If you’re looking to play some online blackjack on a crypto casino, you’ve come to the right place. Our experts have a deep understanding of the game and have ranked the casinos based on both enjoyability and maximizing your chances to win.
Blackjack Overview
Blackjack is one of the most popular and loved casino games. The goal of the game is to beat the dealer by having a hand value closer to 21 without going over. Unlike many casino games, blackjack gives players more control through decisions like hitting, standing, doubling down, or splitting pairs. Whether playing in-person or online, making mathematically correct decisions can help reduce the casino’s house edge.
How To Play Blackjack
In blackjack, it is just you against the dealer. Face cards are worth 10, Aces are worth 1 or 11 (whichever helps you more!), and every other card is worth its face value. You will immediately be given two face-up cards, while you will be able to see one of the dealer’s two cards. From here, you’ll have a decision to make. Let’s first go over the most important key terms in the game.
Hit: Take another card.
Stand: Refuse to take another card.
Double Down: You double your bet, and you receive one (and only one) more card. You can only do this immediately after you’ve received your initial two cards.
Split: If you’re dealt a pair (e.g. two 8’s), you have the option to split into two separate hands, each with a bet equal to your original wager.
Surrender: You forfeit the hand, but you get half of your stake back.
Blackjack: Occurs when you (or the dealer) is dealt an Ace along with a 10-valued card.
Bust: When your hand (or the dealer’s hand) exceeds 21. If you bust, the dealer wins immediately.
Insurance: The dealer offers you this side bet when their upcard is an Ace. You can wager up to half your original bet and it pays 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack.
You should always ask yourself the following questions in this order once you’re dealt your hand:
- Should I surrender my hand (if possible)?
- Should I split my hand (if possible)?
- Should I double down?
- Should I hit or stand?
You can find “perfect basic strategy” blackjack charts online. These will tell you exactly when it’s optimal to surrender, split, double down, hit, or stand. Once you’re happy with your hand, the dealer will be forced to hit their own hand until they reach 17 or higher. Whoever’s hand is closer to 21 without going over wins!
Payouts
If you win your hand, you’ll get paid out 1:1. For example, a $50 bet would return $100 if you win (your $50 wager + $50 profit). If you were dealt a blackjack immediately, you’ll generally get paid out 3:2. For example, if you bet $50 and you’re dealt a blackjack, you’ll receive $125 (your $50 wager + $75 profit). Some tables only pay out 6:5 for blackjack. These tables should generally be avoided.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Blackjack Casino
When choosing the best blackjack casino to play at, you will want to consider several factors:
- Game Rules: There are many different versions of blackjack, each with slightly different rules. For instance, whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17 can significantly impact the house edge.
- Variety: If you’re interested in playing a particular blackjack variant, it’s important to make sure the casino you’re signing up for has that variant.
- Bonuses: Some casinos provide Blackjack-specific bonuses, like deposit matches or cashback.
Pros & Cons of Playing Blackjack Online
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Play from the comfort of your own home
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Low table minimums
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Private tables for high rollers
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Difficult to find a blackjack table with optimal rules
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Lack of a social element
Optimal Game Rules
The rules of the table you’re playing at can drastically affect your chances of winning in the long-run. It will be next-to-impossible to find a blackjack table that has all optimal rules for the player, but it’s important to look out for tables that have at least some of these rules:
- 3-to-2 Blackjack Payout: Avoid tables that only pay out 6-to-5 when you’re dealt a blackjack. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is extremely important to ensure you’re getting a 3-to-2 payout.
- Dealer stands on Soft 17: Many tables have the dealer take another card when they have a soft 17, but it’s better for the player if the dealer stands on this hand.
- Ability to Surrender: Most tables don’t give you the option to surrender your hand, but if you find one, this can be very advantageous. Surrendering is a good option when you’re dealt an unfavourable hand (e.g. hard 16 vs. a dealer’s 10).
- Double After Splitting: It’s important to find a table that allows you to double your bet after splitting your hand.
- Fewer decks: Many casinos play blackjack with 6 or 8 decks, but fewer is ideal.
- Splitting Aces: Although tables will allow you to split aces, oftentimes you’re not allowed to take a 3rd card or double your bet.
Blackjack Tips
As mentioned previously, if you want to reduce the casino’s house edge, it is of utmost importance to make mathematically correct decisions. Here are some general tips and strategies:
- Never Take Insurance: Unless you’re counting cards (which doesn’t work online anyway), it’s recommended to decline insurance when offered as the house edge is quite high.
- Always Split Aces: When you’re dealt a pair of aces, it’s always a good idea to split.
- Never Split 10s: When you’re dealt a pair of 10s, you have an extremely strong hand of 20. It’s better not to split.
- Always Split 8s: If you have a pair of 8s, you have a total of 16, which is quite bad. It’s better to split up 8s.
- Pay attention to the dealer’s up card: If the dealer is showing a 4, 5, or 6, they are more likely to bust their hand, so don’t be afraid to stand if you have a hard 12 through 16.
- Avoid Side Bets: While the payouts can be tempting, side bets typically come with a very high house edge.
House Edge
Blackjack may seem like a fair game on the surface, but even with perfect play, the house does have a slight edge. A key reason why is the following fact: If both you and the dealer bust, you lose instead of push. In general, the house edge for this game with optimal play is around 0.3%-1%, depending on table rules.
Popular Blackjack Variants
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Lightning Blackjack
- Power Blackjack
- Infinite Blackjack
Our Ranking Methodology
To ensure you get the best blackjack experience, we carefully rank and review online casinos based on the following criteria:
Optimal Game Rules
Game Variety
Bonuses for Blackjack
Live Dealer Options
Mobile Experience