Best live blackjack casinos
Blackjack is a universally popular card game played against the dealer. Simple to grasp, it’s probably one of the few casino games where the player can significantly influence their chances of winning.
Since you are essentially playing only against the dealer and not other players, your odds in blackjack are fairly straightforward.
Most popular blackjack games
There are lots of different versions of blackjack to play in the casino, but most casinos online will offer an experience that’s pretty similar – if not exactly the same. You’ll usually get two forms when playing blackjack: ‘Hit’ (an extra card) or ‘Stand’ (keep what you have). There may also be other additional options like doubling down or splitting cards on some games too.
As we noted earlier, it used to be thought that counting cards was easier when playing online due to fast dealing being common place. If you’re intrigued by its charm but want something a little different than traditional blackjack variations, check out our list below.
Classic Blackjack
An overwhelming favourite amount CA players. Classic Blackjack has just one deck and simple rules!
Pontoon
Based originally on Spanish Ponton beating out any other hand except for Pontoons or Five Card Trick usually pays double prize money/blackjacks get extra pay bonus amount too!
Spanish 21
Instead of playing with regular decks (all ten cards), Spanish 21 uses only a deck consisting of numbers from six to nine. It has better odds for players than traditional versions does, due mainly to loss in advantage by casinos because they don’t use tens which favor dealers when draws are made.
Details about all our top Canadian friendly blackjack casinos and free money bonuses are available right now on this page so check them out!
Live Blackjack vs Virtual Casino Blackjack
The advantage of live blackjack is that you can see the game play out in front of you, whereas when playing virtual online casino games, a random number generator is used to determine results.
If you want an experience as close to land-based casinos as possible without having to leave your home then blackjack with a real dealer and other players in the room is definitely for you.
| Live blackjack | Virtual Blackjack | |
| Opponent | Person | Computer |
| Handing out game cards | Dealer | Computer |
| Game speed | Slow, especially if there are a lot of people at the table | Player-controlled |
| Availability | May be a limited number of seats at a particular table | All the time |
| Convenience | Sometimes you have to wait, the game can be slow | Completely regulated play by you |
| Min bets | Higher | Lower |
It’s worth mentioning too that most reputable gambling sites offer both free and real money modes on their casino table games. So if it’s just about having fun or learning how to play before putting any bets down, virtual might be better suited for this at least initially.
If no option suits you in the end, you can try games like online roulette or baccarat.
The benefits of live dealer blackjack
- Better transparency: Unlike random number generator (RNG) games, you can see the dealer’s every move in real-time as well as all the cards being dealt. This is particularly relevant if you’ve got a nagging doubt about RNGs.
- No distractions: You won’t be distracted by other players with annoying habits like taking ages to decide how much they want to bet or breathing heavily into their microphones for atmosphere!
However, one drawback of live dealer blackjack are the higher minimum stakes – they’re more expensive than automated versions because there needs someone being paid well enough (usually by way less) per hour!
Blackjack playing guide
Blackjack is an easy game to learn, but difficult to master. It’s a popular choice among players who want the thrill of card games without risking too much cash. Here are some tips on how to play this exciting online casino game.
- Make sure you understand the rules before you start playing.
- Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.
- Stay calm and don’t let your emotions get in the way.
- Learn basic strategy which helps you make informed decisions based on statistics rather than gut feelings
A final tip – consider finding out what other types of blackjack exist.
General Blackjack Tips and Betting Basics
Now that you have an idea of how to play and win at online blackjack, use these general tips to fine-tune your blackjack game:
- Know when to hit or stand before starting – Once you understand basic strategy and house edge as mentioned earlier.
- Never chase losses – Losing is part of gambling, so set yourself a budget beforehand.
- If you’re new to live blackjack, start with small bets. There’s no reason to rush and risk a lot of cash if you’re not sure what you are doing.
- It’s always best to stick with the game when first playing at home so that there is as little distraction as possible.
A bit about hard hands
These are any two first cards with no Ace in them. So if you start off with 10 (Jacks/Queens/Kings also count as ten), be sure that both combined make up one hand, so potential hits could result in being closer than twenty-one for both cards!
Blackjack Glossary
The world of online casino blackjack has its own terminology. As you learn more about the game, you’ll hear words and phrases that aren’t part of your everyday language.
Below is a glossary to help get started.
| Bet | The amount wagered on each hand. |
| Burn cards | Cards taken out of play by the dealer before starting a new shoe. |
| Bust/break/going over | When players’ hands exceed 21 points in value. |
| Double down | A player’s option to double their bet after receiving initial two cards while only taking one additional card (often restricted by minimums). |
| Even money | Accepting an offered payoff equivalent to even odds (1:1), when holding natural blackjack against dealer showing Ace upcard. |
