Top Online Blackjack Casinos

Play Online Blackjack for Real Money

Blackjack can be played online for free or for real money. Playing blackjack for free is the best way for beginners to learn and practice key strategies. A lot of players enjoy playing for free as there are no deposit obligations or need to enter their personal information. They are able to practice and learn with no losses or risks.

There is, however, nothing quite like playing for real money. Playing for real money amps up the stakes and thus makes the game a lot more intensive and exciting. Players will sit in a game knowing that the possibility of winning big is just a decision away. All they need to know is when to make their move and when to stay down.

For Online Blackjack Canada, players can join a table virtually and begin a real money game with other players from far and wide. If they wish to practice first or are a beginner to the game, then rest assured that most online casinos will have the free version for them to utilize before switching over to the real money version. This can be helpful to nervous newcomers as well.

Most Popular Types of Blackjack Games

Because blackjack is so popular, there are multiple variations of the game that have become popular over time. The bigger names include classic blackjack (also known as American blackjack), European blackjack, live b\lackjack, pontoon, Spanish 21, and blackjack switch.

Knowing the variants is important to help you better understand the game you are playing and also will assist in helping you choose what strategy to utilize. Let’s take a closer look at each of the variations.

Classic Blackjack

Classic blackjack, or American blackjack, utilizes a total of eight decks at once. The decks are all shuffled together before hands are played. This is the most traditional type of blackjack, in which the dealer has one card showing and one card hidden while the players make their decisions. The dealer also must hit if they have 16 or fewer, and they must stand if they have 17 or more.

European Blackjack

In this variation, the game uses anywhere from two to six decks at a time. If the dealer has an ace showing, they don’t need to look at their face-down card to see if they have blackjack before everyone plays their hand. Also, players can split just once in the game, while they can split up to three times under Classic rules.

Live Blackjack

The most popular online version is live blackjack. This makes you feel as if you’re right in an actual brick-and-mortar casino instead of playing online. A real person acts as dealer, and you can see the cards as they’re dealt.

Pontoon

In Pontoon, both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face-down, making it more challenging to play. Also, there’s a special “five-card trick” that exists — if a player has a point total of 21 or less with five cards, they win. Plus, the dealer has to hit on soft 17, and a player gets 2:1 if they have blackjack, instead of 3:2 they get in Classic blackjack.

Spanish 21

In this version, all of the 10s have been removed from the decks, reducing the odds of hitting a blackjack significantly. Also, if the player makes it to 21, they will win no matter what hand the dealer has. And you can double down at any time in Spanish 21, and you can even surrender during the hand, if you want. Plus, there are a number of different side-bet payouts you can wager on.

Blackjack Switch

In Blackjack Switch, players will play two hands instead of just one, and they are allowed to swap two of the cards between hands if they want. After the players decide to switch or not, the rest of the hand plays out just like in classic blackjack.

How to play Online Blackjack

To play Blackjack online in Canada for real money, you will need to decide on a wager amount before the cards are dealt. The dealer will then disperse two cards to each person and themselves, but one of their cards will be face-down.

Then, each player decides if they want to hit (get another card), stand, double down (double the bet and get a single extra card), or split your bet (if the two cards are the same, they can be split into two hands, as long as you double your wager).

Once everyone stands or busts (goes over 21), the dealer will then reveal the face-down card and play out their hand. Most of the time, they will need to hit if their point total is 16 or less, and will stand if their total is 17 or higher. Winning requires you to have a total higher than the dealer’s hand while not exceeding a total value of 21.

Rules of Online Blackjack

• The aim is to score as close to 21 as possible while ensuring you have a higher value than the dealer.
• If you get higher than 21, you instantly lose, and it is known as a bust.
• The dealer will have one card face up and one face down.
• An ace can be worth 1 or 11 points, depending on which works in your favour.
• Ten, Jack, Queen, and King equal 10 points each, while cards 2-9 have their face values.
• You can split pairs and separate them, making them two different bets.

Blackjack Popular Terms

• Burn Card: This is when the dealer removes the top card of the deck before dealing.
• Chip Down: This is when you lower your wager from the total you bet in the last hand.
• Chip Up: This is when you increase your wager from the total you bet in the last hand
• Hit: Get another card to try to increase your point total without going over.
• Stand: Don’t take any more cards.

Blackjack winning tips

There are no set ways to win, but there are a few ways to ensure you have the highest possibility.

The first and most important tip is to learn the basic strategies of blackjack - when to hit, when to stand, when to double down, when to split, etc.

Secondly, you’ll want to opt for online blackjack games that give you a higher return to player (RTP) than other games. This will increase your chances of bringing in some big money.

Finally, get some practice in. Play a few free rounds and then try some low-bet rounds to get a feel for the game.

Understanding Blackjack Odds and Payouts

Odds can be complex to understand if you’re new to the game. Simply put, if you get a blackjack, your wager will be paid out at 3:2 odds. This means that you will receive $3 for every $2 you wagered. If the odds are 6:5, then you will receive $6 for every $5 wagered.

For regular wins, they are paid out at even odds, which means you get your wager matched back to you.

Another term you will need to know is “insurance.” This is when a side bet is offered to the player when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. Basically, you place a small wager to see if the dealer has blackjack or not. If you pay for the insurance and they have blackjack, you get to keep half of your total wager. If you pay for it and they don’t have blackjack, you lose your insurance wager. If you don’t pay for it and they have blackjack, you lose your wager.

Most popular online blackjack games providers

At the top of our list is Microgaming. They are the best-known provider, with hundreds of blackjack games available. Their online software comes in seven different options, including a classic and gold series. The gold series has the highest bet limit, which draws in a lot of high-rolling players.

Our second recommendation is NetEnt. They have put a lot of work into ensuring their online blackjack is as authentic as possible. They also offer seven different variations so players have a number of games to choose from.