.webp "Local Bank Transfer")
How do you play blackjack online?
Much like you would in a real-life casino, simply decide how much you want to stake — this is represented by your chip stack, which you click on to get the requisite amount, and then hit the deal button. You will be dealt two cards that you can see, while the dealer will also receive two cards — one of which will be face-up, so you can get a flavour of their hand.
Whether you ‘hit’, ‘stand’ or ‘double down’ in each situation is up to you, but the ultimate goal is to get a hand worth as close to 21 as possible — without going over.
In online blackjack, all of the necessary instructions are displayed on screen, so all you have to do is click the relevant button in-line with what you want to do. It’s so easy to play!
How many cards are used when playing blackjack
| No. of Decks | No. of Cards in play | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 52 | 0.17% |
| Two | 104 | 0.46% |
| Four | 208 | 0.60% |
| Eight | 416 | 0.66% |
Where can you find blackjack games at an online casino?
As mentioned, any online casino worth their salt offers a wide variety of blackjack games. There are a few different variants, each having unique rules, so be sure to do your homework before deciding which is your favourite version.
To find the available blackjack games at an online casino, simply navigate to their ‘Table Games’ or ‘Card Games’ section.
Popular blackjack variants
There are several popular blackjack variants. Listed below are the ones that are most commonly played worldwide:
- Classic Blackjack
- European Blackjack
- Progressive Blackjack
- Blackjack Switch
- Multi-Hand Blackjack
- Double Exposure Blackjack
- Bonus Blackjack
- Spanish 21
- Pontoon
- Live Blackjack
What is live blackjack?
You will find live dealer blackjack available at all sites that have a live casino. Here, you are playing a ‘real world’ game of blackjack against a professional dealer. The action unfolds in a working casino, so all of the normal rules apply, it’s just that you will have a human being dealing the cards rather than a computer visual.
This really is the most exciting and dynamic way to enjoy online blackjack.
Live Dealer Blackjack vs Classic Blackjack
| Live Dealer Games | Table Games |
|---|---|
| Exclusive bonuses | Free plays |
| More social | More games |
| Limited games | Less social |
| Real money only | Less entertainment |
Can you get blackjack bonuses?
Typically, your casino bonus will relate to all games — so you can use it on blackjack, slots, roulette or pretty much anything else that takes your fancy.
Many casinos, however, offer a blackjack contribution as part of their welcome bonus. Typically, these welcome bonuses are redeemable after the player has made their first deposit and bonus funds cannot be withdrawn until the player has met specific terms & conditions. However, this is not to say that these bonuses should not be claimed in the first instance. Deposit bonuses, FreePlay and No Deposit bonuses are yet more examples of casino bonuses applicable to blackjack gameplay.
10 Important blackjack terms
While playing online blackjack, you will encounter some commonly used terms that pop up game after game. Here are 10 of the most likely:
- Blackjack — the holy grail of the game! Blackjack is a two-card hand of 21.
- Bust — when your hand exceeds 21.
- Double down — where an extra card is likely to give you an excellent hand.
- Even money — if you have a blackjack and the dealer’s upturned card is an ace, you may be offered an even money payout.
- Hit — you will receive another card.
- House edge — the theoretical advantage that the casino has over players.
- Insurance — when the dealer’s upturned card is an ace, you can, depending on the game variant, take out an insurance bet that pays at 2:1.
- Split — where you have been dealt a pair.
- Stand — a tactic deployed if you have a score of 16–21.
- Surrender — some blackjack variants let you surrender your hand for the loss of half your stake
How popular is blackjack at online casinos?
When you consider that blackjack was ‘invented’ back in the 1700s and is still the most played casino game to this day, it would be fair to say that it remains rather popular. Blackjack really came to prominence during the Las Vegas casino boom in the first half of the 20th century, when gambling regulations in the USA were relaxed. However, its origins are thought to reside in mainland Europe, with both France and Spain cited as the first to play a form of the game. Today, tens of millions is wagered on online blackjack every year and, hopefully, you will be able to join the group labelled ‘winners’ soon!
Popular questions about online blackjack
Can I play blackjack online for free?Yes, you can. For beginners of the game, doing so is highly recommended. Playing online blackjack for free enables you to get used to the controls and how the game looks on screen, whether you’re playing on your laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Many casual gaming sites offer free versions of blackjack to enjoy, while many casinos will also let you play in ‘demo’ or ‘free play’ mode.
Is live blackjack safe?Yes – provided you play at a licensed & regulated casino there is nothing to worry about. To add to your peace of mind all of the online casinos recommended by Gambler.fan fit this criteria.
Can you count cards in live blackjack?As they say where there’s a will there’s a way. In general, online casinos are pretty savvy to tricks used by players to count cards. For live blackjack dealers frequently reshuffle, plus any lag in streaming will make this extremely difficult.
Can I play live blackjack for free?No, players who want to enjoy free casino games should find another game. In general, any live casino game variant can only be played for real money. To get some practice in or to try out different strategies, players can use the table game variant of blackjack.
Are the odds the same as virtual online blackjack?Yes – whether you play virtual blackjack or live casino blackjack the odds are the same. The only difference is the live dealer element.
