjoy blackjack at Sweepstakes Casinos.

NJ blackjack sites

New Jersey’s top online casinos are havens for blackjack players. Here’s a look at some of the blackjack variants they offer:

Golden Nugget

• IGT Blackjack: 0.40% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Blackjack Pro: 0.41% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Vegas Blackjack: 0.40% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Side Bet Blackjack: 0.46% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• European Blackjack: 0.59% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.10 minimum bet
• Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.50 minimum bet
• Live Dealer Blackjack: 0.66% House Edge, $5 minimum bet

Tropicana Casino

• Atlantic City Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum
• Single Deck Blackjack: 0.26% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Vegas Downtown Blackjack: 0.39% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Vegas Strip Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum bet

Virgin Casino

• Atlantic City Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum
• Single Deck Blackjack: 0.26% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Vegas Downtown Blackjack: 0.39% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Vegas Strip Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum bet

Caesars Casino

• Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.10 minimum bet
• Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.50 minimum bet
• European Blackjack: 0.59% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Vegas Blackjack: 0.40% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Blackjack Pro: 0.41% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
• Blackjack Pro Micro Limit: 0.41% House Edge, $0.25 minimum bet

Unibet Casino

• Classic 6-Deck Blackjack: 0.46% House Edge
• NextGen Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge
• Atlantic City Multi-hand BlackjackPro: 0.36% House Edge
• Atlantic City Single-hand BlackjackPro: 0.36% House Edge
• Blazing 7s Blackjack: 0.67% House Edge
• Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge
• Super Fun 21 Extreme: 1.4% House Edge
• Zappit Blackjack: 1.15% House Edge

PA blackjack sites

Pennsylvania casinos can only run blackjack games under a set of rules specified by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). That means blackjack pays 3:2, the dealer stands on soft 17, players can double down on any two cards, split up to three hands and double down after splits. Plus, late surrender is allowed. All this lowers the house edge to 0.40%.

The top three PA online casinos have the following blackjack games running with PGCB rules:

BetMGM

• Standard Blackjack

DraftKings Casino

• DraftKings Blackjack
• DraftKings Classic Blackjack
• DraftKings Pride Blackjack
• DraftKings Multihand Blackjack
• DraftKings Christmas Blackjack
• Live Dealer Blackjack
• Live Dealer Infinite Blackjack

Caesars Casino

• Live Dealer Blackjack
• Live Dealer Infinite Blackjack
• Classic Blackjack

WV blackjack sites

West Virginia casinos run blackjack games under standard rules which include blackjack paying 3:2, dealers standing on soft 17, and players having the ability to split doubles.

The top two online casinos in the state, BETMGM and DraftKings Casino, run a variety of blackjack games under these rules. In fact, DraftKings may offer several different blackjack titles in WV, but most are just classic versions of the game with different graphics and themes.

Sweepstakes casino blackjack

Two of the most popular Sweepstakes Casinos available to players all across the US offer blackjack: Chumba Casino and FunzPoints.

Sweepstakes Casinos like this let you play online blackjack even in states that have yet to legalize online casinos. They do this by operating under federal sweepstakes laws. It works because they only let you play with two different virtual currencies, not cash. One currency has no cash value, and while the other does, you can’t buy it.

In fact, there are only three ways you can get it: Contact the Sweepstakes Casinos to get it for free. Win it in a free contest though the Sweepstakes Casino’s social media account. Or, get it free when you buy some of the other virtual currency that can’t be traded in for cash.

Once you have some these Sweeps Coins or FunzPoints you can use them to play blackjack online at Chumba Casino and FunzPoints and redeem any you win or have left over for cash. Chumba and Funzpoints feature classic versions of online blackjack with graphics, animations and sounds that enhance the player experience.

Most games start with minimums as low as one Sweeps Coin or a single Funzpoint.

The different variations include:

• Progressive Blackjack featuring a progressive side bet jackpot.
• Blackjack Surrender offering the option to surrender and paying out all seven card hands.
• Spanish 21 with 6-8 decks, no tens, the surrender rule, and player 21 wins.
• Pontoon with Spanish 21 rules and a minimum hand of 15.
• Blackjack Switch played with two hands, card switching and dealer bust on 23.

Online blackjack variations

Different blackjack games have different rules and many of these rules have a major impact on the house edge.

Things like the number of decks in the shoe, what blackjack pays, and the dealer rule for hitting or standing on soft 17 all have an impact on how player-friendly a particular blackjack game is. As do the rules for doubling down, splitting, and surrender.

Each can push the house edge up or down up to 1.4%.

What that means is you should steer clear of blackjack games with house-friendly rules like:

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• Blackjack paying 6:5
• Dealer hitting on soft 17
• No doubling after splitting
• Doubling down on certain hands only
• No surrender
• No re-splitting aces

Here’s a look at some of the rules for a group of the most popular online blackjack variations you’ll find at online casinos across the US:

Single-Deck Blackjack

• House Edge: 0.26%
• Impactful Rules: One-deck shoe, Dealer stands on soft 17

Atlantic City Blackjack

• House Edge: 0.36%.
• Impactful Rules: Dealer stands on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split 10,J,Q, or K up to three times, Late surrender

Vegas Strip Blackjack

• House Edge: 0.36%.
• Impactful Rules: Four-deck shoe, Dealer stands on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split 10,J,Q, or K up to three times

Vegas Downtown Blackjack

• House Edge: 0.39%.
• Impactful Rules: Two-deck shoe, Dealer hits on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split pairs

Vegas Blackjack

• House Edge: 0.40%.
• Impactful Rules: Dealer stands on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split 10,J,Q, or K only once

PGCB Blackjack

• House Edge: 0.40%.
• Impactful Rules: Dealer stands on soft 17, Blackjack pays 3:2, Double down on any two cards, Surrender

What should I look for in an online blackjack casino?

Not all the online casinos that offer blackjack are built the same. If blackjack is your game and the primary reason you’re looking to sign up for an account with an online casino is so you can play blackjack, you should look for an online casino that truly caters to your wants and needs.

Try using the following criteria and asking some of the following questions to help you choose:

• Blackjack variations: The more the merrier and the lower the house edge the better.
• Bonuses and promotions: Every online casino has bonuses, but how low are the wagering requirements attached and does blackjack count 25% or more towards meeting them?
• Mobile games / apps: Every online casino has a mobile app, but how many mobile blackjack variations do the apps have?
• Live dealer games: Are there live dealer blackjack games so I can enjoy the live blackjack experience online?
• Legal and regulated: Is this online casino in a state where online casinos are legal and I can turn to state regulators for help if something goes wrong? Is my money safe, or could this illegal offshore operation fold up overnight locking up my cash?
• Customer support: Does this online casino have 24-hour phone or online support or will I have to deal with a bunch of unanswered emails if I have a problem?

Live dealer online blackjack casinos

The online casinos in Michigan, NJ and PA have brought together the best of both the live casino and online casino blackjack worlds for live dealer online blackjack games. Live dealer online blackjack games are also headed to Michigan in 2021.

It’s real dealers using real cards on real tables in front of cameras inside a real-life casino studio. Then, the online casinos broadcast the games live and you can bet online using a graphic interface.

It really is a live and online blackjack hybrid that involves the best aspects of both games: The speed and accuracy of online wagering and the trustworthiness and transparency of real people using real casino equipment in a live casino.

Live dealer blackjack games are a little more social as well, allowing you to chat in real time with the dealer and other players. The popularity of live dealer online blackjack games is growing every day alongside the list of online casinos offering the games.

Should you count cards?

You may already be aware that while counting cards isn’t against the law, live casinos seriously frown upon the activity and reserve the right to ban players caught doing it.

However, online casinos really don’t mind if you try. That’s because most online blackjack games employ a continuous shuffle process that renders the count worthless. Plus, even those that don’t are really only using half of the cards in a shoe, making it very difficult to keep count or take advantage in any way.

Card counting works on the idea that playing with a shoe holding a higher percentage of high cards gives you an edge. You keep track of the number of high cards left in the shoe and increase your bet when it’s high enough to give you that edge.

Card counters worried that increasing the bet might top off dealers and pit bosses signal in team members to take advantage of a favorable count instead.

While you don’t really have to worry about that online, there’s enough other things in the way to make card counting difficult to impossible.

Single Deck Blackjack games might be the best to count, but by the time the count is in your favor, it’s almost always time to shuffle up again and too late to take full advantage.

Blackjack Strategy Basics: How a Typical Hand is Played Out

Blackjack tables have spaces for up to 7 players. Your objective is to beat the dealer, there are three ways to do this:

• Have a total closer to 21 than the dealer does when the hand is competed
• Get dealt a ‘blackjack’ (picture card or 10 with an ace) when the dealer does not have one
• Have a live hand when the dealer busts by hitting 22 or more.

Here is how a hand works in the most common (US) blackjack variation.

• Each player must place a bet before they are dealt into a hand.
• The dealer deals two cards to each player face up
• The dealer deals herself one card face up and one face down
• If the dealers ‘hole card’ is an ace, they will offer insurance to the players against a dealer blackjack (see below for more on this bet).
• The dealer will now ‘peek’ at the hidden card when a 2-card blackjack is possible, if they hit this then the hand ends. All players not getting a blackjack (which is a push) will lose their bet.
• Each player now chooses whether to stand on their current total, hit, double down (add an additional bet) or split their cards. In some games a surrender option, returning half of the bet, is also offered.
• If any player goes over 21, their hand is dead – and their bet is lost.
• Play continues until all players have either busted or stood on their current total.
• The dealer then turns over her hidden card. She will hit or stand depending on the specific rules of the game. For example, standing on a hard 17 or over and hitting on soft 17 or under.
• If the dealer does not bust, then her score is compared to those of each player to determine who wins, loses and where there is a push.

In blackjack, aces can count as either 1 or 11. You will hear ‘Soft 17’ (for example) when the dealer has an ace plus a 6. If the next card is a 4, you can revert to counting the ace as 11 – making your total a 21. If you get a 10-value card, then your hand becomes a ‘Hard 17’

Your Decisions Explained: Stand, Hit, Double or Split

There is an optimal blackjack strategy for each combination of your cards’ total and the dealer’s up-card. While there are small differences depending on the number of decks in use and the specific rules on splitting and doubling down – understanding ‘basic strategy’ will keep the casino house edge very low.

A strategy card will show you the exact strategy for each combination. Below are the basics to keep in mind.

When to Hit: You’ll be hitting most of the time when dealer has a high probability of making a total between 17 and 21 and you have 16 or under. When the dealer shows a picture card, ace or two, you will almost always hit. If the dealer has a 3, 4, 5 or 6 showing, they have a higher probability of busting. This means you won’t hit as often when you have a chance to bust yourself.

When to Stand: Any time you have a hard 17 or better, your best strategy is to stand. If the dealer shows a middle card (especially a 5 or 6), there are many spots where you will stand with a hand between 12 and 16. In most games, the best strategy with a soft 17 is to hit.

When to Double: Doubling, or Doubling Down, involves placing an extra bet equal to your initial wager on a hand. You are then dealt one more card. Rules vary on when you are allowed to do this. The ideal situation is when you have 9, 10 or 11 in your total, and the dealer shows a middle card.

When to Split: When your cards are identical (for example a pair or 10’s), your choice is between standing and splitting. If you split, you need to place an extra wager – effectively playing 2 hands. You now play these hands individually, hitting, standing, splitting or doubling down. The ideal time to split is with 2 high cards against a dealer middle card. You’ll usually stand with 20 if the dealer shows a picture card.

When to Surrender: Some games have an optional surrender. This allows you to ditch a terrible hand (for example 16) against a dealer picture card. You’ll pay half of your initial bet to surrender.

Types of Blackjack Game and Blackjack Variations

There are two main ‘core’ blackjack games, plus 100’s of variations which include side-bets and novelty games based on the original concept.

Here are the two main variations:

• US Blackjack: This was described in the typical hand above. The dealer takes two cards at the start of the hand and will ‘peek’ at the hidden card when a blackjack is possible.
• European Blackjack: The dealer only gets one card at the start of the hand. After all the players have completed their actions, the dealer takes another card. This means you won’t know whether the dealer has a blackjack until the end of the hand, which does affect your strategy.

Here are some of the other common real money blackjack variations you’ll find on casino floors and in online casinos:

• Double Deck / Single Deck: Usually reserved for the high rollers, these games use just 1 or 2 decks instead of the usual 6 to 8.
• Spanish 21: This variation removes the 10’s (though not the picture cards) from the deck, leaving 48 cards in each deck.
• Free Bet Blackjack: You can get a free bet token to double or split in this game. To balance, if the dealer hits 22, winning player hands are considered a push.
• Blackjack Switch: Here you get dealt 2 hands and can swap the cards between them to hit the best possible score.
• Pontoon: This game originated in the UK. It has similar rules, though uses different terms including ‘Stick’ and ‘Twist’.

Online Blackjack Side Bets

Blackjack does not have the possibilities of huge wins compared to casino poker games like Let It Ride and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. To balance this, many casinos offer side bets. These are optional bets, and the stakes don’t need to match the main bet in many circumstances. For example, you can bet $25 per hand in the main game, with an optional $5 side bet.

Popular options are ‘Perfect Pairs’, where you can win based on hitting a pair as your hole cards, with bigger payments for suited aces – or ‘Blazing 777’s’ which pays big prizes with 3 7’s as your first 3 cards.

Keep in mind that side bets have a higher house edge than the main game. Some live casino side bets have progressive jackpots.

What is the house edge on blackjack?

The best blackjack games have a tiny house edge. This can be under 1% with the right mix of rules. Ideal games have as few decks as possible – the dealer should hit on soft 17, liberal rules including the ability to split and resplit, and to double down after splitting – plus a surrender option.

Most regular blackjack games have a house edge of around 2% to 3%. This assumes you are making ‘perfect’ decisions in line with the strategy card of the game you are playing.

A common change in live casinos is to pay 6:5 instead of 3:2 on a player blackjack. This increases their long-term house edge by almost 2%. The smallest stakes games rarely have the ideal rules these days, though if you are playing $50+ per hand (live) then you’ll be able to find games with a lower house edge.

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Blackjack Card Counting and Advantage Play

While card counting is not against the law, casinos will quickly ban players caught doing this.

The concept is simple, that a deck with more high cards as a proportion of the total is more favorable for the player. With enough high cards, the house edge can become positive for the players. Card counters employ different methods of keeping track of the cards dealt. When the count becomes positive, they increase their bet size significantly – taking advantage of the house edge.

The problem with this strategy is that going from $5 to $500 bets is very obvious to the dealers and pit bosses. While the MIT blackjack team had a signaling method in the famous movie, casinos are aware of this too – making counting very difficult.

There is nothing to stop you increasing your bet size online. To counter card counting, the games only use half of the cards in an 8-deck shoe. This makes getting a ‘true count’ very difficult. The count (whether you count high or low cards) is always divided by the number of remaining decks to account for variance in the spread of the high / low cards. Single or Double Deck games are ideal for counting – though in live casinos these games will be the most closely watched.

Casino revenue

Data from the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), confirms blackjack is a popular and profitable table game in Nevada casinos.

Though other table games have emerged in the 21st century, the blackjack win amount recorded by Nevada casinos has been around $1.1 billion annually. External factors, such as novelty table games and general economics, certainly impact blackjack revenue. Even still, data since 2000 shows blackjack has been a consistent profit source.

A sharp increase in revenue from baccarat, a table game popular among super-high rollers, has put blackjack in the No. 2 spot in the annual revenue category since 2009. This was a distinct and defining year for Las Vegas gaming revenue. It marked a national recession and the long-awaited opening of City Center. This new venue included two major casinos, Aria and Cosmopolitan.

Even though Nevada baccarat revenue surpassed blackjack revenue by more than $100 million in 2015, the annual win amount from craps was just a fraction of blackjack’s. Nevada casinos earned about $383 million from craps in 2015 compared to $1.09 billion from blackjack.

Blackjack across the US

Nearly every casino in the United States that offers table games offers blackjack.

Since this statement does not hold true for craps or roulette, it’s a testament to the game’s popularity and understanding among players and regulators alike.

Florida

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Florida, for example, is an emerging gaming destination and jurisdiction. For the time being, a compact between Florida’s Native American tribes and the state government limits the presence of non-poker table games to tribal casinos. That exclusivity makes casino-resort properties like the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood one of the most lucrative in North America. The South Florida casino is home to over 100 table games and dozens of active blackjack tables at peak hours.

California

On the other coast, California has its take on the game of 21. In the 1980s, to get legislators and regulators to agree on the expansion of table games (mainly poker), card rooms began offering the game but only if non-licensees banked them. The California system stems from the acceptance of parimutuel wagering. (California is home to dozens of racetracks like the famous Santa Anita, which opened in 1934.)

California’s regulatory limitations require all wagering competitions to be parimutuel forces players to wager against each other. They do not wager directly against the house. State-sponsored card rooms and racetracks make money by taking a structured percentage out of the prize pool. The take is based on the total amount wagered.

To allow blackjack in a parimutuel-only gaming environment, the game in California is “banked” by other players. It can also be banked by a “corporation” that provides the service to the casino full time — a fee collected from each player before every hand goes directly to the casino. It is separate from the wagers (and subsequent wins and losses) on the table. It’s effectively an ante required to be dealt into a round of blackjack.

Oklahoma

Charging a fee to play a hand of blackjack is not unique to California. In Oklahoma, tribal casinos collect what is commonly referred to as an “ante” (as opposed to “commission”). This equates to 50 cents from each player before every hand. At Winstar World Resort in Thackerville, just across the Texas-Oklahoma border, dealers collect blackjack antes 24/7 on one of the biggest casino floors in the country.

Other venues

Though gaming laws vary from state to state, one is never too far away from a live blackjack table. Outside of Nevada and Atlantic City, blackjack players can find favorable gaming conditions in the Midwest and Gulf Coast. Riverboat and tribal casinos in Missouri, Mississippi and Louisiana have been hotspots for decades.

Not all blackjack is created equal

To many players, blackjack is still blackjack no matter the rules or how it is dealt. Unfortunately, this perception is untrue.

Blackjack is a game where the host determines the conditions. Minor variants are common between casinos and even within the same casino. For players, it’s imperative to identify how the specific rules and/or paying a commission affect the overall game.

Some conditions are the result of legal regulation. Others are simply a mechanism to adjust the house advantage and, therefore, hold and win percentages.

Blackjack, the event of getting dealt a two-card 21 pays 3:2 or 1.5-to-1 on a wager. Sadly for players, 6:5 or 1.2-to-1 blackjack is a rapidly increasing occurrence.

One might wrongly assume 6:5 payouts exist only to offer single-deck games. Unfortunately, there are properties in Downtown Las Vegas that offer 6:5 shoe games — and eight-deck shoe games to boot. Avoid these games.

For the time being, plenty of authentic 3:2 games can be found within a short walk of a blasphemous 6:5 shoe game. On a positive note, the 6:5 trend seems to be concentrated in certain markets, like Las Vegas. Thankfully, it’s not a sweeping trend across the world.

FAQ

Which online casino has the best blackjack games?

With almost two dozen blackjack games available, BetMGM in New Jersey really is the best online blackjack casino in the US.

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The blackjack titles list includes:

• Multi Hand Blackjack
• BetMGM blackjack pro
• BetMGM Blackjack Pro sp
• Blackjack fortune spinner pro
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• borgata blackjack pro
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• Perfect Blackjack Pro
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• PARTYCASINO BLACKJACK PRO
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• First Person Blackjack
• Blackjack
• Blackjack Xchange
• Multi-hand blackjack; and
• Multi-hand Blackjack Pro

For those not in New Jersey, Chumba Casino represents a pretty good alternative. It’s available all over the country and boasts the following list of blackjack titles:

• Progressive Blackjack
• Blackjack Surrender
• Spanish 21
• Pontoon
• Blackjack Switch

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Which blackjack game offers the lowest house edge?

Single-Deck Blackjack has the best odds of any casino game in the country, not just blackjack, but all casino games. The house edge is a paltry 0.26%. The fact just one deck is used instead of six or eight is the difference maker, but the dealer standing on soft 17 helps too.

Is three card poker better than blackjack?

Three Card Poker is a bit of a blackjack alternative. It’s you against the dealer in an effort to try to make the better three-card poker hand. Unfortunately, the 3.07% house edge makes it a pretty poor alternative to the many blackjack variants that boast less than a 1% house edge.

Three Card Poker can be fun, but you’ve got a better chance of winning playing blackjack.

Is online blackjack rigged?

No, online blackjack isn’t rigged. The game appears at state licensed online casinos who rigorously test every game for fairness. Online blackjack uses a computerized random number generator to determine the outcome of each hand and state regulators test these too.

The truth is that online blackjack games have a house edge, which means online casinos are going to make money off you playing over the long haul. Since you’re basically giving them your money by playing they have no reason to try to steal it.

Can blackjack be beaten?

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Theoretically no. However, the low house edge means you’re going to lose less playing blackjack over the long haul than most other casinos games.

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Of course, you can get lucky in the short term and beat the game. Or, you can play perfectly and take advantage of various bonuses, promotions, and even dealer mistakes to beat the game.