How To Play Blackjack Online
So if you're ready to hit the tables online and play some blackjack for real money there's a few things I shouldwarn you about.
How to Play Blackjack for Beginners The goal of reaching 21 is fairly easy to get to grips with, but there are still a few rules you need to know about before you play for real cash.
Because unfortunately it's not that simple.
- About Online Blackjack. Welcome to OnlineBlackjack.com, the most complete guide to online blackjack on the internet. We have been providing blackjack players with recommendations and advice since 1998. Blackjack is, in our humble opinion, simply the best casino game ever invented.
- Then, you must register for the online casino in order to be able to play blackjack online. Keep in mind, in order to play online blackjack, you will need to be of legal gambling age in the state.
If you've never gambled online before, ther's a lot of misinformation on the web so this article is going to go overa few topics so you know exactly what to expect and look for.
There are literally many online casinos worldwide launched on a monthly basis offering glitzy bonuses and promotions all vying for your business.
However for every new casino that's launched, another gets closed down due to being unable to sustain their business.
The nature of this competitive industry unfortunately also leads to operations falling to the dark side and going rogue bycommonly tricking customers with unethical practices such as
- Long delayed payments or non payments altogether
- Devious terms and conditions that catch the customer off guard
- Unfair bonus requirements
So let's look into how to go about avoiding these sticky situations and set some guidelines for finding a reputable and faironline casino.
Selecting Where to Play Blackjack Online
While we can make suggestions on where to play, it's good knowledge to know what to look for especially since casinos regularlymodify their promotions and terms and conditions.
Speaking of terms and conditions, this leads us to the very first thing to look at:
Terms and Conditions
This is the main crux in determining whether a casino is trying to be sneaky. Yes these things are boring to read but itcontains vital information that could save you throwing your hard earned cash in the bin
Things to look out for are:
- Is it poorly written
- Are there unreasonable wage requirements on promotions/bonuses
- Does it take a long time to cash out
- Is there an unreasonable withdrawal limit
- Do they accept players from the country you reside in
Payment Options
A common issue with most casinos (even the reputable ones) is that even though they might allow you to deposit using a certainmethod, you may not be able to withdraw using that same method.
So make sure you understand the cashing out process and what's involved. Common things to find out include are there any fees involved?How long does it take to process a withdrawal?What currencies are accepted?
The best options tend to be through e-wallets such as Skrill or Neteller or cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereumbecause they are fast with no fees. Paypal is also really good however only UK based online casinos accept it.
If you've never used Bitcoin before, we highly recommend reading our guide to find out how. It is by far the safest and most effective payment method for playing at an onlinecasino for US players.
If you are unsure of any of these items, do not be afraid to ask customer support. This will also give you an opportunityto see how responsive and professional their customer support is as well.
Overall Historical Reputation
Just like anything else online, you can easily find reviews of a casino on the web. So as a last point of judgement you canresearch whether a casino has a historical record of providing a fair and professional service to their customers.
I would be wary of playing at any online casino that hasn't been active over at least 5 years regardless of how lucrativetheir promotions might be. As mentioned earlier, it is certainly not an unusual occurrence for a casino to closeup shop and refuse customers access to their funds.
You should also be wary that many websites (including us) are affiliates of casinos and get paid a commission if you chooseto play there. So you should never take a particular website's review at face value and ignore doing the due diligencein researching further into a casino's credibility.
Ok now on to looking at some actual fun stuff!
Depending on which casino you decide to play at, the software that they are powered by is going to determine what your optionsare. It's also quite common for a casino to be powered by multiple software vendors so that their customers haveplenty of options to choose from.
Real Time Gaming, Microgaming and Betsoft tend to have the most RNG blackjack variations but in my opinion playing against a live dealer is the most fun.
My favourite live dealer software is Evolution Gaming and we'll touch on that later in this article.
Mobile Online Blackjack Apps (iOS/Android)
Another sign of a good casino is can they provide a good mobile experience.
A lot of the smaller non reputable casinos use old technology and can not provide a decent mobile experience (if any at all)and rely on oldschool flash on a desktop browser for their site to function.
And when I mean mobile I mean for both Android and iOS devices. Some casinos, for example LeoVegas, go the extra mile andprovide dedicated iOS/Android apps you can install to your device and play online blackjack with real money through.
However there are certainly many reputable casinos that simply allow you to play from version within the browser that doesn'trequire a dedicated app.
The future is now!
We have an entire section on live blackjack but I'll touch on it briefly here. Here's a video of what it looks like
Live blackjack is a relatively new thing at casinos and due to technology advancements in internet speeds, we can now playon a multiplayer table against a physical dealer streamed over video.
It genuinely does simulate a real casino vibe and the social interaction between other players and the dealer really makesfor a fun experience and will make you totally forget about ever playing the RNG tables again.
How To Play Blackjack Online With Friends
The rules generally tend to be:
- Blackjack pays 3:2
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Double any card
- Can not re-split Aces
- No Surrender
- Total Decks - 8
Depending on the casino, there are usually up to 8 seats per table with the option to bet behind other players as well.
Not many casinos are able to provide this yet but here are some notable ones that are leading the pack:
- Bovada - US Only
- Betonline - US Only
- LeoVegas
- William Hill
- 888
- Bet365
Be wary though that it takes a lot of data to stream to mobile so it's highly recommended to be connected to wifi
Online Blackjack Bonuses BEWARE!
Get 100% Sign Up Bonus for a Billion Dollars!!
Ok so I'm exaggeating slightly but EVERY online casino has a sign up bonus of some sort that sounds like they're giving away free cash.
Unfortunately the vast majority of these promotions aren't as lucrative as they sound and even worse, they don't apply verywell to blackjack. That's why it's extremely important to read over the terms and conditions to be clear of thewage requirements
Wage requirements are the amount that you have to wager before being able to cashout on any bonus received.
So let's take for example Royal Vegas has a 100% sign up bonus up to $300 and I deposited $300 to get the maximum $300 bonus.The wage requirement is 50x the bonus which means I will have to wager $15,000 in total before I can withdraw thesebonus funds.
So as you can see, the wage requirement is pretty difficult to meet but here's the worst part, blackjack only contributes2% to the wage requirement!
See https://www.royalvegascasino.com/about-us/terms-and-conditions/
This means that if I were to play blackjack only, I would have to wager a whopping $750,000!
This is because blackjack has a low house edge so the casino would prefer you to play other games (like slots which has 100%contribution to wage requirements) so that your chances of clearing the bonus is significantly less.
Most casinos structure their bonuses like this so if you do choose to play blackjack online do not claim any bonus they offer!
Contrary to what some people may say:
No! Nope! Nup!
The rules are just not conducive to allow for card counting to be effective.
The biggest problem is that the decks are shuffled on too regular a basis so the deck penetration will always be too lowto gain any profit.
Online Blackjack Tournaments
It's quite rare but some casinos do offer online blackjack tournaments (in RNG format) and the way they usually work is eachparticipant starts with a certain amount of chips to start with and are given a time limit to play. At the endof the time limit, the player with the highest amount of chips wins.
Visit our tournament monitor to see when the next upcoming tournmanet is on.
In the United States, gambling online is in a legal gray zone so let’s address any concerns before looking into which casinosallow US players.
First of all, if you are from the US there is no federal law that prohibits you from gambling online and it is completely safe.
However:
The only online casinos that are regulated and legally operated in the United States are those that are located in the statesof New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Now due to the UIGEA, it is currently ILLEGAL for banks to process any online gambling transactions so many online casinos have moved theiroperations offshore.
If you don’t reside in either of the above three states listed then your only option is to play at an offshore online casino.For further clarification, you can read more about US online gambling legislation here.
Is it Legally Safe to Play at an Offshore Casino?
ABSOLUTELY!
Even if you reside in a state that does have a ban on gambling online, law enforcement has historically shown no interestin prosecuting players. And even if they were to action, they would most likely be targeting establishments ratherthan the players themselves.
However what you certainly do need to be mindful of is the reputation of any offshore casino you choose to play at. Sincethey don’t fall under US jurisdiction, there is no telling how well regulated these operations are and if theyare running a fair and serviceable casino.
You are essentially unprotected if for example they were to just close up shop and disappear with your funds.
An example of a casino like this is Lock Poker who went rogue and closed down in 2015. Unable to pay their customers, it is said they owe over $1,000,000 to at least 400 players.
Recommended Casinos
Online Blackjack for US Residents
In our opinion Bovada is by far the best choice available for US residents at the moment (unless you reside in New Jersey,Nevada or Delaware where there are local legally licensed operators). They have the best live dealers and you havethe option to play on mobile too.
Whilst their withdrawal option via check is horrible, they do offer withdrawing via Bitcoin which is super quick and reliable.
The alternative option is Betonline however their reputation took a bit of a hit in 2017 after being accused of cheating
Online Blackjack for UK Residents
Now you guys are spoiled for choice.
My recommendation would be based off any casino that runs Evolution Gaming software because their blackjack live dealers provide the most entertaining experience andare the best at keeping things lively, energetic and interactive.
Reputable big names include - 888 Casino, William Hill, Bwin
Online Blackjack for Canadian Residents
Similar to UK options, I'd go with a casino that runs on Evolution Gaming for the live dealer experience.
The only difference with the Canadian casinos is that there are less options in payment methods. For example, Paypal is widelyaccepted in the UK but not accepted at all in Canada.
So be careful if you're from Canada and you visit a casino that says they accept Paypal, they're referring to their UK customersonly.
Reputable big names include - 888 Casino, LeoVegas, Mr. Green
Blackjack entices and excites millions of people all over the world as a staple at most casinos. It has also made a smooth transition into the world of blackjack online casinos, where playing blackjack online for real money becomes more popular by the day. Our guide to online blackjack will have you covered in every possible way.
Walk into any casino and you’re likely to see a very busy blackjack section. That can be intimidating if you don’t know the rules, the protocol, or even the etiquette of how to play blackjack at a casino, let alone playing blackjack online.
The good news is that it’s not that hard to learn how to play blackjack online, which people sometimes call “21” due to rules of blackjack. Once you learn how to play blackjack online, you’re going to find out that it’s a game that actually provides solid payback to those who play it with the right strategy.
On top of that, playing blackjack online is something you can do from the comfort of your own home. Just settle in with your connected device and play blackjack for real money online.
In our guide to online blackjack, we have sections that will talk about the history of the blackjack and how to play with proper strategy. We’ll also be looking into how you can play blackjack games online for free and for real money. Click on one of the buttons below to get started learning about online blackjack.
The Origins of Blackjack
As is the case with many types of online casino games, there’s no clear path that shows how blackjack began then traveled through the ages. Yet there are some examples in history of games that certainly had an influence on the various types of online blackjack as we know it today.
Depending on your source, you might find Italy, Spain, and France all listed as possible sites where modern blackjack originated. In the case of the Italians, they featured a game where the goal was to reach a value of 31 without going over, which is similar to blackjack. There are references to this game that are over 500 years old.
All of these games had similarities to what we now know as online blackjack, but there were many differences as well. It wasn’t until the 20th century, when casinos took hold in America, did the modern rules of blackjack develop.
As for the name blackjack, well, that came from the early 20th century practice of casinos offering 10 to 1 odds for any hand where 21 was reached with a jack and the ace of spades. Eventually, those rules were fine-tuned to create the version of modern blackjack online we all love today.
How to Play Online Blackjack
When asking someone about how to play blackjack online, you’ll hear many people make the mistake of saying that the goal of blackjack is to have the value of your cards reach as close to 21 as possible without going over. But that’s technically incorrect. The goal of blackjack, which is to win money in return for what you wager, can only be achieved when you beat the dealer.
Keep in mind as we give you these online blackjack basics that there are many different blackjack games, in casinos and on the internet, that have slightly different characteristics. But for the sake of these instructions, we’re going to stick to the most common version of the game as you learn how to play online blackjack.
Blackjack Card Values
First, it’s important to know the point value of each card you can receive in a hand of blackjack online. Let’s take a look.
- Two = 2
- Three = 3
- Four = 4
- Five = 5
- Six = 6
- Seven = 7
- Eight = 8
- Nine = 9
- Ten = 10
- Jack = 10
- Queen = 10
- King = 10
- Ace = 1 or 11
Online Blackjack can be played with just a single gambler at a table against the dealer. Most tables house spots for as many as seven players.
In the case of land-based casinos, the dealer will deal cards to each player from a “shoe,” which is a kind of automatic card dispenser holding multiple decks. Each player receives two cards face up, while the dealer gets one card face up and one face down.
Winning or Losing a Blackjack Hand Online
There are three ways you can win a hand of blackjack.
- End up with a value in your hand higher than the dealer without exceeding 21
- End up with 21 based on the two cards that you’ve dealt before the dealer can make 21 with more than two cards
- Have the dealer go over 21 with the value of his cards
How To Play Blackjack Online Casino
When #1 or #3 occur, you’ll win the value of your bet. If example #2 occurs, which is known as a blackjack, you will be paid off at odds of 3 to 2. A “blackjack” can only occur with an ace (11 points) and a ten, jack, queen, or king (10 points) as the two cards you’re dealt.
In that case, you get your bet back but no real money winnings. That will occur also if you and the online dealer both have blackjack with your two-card deals.
You will lose your online blackjack wager if you end up with a lower point value than the dealer with neither of you going over 21. In addition, you’ll lose if the value of your cards eventually goes over 21, which is known as a bust.
Playing Your Blackjack Hand
When you receive your two cards, you’ll add up their value. For example, if you receive a king and a three, the value is 10 + 3, or 13.
After receiving the two cards, you’ll have several options to complete the hand.
- Hit: You could add to your point total by asking for another card. Keep in mind that you can hit multiple times and keep doing this as long as you don’t go over 21 and bust.
- Stand: You can refuse any other action on your hand and stick with the point total you have. A stand, also sometimes called a stick or a stay, can happen after your two-card deal. Or you can stand at any point after you’ve just hit in a game of online blackjack.
- Split: If you receive two cards with the same point value on the deal, you can split them into two different hands. This requires doubling your original bet. When you split, you’ll receive another card for each of these two new hands then continue to play out the hands in any manner you wish.
- Double: You can double the size of your initial real money blackjack bet for the hand you’re playing. When you do this, you will receive just one more card from the dealer to complete your hand.
- Insurance: This is a separate wager of up to half of your original bet that guards against the dealer having 21 on his first two cards. An insurance bet pays off at 2 to 1.
- Surrender: This allows you to recoup half of your original wager and surrender the other half. You might surrender if you thought you had a poor hand compared to the online blackjack dealer.
Find out more about blackjack surrender and insurance here.
What the Online Blackjack Dealer Does
Once you’ve made your decisions and played out your part of the hand (and all other players at the table have too), the online dealer will complete their hand. The dealer’s only options are to hit and to stay. This process will begin once the dealer flips over the hidden card in their hand.
If the online dealer’s cards add up to less than 17, they must hit. At any point that the dealer’s cards add up to at least 17, they must stay. The dealer could bust as well if their value goes above 21 following a hit, in which case, you would win your hand as long as you haven’t busted yourself.
Keep in mind that the dealer can’t split, double, or do any of the other things open to the player. The dealer gains their advantage in online blackjack from the fact that the players don’t know the value of the hidden card. And the dealer also gets to play last, which means that they can win the hand based on the player’s busting first.
Online Blackjack Strategy and Tips
Blackjack Strategy Charts
When you play blackjack online with proper basic strategy, you greatly increase your chances of winning real money. Basic blackjack strategy is derived from computer simulations which show the ideal plays for every possible deal. This information is crucial when learning how to play blackjack online and winning more often.
These charts recommend whether you should hit, stand, or commit to any of your other options based on the two cards you receive on the deal and what card the dealer has showing. If you can memorize the information on these charts, you can improve your online blackjack odds and decrease the house edge.
Card Counting
Many blackjack players want to go beyond basic blackjack strategy. If you want to take this a step further, you might want to consider learning how to count cards in blackjack.
While counting cards does not always apply to every version of online blackjack, the idea behind card counting is that the gambler’s chances improve once certain cards with lower values have already been played and are out of the deck. By contrast, the dealer’s chances improve when more face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) and tens have been played.
Card counting only improves potential payback slightly and only if you do it right. Casual players might not find much use for learning how to count cards. But it can be a valuable tool for those who plan on making blackjack their regular casino game.
Online Blackjack Bankroll Management
You should also consider bankroll management in online blackjack to be an important part of your strategy. The smartest players know good online blackjack betting strategy and how much of their digital bankroll to devote to a given session. They also know when to call it quits, either because they’ve made a satisfying profit or because they’ve lost a certain amount.
Pick up Some Tips From Our Casino Blogs
Become a more well rounded online blackjack player by picking up some tips and tricks from the world of casino gambling. We have a wide variety of different casino blogs that are often related to playing blackjack online. Find out how to gain an edge over your favorite games today.
Ways to Play Blackjack Online
As we mentioned above, blackjack has become one of the most popular of all online gambling games. You can wager and win real money and enjoy gameplay that’s exactly the same as you would if you were in the casinos. Check out some of your options below.
How To Play Blackjack Online For Real Money
Real Money Online Blackjack
You’ll find no shortage of blackjack online casinos offering up the chance to play blackjack online for real money. These online blackjack casinos often allow you to play the game through a browser, while some others might require a download. In any case, you should always check the rules for each particular online blackjack game to make sure you’re playing with the right strategy.
Blackjack Apps for Real Money
It’s a mobile world these days, and blackjack apps can provide you with the ultimate in gambling convenience. They allow you to play as long as you have a phone, tablet, or another connected device with you. You’ll find that both apps provide blackjack tips, offer free blackjack games, or are tied into blackjack online casinos that allow you to play for real money.
Live Dealer Online Blackjack
How To Play Blackjack Gta Online
Many online blackjack games use simulated dealers that reshuffle the decks after every single deal. But games with live dealers who interact with players online are becoming more and more prevalent. Expert blackjack players prefer this style because card counting can be utilized.
Playing Blackjack Online in the US
Blackjack, for a long time, has been one of the most popular casino games in the United States. Whereas once upon a time that meant you’d have to go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City, that’s not the case anymore.
In the past few decades, most other states in the United States have legalized casino gambling. That means there’s probably a live blackjack table not too far away from where you live waiting for you.
As far as playing blackjack online for real money, that’s a bit trickier. Laws seem to be always changing concerning whether or not blackjack online casinos in the US are okay.
How To Play Blackjack Casino
The most important thing you have to realize as a gambler is that you will not get prosecuted for gambling at blackjack online casinos. Instead, the hosts of the sites are the ones who assume legal responsibility for real money blackjack games.
At worst, you might find that your preferred method of payment is denied as you try to use an online blackjack casino. But since most legal casinos in the United States now have online operations as well, you really shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a real money online blackjack game that takes care of all your gambling needs.
FAQs About Playing Online Blackjack
Can I Play Blackjack Online Without Knowing a Lot of Strategy?
You can definitely play the game of blackjack online even if you don’t know too much about when to hit, when to stand, or any of the other options. And the great thing is that, in a short session, you can still get a lucky streak that can help you overcome your lack of blackjack strategy. But in the long run, you should really try to learn all the right plays if you want to maximize your potential real money winnings.
What Are Some of the Differences Found in Online Blackjack Games?
Depending on where you play, either online or in a casino, the game you find might have slightly different rules for blackjack that can affect play. Differences include:
- The amount of decks in play
- Varying blackjack split rules
- Whether you can double on any two-card deal
- Whether the dealer has to use to stay on a “soft” 17 (one achieved with an ace valued at “11”)
- Whether a reshuffling machine or program is used
These are just a few of the differences you might encounter. Each will have a slight impact on your blackjack odds online and in the casino.
Blackjack card counting is technically not illegal in the sense that you won’t be arrested for it. In the case of land-based casinos, they are within their rights to try to stop you from doing it, either by shuffling the decks more often or simply asking you to leave. You have to know how to be subtle with your counting efforts to avoid this happening to you.
Start Playing Blackjack Online Today
We hope that this blackjack guide will get you started on the road to many hours of gambling enjoyment with this game. You’ll find blackjack games online are not too difficult once you get the hang of it. But more important than that, you’ll start to realize just how lucrative the game of online blackjack can be if you, quite literally, play your cards right.