Online Blackjack For Real Money

So if you're ready to hit the tables online and play some blackjack for real money there's a few things I should warn you about.

Because unfortunately it's not that simple.

If you've never gambled online before, ther's a lot of misinformation on the web so this article is going to go over a few topics so you know exactly what to expect and look for.

Or you can just play our free practice games for fun!

Play Online at These Casinos

Joe Fortune

  • Mobile Friendly
  • Accepts Bitcoin (Very fast withdrawals)
  • Great variety of games
Bitcoin icon MasterCard icon Visa icon
8
5

888 Casino

  • Licensed by UKGC and Gibraltar
  • eCOGRA Accredited
  • Also provides Sports Betting, Bingo and Poker
2

PlayOJO

  • Licensed in multiple jurisdictions
  • No withdrawal limits
  • Generous no deposit bonus
1

King Billy

  • Diverse range of games
  • Generous welcome package
  • Decent wagering requirements
1

Wildz Casino

  • Licensed in Ontario and Malta
  • Transparent RTP shown on games
  • Good choice of gaming options
1

Selecting a Reputable Casino Matters!

There are literally many online casinos worldwide launched on a monthly basis offering glitzy bonuses and promotions all vying for your business.

However for every new casino that's launched, another gets closed down due to being unable to sustain their business.

The nature of this competitive industry unfortunately also leads to operations falling to the dark side and going rogue by commonly tricking customers with unethical practices such as

  • Long delayed payments or non payments altogether
  • Devious terms and conditions that catch the customer off guard
  • Unfair bonus requirements

So let's look into how to go about avoiding these sticky situations and set some guidelines for finding a reputable and fair online casino.

Selecting Where to Play Blackjack Online

While we can make suggestions on where to play, it's good knowledge to know what to look for especially since casinos regularly modify their promotions and terms and conditions.

Speaking of terms and conditions, this leads us to the very first thing to look at:

Terms and Conditions

This is the main crux in determining whether a casino is trying to be sneaky. Yes these things are boring to read but it contains vital information that could save you throwing your hard earned cash in the bin

Things to look out for are:

  • Is it poorly written
  • Are there unreasonable wage requirements on promotions/bonuses
  • Does it take a long time to cash out
  • Is there an unreasonable withdrawal limit
  • Do they accept players from the country you reside in

Payment Options

A common issue with most casinos (even the reputable ones) is that even though they might allow you to deposit using a certain method, you may not be able to withdraw using that same method.

So make sure you understand the cashing out process and what's involved. Common things to find out include are there any fees involved? How long does it take to process a withdrawal? What currencies are accepted?

The best options tend to be through e-wallets such as Skrill or Neteller or cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum because they are fast with no fees. Paypal is also really good however only UK based online casinos accept it.

If you've never used Bitcoin before, we highly recommend reading our guide to find out how. It is by far the safest and most effective payment method for playing at an online casino for US players.

If you are unsure of any of these items, do not be afraid to ask customer support. This will also give you an opportunity to see how responsive and professional their customer support is as well.

Overall Historical Reputation

Just like anything else online, you can easily find reviews of a casino on the web. So as a last point of judgement you can research whether a casino has a historical record of providing a fair and professional service to their customers.

I would be wary of playing at any online casino that hasn't been active over at least 5 years regardless of how lucrative their promotions might be. As mentioned earlier, it is certainly not an unusual occurrence for a casino to close up shop and refuse customers access to their funds.

You should also be wary that many websites (including us) are affiliates of casinos and get paid a commission if you choose to play there. So you should never take a particular website's review at face value and ignore doing the due diligence in researching further into a casino's credibility.

Game Diversity

Ok now on to looking at some actual fun stuff!

Depending on which casino you decide to play at, the software that they are powered by is going to determine what your options are. It's also quite common for a casino to be powered by multiple software vendors so that their customers have plenty of options to choose from.

Real Time Gaming, Microgaming and Betsoft tend to have the most RNG blackjack variations but in my opinion playing against a live dealer is the most fun.

My favourite live dealer software is Evolution Gaming and we'll touch on that later in this article.

Mobile Online Blackjack Apps (iOS/Android)

Another sign of a good casino is can they provide a good mobile experience.

A lot of the smaller non reputable casinos use old technology and can not provide a decent mobile experience (if any at all) and rely on oldschool flash on a desktop browser for their site to function.

And when I mean mobile I mean for both Android and iOS devices. Some casinos, for example LeoVegas, go the extra mile and provide dedicated iOS/Android apps you can install to your device and play online blackjack with real money through.

However there are certainly many reputable casinos that simply allow you to play from version within the browser that doesn't require a dedicated app.

Live Blackjack

The future is now!

We have an entire section on live blackjack but I'll touch on it briefly here. Here's a video of what it looks like

Live blackjack is a relatively new thing at casinos and due to technology advancements in internet speeds, we can now play on a multiplayer table against a physical dealer streamed over video.

It genuinely does simulate a real casino vibe and the social interaction between other players and the dealer really makes for a fun experience and will make you totally forget about ever playing the RNG tables again.

The rules generally tend to be:

  • Blackjack pays 3:2
  • Dealer stands on soft 17
  • Double any card
  • Can not re-split Aces
  • No Surrender
  • Total Decks - 8

Depending on the casino, there are usually up to 8 seats per table with the option to bet behind other players as well.

Mobile Live Blackjack for Real Money

Not many casinos are able to provide this yet but here are some notable ones that are leading the pack:

  • Bovada - US Only
  • Betonline - US Only
  • LeoVegas
  • William Hill
  • 888
  • Bet365

Be wary though that it takes a lot of data to stream to mobile so it's highly recommended to be connected to wifi

Online Blackjack Bonuses BEWARE!

Get 100% Sign Up Bonus for a Billion Dollars!!

Ok so I'm exaggeating slightly but EVERY online casino has a sign up bonus of some sort that sounds like they're giving away free cash.

Unfortunately the vast majority of these promotions aren't as lucrative as they sound and even worse, they don't apply very well to blackjack. That's why it's extremely important to read over the terms and conditions to be clear of the wage requirements

Wage requirements are the amount that you have to wager before being able to cashout on any bonus received.

So let's take for example Royal Vegas has a 100% sign up bonus up to $300 and I deposited $300 to get the maximum $300 bonus. The wage requirement is 50x the bonus which means I will have to wager $15,000 in total before I can withdraw these bonus funds.

So as you can see, the wage requirement is pretty difficult to meet but here's the worst part, blackjack only contributes 2% to the wage requirement!

See https://www.royalvegascasino.com/about-us/terms-and-conditions/

This means that if I were to play blackjack only, I would have to wager a whopping $750,000!

This is because blackjack has a low house edge so the casino would prefer you to play other games (like slots which has 100% contribution to wage requirements) so that your chances of clearing the bonus is significantly less.

Most casinos structure their bonuses like this so if you do choose to play blackjack online do not claim any bonus they offer!

Is it Possible to Card Count in Blackjack Online

Contrary to what some people may say:

No! Nope! Nup!

The rules are just not conducive to allow for card counting to be effective.

The biggest problem is that the decks are shuffled on too regular a basis so the deck penetration will always be too low to gain any profit.

Online Blackjack Tournaments

It's quite rare but some casinos do offer online blackjack tournaments (in RNG format) and the way they usually work is each participant starts with a certain amount of chips to start with and are given a time limit to play. At the end of the time limit, the player with the highest amount of chips wins.

Visit our tournament monitor to see when the next upcoming tournmanet is on.

US Online Blackjack Laws

In the United States, gambling online is in a legal gray zone so let’s address any concerns before looking into which casinos allow US players.

First of all, if you are from the US there is no federal law that prohibits you from gambling online and it is completely safe.

However:

The only online casinos that are regulated and legally operated in the United States are those that are located in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Now due to the UIGEA, it is currently ILLEGAL for banks to process any online gambling transactions so many online casinos have moved their operations offshore.

If you don’t reside in either of the above three states listed then your only option is to play at an offshore online casino. For further clarification, you can read more about US online gambling legislation here.

Is it Legally Safe to Play at an Offshore Casino?

ABSOLUTELY!

Even if you reside in a state that does have a ban on gambling online, law enforcement has historically shown no interest in prosecuting players. And even if they were to action, they would most likely be targeting establishments rather than the players themselves.

However what you certainly do need to be mindful of is the reputation of any offshore casino you choose to play at. Since they don’t fall under US jurisdiction, there is no telling how well regulated these operations are and if they are running a fair and serviceable casino.

You are essentially unprotected if for example they were to just close up shop and disappear with your funds.

An example of a casino like this is Lock Poker who went rogue and closed down in 2015. Unable to pay their customers, it is said they owe over $1,000,000 to at least 400 players.

Online Blackjack for US Residents

In our opinion Bovada is by far the best choice available for US residents at the moment (unless you reside in New Jersey, Nevada or Delaware where there are local legally licensed operators). They have the best live dealers and you have the option to play on mobile too.

Whilst their withdrawal option via check is horrible, they do offer withdrawing via Bitcoin which is super quick and reliable.

The alternative option is Betonline however their reputation took a bit of a hit in 2017 after being accused of cheating

Online Blackjack for UK Residents

Now you guys are spoiled for choice.

My recommendation would be based off any casino that runs Evolution Gaming software because their blackjack live dealers provide the most entertaining experience and are the best at keeping things lively, energetic and interactive.

Reputable big names include - 888 Casino, William Hill, Bwin

Online Blackjack for Canadian Residents

Similar to UK options, I'd go with a casino that runs on Evolution Gaming for the live dealer experience.

The only difference with the Canadian casinos is that there are less options in payment methods. For example, Paypal is widely accepted in the UK but not accepted at all in Canada.

So be careful if you're from Canada and you visit a casino that says they accept Paypal, they're referring to their UK customers only.

Reputable big names include - 888 Casino, LeoVegas, Mr. Green

Online Blackjack House Edge

One of the main differences between playing online and at a brick and mortar casino is the varieties of blackjack available. Depending on which online casino you play at, the software they run will dictate what's available which you can read about for further information here.

For example, Bovada offers a variation called European Blackjack which differs in that the dealer does not receive a second card until the player has completed all their decisions.

For more information, you can visit our resource for a list of all online blackjack game variations.

Refer to the table below for a breakdown of how each software provider's blackjack variations differ and affect the house edge

SoftwareBlackjack VariationBJ PaysSoft 17DoubleRe-Split AcesSurrenderHouse EdgeTotal Decks
Realtime GamingBlackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.54%6
Realtime GamingMatch Play 213:2HitAny 2YesYes0.63%6
Realtime GamingPerfect Pairs Blackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.54%6
Realtime GamingPontoon2:1HitAny 2YesYes0.65%2
Realtime GamingSuper 211:1HitAny 2NoNo1.06%6
Realtime GamingSuit ‘Em Up Blackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo4.65%6
Realtime GamingEuropean Blackjack3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.75%6
Realtime GamingFace Up 211:1Hit9 to 11NoNo0.75%6
BodogBlackjack3:2HitAny 2YesYes0.56%6
BodogSingle Deck Blackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.19%1
BodogEuropean Blackjack3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.66%6
BodogDouble Deck Blackjack3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.20%2
BodogPerfect Pairs Blackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.58%6
BodogZappit Blackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo1.15%6
RivalBlackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.66%8
RivalMutli-hand Blackjack3:2Hit9 to 11NoNo0.9%8
BetSoft21 Burn1:1HitAny 2NoNo0.54%6
BetSoftBlackjack3:2Stand10 or 11NoNo0.65%6
BetSoftEuropean Blackjack3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.66%6
BetSoftPirate 213:2HitAny 2NoNo0.76%6
BetSoftPontoon2:1HitAny 2NoNo0.81%8
BetSoftSingle Deck Blackjack3:2Hit10 or 11NoNo0.38%1
BetSoftSuper 73:2StandAny 2NoNo0.46%6
iSoftBetBlackjack Multi-Hand VIP3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.47%8
iSoftBetBlackjack Atlantic City3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.39%8
SoftSwissBlackjack3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.56%6
SoftSwissBlackjack Surrender3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.62%8
SoftSwissEuropean Blackjack3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.67%6
SoftSwissMutli-hand Blackjack3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.62%4
MicrogamingBlackjack Atlantic City3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.35%8
MicrogamingBlackjack Atlantic City Gold3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.38%8
MicrogamingClassic Blackjack3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.40%5
MicrogamingEuropean Blackjack Redeal3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.40%2
MicrogamingVegas Downtown Blackjack3:2HitAny 2NoNo0.38%2
MicrogamingDouble Exposure Blackjack1:1Hit9 to 11NoNo0.32%8
MicrogamingVegas Strip3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.35%4
MicrogamingBlackjack Multi-Hand3:2StandAny 2YesYes0.45%6
Net EntertainmentBlackjack3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.44%4
Net EntertainmentDouble Exposure Blackjack3:2Stand9 to 11NoNo0.9%6
Net EntertainmentPontoon2:1HitAny 2YesYes0.38%5
PlaytechBlackjack3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.43%6
PlaytechBlackjack Surrender3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.35%6
PlaytechBlackjack Switch1:1Hit9 to 11NoNo0.14%6
PlaytechLucky Blackjack3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.04%1
PlaytechPontoon4:2HitAny 2YesYes0.32%8
Random LogicClassic Blackjack3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.33%4
Random LogicBlackjack Multi-Hand3:2StandAny 2YesYes0.45%6
YggdrasilSonya Blackjack3:2StandAny 2NoNo0.46%6

Online Blackjack Strategy

Here is the basic strategy chart for playing online blackjack. Depending on the variation being played you may want to adjust your decision making accordingly to the rules which can be done using the Blackjack Strategy Engine.

BLACKJACK STRATEGY ENGINE

6 Decks, H17, DAS, No Surrender, Peek

Estimated casino edge for these rules:0.66%

Hard Total

Your HandDealer
23456789TA
5HHHHHHHHHH
6HHHHHHHHHH
7HHHHHHHHHH
8HHHHHHHHHH
9HDDDDHHHHH
10DDDDDDDDHH
11DDDDDDDDDD
12HHSSSHHHHH
13SSSSSHHHHH
14SSSSSHHHHH
15SSSSSHHHHH
16SSSSSHHHHH
17SSSSSSSSSS
18+SSSSSSSSSS

Soft Total

Your HandDealer
23456789TA
Ace + 2HHHDDHHHHH
Ace + 3HHHDDHHHHH
Ace + 4HHDDDHHHHH
Ace + 5HHDDDHHHHH
Ace + 6HDDDDHHHHH
Ace + 7DSDSDSDSDSSSHHH
Ace + 8SSSSDSSSSSS
Ace + 9SSSSSSSSSS

Pairs

Your HandDealer
23456789TA
(2,2)PPPPPPHHHH
(3,3)PPPPPPHHHH
(4,4)HHHPPHHHHH
(5,5)DDDDDDDDHH
(6,6)PPPPPHHHHH
(7,7)PPPPPPHHHH
(8,8)PPPPPPPPPP
(9,9)PPPPPSPPSS
(T,T)SSSSSSSSSS
(A,A)PPPPPPPPPP
Keys:
H
Hits
S
Stand
P
Split
D
Double (Hit if not allowed)
DS
Double (Stand if not allowed)

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's

Is Online Blackjack Rigged?

We only list and advocate certified and regulated casinos that do provide a genuine and fair experience. There certainly are online casinos that do not play fair though which we will not list on this site.

With the large amount of play I’ve recorded, I feel pretty confident in stating that the games I’ve played are fair. That is, they accurately mimic the games you would find in a land-based casino. I’ve wagered over $300,000 online and I’ve lost a total of 0.6% of that amount. Ken Smith

Is It Legal to Gamble online?

Depends where you live. If you are uncertain, you can check the terms and conditions of the online casino you wish to play at which will state what countries they restrict from playing.

If you are in the United States it can get a bit confusing so we recommend reading this article for further clarification.

Is it Safe?

Yes. Sites advocated here are regulated to provide a safe and secure transaction process with the same type of encryption technology used at major online vendors.

Are Winnings Taxable?

Depends where you live. We have written an in depth article to address this topic here.

Related Articles

Gamble Responsibly!

If you are not gambling responsibly and it is becoming an issue that is affecting your life, we urge you to seek help by visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling or any local authority that can provide assistance.

The NCPG can also be contacted by on 1-800-522-4700 or through their online chat services located here.