Table Of Contents
Bovada is one of the most established and long-running spots to play blackjack online. With a uniquely well put together combination of fantastic bonus promotions, 24 hours a day 7 days a week customer service and easy access to your money it is no wonder why Bovada has become one of the most longstanding and reputable names in the world of.
- There are more than 14,000 Blackjack sites for real money on the internet
- Finding an excellent online Blackjack table to start playing isn't easy
- The updated version of this PokerNews classic guide lists the best online Blackjack games for money in 2020
Online Blackjack Reviews: the 2020 Update
During the past two years, the PokerNews guide to the best online Blackjack sites on the internet has been one of the most popular pages of our entire website.
Beginners see it as the ideal starting point to find good Casinos to play Blackjack online for money. For the pros, it's a useful resource to find their next Blackjack bonus and earn some extra money to play.
In this 2020 update, we decided to go the extra mile and add a few steps to our process.
Get Free €88 to Play Online!There's a new MASSIVE no deposit bonus to play Blackjack online.
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Play NowIncreasing regulatory changes and new Casinos popping up all the time pushed us to reconsider our approach to finding the best Blackjack Casino. That's why this year's list included:
- A thorough review of the real money Blackjack games available at 100+ licensed Casinos online
- An evaluation of the top 25 made by a focus group of Blackjack players
- A series of Q&A rounds on Reddit to understand what the players' community think about Blackjack sites that offer real money games online.
Most of the sites that claim to be home to the best online Blackjack for money are OK-ish at best. And rogue Blackjack sites at worst.
There are more than 14,000 sites that offer real money online Blackjack in 2020.
Most of them don't see you as a player. They see you as a cash cow they want to milk.
Most Money Won Online Blackjack 2017
Those Blackjack sites are only after your deposits and precious personal details — as they can sell them online for good money.
Data protection regulation or GDPR, anyone?
That's why it's so important to choose an excellent online Blackjack Casino from the start. All the Blackjack strategies you have studied are useless if the games are rigged. And it's devastating to notice that the games aren't fair only when you try to cash out your winnings.
You should play any version of Blackjack, like all other Casino games, only on a real money Casino that is:
- Easy to use
- safe
- secure
- regulated by an international gaming authority
- operated by a company you trust with your money
Here you find a list of the top online Blackjack real money Casino sites where you can play with a dealer and win real money safe and secure.
Pick any on these sites to play all the recommended Blackjack games and have a wide range of deposit options.
This way, you can hit the Blackjack table safe in the knowledge that you have easy and fast withdrawals to cash out any amounts of money you win online.
If you are looking for a good Blackjack Casino site to play with real money online, you won't find anything better than the ones on this list.
What's in this article?
This isn't a short read. Use the list here to navigate to the section you need and find the best real money Blackjack sites of 2020.
| Best Blackjack Sites | Tips to Play for Real Money | Top Blackjack Bonuses |
|---|---|---|
| Best Live Dealer Games | Mobile Blackjack | Blackjack with PayPal |
Best Sites to Play Blackjack for Real Money in 2020
After thorough research, I've prepared an updated list of the best online Casinos to play Blackjack for real money in 2020.
| Blackjack Site | Blackjack Games | UK Players | New Bonus (Max) | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot City | 36 | No | $1,600 | Get Offer |
| 888Casino | 9 | Yes | Free €88 | Get Offer |
| Casino.com | 30 | Yes | 20 Golden Chips | Get Offer |
| PartyCasino | 14 | Yes | €500 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| Betway Casino | 68 | Yes | £1,000 | Get Offer |
| William Hill Casino | 14 | Yes | £300 | Get Offer |
| Mr Green Casino | 13 | Yes | €100 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| King Billy | 56 | No | €1,000 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
All the Blackjack sites on the list above are safe and secure.
They are audited and licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Government of Curaçao, or other reputable and independent gambling authorities.
Browsing through the article, you find the details of all the official licenses held by each of the online Blackjack Casino sites in the list.
If you have doubts, use these two tools and search for any of the real money online Casinos on the Authorities' website.
These Casino licenses guarantee that the games are safe and that you will be able to withdraw the money you win.
If you play to win, that matters.
What's the point of playing a table game like Blackjack at a real money online Casino site if you are not able to cash out any amounts won?
And also: what's the point of choosing an online Blackjack Casino where the payment options available and the withdrawals are so complicated that make Franz Kafka's 'The Trial' feel like a walk in a park?
Always make sure you check out a Casino's withdrawal and deposit options before you begin to play Blackjack for real money.
Some deposit options might not be available at all Blackjack sites. It's always good to check if your favourite one works on the website you picked.
Some websites let you play real money online Blackjack with PayPal while others offer instant bank wires.
Pick the right one for you. Being able to cash out any amounts won is as important as the game's basic strategy!
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at Jackpot City
Named 'the best site to play online Blackjack in 2018 and 2019', Jackpot City is still our recommended Blackjack site and top choice for real money games also in 2020.
This is an excellent online Blackjack Casino for both beginners and pro players. It features nearly every version of Blackjack out there, and you can go from deposit to play in less than three minutes.
❤️ Why beginners like it: the $1,600 massive welcome bonus (claim it here) is a huge advantage. This is the largest amount of free cash available to play online Blackjack in 2020.
Also, you find here all the most popular Blackjack variants. If you want to try some new games for real money, Jackpot City is a perfect choice.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at 888Casino
888Casino is a name that needs no introduction on a site like PokerNews. Part of the same group that runs 888poker, this is one of the best gambling sites in the world and a safe and secure platform to play real money online Blackjack.
❤️ Why beginners like it: 888Casino is one of the most celebrated names in online gambling. It's considered to be one of the most reliable real money online Casino operators in the world. No funny business here.
As an online Blackjack Casino, it gives you everything you need to explore the ins and outs of the game. There's a comprehensive tutorial to learn how to play Blackjack online, and there's a free €88 no deposit bonus available to some players. Check if you qualify for it.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at Casino.com
Casino.com one of the most famous online Casino sites in the world. All the 30 real money Blackjack games on the site are of the highest quality.
This site is known to be one of the best in the industry because of its easy deposits and the truly impressive number of deposit options available.
Also, the fact that they doubled the number of real money Blackjack games available is a significant improvement. They moved from 15 games (2019) to 30 (2020.)
❤️ Why beginners like it: Casino.com's reputation is sound and recognised at an international level. All the top Casino forums and Reddit agree this is the best site to get into the world of online gambling.
If you are looking for a site to start with the world of Blackjack Casinos, this is the one. And if you enjoy online Slots, there's no reason you shouldn't pick this one.
Not only you find an exciting collection of real money games, but you also start with a no deposit Casino bonus if you sign up via this page.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at PartyCasino
The gambling brother of the widely-celebrated PartyPoker online poker website is another one you should keep under your radar.
An all-new gaming platform and stupendous Casino bonus promotions make PartyCasino a top site to play online Blackjack games for real money.
❤️ Why beginners like it: All the 14 variants of online Blackjack available at PartyCasino are great and top quality.
But what sets this site apart is the promotions they run. Today, for example, you can play to win a real money jackpot every hour.
The combined value of great Blackjack variants and spicy promotions will make you enjoy the games even more, especially if you download their mobile app to play any version of Blackjack from mobile.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at Betway Casino
On Betway Casino you find the most extensive collection of speciality games and versions of Blackjack on this 2020 list. And some players would argue that these are the best ones, too.
Use Betway to play every possible version of Blackjack you can imagine. From the classic single-deck Blackjack game to Double Deck Blackjack, European Blackjack, and Blackjack Zappit, you are always in for something new.
Traditionally, Betway is known to be home to the most entertaining games of video Poker online. This might not be relevant for this article, but it helps put things into a proper context. If Blackjack is not the only Casino game you play, Betway is an excellent option for you.
❤️ Why beginners like it: What make Betway a unique site for Blackjack players is that it's not only about quantity. The quality of their games is outstanding.
Also, you don't need to go broke to play live games! Live Blackjack games start at £0.5, making Betway one of the most affordable sites for real money Blackjack online in 2020. Visit this page to see all the games available.
If you are looking for a Vegas Casino experience or you want to feel as if you were on a trip to Atlantic City, have a look at Betway's Live Dealer section. This way, you won't need to spend an outrageous amount of money on your next games.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at William Hill Casino
Here's another company that excels at everything they do. Their sportsbook, their online poker site, and their top-quality Casino platform make William Hill one of the best choices for those who want to play more than just online Blackjack.
❤️ Why beginners like it: William Hill features the best Live Casino in the industry, hands down.
To understand why so many people love these real money Live Dealer games, you need to play the real money Blackjack games at William Hill Casino.
The traditional 'solo' games where you play real money Blackjack online against an AI dealer aren't on par with the ones of the other Casinos in the list. They look a bit too 'old' for my taste.
But you won't find better Live Dealer games money can buy. Not in 2020, at least.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at Mr Green Casino
This is one of the most popular online Casino sites in the world - and not only for the online Blackjack games.
Players from all over the world love the Casino games at Mr Green. Their Casino site is gorgeous, the promotions are mind-blowing, and there are so many exclusive games on the platform that you'll always be jumping on something new that you have never played before.
❤️ Why beginners like it: Everything on this site is designed to give you the best bang for your bucks.
From the welcome bonus (€100 and 200 free spins) to the games' limits, Mr Green is a great online Blackjack Casino site to pick if you want to play online on a budget. Check out this page to know more about their offer and the Blackjack bonus available today.
♠️ The Online Blackjack Games at King Billy
King Billy Casino is suitable for all sort of real money games, primarily if you use your credit card for quick and instant deposits.
It's not only an excellent Blackjack Casino, but it's also an award-winning gaming platform with an astonishing offer of real money games.
This is also one of the few real money Casinos on this page where you can play the European Blackjack variant. It's also the only one on the list where you can handle all your real money games with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
❤️ Why beginners like it: This Blackjack and Casino website offers a lot you don't find at any of the others on this list.
Besides their nearly endless collection of excellent games, this is the only Blackjack Casino on this list where you playCasino games for Bitcoin.
With 56 different Blackjack games, King Billy offers more variants of online Blackjack than most other online real money Casinos online. All the games are listed here.
Tips on How to Play Blackjack Online for Real Money
There's one difference between people who play Blackjack online and players who play this popular game at land-based Casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Venice, Macau, and more.
If you play online, you mean business.
Download the PDF Blackjack Cheat Sheet, practice free Blackjack games online, and pick a real money Blackjack site to start your adventure.
That's what smart players do.
If you play online Blackjack for real money, you don't log into a top online Casino after the fifth beer or after a long night out with your friends.
When you play at a brick-and-mortar Casino, however…sometime it happens.
The last time this happened to me was a couple of weeks ago, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
I entered the Casino around midnight and I left at 4 am - with far less money then I had when I went in.
The only right side of the evening is that I did not lose as much as the Polish guy next to me. He kept spreading piles of €100 chips over two tables like those were candies.
I only had one pile of €10 chips - and I didn't multi-table. In other words: I survived.
But — I digress!
Since your goal is to play smart, be wise, and win money, I have prepared a few Blackjack tips that will help you to get better when you play online.
If you are a beginner and you are about to play your first real money Blackjack games online, consider these tips a must.
You need to read them. And you need to follow them.
Before You Play Blackjack Online
Never played online Blackjack in your life?
Don't bet real money on your first hand of Blackjack.
Blackjack is a table game that requires some research beforehand. Before your first bet, you have to know:
- The Blackjack rules
- The basic terminology of Blackjack
- The basic Blackjack strategy
- The different types of Blackjack games you can play
This beginner's guide to Blackjack is a great place to start if you start from zero.
Those who are a little more experienced can skip the intro guide to this popular game and move straight to the basics of the best Blackjack strategy.
That should be enough to get you a bit more action.
Remember: you can play online Blackjack for free at most of the sites on the list above.
Many games are available in demo mode and you can (or should) keep playing new ones until you find your favourite variation of the game.
Getting the basics right helps you defy the house edge and make money.
Once you are done with the two articles and you have used the PDF Cheat Sheet to practice your games for at least 100 hands of free Blackjack online - then you are ready to play Blackjack online for real money.
You can now try to beat the dealer.
Blackjack Bonuses to Play Online
You want to win as much as possible… and spend as little as possible.
When you play a card game online like Blackjack, this isn't always possible.
Unless you decide to take the bonus route and make finding the best bonuses for Blackjack the first step of your gaming experience.
Blackjack bonuses help you build your bankroll and get extra funds for your games. If you don't have a lot of money to play Blackjack, you better look at what are the best bonuses to get you started.
There are two kinds of bonuses to play real money Blackjack games:
- The deposit bonuses
- The no deposit bonuses
With a deposit bonus you get free money when you deposit real money into your account. You get a cash match of a certain percentage and play with more money than you deposited.
Casinos might double, triple, or even quadruple your deposits, giving you a lot of extra cash to play for real money.
Best Blackjack Deposit Bonuses (2020 Updated List)
| Blackjack Site | Blackjack Games | UK Players | New Bonus (Max) | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot City | 36 | No | $1,600 | Get Offer |
| Casino.com | 30 | Yes | 20 Golden Chips | Get Offer |
| PartyCasino | 14 | Yes | €500 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| Betway Casino | 68 | Yes | £1,000 | Get Offer |
| William Hill Casino | 14 | Yes | £300 | Get Offer |
| Mr Green Casino | 13 | Yes | €100 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| King Billy | 56 | No | €1,000 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
Before we move onto the no deposit side of things (aka. the free money we all like), let me spend a few more words on the Blackjack bonus available at Betway Casino.
If you plan to play more than just a few hands of Blackjack online for real money, you ought to consider this bonus. And not only because Betway is one of the top online Blackjack sites at the start of 2020.
Their £1,000 welcome bonus is spread onto your first three deposits, meaning you are in for a long-term deal.
Why is this important?
Playing Blackjack online for real money involves a long-term learning process.
You'll need time and practice to master the art of making money at Blackjack online and a long term bonus like Betway's os perfect for that.
You find more info about the bonus on this page.
You don't need to spend your own money to get a no deposit bonus. Create an account on the platform that offers one and choose the games to play for free
888Casino is the only site to offer a no deposit bonus to play real money Blackjack games online in 2020. Click here to claim the free €88 offer and play.
Keep in mind that deposit bonuses come with a few strings attaches.
You can use the free £88 at 888Casino to play online and live Blackjack for real money. There's a 30x wagering required applied to the bonus winnings that are always capped at £500.
Also, the bonus is not available to all countries. Check the 888Casino website to know more about this offer and if you can use it, too.
Best Live Dealer Blackjack Games
Playing Blackjack online in 2020 is nothing like it used to be five or six years ago. That's when the free and real money versions of the game looked like this:
Today, the best Casino game providers and real money Blackjack sites found out how to use the latest technologies (and fast internet connection) to innovate a classic table game like Blackjack and give you a lot more.
Because today's online Blackjack games look like this:
In 2020 you can play live dealer Blackjack games and bring the real feel of an exciting visit to a Casino right to your screen.
When you play live Blackjack online, you interact with professional dealers via live stream.
You chat with them and comment on your hands exactly as you would do if you were playing live at a regular Casino.
Editor's tip for beginners: Use the chat!
Don't just study the theory of Blackjack — as a beginner, you are bound to make mistakes. Use the chat in the live games to talk to the other players and comment on the hands. You'll get excellent free tips!
Not all the sites have great live games. The list of the top Blackjack sites below tells you more about their strength in the live dealer side of things.
If live dealer Blackjack games are what you are after, these are the best sites to play live dealer Blackjack games for real money in 2020.
| Best Live Blackjack Site | Blackjack Games | UK Players | New Bonus (Max) | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betway Casino | 68 | Yes | £1,000 | Get Offer |
| Casino.com | 15 | Yes | 20 Golden Chips | Get Offer |
| 888Casino | 5 | Yes | Free €88 | Get Offer |
| Jackpot City | 36 | No | $1,600 | Get Offer |
| William Hill Casino | 14 | Yes | £300 | Get Offer |
| PartyCasino | 14 | Yes | €500 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| Mr Green Casino | 13 | Yes | €100 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| King Billy | 56 | No | €1,000 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
If you don't know where to start, choose a Casino with live dealer games by Evolution Gaming (e.g. Betway Casino or Casino.com).
The games are exceptional, and you can play from as little as £0.50!
Mobile Blackjack: Apps to Play Blackjack Online from Android and iPhone
In 2020, most online Casinos offer great free apps to play real money Blackjack games from smartphones and tablets.
You only need to have an Android or an iOS device to treat yourself to some of the best mobile Blackjack games for real money the internet has to offer.
So, how to find the best games to play? Easy, you can use my 2020 Blackjack list.
All the Blackjack sites featured on this page work on mobile and let you play amazing real money games from the palm of your hand.
Some Casinos have free apps you can download to play. Others have worked hard to make their web platform so good that it works just fine even if you access it via your mobile browser.
Either way, here is where you find the best mobile Blackjack games to play with real money this year:
| Blackjack Site | Blackjack Games | UK Players | New Bonus (Max) | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot City | 36 | No | $1,600 | Get Offer |
| 888Casino | 9 | Yes | Free €88 | Get Offer |
| Casino.com | 30 | Yes | 20 Golden Chips | Get Offer |
| PartyCasino | 14 | Yes | €500 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| Betway Casino | 68 | Yes | £1,000 | Get Offer |
| William Hill Casino | 14 | Yes | £300 | Get Offer |
| Mr Green Casino | 13 | Yes | €100 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
| King Billy | 56 | No | €1,000 + 200 Free Spins | Get Offer |
Sites to Play Real Money Blackjack with PayPal
PayPal is probably the most famous and popular e-wallets service available today.
PayPal is not a gambling service. There are many Blackjack sites that include this service in the list of the payments methods the players can use to upload and withdraw funds.
Not all sites offer PayPal to play real money Blackjack. If you use PayPal already and you want to play at a Blackjack site that allows you to fund your real money games with this service, just pick one of these operators:
To know more about all the operators that feature this payment method or understand what are the best alternatives to PayPal to gamble online for real money you canvisit this article published on our sister Casino site, CasinoSmash.com.
Got Questions? Check the FAQ!
Making money playing Blackjack online isn't easy - and I know that online games for real money can be quite intimidating sometimes.
If you don't know where to start, you want more info about any of the Blackjack sites on this article, or you want some tips on more articles (and books) that can help you make money playing Blackjack online...continue reading!
What is Online Blackjack?
Online Blackjack is the virtual reproduction of the classic card game played at Casinos around the world. When you play online Blackjack you can choose between a large number of AI-powered Blackjack games or play with other players and live dealers who stream the Casino-like action in real-time.
How to Play Blackjack Online?
The goal of Blackjack is to beat the dealer by going as close as possible to 21 points with your cards. You find all the details about the gameplay on this guide titled 'How to Play Blackjack for beginners.' Use it to learn the rules before you begin to play for real money online.
Which Online Blackjack is the Best?
From a mathematical standpoint, the game of single-deck Blackjack is the best one to play. The house edge of this game is 0.3%.
How to Win at Blackjack Online?
While there is no guaranteed way to win at Blackjack all the time, you can use many strategy tips to increase your chances to succeed.
The Blackjack basic strategy is an excellent starting point — especially if you use a Blackjack cheat sheet to remember how to play each hand based on yours and the dealer's cards.
How to Play Blackjack for Real Money?
The real money version of the game and the free one are entirely identical and follow the same Blackjack rules.
Where to Play Blackjack for Real Money?
There's a large number of websites to play real money Blackjack online in 2020. We recommend you only play on UKGC and MGA licensed Blackjack sites.
These sites are authorised to offer real money games and are audited by the most important gambling authorities in the world. To see what are the best legal Blackjack sites online, have a look at this list.
How to Transfer Money in Online Blackjack?
Different Blackjack sites let you use different payment methods to move your money around. These include credit cards, bank wires, and online services like Skrill and Paypal.
The most popular PayPal Blackjack sites are all collected on this list.
This article was first published in August 2018. Last updated: January 6, 2019.
Finding a trustworthy room to play online poker can be a monumental burden. That's all the more true if you're just looking for a place to play poker for free. We've listed five of the best play-money poker sites to enjoy and help hone your skills.
The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.Since blackjack is the one casino game where skill truly matters, it’s important for players to test different strategies and start incorporating them into their gameplay. But before you test any of the blackjack systems out there, there’s a simple truth you must realise – every valid blackjack strategy is based on logic and maths. Therefore, the best strategy you can adopt right away would be to leave your superstitions behind, forget about your ‘winning rituals’ and trust only the numbers. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s take a look at the best tactics you can adopt to help you win at online blackjack every time you play.
Tip #1: Pick the Right Casino
Players often ignore this all-important step, so I decided to start precisely with it. I cannot emphasise enough how big of a factor picking a good casino site is for your future success at beating the game. And that process is not even that hard – the trick is to pick a reputable, well-known casino that features a lot of blackjack games and generous bonuses that you can use on them. Here are three stellar examples:
- Get Bonus!888 Casino• 7 RNG Games • 36 Live Tables£1500 Premium Offer
- Get Bonus!Ladbrokes Casino• 15 RNG Games• 10 Live Tables£600 Welcome Bonus
- Get Bonus!Betway• 17 RNG Games• 30 Live Tables£1000 Welcome Pack
But how in fact does your choice of casino impact your winning chances? Truth is that not all online casinos are safe and trustworthy. Moreover, even if you have won fair and square, some of them might refuse to pay out your winnings. By choosing a licensed and regulated casino, such as the ones we recommend, you secure yourself a fair chance at winning and, most importantly, guaranteed payouts.
Tip #2: Pick the Right Blackjack Variant
Picking the right game variant is yet another important part of an all-encompassing blackjack strategy. The most important detail about each game is undoubtedly the house edge – the lower it is, the better. Here is a comparison between the house edges of some of the most popular online blackjack games in the UK:
As you can see, the house edge of these games is already quite low (just for reference, most slot games have a house edge of 4%-6%). Still, this is the first thing you should check before trying a new blackjack game. There are, in fact, some online blackjack games that have a house edge over 1% and even over 2%. If your goal is to win and not just to have fun, then you should definitely stay clear of those.
Tip #3: Know Your Game Inside Out
Not all blackjack games are made from the same mold. In fact, there are hardly any two blackjack variations that have exactly the same rules. Therefore, applying the same basic strategy for different games simply won’t work. Every little detail about the game matters as it affects the house edge. You can learn about the specific rules of each variant from the help section of the game. Here is what information you should be looking for if you want to find the best blackjack strategy for the game you’ve chosen.
- How much does a blackjack pay?
- How many decks are in the shoe?
- Can you double on any two cards or only with specific total?
- When can you split your hand and up to how many times?
- Are you allowed to double after splitting a hand?
- Are you allowed to hit split aces?
- Do you have the option to surrender and in which cases?
- Does the dealer hit a soft seventeen?
- Is there a 5-, 6- or a 7-card Charlie?
Another particularity you should be aware of when searching for a suitable online blackjack strategy is that there are some blackjack games that bear the same name but have different rules and, consequently, different house edge. This is due to the fact that the games are provided by different software developers. For example, Classic Blackjack by Microgaming has a house edge of merely 0.13% while the game of the same name developed by NetEnt has a house edge of 0.35%. A big difference, indeed.
Tip #4: Use a Basic Blackjack Strategy Card
Hopefully, you’ve followed our tips for playing blackjack and have already chosen a specific game to play, where to play it and you’ve familiarised yourself with all its rules. Now it’s time to find a basic blackjack strategy card specific to your game of choice which will help you make the right decision in any situation.
Below, you can see an example of a strategy card that’s especially created for Playtech’s Blackjack Pro. The image clearly shows how you should play against any given dealer upcard according to the hand you’re holding. The complete strategy chart for each different blackjack variation should consist of three parts – one for hard hands, one for soft hands and one for pairs.
The easiest way to find an optimal blackjack strategy chart for the game you want to try is to generate it yourself using one of the many blackjack basic strategy calculators you can find online. Using these strategy cards is very suitable for beginners since they are extremely easy to read and at the same time they are math-based. Still, there are some things that these cards don’t cover. They don’t tell you what to do with the side bets, how much to bet and whether card counting could help you. Those are exactly the topics that we’re going to cover next.
The Perfect Blackjack Strategy for Side Bets
As we have already established in the previous paragraphs, strategy cards can be very useful when playing most blackjack games, especially for the beginners. Yet, as you may have noticed, they don’t cover any side bets whatsoever. After all, the perfect blackjack strategy is the one that takes into account all aspects of the game and this includes whether or not to place bonus bets and if yes – how much to bet.
The truth is that blackjack is a casino game with an extremely low house edge. On top of that, skilled players are able to reduce this minimal advantage even further by adopting various blackjack strategies. This is why, in the hopes to increase the house edge and, consequently, the revenues, the casinos started adding extra decks to the different blackjack variations and came up with different side bets. And while these side bets definitely add fun and variety to te game, they make players lose money, slowly but surely.
So, it’s easy to see that the best strategy for blackjack side bets is actually not to place any! Just stick to the strategy cards until you’ve gained enough experience to start testing more advanced tactics.
What About Card Counting?
When most new players hear the words ‘blackjack strategies’, they immediately think of card counting. While this strategy may still be possible in some brick-and-mortar casinos (although, in general, it’s against the house rules or at least it’s frowned upon), it is virtually unfeasible in online casinos where the deck is shuffled after each hand. The only exception to this rule is live dealer blackjack. So, if you want to try some card counting techniques while playing online, your only option is to play live blackjack games.
But what actually is card counting and can it really help you beat the casino? Card counting is a blackjack technique that helps you follow the number of high and low cards in the shoe thus giving you some insight as to what type of card might come next – a bit of knowledge that can, indeed, tip the scales in your direction. The easiest card counting system in blackjack is called Hi-Lo and works like this: for each low card (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) you see you add one point and for each high card (10, J, Q, K, A) you deduct one. The higher the count, the bigger the chances to get 10-valued cards, which are generally considered ‘good’ for the player (and bad for the dealer).
Which Is the Best Blackjack Betting System?
As we have already established, using a blackjack strategy card can help you make the right decision in any given situation, but it doesn’t answer the important question players always ask themselves ‘How much should I bet?’ As you probably already know, there are many betting systems out there, many of which claim to be a sure way to beat any online blackjack game. A huge part of those systems are progressive betting systems which are based on the idea that if you’ve lost a number of times, you’re bound to win soon. This, of course, is not true and is often referred to as gambler’s fallacy – a mistaken notion that has claimed many victims through the ages.
The plain and simple truth is that no betting system on its own can help you beat the house, but some can help you improve your odds even more when combined with other blackjack strategies. For example, when using card counting and basic strategy, you can allow yourself to increase the bet amount when the count is high, as then the strategy cards are considered to be ‘more correct’ and your chances at winning are higher. But, as we already said, this can only work if you’re playing live dealer games. The best betting strategy for RNG games, on the other hand, is to simply bet the same amount over and over again while wagering some convenient casino bonus – a topic that we’re going to discuss a little bit further down the page.
Tip #5: Test in Demo Mode
Now that you have a complete overview of an all-encompassing online blackjack strategy, you probably feel ready to finally start playing. But before you go and bet real money, it’s highly recommended that you first test your skills with play money. Going back to our example with Blackjack Pro by Playtech, we’ve prepared a demo version of the game below that you can try for free. Don’t forget to use the strategy card that we presented to you to secure yourself the best odds.
Something else that you can do while playing in demo mode is to practice your card-counting skills, even though in all RNG games the shoe is virtually shuffled after each hand. After all, there are no demo versions of live blackjack, so your only option is to practice on their computerised versions.
Tip #6: Sync Your Bonus and Blackjack Strategies
Some of the biggest advantages of playing on the Internet vs playing at land-based casinos are undoubtedly the generous bonus opportunities that online casinos offer. Even if the casino has a slight advantage in any given game, playing with extra money that isn’t actually yours and being allowed to keep the winnings surely gives the players some edge. When it comes to blackjack, combining the already low house edge of the game with a solid math-based strategy and a suitable bonus is the most certain way to beat the casino. Of course, every bonus comes with its terms and conditions that are sometimes favourable but other times – not so much.
First of all, there’s always a wagering requirement that you have to fulfil before you can withdraw the winnings generated from the bonus. This requirement in most cases is set at 20 to 40 times the bonus plus the deposit amount. Furthermore, it’s important to take into account the fact that blackjack games don’t contribute at 100% toward the wagering requirement due to the fact that they have a pretty low house edge and give the players great winning odds. Usually, the wagering contribution for the game is set anywhere between 5% and 10%, the higher it is, of course, the better. Other important details you should take into account are the validity period of the bonus and the minimum deposit required to claim it.
All that said, let us present to you an easy-to-claim bonus that is perfect for beginners and offered by a casino that has a great array of blackjack games with both classic and innovative variants – Ladbrokes. At the moment, they offer a 100% bonus up to £500 to all new players that make minimum deposit of £20 at the casino – a pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. If you agree with me and are ready to start playing for real money, then click the link below and you’ll be safely redirected to the official website of the operator:
Sure enough, this is not the only available bonus offer that is suitable for playing blackjack online, in fact, most UK casino sites give you the opportunity to wager bonus money on all their blackjack games. So, if you want to find more great opportunities to play blackjack with bonus money, then make sure you also check out our dedicated bonus page.
Final Thoughts and Advice for Long-Term Success
In conclusion, the best blackjack strategy you can adopt is the one that fully corresponds to the game variation you’ve chosen to play. Be careful to only use a game plan that has been created for the particular type of blackjack you’re playing. Otherwise, you won’t be able to achieve the results you expect.
Beginners, find yourselves a strategy card for the variation you play and stick with it. Combine it with a good bonus and you can expect a moderate return in the long run. Your number one priority should be to practice and learn. The more experienced players can, on the other hand, test their card counting skills against some unsuspecting dealer at a live casino of their choice – remember, you can see them, but they cannot see you! Furthermore, to make sure that you get the whole picture as to how to beat this game, you can also take a look at some game strategies analysed.
Last but not least, don’t forget to have fun! After all, it’s a game and its main purpose is to entertain you. Not getting too stressed about winning is a good tactic as it will help you keep a cool head and make better decisions while playing.