Online Blackjack Games
"Blackjack Games" - online blackjack is an incredibly popular betting game at online casino sites that is played with 1 to 8 standard card decks. The goal of the game is to obtain a hand with a value higher than the dealer's hand, without exceeding 21. Cards ranked 2 through 10 are taken at face value, while face cards are all worth 10 points. Aces are worth 1 point or 11 points, whichever the player decides for each hand.
The best possible hand in all blackjack games online is an Ace plus any 10 point card. This combination equals 21 exactly, and is known as a blackjack. If you beat the dealer with a blackjack, you'll be paid on a 3:2 ratio. If you beat the dealer with any other hand, you'll be paid even money. If your hand is tied with the dealer's, the bet pushes. If your hand exceeds 21, it's known as a bust. If both you and the dealer bust, you lose. This is what provides the house with an edge in blackjack betting games.
Best Online Blackjack Sites For Real Money Game Variety
On this page we cover all blackjack game variations and the associated betting rules that go with it. If you want to find the best sites for betting on real money blackjack games just click on any link listed above. To learn more about blackjack games online read below.
Blackjack Game Variations And Betting Rules
Players can make several basic blackjack betting decisions, including stand, hit, double and surrender. When you stand, you're indicating to the dealer that you're satisfied with your current cards. If you hit, you ask the dealer for another card. You can hit as many times as you like, until you either stand or bust.
When you double, you ask for exactly one more card while simultaneously doubling your bet. Normally, you can only double after receiving your two initial cards. When you split, you divide your initial two-card hand into two new hands. The dealer will then give additional card to each hand, and you'll need to place another wager on the table, identical to your first wager.
Some online blackjack sites and live casinos will also allow players to surrender, which can normally only be done after you receive your initial 2 cards. When you surrender, you give up on the hand and take half of your bet back.
Types Of Real Money Blackjack Games Online
There are several variations on standard blackjack rules. Many of these alternative blackjack betting game types are described below.
Super Fun 21 Blackjack
In this blackjack variant, you'll normally only receive even money for having a blackjack. However, this negative quality is offset by several lenient rules. Players can double following a split, and resplit as many as four hands. If you have a hand with a value of 20 or lower, and six cards or greater, you automatically win. You'll be paid 2:1 if you have a blackjack consisting of diamonds, of if you have a blackjack made up of 5 cards or greater.
Spanish 21 Blackjack
Spanish 21, referred to as Pontoon in Malaysia and Australia, offers a very low house edge. Spanish 21 betting games are played with 8 or 6 decks, each of which have all of the 10s removed. To make up for this, players receive several favorable rules. Players are allowed to double after a split, double with any quantity of cards, and resplit aces.
A player's blackjack will always win, regardless of what the dealer holds. If you receive 7 - 7 - 7 suited while the dealer has a 7 facing up, you'll receive a $1,000 bonus if you bet between $5 and $24. If you bet more than that, you'll receive a $5,000 bonus. All the other players at the table receive a $50 bonus as well.
Match Play 21 Blackjack
Match Play 21 is quite similar to Spanish 21. All of the 10s are removed from the decks. To make up for this, Match Play 21 betting games have special rules that allow players to earn bonuses for receiving certain hands. The best hand is called a Match Play 21. This hand consists of three suited 7s, with the dealer also having a face-up 7. This hand pays 40:1. Other special hands include:
- 7 - 7 - 7 spades - 3:1 payout
- 6 - 7 - 8 spades - 3:1 payout
- 21 with seven cards or more - 3:1 payout
- 7 - 7 - 7 suited - 2:1 payout
- 6 - 7 - 8 suited - 2:1 payout
- 21 with six cards or more - 2:1 payout
Atlantic City Blackjack
In Atlantic City Blackjack, the dealer must draw whenever his hand is worth 16 or lower. He must also stand with a hand value of 17 to 21. The player can double down with any starting hand and split any starting hand pair. You can always double after a split, but never re-split. You can only hit once on each hand when you split aces. Blackjack is paid out at 1.5:1. These rules are often considered to be more favorable towards the player than standard blackjack betting.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Perfect Pairs Blackjack is a blackjack betting game similar to standard blackjack, except that the player can make an additional side bet known as the Perfect Pairs bet. You can make this side bet at the same time that you make your initial wager. You'll win the Perfect Pairs side bet (which is a wager on your first two cards) with a mixed pair, colored pair or perfect pair. These are described as follows:
- Mixed pair - one red card and one black card with the same value.
- Colored pair - a pair where both cards are the same color.
- Perfect pair - two cards with the same suit and rank. This is possible because Perfect Pairs Blackjack uses 6 decks.
Bonus Blackjack
Bonus Blackjack is very similar to standard blackjack, with an additional bonus bet that pays out for certain starting hand combinations. Players can place a bonus bet or forego it at their option. The bonus bets are as follows:
- Ace of Spades + Jack of Spades - 50:1 payout
- Any Jack + any Ace, suited - 25:1 payout
- Any two suited cards - 5:2 payout
You can win the bonus bet in Bonus Blackjack betting games even if you bust. These bonuses are offset by the fact that you cannot surrender in Bonus Blackjack.
Doublet Blackjack
In a Doublet Blackjack betting game, players can make a standard wager as well as one or two bonus bets. The first bet is known as a 21 bet. This wager states that your first two cards will give you a blackjack, and it pays 19:1. The second bet is called the 77 bet. This wager states that one, two or three of your first three cards will be a 7. A single 7 pays 8:1, two 7s pays 40:1, and three 7s pays 250:1. These wagers must be made before any cards are dealt.
Triple 7's Blackjack
Triple 7's Blackjack is a unique spin on blackjack betting that includes a progressive jackpot. The game is played with 5 decks. At the beginning of each round, all players must post a mandatory bet towards the progressive jackpot. You have a chance of winning this jackpot even if you lose your hand. You can only split two cards with the same rank. Bonuses are paid out as such:
- 7 - 7 - 7 of diamonds wins the progressive jackpot
- 7 - 7 - 7 suited wins 1,000 betting credits
- 7 - 7 - 7 unsuited wins 250 credits
- 7 - 7 suited wins 50 credits
- 7 - 7 unsuited wins 25 credits
- One 7 wins 5 credits
California Blackjack
California Blackjack is a blackjack betting variant played mainly in California live casinos. The game is played with 6 decks, each containing the standard cards plus a joker. The jokers are worth 2 or 12, at the player's option. If you receive two jokers, you'll automatically win a 2:1 payout, so long as the dealer doesn't have two jokers himself. However, if the dealer's face up card is a joker, he'll flip over his other card and the hand concludes. If you have less than 21, you lose. If the dealer's face down card is a joker, you lose.
Blackjack Switch
In a Blackjack Switch betting game, you must start each hand by placing two identical bets. You'll then receive two hands. If the dealer's hand is showing an Ace, he'll check his down card to see if he has blackjack. If this is the case, all players lose, unless a player has blackjack as well.
Players can switch the second dealt cards of each hand to make better hands. For example, 5 - 7 and 4 - 6 could be switched around to make 5 - 6 and 4 - 7, two stronger hands. If you switch to make 21, it will only be considered a 21 and not an official blackjack.
Ante Up 21 Blackjack
Ante Up 21 Blackjack is an interesting combination of traditional blackjack and poker. You must make two wagers at the beginning of each game - one for blackjack and one as a poker ante. The ante bet must be equal to or lower than the blackjack bet. Next, each player receives two cards. Players can place another wager on the poker hand, in addition to their ante. If the player decides not to place this wager, he must also give up the ante.
The blackjack aspect of Ante Up 21 is handled in the same way as normal blackjack. For the poker aspect of the game, the dealer must have a Queen or higher for his hand to qualify. If he doesn't, each player receives a 1:1 payout on the ante bet. Straights and flushes don't matter, though high cards and pairs do. You'll win by making a better poker hand than the dealer.
Double Exposure Blackjack
Double Exposure Blackjack is a blackjack betting variation in which the dealer must expose both of his cards. This represents a massive advantage for the player, which is offset by other rules. First, the dealer wins all ties (pushes), unless the player receives a natural blackjack. Players can only perform a single split. Players can also double down with any two starting cards, though this rule can vary by casino.
Vegas Downtown Blackjack
Vegas Downtown Blackjack is very close to standard blackjack, with very minor rules differences. The game typically uses 2 decks. You can double all hands. You can also double down following a split, unless you split aces. The dealer must hit on 17, ties are pushed, and you can't make a late surrender.
Pontoon Blackjack
Pontoon Blackjack usually refers to the British version of Pontoon, which is different than Spanish 21, described above. The most notable difference between Pontoon Blackjack and a standard blackjack betting game is that in Pontoon, both of the dealer's cards are facedown. In addition, all pushes are won by the dealer. You're also required to hit with 14 or lower, and stand when you have 15 or higher.
Despite these strict rules, players have a decent chance of winning due to other more lenient rules. The dealer cannot check or play their hand until the players are completely finished with betting. A player 21 always beats a dealer 21. You can also hit after doubling down, a massive advantage. If you receive 5 cards, you automatically win a 2:1 payout.
Blackjack Diamond
In a Blackjack Diamond casino betting game, players will only receive even money from a blackjack, unless both cards are suited diamonds. To offset this, you can choose to play one of two bonus side bets. These include a 77 bet and a 21 bet. If you make a 21 bet, you'll receive a 19:1 payout if you receive a natural blackjack. If you make a 21 bet and fail to get a natural blackjack, you lose the side bet.
By making a 77 bet, you'll be betting that you'll receive one or more 7s in your hand. One 7 pays 8:1, two 7s pays 40:1, and three 7s pays 250:1.
European Blackjack
As the name suggests, European Blackjack is a blackjack betting game commonly found in European casinos. The only major difference between European Blackjack and a normal blackjack betting game is that the dealer cannot take a second card until after the players have finished making betting decisions.
Vegas Strip Blackjack
Vegas Strip Blackjack is identical to normal blackjack, except for a couple of interesting rules dictating how you double down and split. The game uses 4 decks, and sometimes more. Dealers are required to stand when they have 17. Players can split any pairs, and continue to split until they have four playable hands. You can usually double down after performing a split, as well. You can also split two 10-point value cards, so long as they have different ranks, such as a Jack and a Queen.
Blackjack Surrender
Blackjack Surrender is a unique blackjack betting game only offered at online casinos with Playtech software. This game is very similar to Vegas Strip Blackjack, with a few key rules that players should know. You can only split your hand once. When you split aces, you can only draw one card per hand. If you receive seven cards without busting, you'll win unless the dealer is holding blackjack. As the title implies, surrendering is allowed in this game.
Three Card Blackjack
Three Card Blackjack is a blackjack betting game that comes with fewer player options and the addition of a bonus bet. You'll be betting on a normal blackjack hand as well as a three card poker hand. Each bet is handled individually; you can win both, lose both, or win one and not the other. In order for the dealer's poker hand to qualify, his blackjack hand must equal 18 or above. If the dealer does qualify, you'll win even money by beating his three card poker hand with your own.
Double Attack Blackjack
Double Attack Blackjack is a blackjack betting variation similar to Spanish 21. The game uses 48-card decks, with all of the 10s removed. Players lose all pushes in Double Attack Blackjack. Players are only paid 1:1 for blackjack. Aside from these variations, the main change in Double Attack Blackjack is that you can increase the size of your wager after seeing the dealer's face up card.
The game also includes a side bet, commonly referred to as "bust it." This is a wager stating that the dealer will bust with his third card. Different payout ratios are listed below. If the dealer busts on a...
- 10, you receive a 3:1 payout.
- 9, you receive a 6:1 payout.
- 8, you receive an 8:1 payout.
- 7, you receive a 10:1 payout.
- 6, you receive a 15:1 payout.
You can receive an additional bonus when the dealer holds an eight, and then deals himself another eight with the same suit or color, resulting in a bust. If the eight is the same suit, you'll receive a 200:1 bonus. If the eight is the same color, you'll receive a 50:1 bonus.