Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world, and for good reason. The game is easy to learn, fast paced and fun! And while there are different variations in terms of rules and types of bets, it all boils down to essentially the same thing – getting as close to 21 as possible without going over.
Fortunately for online casino gamblers, the game easily transitions to computer and mobile screens, making it an extremely popular choice online as well as live. In this guide we’ll show you how to play blackjack, explain where it’s legal, and show you what the requirements are for you to get into the action.
Unfortunately, not all states have legalized online gambling, which means you’ll only be able to play blackjack for real money if you are in a state which has regulated online casinos.
For example, if you register with a New Jersey online casino, you must be physically inside of the Garden State in order to play. You do not need to be an NJ resident, however, and you can register, deposit and withdraw from anywhere. But the bottom line is that you must be physically located in a legal state to place real money wagers and make fast payout withdraws.
With more legislators exploring the advantages of legalizing online casinos, we expect that online Blackjack will be available in even more states in the future.
Playing Blackjack online is essentially the same as playing the game in real-life. The main difference being that you are doing it via your computer or mobile device where the bets are placed virtually, rather than sitting at a table surrounded by other players and facing a dealer.
Blackjack Game Flow
Learn the following terms to get acquainted with the general vocabulary associated with Blackjack. This will allow you to conquer a variety of variations easily, no matter which rules have been added or which options are restricted. This goes for both online and offline situations. Here’s a list of the most relevant terms:
At a live casino, there are specific blackjack hand signals to remember. Hand signals indicate what your next action will be. When blackjack is played with one or two decks, the cards are dealt face down and you can hold them in your hands. When the decks are more, the cards are dealt face up. Depending on that, the hand signals are as follows:
Hit – If the cards are face up, just tap on the table with two fingers. This can also be done by lightly scraping your cards to the felt.
Stand – If you’re playing face up, just wave your hand horizontally. If the cards are face down and in your hand, put them on the table and under your bet (chips) to indicate that you don’t want more cards.
Double – When playing face down, leave your cards on the table face up and proceed to place an additional bet behind your initial wager. The second step applies to face up games as well. There is an exception here; if you have a pair, hold up your index finger to show that you don’t want a split, but a double.
Surrender – If you want to surrender in a face-down game, put your cards on the table, face up. Then, slide your index and middle fingers horizontally behind your wager. It’s also acceptable to say “surrender.”
Split – To indicate a split, place your cards face up on the table. Then, place your second bet next to your first one (and not behind as when you double). If you have a pair of fours or fives, you can show a V sign with your fingers to confirm that you are splitting and not doubling.
Although universally referred to as blackjack, there are several variations of the game offered by online and retail casinos. Some of the most popular blackjack games include:
Besides variations, blackjack with side bets exists to encourage and attract more players to try the game. These wagers are usually not advantageous for players and serve mostly to improve the house’s margins.
Here are some types of blackjack side bets:
These are just a few examples of popular side bets in blackjack. Typically, any other side bets would be similar as they pay at various odds for different combinations of cards from the original deal.
With a popular game like blackjack, there are multiple providers offering their services, especially in the US market. Some of the most prevalent online blackjack providers include:
Once you start playing, you’ll be surprised at the wide offering of variations. What’s more, you always have the option to play the demo version of your game of interest before you put in real money. With the amount of blackjack variations that exist today, it can’t hurt to try a few for free in order to find the game you like the most.
The live dealer version of blackjack is the closest thing that one can get to the experience at a brick-and-mortar casino. By playing a regular online blackjack game, you don’t really see a real person nor are you able to feel the atmosphere of a real casino. But with live dealer blackjack, you can get as close to the real deal as possible.
Luckily, the technology that we possess today allows us to take online gambling to a higher level. The best live dealers casinos are a great example of that, as they provide fast, real-time internet streams that offer a more immersive casino experience to patrons.
As you enter the game, you’ll find a real dealer dealing the cards live on a video stream. These dealers are connected to the online casino and stream the game from a studio, usually based inside of a retail casino. You’ll have all the same options that you do online, and can easily change your bet size, hit, stand, surrender, and double down, all of which will be displayed to you on your screen as all bets are done digitally.
Its also important to note that the video stream is made available by a regulated third-party provider, so the entire process is safe and secure. The two most prominent providers of live games in the US market are Ezugi and Evolution.
While at a live casino, you are sometimes boxed out by full tables, but live dealer providers have solved that issue with options like the Bet Behind feature, which allows an unlimited number of players to bet alongside specific players at the table.
Online casinos offer new customer bonuses as a marketing ploy to get people to come try out their site, some of which can be very lucrative. These bonuses do come with some wagering strings attached, however. These usually require players to wager the amount of the bonus a specified number of times. That can range from 1x all the way up to 40x the bonus amount.
Take note of the terms and conditions, because depending on the site, blackjack may or may not qualify towards the wagering requirements, and some will count blackjack at a lower rate. This is because blackjack provides players a very high return to player (RTP) percentage, so the casino could end up losing a lot of money depending on what type of bonus they are offering.
For example, a site may have 10x wagering requirement, but blackjack only counts 50%. This would mean for a $100 bonus, you would need to wager $1,000 on slots, but since blackjack only counts 50%, you would need to wager $2,000 on blackjack. Be sure to check the terms for the wagering requirements before committing to a deposit.
Playing blackjack at a casino versus online is different. Even though the game is essentially the same, there are certain points that give online play an advantage. However, playing online does come with certain downsides as well.
Pros:
Cons:
Nearly three-fourths of the states and Washington D.C. are offering some form of legal sports betting. The biggest question now is when the remaining states jum
LINCOLN — “Good luck, everyone.” So said a Bally’s Twin River dealer before dropping a ball on the roulette wheel.
Posted on: February 29, 2024, 04:24h. Last updated on: February 29, 2024, 04:24h.
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