Play Real Money Blackjack Online

There was once a time when if one wanted to play blackjack for real money, they’d either need to travel to Las Vegas or a similar location or play with friends. And playing with people you know isn’t much fun since someone has to be the dealer; you can’t just go head-to-head like in poker. Luckily, those days are over, and the world of online gambling is more massive and more accessible than ever.

Our team of experts has scoured the internet, continuously reviewing and researching betting websites to find the premier locations to share with our readers. You can see the top options for blackjack players looking to wager real money below.

Why These Sites Are the Best

Believe it or not, quite a bit of work goes into identifying the best real money blackjack sites online. Our team consistently analyzes a website itself as well as the ownership and the operations history and reputation with customers. We are always looking to remove options that don’t meet our standards while adding the top spots to our rankings.

There are numerous variables which are taken into account when reviewing a site. While we don’t have the time or space to share them all here, the following sections are a few of our highest priorities when vetting an online casino.

Real Money Blackjack Online Rules and Strategy

Blackjack Basics

• Blackjack is a card game which utilizes anywhere between one and eight 52-card decks
• A typical hand pays out the same amount that’s wagered, except for blackjacks
• All players at the table are dealt two cards, and the dealer takes two for themselves as well. Only one of the dealer’s cards is faced up; the other is called the “hole card” and isn’t seen by the player
• If a player is dealt a 21, that’s a “blackjack” and results in the player automatically winning 1.5 times the amount staked
• The object of the game is to either get 21 or get closer to the number than the dealer
• Going over 21 is a “bust” and results in an instant loss
• The value of a hand is calculated by adding the numbers written on the cards together. Face cards are worth 10. An ace can be worth either 1 or 11; it’s up to the player
• After being dealt the initial two cards, players can choose to “stay,” which means they believe their current hand will beat the dealer’s, or the dealer will bust (based on the one dealer card they see)
• The other primary option a player has is to “hit,” which means they’ll be dealt another card. Players can continue hitting until they’re satisfied with the hand’s value, reach 21, or bust
• If a player has been dealt a starting hand worth 10 or 11, they may choose to “double down.” This doubles the amount staked for that round of betting, and the player receives one more card. When doubling down, only one additional card is provided; they cannot hit again
• If a player is dealt a pair or any two 10s, they may “split,” which doubles the size of the bet and turns the pair into two separate hands. Each hand is then automatically dealt a second card. The player may then proceed with each hand treated normally, hitting multiple times if desired. However, when splitting aces, the player may not get more than one card
• After all the players have finished building their hands, the dealer flips over the hole card. If the value of their hand is under 16, they will take another card
• If the dealer busts, all of the hands still in the game (they haven’t already bust or gotten blackjack) win
• If the dealer’s hand is between 17-21, they’ll then compare their points to those of all the players; the highest total wins. If they are worth the same, it’s a “push,” and the staking amount is returned

Highest Probability Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is a game that should be played using the proper strategy. While gambling is always random, and no system will win all of the time, the rules of the game are such that you may maximize your chances. It may not appear to matter over a few hands, but long term, even the most minuscule improvement of your odds can drastically impact your bottom line.

If you select exotic varieties of real money blackjack, the odds may change some in relation to any differences in payouts. For the most part, side games should be avoided. This basic strategy will apply to standard rules without side games or bonuses and a 3-to-2 return on blackjacks.

The values of the following hands are the total of their two dealt cards. These are rules for hands not involving an ace, which means they’re “hard” hands.

• If dealt a hand worth between 4 and 8, always hit regardless of what the dealer is showing
• When dealt 9, double down when the dealer has between 2 and 6 (just hit if not allowed to double down), or hit if they have 7 or higher
• With a 10 or 11, double down as long as the dealer isn’t showing a 10 or ace (11)
• If the value is between 12 and 16, stay if the dealer is showing 2 through 6, and hit if they have 7 or higher
• Anytime your first two cards are worth 17 or higher, stay

The strategy will adjust somewhat when a player is dealt a pair. Pairs present a chance to split. This is when you should choose to do so:

• If provided with a pair of 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s, or 9s, only split when the dealer shows between 2 and 6
• Never split 4s, 5s, or 10s
• Always split 8s and aces

When an ace is dealt, the strategy changes because that card can be worth either 1 or 11 points. The following rules apply to hands with “soft” numbers, due to the ace.

• When dealt a soft 13 through 15, always hit regardless of the dealer’s cards
• If holding a soft 16 through 18, double down as long as the dealer is showing 2 through 6. If they’re showing 7 or higher, just hit
• Always stay when dealt a soft 19 through 21, no matter the dealer

Odds on Real Money Blackjack Online

Blackjack’s odds are entirely dependent upon the rules being used. For example, in some casinos, a player may double down on any two cards, whereas others only allow this for values of 9 to 11 or 10 to 11. The rules will also vary on the ability to split aces, the numbers of decks used, and whether the dealer hits or stays on soft 17.

For this article, we’ll be utilizing a reasonably standard ruleset. The dealer is using eight decks, the player can double down any two cards, the dealer stands on soft 17, no splitting aces is allowed, and blackjack pays 3 to 2, or 1.5 times the amount bet.

Playing with the optimal strategy, the house edge in blackjack is reduced to only 0.5%. If you choose to deviate from the plan and trust your intuition every once in a while, that house advantage extends to 2%-3%, which will make a big difference over time.

For example, when you’re holding a 16 while the dealer is showing a 7, it may be difficult to hit because doing so will bust a majority of the time, and many people prefer to stay in the game longer despite the math. If you choose to stand in this situation, you can expect to lose roughly 74% of the time, whereas hitting 16 versus a 7 reduces the odds of failing to 67.5%.

It’s a bad hand, so no matter what, your likelihood of winning is low, but as long as you keep giving yourself the best odds available, these decisions add up and can be the difference between losing your bankroll and turning a profit.

Following the rules laid out in the previous section will keep the house advantage to a minimum. It can be challenging, but try your best to eliminate intuition or gut-based decisions when you’re playing blackjack. Every now and again, you might deviate and see favorable results on a hand, but more often than not, you’re going to cost yourself. Plus, those singular wins often inspire many more similar decisions, giving back whatever you earned on the lucky winner.

Legality of Real Money Blackjack Online

Depending on the jurisdiction in which you live, the legalities of real money gambling online will differ. Regions run the gambit of how they treat gaming, with some allowing almost all betting activities, others only legalizing specific wager types, and a few which outlaw online gambling altogether.

You should know that in many areas without legal internet betting, individuals may still access offshore operations and play without fear of punishment. If you’d like to learn more about how online gambling is regulated and check the status of your location, click the following link. You will also find recommendations for the best gaming websites in each country.

Other Real Money Casino Games

Blackjack is one of the all-time classic card games and one of the favorites in any casino, online or not. One of the reasons is because it offers some of the more favorable odds in the entire casino, as long as you play with the proper strategy. That tension when you’re waiting to see the dealer’s card or hoping that they bust is exhilarating, especially when things work out in your favor.

However, even the most celebrated games can get boring or repetitive from time to time. Once you’ve had your fill of the best real money blackjack online, you should check out some of the many other exciting casino games. If you want another table game, we’ve written guides highlighting roulette, craps, baccarat, and Sic Bo.

Maybe you’re more in the mood for electronic games, where a relatively small bet can result in massive returns! If that’s more your speed, our articles about slots, video poker, and keno will all share valuable details concerning these forms of gaming in addition to providing the best places to play.

You may jump straight to a specific page if you already know the next casino activity you’re interested in after blackjack.