Play Real Money Blackjack Online

Once upon a time, if you wanted to play blackjack for real money, you either had to travel to Las Vegas or a similar hotspot, or play with your buddies. And playing with people you know isn't much fun because someone has to be the dealer; you can't just go head-to-head like in poker. Anyway, those days are gone, and the world of online gambling is bigger and more accessible than ever.

Our cadre of specialists has scoured the web, relentlessly evaluating and researching gambling sites to discover the top places to present to our audience. Below you will find our readers' suggestions for the best places to play blackjack for real money.

Why These Sites Are the Best

It may sound surprising, but a lot of work goes into finding the best online blackjack sites to play for real money. Our team of experts leaves no stone unturned when looking at a site and its ownership, checking both its operational history and its reputation among players. We are always trying to eliminate inferior choices and also adjust our ranking to reflect what we believe to be the truly top blackjack sites.

Many aspects are taken into consideration when reviewing a site. Although we do not have the time or space to list them all here, the following examples illustrate some of our main priorities when reviewing an online casino. Consistency in reviews is essential.

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

Playing Blackjack means having the right strategy. Although gambling is based on chance and there is no guarantee of winning, the very nature of Blackjack allows for a degree of player control. You can improve your odds. You can give yourself a fighting chance to walk away with more money in the long run than you started with.

If you choose to play unusual types of real money blackjack, the odds may be affected somewhat because of any variations in payouts. In general, side games should be avoided. This basic strategy is meant to apply to standard rules that don't include side games or bonuses, with a 3-to-2 payout 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 you have a hand valued between 4 and 8, you should hit every time, no matter what the dealer shows
• If you have a 9, double down if the dealer shows between 2 and 6 (if you are not allowed to double down, just hit), or hit if they show 7 or higher.If you have a 10 or an 11, double down as long as the dealer doesn't show a 10 or an ace (11):
• Stand if the dealer shows 2-6, even if you have 12-16
• Hit for 7 or higher
• If your first two cards total 17 or more, do not take another card;

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:

• When holding a pair of 2s, 3s, 6s, 7s or 9s, split only if the dealer shows between 2 and 6
• never split 4s, 5s or 10s
• 8s and Aces always split;

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.

• If you are dealt a soft 13 through 15, always hit. It doesn't matter what the dealer has
• If you have a soft 16-18, double down if the dealer shows a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. If the dealer shows a 7, 8, 9, 10, or an ace, just hit.
• No matter what the dealer shows, always stay in if you have a soft 19 through 21;

Odds on Real Money Blackjack Online

The odds in Blackjack depend entirely on the rules used. For example, some casinos allow a player to double down on any two cards, while others allow this action for a much more limited range of values, such as 9 to 11 or 10 to 11. When it comes to Blackjack, you can see that even small variations in the rules can have a profound effect on the odds. And these rule variations don't just affect doubling down; they also affect splitting, the number of decks used, and whether the dealer hits or stays on a soft 17.

For our purposes here, we'll use a fairly standard set of rules. The dealer uses eight decks; the player can double on any two cards; the dealer stands on a soft 17; and, most importantly for the player, blackjack pays 3 to 2.

The house edge in blackjack is no more than 0.5% when playing with the best strategy. If you rely on your intuition and play a little more freely, the house edge can jump up to 2% to 3%. That's a big difference that can make or break you.

For example, if you have a 16 and the dealer has a 7, it may be difficult to hit because it is likely to result in a bust. Many people would rather stay in the game longer, hoping for better results than the math indicates, even though they claim to be making decisions based on basic strategy. When they stand, they lose about 74% of the time. When they hit, they only lose about 67.5% of the time.

This is a bad starting hand, and yet you have a low chance of winning, based on the principle of giving yourself the best chance to turn the scenario around. So - you know your hand is bad, and you know your chances of winning are slim, but doing something is better than doing nothing, right? - By following the principle of giving yourself the best chance to win while minimizing your losses, you accomplish two things that are very important to accomplish in this world.

Follow the rules from the previous section. These rules keep the house edge to a minimum. It is difficult to play without deviating and still follow the rules, but try your best. As with any good strategy, you will not get the result you want if you play a game of 21 and think you can use a hunch or skew your decisions in favor of an intuitive choice. Although it feels good to win because your decisions were similar to a basic strategy, in reality it is only good because two wrongs make a right. And don't think about the times you might have rolled 21 and thought, "Wow, that was a close call! There shouldn't be two close calls when you're playing on terms that minimize the house advantage. And if you're thinking that way, or if you're trying to make the game feel closer to your preferred style than to basic strategy, be aware that you're setting yourself up for a bigger average loss over time.

Legality of Real Money Blackjack Online

The laws regarding real money gambling on the Internet vary greatly depending on where you live. Some parts of the world are quite liberal in their approach to gambling and betting, allowing almost all types of bets to be placed. Other jurisdictions have a more mixed approach, legalizing only certain types of bets. And a few jurisdictions have gone so far as to ban Internet gambling altogether.

In some regions where Internet gambling is not legal, people can still access foreign gambling sites and place bets without fear of getting caught. To familiarize yourself with the regulation of online gambling and to check the status of your site, click on the link below. You will also find recommendations for the best gambling sites in each country.

Other Real Money Casino Games

One of the all-time classic card games, Blackjack enjoys a place among the very favorites of any casino, virtual or otherwise. One reason, among many, is that it offers some of the better odds in the entire casino, if you play with the right strategy. And that is the crux of the matter: whether or not you are able to play with the right strategy. After all, how can you beat the casino at its own game if you don't know how to play, say, Blackjack?

However, even the most famous games can sometimes become boring or monotonous. If you've had your fill of the best online real money blackjack, try one of the many other exciting casino games. If you're in the mood for another table game, we've got guides to Roulette, Craps, Baccarat and Sic Bo.

Perhaps you prefer electronic games, where a relatively small bet can pay off in big wins! If that's the case, the articles we've compiled on slots, video poker, and keno will not only give you the lowdown on these forms of gambling, but also direct you to the best places to play them.

If you know the next casino event you want to skip to after Blackjack, you can go directly to that specific page.