Probably the most popular table game there is, Blackjack can be as simple or strategic as you like. Find the best Blackjack casinos, bonuses, and strategies right here on CasinoGuide!
Online Blackjack is one of the most widely played forms of online gambling. The biggest draw for online Blackjack real money play is the highly competitive house edge – this gives you greater odds of winning than most other games.
Here at CasinoGuide we can help you learn how to play Blackjack online while using optimal strategy to maximize your chances of winning. Then you can choose from our list of the best online Blackjack casinos operating legally in your area and enjoy some online Blackjack real money play today!
The aim of the game is to get a hand totaling closer to 21 than the dealer, without exceeding that number. If either the player or dealer's hand goes over 21, they are bust and automatically lose. The game is played through as follows. There are further details, but this will get you through your first few hands:
Blackjack has been a staple of the land-based casino scene for centuries, and was one of the first games to make it big in the online scene. As a result, there are many different variations of real money online Blackjack, and as the games have been perfected over several years you can be sure of a smooth experience.
As probably the easiest casino card game to learn and play, the popularity of playing Blackjack online is not really surprising. Online Blackjack enables you to strike a good balance between the ease of play and importance of player input, giving you the best of both worlds. If you’re able to count to 21 and master a few simple rules, you can begin playing almost immediately.
For those in the know, the biggest reason to play online Blackjack for real money is the incredibly low house edge. When using basic strategy (more on this later) in every hand, the online Blackjack house edge is reduced to less than 0.5%. This is far lower than any other casino game and means that you have the greatest chance of winning while playing online Blackjack.
The final reason to play online Blackjack for real money rather than heading to your local casino – other than the increased convenience – is the bonuses. The best online Blackjack casinos will offer highly generous bonuses as an incentive for signing up with them – you can see the top offers in our list above. Make sure you take advantage of these offers before you start playing!
Just remember that there will be wagering requirements for any online Blackjack bonus that you may accept. There are sometimes certain games that are restricted (ensure Blackjack isn’t one of them), and almost always a minimum number of times you must bet your bonus amount.
Here at CasinoGuide, we pride ourselves on providing highly in-depth guides to the casino games you know and love. Our online Blackjack guide comprises the information on this page, and the other pages linked below. Each takes an aspect of online Blackjack play and explains it clearly and in detail, with the intention of helping you beat the bank when you play online Blackjack for real money!
Give yourself the best possible chance by understanding online Blackjack odds and terms. Maximize your chances of winning with mathematically proven Blackjack strategies. And ensure you don’t make any common mistakes by following our Blackjack tips.
Get started with our comprehensive guide on how to play Blackjack, and you’ll be an online Blackjack pro before you know it!
Once you're comfortable with the rules of online Blackjack and have played a few dozen hands, you may decide to dabble in some basic strategy play. This a time-tested strategy, mathematically proven to maximize your chances of winning and minimize your losses.
Contrary to popular belief, failing to use basic strategy doesn’t necessarily mean you will lose at online Blackjack more often. Nor does using it guarantee you success – there is still a good amount left to chance. But if you are in it for the long haul and plan to play over 50 hands, you will most likely see the benefits of using basic strategy by the end.
Head to our dedicated Blackjack strategy page for the full explanation, and for strategies going beyond the basic. If you will be playing online Blackjack for real money using the standard rules, then you should be able to get by with the basic Blackjack strategy card:
Key | |
H | Hit (take another card) |
S | Stand (keep the cards you have) |
D | Double Down (double your bet and take only one more card) |
Sp | Split (divide two cards of the same value into two hands) |
Dealer | ||||||||||
Player | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
4-8 | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H |
9 | H | D | D | D | D | H | H | H | H | H |
10 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | H | H |
11 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
12 | H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
13 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
17-21 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
One of the most common questions asked by new online Blackjack players, especially those who have seen it played in the movies, is: does card counting work? While card counting in online Blackjack is almost always impossible due to the random element of the games, land-based casinos are still somewhat susceptible to this tactic.
It is true that card counting in Blackjack can increase your odds of winning, to the point where the house edge is into negative numbers. Meaning that if you continue playing for long enough, you should mathematically be able to come out ahead of the casino. By knowing when to sit out, when to play it cool, and when to raise the stakes, you can set yourself up for big wins this way.
It is by no means simple – otherwise everybody would do it! Not to mention, if any casino suspects you, you may find yourself out on the street before you can win too much. However, if you think you’re up for the challenge, head over to our dedicated page for a crash course in card counting in Blackjack.
We realize that our online Blackjack guide can be a little dense to read and absorb all in one go. So here’s five simple online Blackjack tips which can help you improve your game with minimal effort.
Now you’ve got the hang of online Blackjack and its intricacies, why not test your skills right here at CasinoGuide? We offer a free Blackjack game that looks and feels exactly like the games you will find in online Blackjack casinos. You can practice with unlimited play money and see how you do against the virtual dealer before committing real money at one of the best online Blackjack casinos listed above.
Playing free casino games is the perfect way to learn the ropes without taking any risks. You can play our free Blackjack game immediately in your Internet browser – no signup and no download required. You can even play it on your mobile phone! Head to our free Blackjack game page now to try it out, or simply play it below.
In addition to our standard free online Blackjack game, we also offer a unique ‘Blackjack Trainer’ tool, which helps you by coaching you while playing. Every time you make a mathematically incorrect decision, your coach tells you what you should have done and why. It’s perfect for players who are just getting started using the aforementioned basic strategy.
Here at CasinoGuide.com we recommend you first try the standard free Blackjack game to learn the basics - how to bet, what hand beats what, and so on. Then, if you are really interested in learning perfect strategy, our Blackjack trainer is ideal. When you have finished training, and can go through the games without any complaints from your virtual trainer, it might be time to play online Blackjack for real money. Try our Blackjack Trainer for free today!
There are more ways to play Blackjack online than ever before. As with any hugely popular game, Blackjack has been split into numerous variations over the years as people sought to add their own unique twist on the casino classic.
For example, Spanish 21 games remove the tens, but add in other favorable rules to make up for it. Games with side bets allow you to win big just by getting the right combination of cards and games like Pontoon have a variety of different rules. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – check out our Blackjack variations page for more!
One of the biggest changes in online Blackjack over the past decade has been the advent of live dealer games. The concept is as simple as it is brilliant. Instead of watching animated virtual cards moving around your screen, you watch the cards being dealt in real time, by a real person. There are numerous studios around the world operated by casino games providers who offer this service.
Live dealer Blackjack is probably the game which has gained the most popularity, although live Roulette is also commonplace. The main draw is being able to see and interact with the dealer – enabling you to enjoy the social side of playing Blackjack without even needing to leave your home. If you’re at all concerned about cheating, it’s also reassuring to watch real cards being shuffled and dealt, rather than just randomly appearing on your screen.
To find out whether your chosen casino offers live Blackjack, just hit the Play Now button and navigate to their games library or take your pick from our live casinos list - all of which will certainly offer live dealer Blackjack.
When scouring the web for the best online Blackjack casino experiences, there are a number of criteria we consider. If a casino is regulated and legally operating with a license, and meets our high standards in these six areas, they are considered for inclusion in our list above.
Now you’ve got all the information you need when it comes to playing Blackjack online for real money, there’s nothing stopping you! Take your pick from our list of the best online Blackjack casinos operating legally in your region and claim your generous welcome bonus today.