Top Online Blackjack Casinos

Play Online Blackjack for Real Money

You can play many casino games online for free, including blackjack. However, not much can compare to the excitement of playing a blackjack game for real money. Many blackjack pros are drawn to the excitement and unpredictability of the game.

Blackjack involves a healthy dose of luck and a touch of strategy. It does help if you know how to interpret each hand.

It’s therefore highly recommended that you play a few demo versions of the game. This way, you’ll be able to establish which version of the game you’re better at or which one you enjoy playing the most.

Finding a blackjack online casino that caters to all your playing needs, that’s secure, and that practices fair gaming is essential.

Take your time and closely inspect all our recommended casinos and find one with the best blackjack games, including demo versions where you can practice your craft before you start playing for real money.

Most Popular Types of Blackjack Games

Our experts recommend starting off by playing Classic Blackjack if you’re new to the game. Don’t try to start with another version of the game before you at least understand how to play the classic version.

We’ll delve a bit deeper into the rules, but first, let’s look at the game’s most popular variants.

Classic Blackjack

The goal is to get your card count higher than the dealer, or as close as possible to 21 without going over. If you or the dealer goes over 21, you’re ‘bust,’ meaning the game is over.

European Blackjack

In the European version, the dealer gets only one card face-up. After all the players have placed their bets and shown their cards, the second card is revealed. Players can split only once in the game and can only split cards with a 10-value (e.g., two Kings).

Live Blackjack

Live blackjack is played in a live casino section. Players take a virtual seat around a blackjack table and can interact with other players and the croupier via a chat feature.

The game is streamed live, and plays are completed in real-time. Live blackjack tables include a wide range of different variations of the game.

Pontoon

In this variant, a tie between you and the dealer is a loss. Additionally, you can ‘double down’ before hitting or continuing to ask for new cards. Players prefer this version for its higher payout ratio on a ‘natural blackjack which is 2:1 instead of the 3:2 payout in the classic version.

Spanish 21

The main difference is that it’s played with a 48-card deck instead of the typical 52. This means there are only 12 cards with 10 values instead of the usual 16. This significantly tips the scales in the house’s favor. However, additional prizes and larger potential payouts balance this out, making this variant attractive to many players.

Blackjack Switch

The variation allows players to switch or trade their cards between hands. Players make two bets of equal size and can trade the second card that is dealt. The trade-off gives the dealer the advantage of pushing results up to 22 with non-busted playing hands and blackjacks paying even money.

How to play Online Blackjack

Blackjack is a very easy game to learn and play. When playing against a digital version (usually found in the table games section of online casino platforms), you play against a random number generator (RNG). Live variants of the game are played against a real croupier.

Whatever variant you choose, we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the game’s rules. The best way to do this is to play demo versions online, which will help you develop a strategy.

Rules of Online Blackjack

Blackjack has five basic rules to remember:

1. Regular wins always pay out 1:1 (when the value of your cards is closer to 21 than the croupier).
2. Blackjack wins will always pay out 3:2 (when the value of your cards equals 21).
3. The croupier must always draw on their hands 16 and below.
4. Players can ‘hit’ to add cards to their hands to get closer to 21.
5. If a player or croupier’s hand goes above 21, it’ll be considered a ‘bust’ or a loss.

Blackjack Popular Terms

When a player calls’ hit,’ it means they want an additional card to be dealt to them. When a player calls’ stand,’ it means that they don’t want the dealer to deal them any more cards.

Players can sometimes ‘split’ their hands into two when they’ve been dealt two cards with the same value. This gives them an additional chance to beat the dealer. When splitting, the player must place the same initial bet on the second hand.

When a player doubles down,’ they double their initial bet after they’ve been dealt their first card. This is typically done on Aces and cards with a 10 face value, although some online casinos will let you double on any value. Only one additional card will be dealt to the player’s hand, which means they can’t ‘hit’ to get more to get closer to 21.

Blackjack winning tips

There are no solid gold ways to win at blackjack, but there are ways to improve your gameplay and enjoyment. Below are the best blackjack-playing tips straight from our experts:

1. Learn and memorize the basic rules of the game.
2. If you’re still a novice, choose a table with low betting limits ($5 to $10), and don’t be afraid to tell the croupier that you’re new to the game, as most good croupiers will assist you in learning to play.
3. Always split pairs of 8 and Aces (11).
4. It’s a poor playing strategy to split 10-value or 5-value cards.
5. Remember to have fun!

Understanding Blackjack Odds and Payouts

The average probability of winning at all types of blackjack is 42.22%, and the probability of getting 21 in Classic Blackjack is just over 4.8%. The odds of getting 21 at Classic Blackjack is 3 to 2, so if you bet $50, you’ll receive $75, which is 1.5x your wager.

Traditionally, the house has a 0.5% over players. In other cases, only 0.25% where players have a solid strategy.

However, the house edge swings more to the casino’s favor in some game variants, such as Spanish 21. The removal of four 10-value cards from the deck is the reason. In any event, you can take out ‘insurance’ when your hand has a poor chance against the croupier’s hand.

Players will take a special side bet that allows them to stake half their original bet against the croupier, hitting a ‘natural blackjack,’ an Ace, and a 10-value card (to get 21). This option is only available to players if the croupier’s first card is an Ace.

Most popular online blackjack games providers

Microgaming, initially founded in 1994, is the company that has taken over the iGaming industry with superb online gaming software.

Popular blackjack variants produced by this powerhouse include Atlantic City Blackjack, Multi-hand Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, Perfect Pairs European Blackjack Gold, and European Blackjack Switch.

Another award-winning software developer, Evolution Gaming, is a firm favorite for its live casino games streamed from sleek gold and black studios offering a host of online blackjack games, including Infinite Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack, Power Blackjack, and Speed Blackjack.