Top Online Blackjack Casinos

Blackjack is easily the most popular casino game online and off because it’s easy to learn, and if you play your cards right, the house edge stays low. The basic rules are straightforward: The cards are worth their printed value, with all face cards worth 10 and Aces either 1 or 11. First, you draw cards, trying to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Then, it’s about beating the dealer.

Here’s a complete guide to the blackjack games hosted by legal and licensed online casinos in the US, including the best places to play the many blackjack variants, how to keep the house edge low, and a few tips for making the most of your online blackjack experience.

Can you play blackjack online?

You can play blackjack online for real money. It’s not much different from blackjack at any live casino. The cards have been traded in for a random number generator, which shuffles a virtual deck and determines the outcome of each digital card drawn. Computer graphics make it look like the same card game you play in Las Vegas and at casinos nationwide.

The betting process is different; you click buttons online instead of pushing chips forward. However, that just makes the game faster. There’s no waiting for the dealer to clear chips and cards and pay out the winners. Instead, you get paid instantly online, and it’s on to the next hand when you’re ready. Different versions are available online, with rule changes and side bets that increase the action and excitement level.

Best US online casinos for blackjack

Here’s a look at the very best online casinos in the US for blackjack and what they offer:

Caesars

Caesars Casino has a blackjack game for everyone. Its list of popular blackjack game titles includes:

DraftKings

DraftKings Casino has a massive list of blackjack games, including many exclusive to the online casino. Its blackjack game list includes:

FanDuel

FanDuel Casino has all your blackjack options covered, including live dealer games and exclusive blackjack titles:

BetMGM

BetMGM Casino’s selection of blackjack games may not be as extensive as some, but there is something for everyone, including:

BetRivers

BetRivers hosts all kinds of blackjack variants with live dealer games well represented and plenty of side bet action. Its list of blackjack games includes:

How to play blackjack online

Here’s a look at basic blackjack gameplay and rules:

• You and any other players at the table draw cards to get as close to 21 as possible without going over.
• Face cards have a value of 10, Aces are worth 1 or 11, and the other cards are worth the value printed on each.
• Each hand starts with two cards.
• An Ace and a face card or a 10 in the first two cards is Blackjack and an instant winner.
• With any other two cards, you can stick with what you have, or stand, hit by drawing another card and choosing again, or double down by doubling your bet and drawing just one more card.
• If you have a pair, you can split it by placing another equal-sized bet down and splitting your hand into two separate hands. You’ll get one more card for each of your two hands and can choose what to do with each separately: stand, hit, or possibly double down or split again.
• Go over 21 with any hand at any time, and you bust, losing that bet.
• Dealers also draw two cards to start, one up and one down.
• Once all player actions are complete, the dealer will reveal the down card and draw according to the value of the hand and the rules of the particular blackjack variant.
• If the dealer goes over 21, all active hands are winners.
• Once the dealer’s hand is set, all hands are individually compared to it. Whichever hand is closest to 21 among each player and the dealer is declared the winner.

Online blackjack for real money is easy to play, but you must first sign up for an account with an online casino, make a deposit, and choose a variant to play. Let’s run through the steps on how to join an online blackjack casino.

• Sign up: Register for an account by providing the online casino with some personal and account information, including your name and the last four digits of your Social Security number, just to verify your age. Plus, enter any casino bonus or promo code listed on this page to get the latest sign-up bonus from the casino.
• Deposit: Put some money into your account using your debit or credit card, online banking account, or an online payment processor like PayPal.
• Pick a game: Click the ‘Blackjack’ or ‘Table Games’ tab to reveal a list of available online blackjack variants. Figure out the different rules for each game and pick one to play.

Online blackjack odds

Blackjack variants have different rules. These rules usually concern your options and what the dealer must do with specific hand values, like what hands you can double down with and whether the dealer hits or stands with Soft 17.

Each rule is either player-friendly and lowers the game’s house edge or house-friendly, pushing the house edge up. The lower the house edge, the better your odds of winning. Basic blackjack with the most player-friendly rules has a house edge in the 0.5% range.

That means you should always look for blackjack with player-friendly rules. Here’s a look at some blackjack rules you should consider avoiding to keep that house edge low:

• Blackjack Pays 6:5: It should pay 3:2. If it is 6:5, the house edge is 1.4% higher.
• Dealer Hits On Soft 17: If the dealer is forced to hit on Soft 17 rather than stand, the house edge is 0.22% higher.
• No Doubling After Splitting: If you can’t double down after splitting, the house edge is 0.14% higher.
• Double Down: The house edge is higher if you can’t double down on any two cards. If you can only double down on 9s, 10s, or 11s, the house edge is 0.09% higher. It is 0.18% higher if you can double down only on 10s and 11s.
• No Surrender: If you can’t surrender, giving up half your bet and quitting when you see no way to win, the house edge is 0.08% higher.
• No Re-splitting Aces: If you can’t split Aces more than once, the house edge is 0.08% higher.
• Decks: Single-Deck Blackjack offers the lowest house edge of any variant. Two decks increase the house edge by 0.19%. Six decks increase it by 0.46%, and eight increase it by 0.48%.

You have to make the right decision with every hand in every situation to keep the house edge low. The good news is that playing so-called “perfect blackjack” is easy with the following blackjack cheat sheet by your side. It tells you what to do in four to eight-deck games where the dealer stands on Soft 17.

Popular online blackjack variants

Every online casino in the country hosts different varieties of blackjack. Here are some of the most popular blackjack variants and what makes them different from the rest.

• Classic Blackjack: Standard six-deck blackjack where the dealer stands on soft 17, and Blackjack pays 3:2. You can double down on any two cards and split Aces, but you can split only once. Insurance is available when the dealer’s first card is an Ace, and you can surrender.
• Multi-Hand Blackjack: Standard blackjack that allows you to play every spot at the table.
• Blackjack Xchange: Standard blackjack that allows you to “buy” or “sell” cards in your hand. You either pay for a new card from your balance, hoping to improve your hand, or sell a card, replacing it and giving you a chance to win more.
• Infinite Blackjack: Classic Blackjack with no waiting. Instead of seven seats, there’s only one shared by all players simultaneously.
• Lightning Blackjack: Classic Blackjack with random multipliers added to payouts.
• Speed Blackjack: 30-40% faster.
• Blackjack 21+3: Blackjack with a side bet turning your first two cards and the dealer’s up card into a three-card poker hand.
• Blackjack Poker & Pairs: Blackjack with two side bets. The Pairs side bet pays a bonus on pairs. The Poker side bet turns your first two cards and the dealer’s up card into a three-card poker hand.