BEST ONLINE CASINOS TO PLAY BLACKJACK ONLINE
As one of the most popular card games, you will never struggle to find an online casino that lets you play online blackjack. However, some will give you a better variety of blackjack games. Some online casinos offer great free online blackjack games, while others focus on live casino variations of the classic card game. In some cases, you will get the best of both worlds.
Below are the online casinos we believe offer the best overall selections of blackjack games:
Best UK Blackjack Casinos
Best Canada Blackjack Casinos
Best New Zealand Blackjack Casinos
Best Australia Blackjack Casinos
Best South Africa Blackjack Casinos
Other Blackjack Casinos Accepting Players Worldwide
Best Crypto-Friendly Blackjack Casinos
BEST LIVE ONLINE CASINO BLACKJACK GAMES
The best free blackjack games offer an excellent opportunity to learn the rules and hone your skills. However, it's important to remember that you won't win any real money when playing for free. If you're looking to make actual profits, you have two main options: switch to the real money version of the game or try live online blackjack. In our opinion, live online blackjack provides the best overall experience, offering a range of high-quality games you can start playing immediately.
Here are some of our top recommendations for those of you who want to play Blackjack online in a live format:
ONE Blackjack (Pragmatic Play)
If you're seeking an exceptional online Blackjack game, look no further than ONE Blackjack from Pragmatic Play Live. The games are played from a single seat - the same for all other players. All players play the same hand but make their own decisions. This ensures players no longer queue and will see more cards per hour than usual. Plus, players could land up to 2,000x their stake thanks to some new side bets!
Lightning Blackjack (Evolution)
Another great option to play Blackjack online is Evolution's Lightning Blackjack. This blackjack variation comes with random multipliers, which means as long as you pay the 'Lightning' fee, you're guaranteed to win between 2x and 25x from a winning hand.
Infinite Blackjack (Evolution)
Infinite Blackjack is similar to ONE BLackjack from Pragmatic Play. It offers unlimited seating and a variety of lucrative side bets. While we often suggest avoiding side bets in online Blackjack, when you can win at the odds offered in these blackjack games, they're probably worth playing now and again.
Other live games to consider when playing online at casinos:
- Free Bet Blackjack (Evolution)
- Speed Blackjack (Pragmatic Play)
- Super Stake Blackjack (Stakelogic Live)
- Quantum Blackjack (Playtech)
- Blackjack Party (Evolution)
FREE ONLINE BLACKJACK GAMES VS REAL MONEY BLACKJACK
The obvious difference between free online Blackjack and real money blackjack is that you play using a demo mode on the free version. If you play a demo version at an online casino, you are essentially playing the real money version of the game but using 'play blackjack online money', which means your chips are play money, i.e., they do not convert to cash. As the odds and rules are the same, it is a great way to practice your blackjack decision-making and learn to implement/memorize basic strategy charts to maximize your winning potential. It also helps to minimize your losses when you lose.
Most virtual blackjack tables offer a demo game during your online casino journey, but live dealer blackjack tables generally do not have free Blackjack play options. For example, Pragmatic Play Live, Evolution, Ezugi, Vivo Gaming, and Playtech Live games do not offer free blackjack demo game modes. However, there is an exception. TVBet offers live online blackjack tables that you can play for free using a demo mode.
WHAT IS BLACKJACK?
Blackjack is a classic casino card game requiring a minimum of a dealer and a player. The lion’s share of the casino floor is dominated by blackjack tables in land-based casinos. Also, you will find online blackjack games played as live dealer games or virtual tables available for desktop and mobile gameplay.
The idea is to win even-odds payouts on your bets by beating the dealer’s hand with a higher total combined value of your cards without your points tally going over 21. You can win 3/2 on your wager if you win with a ‘Blackjack’ hand, which is two cards with a combined value of 21.
Depending on the table setup, you can bet from a single seat or place bets from multiple seats. The role of the dealer is to control a shoe holding 1 to 8 decks of cards, while the part of blackjack players is to place bets to initiate a betting round. You then choose from several available decisions, the most common of which are hit or stand. The other options that may present themselves are ‘double’, ‘split’, or ‘surrender’ until you finally ‘stand’ or your hand is ‘bust’.
You will find many blackjack game variations when playing real money or free blackjack online. The house edge, a.k.a. Return to Player, can change depending on the rules. On average, online blackjack game titles come with a house edge of 0.05% and an RTP of 95.5%. However, you will only manage this percentage if you play the correct ‘Basic Blackjack Strategy’.
BASIC STEPS WHEN PLAYING REAL MONEY OR FREE ONLINE BLACKJACK GAMES
You probably know the game's basic rules if you have played blackjack before. However, if you're new to the game or want a quick refresh, playing a hand of blackjack follows the following steps:
- Get Dealt Cards: You and the dealer are each dealt two cards. Your first two cards are usually face-up, while the dealer has one face-up and one face-down.
- Calculate Your Hand Value: Add the combined value of your two cards to determine your hand's total value. Number cards are worth their face value, face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) are worth 10, and Aces can be worth 1 or 11.
- Decide to Hit or Stand: You can choose to "hit" (take another card) to get closer to 21 or "stand" (keep your current hand) based on your hand value and strategy. You should also consider the dealer's revealed card.
- Dealer Reveals Hand: The dealer reveals their face-down card.
- Dealer's Turn: The dealer must follow specific rules. They usually must hit until they have a total of 17 or more. Some blackjack variations have different rules.
- Determine the Winner: Compare the combined value of your hand to what the dealer holds. If your hand is closer to 21 without going over, you win. If the dealer busts (goes over 21), you win. If your total is the same as the dealer's, it's a push (a tie).
- Collect Winnings: If you win, you receive a payout. If you lose, the casino collects your bet. In the case of a tie, you get your stake back.
- Play the Next Hand: If you wish to continue playing, place your bet for the next hand and repeat the process.
Of course, the game is more nuanced than the above, but those are the basic steps. Additionally, the steps may change in different variations of the game. For instance, some blackjack games let you place side bets, while other live tables may have random multipliers and bonus rounds.
You can learn blackjack rules in more detail via our 'How to Play Blackjack: Rules and Tips' and Blackjack Odds, Probabilities and House Edge' guides. Plus, you can discover how basic blackjack strategy works in our 'Winning with Blackjack Strategies: Basic Strategy Charts and Betting' overview.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF BLACKJACK?
Blackjack has been around for quite a while and has now evolved into the popular blackjack online titles we so quickly have access to today via the Web.
The Blackjack game itself is the evolution of a game called “twenty-one,” believed to have been invented sometime in the 17th century. It should be noted that the 17th century was the first time this game of luck was mentioned in writing by Miguel de Cervantes, the famous Spanish author. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the game hadn’t been around for a while.
In the 18th century, the term blackjack game was introduced to French casinos, known as “Vingt-et-un” or “twenty-one.” It became a very popular game.
At one point, a player would receive a special bonus if they had a black (spade or club) ‘royal Jack’ card and an ace of spades as the other card. This blackjack game style is where the name of the game originates, even though, over the years, this rule was dropped.
Today, you can play several blackjack variants, some good and some not-so-good. An example of not-so-good is tables that pay 6-5 for a Blackjack hand – a style of the game you should avoid at all costs. As for the good games, check out games like Free Bet Blackjack that give you free double and split bets.
HOW TO PLAY STANDARD OR CLASSIC ONLINE BLACKJACK GAMES
Whether you play online blackjack or in a land-based casino, the key objective is to beat the dealer's hand with a higher point total without your hand going over 21. You also beat the dealer if your hand is still in play, and the dealer's total exceeds the 21-point limit and is 'bust'.
Cards are assigned points based on their number, with suit and color having no effect. Thus, a 2 of spades is worth the same value of 2 points, just as a 2 of hearts is worth 2 points. Face cards all have a value of 10 points, other than the Ace, which is worth 11 points or 1 point, depending on your other cards. A combination of an Ace and a 10-point card is an automatic win dubbed a "natural" blackjack.
Standard blackjack starts with you placing a wager and being dealt two cards, and the dealer receives either one face-up card or two cards, one shown and one hidden, depending on the style of the game.
You can then hit or stand. When you hit, you receive additional free cards to enhance your hand's value. Just be careful, as if you hit and are dealt a card that takes your hand value above 21, you automatically lose. The other option, at this point, is to stand. This is sticking with your current hand value and hoping the dealer fails to match or beat it or, better yet, goes bust.
If the dealer's revealed card has a value of 10 points and, once you've decided to stand, you discover the dealer has blackjack, you will lose unless you also have blackjack. If you both have 21 points, it's considered a draw, and you will receive your bet back.
SPLITTING A HAND IN BLACKJACK
When you split your hand, you create two hands with 1 card. For example, if you're holding two aces, you can break them into two separate hands. You will also need to add a bet equal to the amount of your first bet to the new hand. Depending on the rules of the online blackjack variant you are playing, you may only be able to receive one more card for each hand. On other game versions, you can play both as if they were regular hands. Furthermore, some variants allow you to split multiple times, while others only allow you to split once.
DOUBLING DOWN WHEN YOU PLAY ONLINE BLACKJACK
The rules for doubling down are different from table to table. Some tables allow you to 'double' on any total and others on 9, 10 or 11. When you double, you must place an amount equal to your original bet on the table. Next, the dealer will add one more card to your hand, and your hand will automatically stand.
The rules to double down after a split can also vary. On NDAS tables, this means 'no doubles after split', while on DAS tables, this means 'Doubles after split'.
THE INSURANCE BET
When the dealer's face-up card is an ace, you can make an insurance bet worth 50% of your original bet. Therefore, if the dealer wins with 21 blackjack from 2 cards, you get your insurance bet paid back plus 50%, which covers the loss of your main bet. However, this bet is known as the 'fools' bet in the blackjack world because the dealer's chance of missing the 21-blackjack hand is far greater than the dealer hitting it.
THE BLACKJACK SURRENDER RULE
In some variations of blackjack, you have the option to surrender after you receive your cards. The house will return 50% of your bet. There are two types of surrender: 'early surrender' and 'late surrender'. The latter negates your opportunity to 'surrender' if the dealer has a natural blackjack hand.
VARIATIONS WHEN YOU PLAY BLACKJACK ONLINE
You can play live dealer or virtual (RNG) versions of the game when playing online blackjack at online casinos. With virtual (RNG) blackjack, the dealer is a computer, which means the cards are generated randomly using an RNG (Random Number Generator), and there is no time limit between hands. You can play free blackjack games via a demo version on many RNG titles, which is only sometimes possible when playing live games.
With live blackjack games, a real person (human dealer) shuffles the cards and deals them manually. As a result, the live versions do not produce computer-generated results. There is also a timer of around 20 to 30 seconds between each betting round. The idea of live blackjack games is to give players an authentic land-based casino game experience streamed via webcam to mobile and/or desktop devices. To add authenticity, you can place your virtual chips directly onto the felts of a real-life blackjack table housed within a specially built land-based live casino studio.
EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN BLACKJACK
In European blackjack, the dealer draws a single card and places it face-up on the table. The dealer draws another card after you complete your hand.
Conversely, in American-style blackjack, the dealer receives two cards, one placed face-up while the other remains face-down. If the card that can be seen is an ace, the dealer checks the second, hidden card. If it has a value of 10, the dealer reveals the card to complete blackjack. If the card has another value, the gameplay continues, and the dealer reveals the hidden card at the end of the round.
RNG VARIATIONS OF BLACKJACK
There are quite a few different types of blackjack variations, with a varying number of dealer and/or player rules. To find the best online blackjack table for you, here are a few examples of the various table variants available. However, remember that a casino will always ensure the rules are in their favor.
Blackjack Switch
In Blackjack Switch, you play two hands at the same time. You may swap the second card you receive between your two hands to increase your chance of winning. If the dealer's cards add up to 22, the game is considered a draw, and you receive your bet back. This is unlike classic blackjack, where you would win. Also, in this version of the game, the payout is 1:1 rather than 3:2, which is the norm for the standard rules.
Vegas Strip
In Vegas Strip, four decks of cards are used. You're allowed to split a pair of aces, but only once. However, you do have the option to double down on any two cards. If you do split, though, you will lose your insurance.
Once you've split two cards, you can only double your bet if the split was done between two aces. If you get 21 after splitting, the rules don't consider it a blackjack. Furthermore, if you split two aces, you'll only be dealt one more card, with no option to receive another.
Double Exposure Blackjack
With Double Exposure Blackjack, both dealer cards are placed face-up, making it easier for the player. However, there are other rules involved that make up for this player's advantage. Thus, if you tie in with the dealer, you will lose. Furthermore, the payout for a natural blackjack is only 1:1. Finally, you only have the option to split a single time.
Perfect Pairs
In Perfect Pairs, the standard rules apply. However, you can also make a perfect pairs side bet. You win only if the first two cards you are dealt create a pair. You will win more money if the pair features the same color or the cards are the same suit.
BLACKJACK STRATEGIES, RULES AND TIPS
Once you learn and understand blackjack rules, you will realize they are straightforward. That said, learning to maximize your winnings when playing online is a whole different ball game. Below, you'll learn how to play and what you need to do to become a winning blackjack player.
HOW BASIC BLACKJACK STRATEGY WORKS
Blackjack strategy requires the same bankroll management and bet sizing principles as any other casino game. However, the game has a deeper strategic side to maximize your winnings. This requires using a 'basic blackjack strategy', and here is why. When you see a house edge advertised as 0.05%, you 'can' win 99.5% of the time in the long run. Yet, you will only achieve this percentage if you have played the perfect 'basic strategy'. It is what will give you an advantage over other players.
The basic strategy is a collection of charts that map out whether to play a 'surrender', 'hit', 'stand' or 'split' decision-based on the dealer's face-up card and your hand total. These charts use mathematics to determine the highest percentage of you winning. Following the instructions, you will play a perfect game according to the house edge.
Another point worth noting is there are different types of blackjack games out there, and you will need the correct basic strategy chart to suit that game. The game's flow is the same on every table, but casinos have flexibility over the rules they can use. For example, different charts are depending on the following:
- how many decks are the shoes
- whether the dealer stands or hits on soft 17 (S17 Vs. H17)
- whether you can double down after splits (NDAS or DAS)
For more information about blackjack strategies, we advise you to read our blackjack strategy charts article.
CARD COUNTING
Blackjack card counting is no longer possible in land-based or online casinos. If you try to count cards, you'll probably find yourself escorted out. It is incredibly ineffective on virtual blackjack (RNG) tables. It is a method used to determine how many ten cards are left in the deck and heavily relies on the blackjack dealer not shuffling the shoe. All dealers now do this regularly, specifically to throw off the card counter. If you apply this to virtual RNG blackjack games, these games use a 'constant shuffle' mode, making it impossible to count cards.
ONLINE BLACKJACK FAQs
How does blackjack work?
Blackjack tables require a dealer and a shoe of cards. The blackjack shoe can hold between 1 to 8 decks. You will receive two cards that will go up against the dealer's hand. You then either stick with these two cards or 'hit' for more cards to reach a total of 21. The idea is to beat the dealer's total without exceeding 21.
How to play blackjack online?
Before playing the best free blackjack games or at the tables for real money, you must understand how many points each card is worth. Next, learn how to use the different decision-making tools, i.e., 'stand', 'hit', 'double', 'split' or 'surrender'. After this, it's all about playing the game and effectively gaining experience using these decision-making tools.
How to win at blackjack?
Most blackjack players will tell you the classic casino card game of Blackjack is primarily based on luck, but skill also plays a part. Also, the house edge is slightly weighted in the casino's favour. Commonly, the house has an edge of 08% to 0.5%. However, you can increase your chances of a winning session by using good bankroll management and bet sizing. More importantly, you will maximise your winnings by mastering how to play the game using the correct basic strategy charts.
Can I play blackjack online for free?
Yes. Most virtual RNG blackjack tables have a demo mode that uses play money. In general, live dealer blackjack games do not have a demo mode except for TVBet blackjack tables.
How do online blackjack odds work?
When you win a hand, the standard odds payout is even money 1:1. If you draw with the dealer, this is a push bet, so you get your money back. If you win with a natural blackjack, you receive 3:2. Insurance bets pay 2:1, but this bet is not recommended.
Is online blackjack legal?
Yes. If online gambling is not illegal in your country, then playing Blackjack online is perfectly legal. Free blackjack games are obviously legal in most countries, as you're not wagering real money.
Is blackjack a game of skill?
Blackjack differs from many other casino games. While luck is the determining factor, an element of skill is involved when playing online Blackjack. Blackjack players have control over their actions. That skill is knowing the perfect action to take based on their cards and the dealer's revealed card. Luck can still derail perfect basic strategy, but this strategy works by giving players the best chance of winning.
