Blackjack is one of the top card games in the world. The smooth gameplay and nail-biting suspense of winning large sums of cash have made it a staple choice for many gamblers.
You can enjoy blackjack online effortlessly because it's ubiquitous in the online gambling world. No self-respecting casino is going to ditch this favorite of the crowds for other casino games. The most popular versions of online blackjack include Double Exposure, Vegas Strip, and Double Attack. Tens and tens of cool variations exist, which means that you'll never get tired of this game.
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Check out the casino comparison list and read our online blackjack casino reviews to get a full picture of what the best blackjack casinos consist of.
Every blackjack site on our list has passed our vigorous assessment and is guaranteed to hold the necessary licences. Mr Gamble only recommends casinos that are safe, so you can choose whichever appeals to you and know both your information and money will be secure.
💡 What Is Online Blackjack?
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-One, originated in the 17th century in France. It is a popular card game that revolves around getting cards with a total value of close to, but not exceeding, 21.
You no doubt know how to play blackjack since it’s among the most well-known casino games. Just in case, we will cover the basic rules below.
Why Is Blackjack Called Blackjack?
You’re probably wondering what the etymology of the word “blackjack” is. It’s actually quite simple: the name “blackjack” dates back to a now-obsolete card combination of an ace of spades and a black jack.
Blackjack has been streamlined over the centuries, with some rules falling out of use, but the name stuck.
♠️ How to Play at a Blackjack Casino: Rules and Terminology
An important thing to remember is that blackjack is a card game played against the dealer. The player needs to get a card combination that has a higher value than the dealer’s hand, while not exceeding the value of 21.
Each card is assigned a certain number of points:
Cards from 2 to 10 equal their face value (e.g., a 10 equals exactly ten points).
Jack, Queen and King have a value of 10.
Ace has a value of 1 or 11, depending on the total value of your hand.
Example: Ace + a small-value card gives you a “soft number” (e.g., soft 18 when you have an ace and a 7). If you take another card for a total sum of over 21, the ace automatically changes its value from 11 to 1.
Once you’re dealt your first cards, you get two options:
Hit – get another card.
Stand – stay with your current cards.
Both options come with their own risks as you can either not have enough points to beat the dealer’s hand or have a combined value of 22 or more. The latter outcome is called the bust.
Blackjack Online Casino
At first sight, Blackjack may seem like one of the easiest casino games. While that’s true, all the possible side bets make things more difficult – and captivating! Thanks to technical developments, playing real casino blackjack online is just as good as at a physical casino.
Blackjack can be played at many virtual tables, but if you crave for an interactive experience, you should check out live casino blackjack. Most online casinos offer these games that come with a live dealer you can follow via webcam. The best blackjack casino sites are listed right here at Mr. Gamble.
There is also a chance you run into free online casino blackjack. Casino sites do this to let players try and see whether they like the Blackjack variations available. A good online blackjack casino can also give players bonuses they can use to check out the game selection.
Why Play Blackjack at an Online Casino?
It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned card shark chasing 21 blackjack online casino sites cater for all players. In order to play blackjack online casino doesn’t impose a dress code or require a poker face. Blackjack casinos online are accessible wherever you are, and you can make easy instant payments.
Any blackjack online casino you select will let you choose between virtual games and authentic live tables so you won’t lose anything playing online. Online you rarely have to queue for a desired table and the deck as well as the dealer are just as reliable as at a brick-and-mortar casino.
Online casino blackjack tables are run by a game provider in their own studios, and many casinos use the same provider, which ensures fair play. Game providers are as regulated and supervised as casinos, and they have to follow strict guidelines in order to keep their licences.
How to Choose the Best Blackjack Casino
Follow these simple steps to choose the best casino with blackjack.
1
Select a blackjack casino
Choose a blackjack casino from our curated list above.
2
Use filters
Try to narrow down your search to better match your preferences.
3
Read reviews
See what other players and experts say about their experience.
4
Register and deposit
Register an account at the casino and make your first deposit.
5
Start playing
Once everything is ready, kick back and enjoy your time.
Bonuses are an important part of an online casino experience for many players, and that is why we mark the new player bonus the casino offers clearly. Best blackjack casino bonuses are both generous and have fair terms.
The offers can be bonus money with or without deposit requirement or a cashback for example. Many casinos also offer Free Spins, but those can rarely be used in blackjack or any other live casino game. Top blackjack online casino also takes care of its players in the long run by giving out bonuses from time to time.
Compare Bonuses to Find the Best One
Choosing the biggest bonus out there might feel tempting, but there are other things you should take into consideration as well. Bonus terms like wagering, minimum deposit and maximum winnings affect the bonus quality heavily.
Ultimately you might want to turn that big blackjack bonus into real money you can take out from the casino. A high-quality blackjack casino bonus makes this possible. You can also filter the blackjack casino bonus list based on wagering or bonus size to get a picture of what’s out there.
Free Play vs. Real Money Blackjack
There are as many different versions of games as there are players, and many online casinos have free games or play money mode available. Free casino blackjack is a good place to start honing your skills without risking your own money and get a feel of the blackjack casino in practise.
Once you are comfortable with your game and you have earmarked a playing budget it’s time to move to online blackjack gambling for money. There are both low and high stakes casino blackjack tables available, and you should choose the one you are prepared to lose as well as win in.
Naturally free play feels more safe, but if you want to win real money, you also have to play with it. Online casino blackjack real money games follow the old saying: the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Just be sure to play responsibly and know when to stop.
Top 5 Online Blackjack Tips and Tricks
1. Learn basic strategy. You’d be surprised how little your average player knows about blackjack strategies. If you know the ropes, that’s already half the battle won.
2. Get some practice before hitting the table. Learning the rules is one thing but it’s important that you get a feel for the game. There are plenty of blackjack casinos that are free to play.
3. Don’t go all-in. Even when you’re 100% sure of the outcome, you may come across a few surprises. Always leave yourself some wiggle room.
4. Always consider your aces. Standing on a soft 17 (ace + 6) does you no favour, you need to get another card and see if it takes you closer to 21.
5. Have fun. This should be obvious but it bears repeating: you need to have breaks every now and then. Don’t force yourself to play if you don’t take any enjoyment out of the process.
Types of Blackjack Online Casinos
Like many other casino games, blackjack has different variations with their specific takes on rules. Of course, there are plenty more types of online blackjack than we could hope to cover, so we will stick to the most popular blackjack variations.
Classic Blackjack
When it comes to classic blackjack, we can single out two distinct variants – American blackjack, and European blackjack.
In American blackjack, the dealer is dealt one card face up and the other card face down. If the first card is an ace, the dealer checks the second card. If it doesn’t have a value of 10, which would complete a blackjack, the game continues.
In European blackjack, the dealer is dealt only one card face up. The dealer draws additional cards once the player has completed their hand.
Blackjack Switch
The feature that helps blackjack switch stand apart is that players get two separate hands to play with. Players can switch and swap the cards between their hands to improve their chances of winning.
Progressive Blackjack
In progressive blackjack, you place a side bet to see whether your two cards could combine with the dealer’s card for a jackpot payout.
Blackjack Perfect Pairs
Blackjack perfect pairs is another blackjack variation with a side bet. In this game, the players bet whether their first two cards would have the same value. The side bet does not affect the base game’s outcome and vice versa.
Vegas Strip
Named after the Las Vegas Strip, this blackjack variation has become widespread in the United States. The player can double down on any total, which could in itself pose some risks to the player, as well as split any pairs.
When you split aces in Vegas Strip, you may only get one more card. Even if you get a total of 21, it is not considered a natural blackjack on post-split aces.
Spanish 21
Spanish 21 is a blackjack variant that is played with six or eight decks but with all 10s removed. Because of this, there are additional rules that serve to balance the game.
One such rule is that the player automatically wins when hitting 21, no matter the combination. The payout percentages work differently, depending on the number of cards in a hand.
Double Exposure Blackjack
In double exposure blackjack, the dealer’s cards are dealt face up. Because of this advantage, the player loses when there are ties, and there are also limitations to how many times you can split your cards.
Caribbean Blackjack
Caribbean blackjack is another variation of blackjack played with a side bet. This time, the side bet is whether the player’s initial two cards from each hand would make a poker combination with the dealer’s face-up card.
Live Casino Blackjack
Casino games with live dealers are some of the most exciting games you can play. Naturally, blackjack also comes with a live casino variety.
Live casino blackjack is getting more popular by the day, thanks to the ability to play against real-life dealers from the comfort of your own home. You can play blackjack live on mobile, with dealers streaming from their studio right to your feed.
Every other type of blackjack that we’ve covered above applies to live casino gaming, too. You can, for example, play progressive blackjack live.
Other Major Variations of Online Blackjack
The blackjack card game comes with a wide variety of custom versions. Some of these existed before online gambling entered the picture. Others have been produced by creative companies looking to boost the gaming scene online. Whenever you feel that things have got a bit boring in the blackjack department, seek out and play these popular takes on the classic game.
Double Exposure Blackjack: What starts out as a typical multi-deck blackjack is something entirely different. Both of the dealer's cards are seen by the players. Decision-making always accounts for the exposed card situation. That is obviously a very friendly move from the player's point of view. That factor is counter-balanced by the exclusion of surrender, insurance, and multiple splits.
Pontoon Blackjack: This is the British take on American blackjack. While many of its rules are exactly the same, Pontoon has a few tricks up its sleeve. Before the player makes his bet, he's able to see a single card to aid the decision-making process. When a player has five cards amounting to 21 or less, he instantly wins double the amount of his bet.
Double Attack Blackjack: This version of the renowned card game is played with eight Spanish decks. The game looks overall quite similar to the regular blackjack classic online. The "attack" signifies the players' opportunity to make a Double Attack Bet, which effectively doubles their first bet. Additionally, it's up to the players to decide if they want to double down or surrender at any point in the game.
Chinese Blackjack: Chinese Blackjack isn't a thing only in China. You can stumble upon this version in numerous countries across Asia. In this version of the game, dealers are able to pick between hitting and standing. Plus, aces have different values depending on the total number of cards you have. What may come as a further surprise is the rule of two aces delivering an instant victory. Free blackjack versions exist of this title for beginners' convenience.
Vegas Strip Blackjack: This is one of the variations that seem to have the same objective as any other blackjack game. But there are important distinctions to be made with (Vegas) Strip Blackjack. Aces can be split only once, the dealer always stands on soft 17, getting 21 on after ace split isn't blackjack, and the dealer uses four card decks. Some other distinctions exist as well, so it pays to learn these before starting a Strip Blackjack Online session.
Switch Blackjack: The top difference of Switch Blackjack is the dealing of two hands instead of a single one. That move is made in every playing position. When you get the two hands, you have the chance to switch the top card of each hand for the other one. And that's where the game gets its name. However, keep in mind that your hands are considered as individual entities. You need to place two initial bets to receive cards.
Elimination Blackjack: Russ Hamilton is the brains behind Elimination Blackjack. The basic mechanics are the same as in any other mainstream blackjack online version. However, the players are competing against each other to receive guaranteed prize money. The players get an equal number of chips and then they need to start working on increasing their stack of chips. Whoever has the most chips is the lucky winner of the tournament.
Spanish 21 Blackjack: Do you want to speed up your blackjack experience? Let's remove all 10, J, Q, and K cards. That's how you get Spanish 21 Blackjack. It's one of the most popular versions of the game up to this date. Every card in the game boasts only its face value. But when it comes to the rest of the game, most of it is conducted exactly in the same way as the regular version.
Early Payout Blackjack: Here's an interesting version as you can get paid for a good losing hand. You won't get a full payout, but there's still a possibility of locking profits before the dealer acts on his hand. The early payout rates vary across online casinos. Just keep in mind that there are side bets with huge house edges. That's where the real blackjack online gaming sites make their profits.
High Streak Blackjack: This version is exactly the same as regular blackjack, but there's a side bet twist to it. The High Streak side bet enables you to get a bonus payout should you reach two consecutive winning hands. The moment you have a losing hand, the side bet is gone and you need to place it again in order to receive that coveted bonus. This is a popular variant of online blackjack that you normally wouldn't find in brick-and-mortar establishments.
Blackjack for Beginners
If you are just starting, don't worry. Even the most advanced players have started from somewhere. As a beginner, you should aim to understand the basic rules of blackjack. We have made a blackjack rules overview of the game's important guidelines. Once you master the essential rules, you can begin learning about the alternatives of the base game.
As a beginner, it pays to practice as much as you can. Newbies can make the most of their potential by slowly advancing towards bigger challenges. In blackjack, this means honing in on strategies and advanced gameplay. Playing blackjack online free is a perfect way to get your toes wet. There's no harm in playing with real money from the start, though. But it would make sense to play blackjack online free options first.
The beginner's stages are all about making mistakes. The game is complex enough that you can (and will) make mistakes in terms of mathematically correct decisions. If you have no prior exposure to blackjack, it's more than likely that you'll slip hard from the vantage point of experienced blackjack sharks. That's okay. As you progress towards a greater comprehension of the game, you'll realize your own mistakes and take countermeasures. This is apparent if you only prefer free online blackjack with other players, too.
Blackjack for Intermediate Skills
The intermediate stage is where you feel confident. But here's the thing: that feeling may be a bit inflated, to say the least. The moment of "bring it on, I know how to play this" is exactly the time when you actually need to learn much more. The turning point lies in the understanding that it's not just a game with simple rules. The complexities are hidden in the probabilities, odds, and other calculations. That may become apparent if you just play blackjack online with friends.
Making correct decisions increases your odds of exiting the game as a winner. To make the right decisions, you need to make a few wrong ones for learning and growing. Some experts may tell you that making mistakes is irrelevant in learning blackjack. They'll tell you that you need to memorize everything and then act on it. However, that's really not how people generally learn. Expert-level players may forget the time when they were in the beginner and intermediate stages.
Intermediate is a great level at which to play for real money. You won't make simple rookie mistakes anymore. Playing for real cash allows you to see the consequences of your own actions and the interplay between your decisions and the game system. Online blackjack sessions are great in that you can enjoy fantastic experiences without leaving the comforts of your home.
Blackjack for Advanced Players
Haven't looked into any blackjack strategy yet? Advanced gameplay is tied to using efficient strategies. Betting systems, counting methods, and bankroll management are essential components in high-achieving blackjack online game enthusiasts. You'll find all the resources you need right here on Mr. Gamble. We've put together the necessary materials for you to make the jump from an intermediate level to hard-core blackjack aficionado.
At the same time, advanced gameplay calls for certain humbleness as well. Blackjack is obviously a game of skill. But it's also a game of luck, and the best players will never forget about that aspect. They live and breathe the cliche that you need to maximize the cards you have dealt in life. You may have the top skills, but these won't guarantee you anything if there's bad luck involved in things.
Did you know that some of the top-grade blackjack players have basically memorized a huge part of blackjack cheat sheets? You don't have to boast photographic memory to benefit from practical memorization. Alternatively, you can take out your smartphone and put Mr. Gamble's blackjack chart next to your online blackjack game.
Blackjack Software Providers
BetSoft
Even though BetSoft is mainly known for its selection of video slots, there are a lot of blackjack sites that are powered by BetSoft. Although it’s not their main focus, you can count on BetSoft to offer many variations of live blackjack.
NetEnt
Net Entertainment, commonly known as NetEnt, is a popular casino game provider. Some of the better-known casinos use the NetEnt software, and you can find a lot of blackjack sites among them.
Microgaming
Microgaming is one of the oldest casino providers, which makes them well-respected and trusted across the industry. Aimed predominantly at the European market, Microgaming’s software is used at numerous blackjack casino sites.
Playtech
Playtech is one of the largest and best-known providers of casino games in general and blackjack in particular. Playtech has been around since 1999, with hundreds of casino sites using their software.
Blackjack History
The exact roots of blackjack are contested. All we know for sure is that the game has been around for a while now. According to some sources, the game was introduced to the USA in the 1800s, whereas others swear by the arrival during WWI.
The uncertain history is a regular quality of old games. Regardless of its roots, new versions of blackjack have been made to add a fresh dose of excitement into the game. When you look at the list of blackjack titles in first-rate gambling sites, you'll quickly discover a treasure trove of fascinating variations of the famous card game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online blackjack rigged?
No, online blackjack is not rigged. As long as you play at a licensed casino, you should not encounter fraudulent Blackjack practices.
How to play blackjack online?
To play blackjack online, find a trusted, licensed and regulated casino and sign up with them. You can find a list of reliable blackjack casinos at the top of this page.
Most blackjack casinos also include rules and tips to help blackjack beginners find their footing.
Is it legal to play blackjack online?
Yes, online blackjack is legal to play in most countries. Still, you need to find a fully licensed casino to play at.
Do blackjack sites offer casino bonuses?
Yes, blackjack casinos offer casino bonuses, mostly in the form of welcome bonuses or matched deposits. You may find other types of blackjack bonuses too, but always be sure to read the terms and conditions before you sign up for any promotion.
What are the best online blackjack sites?
To find the best online blackjack sites, consult our curated casino list at the top of this page. You can filter the data by payment methods, bonuses, and more to better match the list to your preferences.
Can I play online blackjack for free?
Yes, many if not most blackjack casinos offer players an opportunity to play blackjack for free. It's a great way to try out this game and learn some of the strategies in a risk-free environment.
Paul Puolakka is an experienced marketing executive with a decade's worth of experience in the iGaming industry. As a Chief Marketing Officer, Paul has led initiatives for some of the most renowned casino comparison sites in the Nordics, helping them drive growth and engagement in a highly competitive environment...
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