If you are not sure how to do this, we have prepared a detailed guide on playing real money blackjack games online. We have written the basic game rules, popular blackjack games you can play online, tips on how to play blackjack among many other things. Be sure to also check some of the top rated blackjack sites for US players listed here.
A Guide to Real Money Blackjack Gaming
Play Online Blackjack in the best Casinos
Blackjack is a high stake, winner-take-all, zero-sum game that you need to fully understand before playing it. The game has never been the same since the digital revolution, as software providers develop their own unique version of the game, including all new functions and features, which you cannot mimic in a brick-and-mortar atmosphere. The best part about is all is that anyone who enjoys playing online but still craves the realistic brick and mortar experience can enjoy the best of both worlds by visiting the live casinos.
Benefits of Café Casino
- Accepts USA players
- One of the best community forums online
- Well defined VIP program dubbed as the Café Casino Perks
Benefits of Ignition Casino
- They have the best poker platform to accompany the casino
- The games portfolio is frequently updated
- Player transfer and Bitcoin payments supported
Benefits of Slots.lv
- It accepts U.S. players
- The number of promotions and bonuses on offer
- Holds a valid license from one of the top bodies
Ignition Casino
Ignition Online Casino is the easy pick if you are serious about online casino gaming, thanks to its no-frills interface, low vig on poker and ability to offer you high bet limits on almost every game you wish to play. For some of us who have been playing at the casino for a while, we can tell you that the design hasn’t been updated for the longest time, but pros don’t care about this.
The site has plenty to offer, making it possible for you to bet on tons of games from renowned software providers. If you are a poker player, the low vig can save you six figures a year, especially if you are a heavy bettor.
Benefits of IGNITION Casino
- They have the best poker platform to accompany the casino
- The games portfolio is frequently updated
- Player transfer and Bitcoin payments supported
Rating
Café Casino
Café Casino has had some payment hullabaloos over the years, but they have never let that affect the way they operate. Café Casino has been an online casino since 2016 and the overall look of their website still reflects this. Several members here at US Casinos Hub have been members since then and continue to play our games at the site, largely because they have earned our trust with payouts.
If you are searching for a well-established online casino that lets you mind your own business and doesn’t blink when you place large bets too, it is tough to against Café Casino. Read our unbiased review on Café Casino and discover other attributes that make it a must-try name if you are searching for a US friendly site.
Benefits of Café Casino
- Accepts USA players
- One of the best community forums online
- Well defined VIP program dubbed as the Café Casino Perks
Rating
Slots.lv
Slots.lv Online Casino is dependable when it comes to payouts, but they are not the fastest or most diverse in the industry. However, when it comes to trustworthiness, they are one of the best, especially as far as paying out players winnings is concerned. As soon as you meet the minimum withdrawal requirements, you are as sure as a new day that you will get your winnings.
That said, be ready to answer a phone call or two if you are making huge withdrawals. Some may find this hassle to be an extra mental deterrent from withdrawing their winnings but it’s only meant to ensure your money remains safe at all times. Cooperate and you will have your rightful winnings as per the stipulated time frame. But is it only in payments that Slots.lv casino excels? Not quite. Read our review and find out what else you stand to benefit from the site.
Benefits of Slots.lv
- It accepts U.S. players
- The number of promotions and bonuses on offer
- Holds a valid license from one of the top bodies
- A variety of games to pick from
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Betonline
BetOnline is an easy endorsement if you are searching for an old, stable online casino, not just based on the history they have, but from the history, we have with the site. It is an online betting site that started back in 1991 as a betting shop.
In 2001, they went online and two years later, we started playing with them. Since then, we’ve got so many payouts with the various payment methods they offer. So much that we don’t hesitate to trust them with our money. Some players may not like their withdrawal or bet limits, but you cannot question their impeccable payout reputation and lack of any significant scandal. Also, if you are looking to play enthralling poker, BetOnline is one of the highly recommended places to visit.
Benefits of Betonline
- 20+ years offering casino and betting services
- Variety of payment options, including several cryptocurrencies
- Licensed, regulated and proven to be a safe brand to visit
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Intertops
It’s disappointing to see most of the online gambling brands moving bonuses to free plays, but Intertops is still one of the sites offering straight cash. The bonus is also awarded in one of the highest percentages and friendliest rollover requirements in the industry, which in our opinion is a good combination. Read more about this RTG, Spinomenal and Rival powered online casino and see if it suits your gaming needs in our unbiased Intertops Casino review.
Benefits of Intertops
- Two online casino platforms under one website
- Has a long history offering casino services
- 2,000,000+ visitors each month, especially the poker branch
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BigSpin Casino
Big Spin brings you a classic online casino experience powered by both BetSoft and Visionary Gaming software. Players who choose to sign up start off with a nifty welcome bonus offer, which prepares you for an onslaught of other frequent bonuses including daily reloads, monthly prizes, among others.
Big Spin casino accepts US players and supports several US-friendly payment methods, including cryptocurrencies. If you are eager to know more about this brand and what they have to offer, our Big Spin Casino review has all the information in detail.
Benefits of BigSpin Casino
- Plenty of high paying jackpot games
- Safe, secure and regulated by several international bodies
- Custom bonuses and promotions to loyal players
Rating
El Royale Casino
Are US players currently welcomed to El Royale Casino? Who can claim the welcome bonus offer? And what are some of the benefits of playing at this licensed online casino website? All the answers to these questions can be found in our detailed and unbiased review of El Royale Casino. Our El Royale Casino review also includes plenty of other information to help you make the best call on whether El Royale fits your gaming preference.
Benefits of El Royale Casino
- Huge welcome bonus package, which is easy to redeem
- Strict but easy to complete verification procedure
- Excellent service delivery overall
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How We Rate The Best US Blackjack Casinos Online
Our experienced team of experts have been playing blackjack for more than a decade now – both online and at the land-based casinos. Based on the combines decades of playing at the blackjack tables, we must say that there is no definite formular for picking the “best US blackjack casino” online. Different players have different tastes. Some prefer a site that offers a wide variety of games while other would rather play live dealer games. There are those who would rather play at sites with a variety of games, besides blackjack.
Therefore, putting all these factors into consideration, we usually conduct a thorough analysis before recommending blackjack sites. These are the factors that we tend to look at.
- Licensing and Security
- Bonuses and Promotions
- Banking Options
- Support
- Games Offered
- Ease of Use and Navigation
What Is Blackjack?
In the most basic definition, blackjack is one of the popular table games played at the casino. The game uses cards, which are dealt to both the dealer (who represents the house) and the player. The game is played using one or multiple deck of cards constituting of 52 cards. Like most of the other casino table games, you are playing online blackjack against the house and not the other players seated at the table.
How to Play Blackjack
Playing online blackjack for free or real money is straightforward and easy. You just need to find a reliable, safe and secure site and you are good to go. Yet, despite the ease of playing this beautiful card game, not many people understand the rules. In this section, we take you through all the basics you need to know before committing any real money to the game.
Place Your Bet
The first and most important step is to place your bet. Real money online casino gaming requires that you commit real money. You can get this money in your account using several US friendly payment methods, which include Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and other cryptocurrencies.
Dealer’s Play
Once you’ve placed your bet, the dealer deals two cards to all the players seated at the table. These cards are dealt face down. He/she then proceeds to deal two cards to him/herself. One of these cards faces down while the other one faces up – this however can change in some blackjack games. If you are not playing live dealer blackjack, the role of dealing the cards is left to the software.
The Real Action
After the second play, it now comes to you as a player to decide what to do. There are several in-game actions that you have to make. Decide whether you wish to stand, hit, double down, split, take insurance or surrender. All these actions are influenced by the value of cards you have at hand.
Once every player has made his/her move, the dealer is also expected to make his/her move before the results are determined. Depending on the variation that you are playing, the dealer is expected to hit on a soft 16 or stand on a 17.
You can win when:- The value of your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer
- If the dealer’s hand value is more than 21 – bust – and yours is below 21
- If the value of your first two cards is exactly 21 – in which case you have a blackjack
In-Game Actions
If you are playing a software-based blackjack game, these are some of the pop ups that you will see appearing on your screen. If you are playing live dealer blackjack, watch closely the hands of your dealer. If you do not understand what he/she is doing, send a message through the live chat box on your screen and they’ll be glad to explain in detail. Below are some of the common pop-ups that you will see and what they mean.
Hit – when you click on the “hit” pop up, you are simply asking for an extra card. The software will deal for as long as you hit. Just ensure you don’t bust
Stand – standing simply means that you are satisfied with your card selection. You don’t want any extra card
Double Down – you are simply doubling the value of your bet. You cannot hit once you choose to double down
Split – this option only becomes available if you have a pair of cards thasimilar e.g., 8-8, 10-10, 5-5 etc. When you chose to split, you are playing the two cards are separate hands. You are, therefore, required to double your bet and choose to either hit, stand, double down etc.
How Are The Cards Valued?
Knowing the value of cards is a crucial element of mastering blackjack. This knowledge helps you come up with a proper and feasible betting strategy. Below is a breakdown of how each card is valued.
- Cards ranging from 2-10 retain their face value
- Kings, Queens, and Jacks are all worth 10
- Aces can either be valued as 11 or 1. It’s up to you to determine the value of the card
Note that you can have a soft or hard hand in blackjack. A hard hand is one where you decide the value of the Ace to be 1 while a soft hand has its Ace valued as 11.
Popular Blackjack Games Online
Classic Blackjack
Classic blackjack can be played using a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 8 decks of cards. The dealer and player are both dealt two (2) cards, with one facing down for the dealer. This is the hole card. You win when you have a hand that’s equal to 21 or better than that of the dealer. Furthermore, if the dealer’s card exceeds 21, as long as yours is below 21, you automatically win.
Progressive Blackjack
Progressive jackpot follows typical blackjack rules. The only difference is that it has a jackpot that grows each time someone plays a hand. There is, however, an extra bet that you have to place to win the jackpot. This one is popular among jackpot hunters
Spanish 21
It is the most popular alternative to the classic blackjack game. It is played using a 6-8 decks of cards. All the 10-value cards are removed from the decks of cards to leave only 48 cards. Because of this, the house edge tends to be a little higher, but the payout is good. Another noteworthy difference is that the dealer can peek at his/her hole card and win if it results into a Blackjack.
Super Fun 21
It is only played using a single deck of cards and warrantees tons of fun and returns. It uses the same rules played by classic blackjack, with the only exception coming in during payouts. When you get a Diamond Blackjack, you receive a payout of 2:1. Also, if you have a natural blackjack from the first two cards, you automatically win even if the dealer also has a blackjack.
Blackjack RTP and House Edge
Blackjack sites were designed to entertain casino players. But in as much as their main objective is to entertain, they are also meant to make the operator some cash. How you ask? The casino operator gives themselves a slight advantage over the player. This built-in mathematical advantage found in every online casino is referred to as the house edge.
The outcome of every spin or hand dealt has two aspects; the Return To Player (RTP) percentage and House Edge. The RTP is simply the expected long term return of the game to a player, while the house edge is the expected return to the casino. In blackjack, just like any other game, the house edge and RTP vary from one game to another. Here are some of the figures on some of the popular games.
- Single Deck Blackjack – the RTP is 99.75%, while the house edge is 0.25%
- Multi-Hand Blackjack – the RTP is 99.60%, while the house edge is 0.40%
Note: The numbers indicated above can vary from one blackjack game to another, including live dealer games. Furthermore, different software providers put different figures on their games. What matters most is that reputable blackjack sites should make the house edge available to its players. This way, one can best pick the game that suits their needs.
You Can Play Blackjack On The Go
Like most modern gamers, you probably wish to play blackjack online on your tablet or smartphone. Whether you are on the iOS, Android, Windows or Google platform, playing real money blackjack on your mobile device has never been easier. As all modern blackjack games are developed using the HTML5 technology, they are fully optimized and responsive across all platforms.
This means that you can access best blackjack sites using your device’s browser or simply download the casino app to your device. Regardless of your preference, we have a few sites recommended on our website. As long s you have a smartphone and internet connection, the best blackjack games are at your fingertips.
The Advantage of Blackjack To A Player
By fully understanding the small and not so obvious advantages you have over the house, you will start seeing how you can turn the tables and try to gain the upper hand over the house, or at least lower the house edge.
You Are Allowed to "double-down" on Your Hand…
But the dealer is not. You have the unique opportunity to “double down”, which means that you can double the amount you win if you feel you have the upper hand against the dealer. This improves your chances of winning big, especially if you know the right time to double down your bet
You Can Also Split Pairs…
But the dealer cannot. This is advantageous to you in the sense that you have the ability of playing two hands at a go and potential of winning both.
Surrendering Is An Option
Which is why many online casinos don’t offer this option. When you choose to surrender, it means that you have a very bad hand. If the casino allows for you to surrender, you will only lose half your stake only. It means you have another chance to fight back instead of losing the whole thing
Blackjack Tips To Remember
Blackjack, unlike slots and video poker, is not a guessing game. Every move you make while at the table affects the outcome. This, therefore, means knowing what move to make every time could be the difference between winning or losing a hand. The blackjack tips below will help you know what move to make during gameplay.
When To Stand
Put plainly, if you have a hand value of 17 or over, the best move is to stand. Beyond this, it all depends on what the dealer’s upcard is. As a rule of thumb, if you hand value is 13 or over and that of the dealer is 6 or lower, the best move will be to stand. Most online casinos require the dealer to hit on 16 and stand on a soft 17. If he/she hits on 16, there’s a high chance of busting.
Double Down
Unless the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, the best move will be to double down on 11. The same applies for a total of 10, with the added caveat being that you should double down if the dealer’s upcard is 10. You can also opt to double down if your hand value is 9 and the dealer’s total is between 3 and 6 because you are sure the dealer will have to hit.
When To Hit
If you are holding a hand valued between 5 and 8, hit regardless of the dealer’s hand. You can’t go bust. If you have a hand valued between 12 and 16, you should only hit if the dealer’s upcard is a 7 or above. Outside of these situations, you should stand, split or double down depending on what the dealer’s upcard is.
Splitting In Blackjack
Common sense dictates you split if you are holding a pair of 8s or Aces regardless of the dealer’s upcard. Never split a 5-5, instead, hit or double down. If you are holding a 10-10, the best move is to stand.
Never Take an Insurance Bet
If you look at the numbers, going for the “insurance bet” is never really worth it. When the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, they tend to have a blackjack only 20% of the time. Mathematically, 4/5 you’ll be taking the insurance, you won’t be needing it.
Are You Ready To Take On The Dealer?
Are you ready to put whatever you’ve learnt to test? Play blackjack for real money at Ignition Casino for a remarkable immersive experience as you try and form the strongest hand possible to beat the dealer. The selection of blackjack tables will leave you astounded, especially with state-of-the-art studio designs and very professional dealers.
Classic Blackjack, European Blackjack, Zappit Blackjack, and Perfect Pairs Blackjack are but a few titles you can expect to find. Keep in mind that different tables use different rules and betting options. Just ensure you pick a table that suits your style of play before committing real money.
While playing blackjack online at Ignition is remarkably fun, the casino also offers a boatload of other games. Dip your toes in slot machine games, roulette and video poker. Do you consider yourself a pro in hiding your poker face? Why don’t you bluff your way to the top by playing poker or fill 007’s shoes by playing live baccarat?
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to play live dealer blackjack games online. While they may not be as many as the software-based games, online casinos offer plenty of live dealer blackjack games to cater to all sorts of players. Visit any of the recommended online casinos, pick your favourite game, grab your virtual seat and start playing.
The best part of playing live dealer blackjack is that you get to interact with the dealer just as you would at the brick-and-mortar casino. You can also chat with other players seated at the table through the innovative chat feature.
Blackjack is a universal and one of the most popular casino games. Any US friendly online casino will have real money blackjack game.
No, blackjack games are not rigged. Whether you are playing the live dealer version or the software-based game, you can expect 100% fair results. Licensed and regulated online casinos are required by law to ensure all their games are fitted with Random Number Generators. The RNG software ensures the games are 100% random and unpredictable.
The Federal government expunged the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 on 22 May 2018 thus making online casino and sports betting legal in the US.
Yes, you can play online blackjack on your mobile device. Software providers work in collaboration with online casinos to ensure games are fully optimized for play on internet enabled devices.