Blackjack Online Casinos

Before we look at why we play online blackjack, let’s specifically discuss why you’d play blackjack above any other casino game.

The main answer is that blackjack offers the best chance of beating the house. The game has a low house edge, meaning your chances of walking away with cash in hand are higher than almost any other casino game.

If we compare the house edge with other casino games, let’s say roulette, this sees the house edge at a much higher 2.7% (if playing the European game), while blackjacks can be as low as 0.5%.

As for how an online blackjack casino compares to its land-based counterpart, the main advantage is convenience. Sure, we wouldn’t turn down a trip to Casino De Montreal if it was on offer, but until that happens, getting our Blackjack fix online isn’t the worst thing in the world by a long stretch.

We get to choose the time we play; we’ll always find a table free, and no travel is involved. That’s not forgetting all the different variations we can play and, of course, the bonuses and promotions. You won’t get a matched deposit bonus at a regular casino.

Dating back to the 17th century, blackjack has been thrilling casino-goers for generations. If you are of European origin, it could be that your great, great Grandad was counting cards and splitting aces long before you were born.

Its earliest known mention dates back to a Spanish novel called Rinconete y Cortadillo in 1603, written by the author Cervantes better known for his book Don Quixote.

The book tells the story of two con artists in a Sevillian gambling house where they proceed to clean up at a game very similar to blackjack called Veintiuna – Spanish for twenty-one.

It either travelled to France or might have even originated there but was still called twenty-one or, in French, vingt et un, which would later be anglicized when it crossed the channel.

The name blackjack is rumoured to have come about when an American casino offered a bonus payout of 10 to 1 if the player was dealt either the Jack of Clubs or the Jack of Spades and an Ace. This took off in popularity so much that it eventually became known as blackjack, or sometimes 21.

Jumping a hundred years or so into the digital age, the online gambling industry has had a significant influence on the game. You won’t find many online casinos (if any) that don’t offer a selection of different versions and variants of blackjack.

The classic blackjack game can be learned in a matter of minutes, and that’s the beauty of it. You can play a straightforward game without relying on any strategy to begin and get a grasp of the basics in no time. Still, if you want to put the odds in your favour, you’ll need to use something called basic strategy (more about this shortly).

The combination of luck and strategy is what sets this apart from other casino games.

At its core, the goal in blackjack is to beat the dealer without going over 21. The player and dealer are both dealt two cards at the start of the game with the option to ‘hit’ (take another card), ‘stand’ (stick with your current total) or ‘double down’ (double your bet in exchange for one extra card).

Players must decide which route to take before any additional cards have been drawn. Should they go over 21, this is known as busting and results in an automatic loss. You’ll also lose if you score less than the dealers, so the main aim is to achieve a total hand value of 21 or as close to it as possible.

The cards 2-10 are worth their face value, while Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth ten each.

The Ace is unique as it can count as either 1 or 11, depending on what’s most beneficial for your hand.

Once you understand the basics, you can move on to learn more advanced strategies and rules.

Let us give you an example of a hypothetical game of online blackjack.

You’d begin by placing a bet on the virtual table and then be dealt two cards. After clicking or tapping the deal button, you’ll be dealt two cards face-up, while the dealer will get one card face-up and one face-down.

When playing instant play blackjack, you won’t see an actual dealer. It’s just a computer program that randomly generates the cards.

Let’s suppose you were dealt a three and a five (it doesn’t matter which suit) for a total of eight. The dealer’s face-up card is a queen. You now have to decide whether you want to hit (take another card), stand (stick with your current total) or double down (double your bet in exchange for one extra card).

This is where it can get a bit tricky, and basic blackjack strategy would come into play for optimal play. But why don’t we assume that we hit, as to stand would be unwise, and to double down here has a slightly lower chance of success.

We’re then dealt a three, which is pretty good because even if we draw another card, we can’t go bust, and if we draw a face card, we have a strong chance of getting 21.

And bang! We draw a jack which gives us a total of 21!

The dealer flips over his face-down card and reveals an eight, giving him 18 – he needs a 3 to draw with us. He then draws a seven and busts, giving us the win.

And in a nutshell, that’s the rules of blackjack, and once you’ve got a handful of games under your belt, you’ll realize how easy it is to play. You can then look at additional rules, like splitting, surrendering, and insurance, as well as basic blackjack strategy.

Basic blackjack strategy is based on a statistical analysis of the thousands of hands played out in any given casino. Using this data, mathematicians have developed a system of play that will give you the best chance to win in any given situation.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed but by taking the time to learn a basic strategy or even just consulting a ‘cheat sheet’ when playing online blackjack, you can significantly increase your chances of walking away a winner.

You’ll find plenty of cheat sheets available to download for free online, so you can use them as reference points when playing.

The thing to remember about the basic blackjack strategy is that it only applies to the classic online blackjack game. In other words, it doesn’t take into account any special side bets or extra features that might be available in certain versions of the game.

The free mode of this popular table game is available to practice when it comes to regular tables. And when we are talking about online blackjack real money games, there are 2 variations: standard games or live casino games with dealers. Below, you can see the difference between these types to pick the best one!

We think you’ll find that blackjack is infinitely more engaging when there’s real money at stake. But free blackjack has its place; it’s a good chance to learn the rules if you are new to the game and for more seasoned players to practice their basic strategy without laying down any cash.

Don’t take our word for it; play blackjack for real money and free and see which gives you the most thrills.

If blackjack is your game, you’ll find that the classic game is often available in both instant play and live dealer versions in pretty much all casinos. Most online casinos will also offer further variants to try out.

But if you’re going to spend your hard-earned cash on this game, you want to make sure you’re playing in the most reputable and fair environment possible. All the casinos we recommend are regulated and licensed, and this is the first thing you should check before signing up anywhere.

You also want to be sure you’re playing at a casino that will give you the best bang for your buck. The best online blackjack sites offer plenty of bonuses, VIP programs, and competitive payouts. And some casinos even have extra features like tournaments and leaderboards that can add an extra layer of fun to your online blackjack experience.

Game selection, in general, is probably also going to be important to you. While blackjack might be your favourite, you will likely want to sample other games too.

Another factor to consider is the blackjack site’s customer service, and we always look out for 24-7 live chat support, so whatever the time of day it is, if you have an issue or a question to ask, there’s someone around to help.

Lastly, don’t neglect to read the casino’s Terms of Service; this will give you information such as wagering requirements, withdrawal limits, and other important data that can affect your gaming experience.

That’s really it. Just keep these few factors in mind, and you’ll be able to find the perfect blackjack site.

Out of all the casino games, blackjack holds a special place in our hearts. It’s a game of skill that offers you the chance to outwit the dealer and, if luck is on your side, hopefully, win some money too. It’s one of the most popular casino games, and with its low house edge, it’s no wonder everyone wants a piece of the action.

We’ve gone through all the key points you need to be aware of, and we hope our advice helps you get closer to finding that magical Blackjack site.