Blackjack is a trendy card game played in casinos worldwide. Every player, including the dealer, gets two cards and can choose to hit, to receive another card, or stand. The aim is to get a hand of a total value of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. On this page we will further explore online blackjack games. Here are some of the most popular blackjack games and variations available. Classic Blackjack, European, and Vegas Downtown Blackjack are among the most popular.
Here are our selections for the best blackjack sites with a great selection of online blackjack games.
The blackjack card game has a history that dates back to the 1700s. It is believed to have started in French casinos. Blackjack was initially called "Vingt-et-Un", which means "twenty-one" in French. Also known as "21", the game's object is to beat the dealer.
The game was introduced in the US in the 1800s. Then it was in the 1900s that its popularity skyrocketed. There was an increase in casinos that were offering the game. Later on, casinos implemented various countermeasures with the game. Mainly, it was to prevent card counting that casinos noticed to have become an edge of players. Still, the game continued to evolve.
Today, blackjack is still continuously evolving. Moreover, it remained one of the most popular games in casinos, whether land-based or online. Online casinos where you can play online blackjack games have also increasingly become popular. Still, the basic game principle remained - beat the dealer's hand without going over 21.The main objective of the game is to beat the dealer. Notably, the player does it by having a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer's hand value but not exceeding 21. Players must place their bet before they get their cards to start the game. Once all bets are placed, the players and the dealer get two cards each. The dealer's card is one faced down while the other is faced up. Meanwhile, the player's cards are all faced up.
Each card has a point value. The cards 2-10 are worth their face value. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 each, while Aces can be 1 or 11. The Aces value will depend on which is more advantageous to the player.
Players' options include "hit" or "stand". If the player hits, they request another card. Meanwhile, standing means they are satisfied with their card. The players "bust" and lose their bet if they exceed 21 points. On the other hand, if the dealer bust, players who did not bust win. In the case that neither the player nor the dealer bust, the hand with the highest value and did not exceed 21 wins.
Players can also "split" their hand if they receive two cards of the same value. Or they can "double down", which means they can double their bet and receive one additional card. Also, an important rule is that when the dealer's hand is 16 or less, they must hit or stand if it is 17 or more.
These blackjack side bets are a popular addition to the basic game, where players can place bets on their outcome. They provide higher payouts than the main game. However, the odds of winning are low. Players place side bets at the beginning of the game. Mainly, it is before the card is dealt, and they are settled at the end of the round. Below are some of the popular side bets types of card games blackjack:
In these games blackjack side bet, players get a payout when their first two cards are the same. The pay varies depending on the casino but typically at a rate of 25 to 1 or higher.
When the players' first two cards are the same rank but different suits, they receive a payout in this side bet. This side bet typically pays out at a rate of 6 to 1 or higher.
With this side bet, the player receives a payout when their first two cards are the same colour and same rank. The payout is usually at a rate of 12 to 1 or higher.
In this side bet, the player's initial two cards combine with the dealer's up-card, forming a three-card poker hand such as a flush or straight. The payout for this side bet can be as high as 100 to 1.
This Straight Flush side bet pays out when the player's first two cards and the dealer's up-card form a straight flush. Depending on the casino, the pay varies, but it's typically at a rate of 40 to 1 or higher.
In this side bet, the player gets a payout when their first two cards and the dealer's up-card form a flush. The pay varies, but it's usually at a rate of 5 to 1 or higher.
The Three of a Kind side bet pays out when the player gets their first two cards, and the dealer's up-card forms a three of a kind. The typical pay is at a rate of 30 to 1 or higher. Still, it varies depending on the casino.
This side bet pays out when the player's first two cards and the dealer's up-card form a three of a kind that is also suited. The pay, as always, vary per casino, but it's usually at a rate of 100 to 1 or higher.
The Straight side bet pays out when the dealer's up-card and the player's first two cards form a straight. The usual pay rate is 10 to 1 or higher. Again, the pay still varies depending on the casino.
Here are the most popular blackjack variations that you can find at online casinos.
Both of the dealer's cards are dealt face-up in Blackjack Double Exposure. Consequently, it gives players an advantage by knowing the dealer's hand. However, some rules are in place to balance the advantage. For example, the dealer wins all ties except for a tie with a natural blackjack.
This unique blackjack online variation is only available in a few casinos. The player can double their bet after seeing the dealer's up-card. Mainly, when the player sees and believes that the dealer's hand is weak, they can double their bet and try to beat the dealer.
The Vegas Strip blackjack is played with four decks of cards. It follows the standard rules of blackjack but with few variations. Notably, players can split their hand up to three times. As a result, it increases their winning chances.
Originating in the UK, the game is similar to traditional blackjack but has a few differences. In Pontoon, "twist" is used instead of "hit". Also, in Pontoon, if a player has a hand total of 15 or less, they must "twist".
You play the Spanish 21 with a Spanish deck of cards. The deck consists of 48 cards. Here, a player's hand of 21 always wins. It is regardless of the dealer's hand. Spanish 21 also has several bonus payouts.
In this blackjack variation, the player can play multiple hands all at the same time. Mainly, the player can play up to 5 hands at a time. It makes this game more challenging as players must keep track of multiple hands simultaneously.
Players make an additional side bet in this game. It is for them to be eligible for the progressive jackpot. Moreover, the pot increases every time the player places a side bet. The jackpot amount continues to grow until a player wins it.
You play Atlantic City with eight decks of cards. The unique feature of Atlantic City is the late surrender option. After the dealer checks for blackjack, the player can still surrender their hand.
In Switch, players are dealt two hands. They can switch the top card of each hand to create a better hand. Here, players must make two equal bets, one for every hand.
Here are some of the more popular online blackjack games.
In American Blackjack Turbo, there are six decks of cards. The game begins when the player places their bet. The dealer then deals two cards for the player and two cards for themselves. The one dealer card is face down. The game's goal is to get a hand close to 21 than the dealer's hand but not exceed 21. If the player's hand exceed 21, they lose the game.
You play the European Blackjack Turbo with two decks of cards. The game's goal is the same as the American Blackjack Turbo. It is to get a hand close to 21 than the dealer's but not exceed 21. However, in this game, the dealer is only dealt with one card face-up. Furthermore, the dealer must wait until the player has finished making decisions before drawing a second card.
Our team of UK blackjack game experts consists of knowledgeable and experienced gambling industry professionals. Each of our experts reviews new and existing online blackjack games and gives their opinions based on the Gambling Zone Game Criteria.
Kyle is a freelance writer based in the UK. Throughout his writing career, he has written a wealth of iGaming-related content, including game reviews, casino reviews, news updates, and more.
When Kyle is not writing content, he’s probably playing video games, watching movies, or reading.
Liam is an experienced NCTJ-accredited journalist and content writer specialising in iGaming and sports betting. He is a freelance writer and has worked with several big publications in the industry. During his career, he has created casino content for top national newspapers and publications, including talkSPORT and The Sun, among others.
Michael has worked in media and publishing for the last 20 years. His first jobs in online publishing were at online tech sites focusing on Microsoft Networking, Security all the way through SaaS and Cloud technologies. In 2016 he started his online gambling journey and since then has worked at Betsafe, Royal Panda, STS, iBet Network and now Gambling Zone.
Chloe is an accomplished content writer with over four years of experience writing hundreds of articles across a variety of niches. In the past three years her focus has turned towards the iGaming and online casino sector and has worked with numerous brands to create content from promotional material, game reviews, and more. From classic fruit machines to Megaways and Jackpot King, Chloe has written about it all with her unique tongue-in-cheek flair.
Many game providers have developed games to cater for the high demand for blackjack worldwide. Below are the three top providers of online blackjack games. They have created ultimate game versions with unique features.
The company just joined the industry in 2015. Hence, Pragmatic is a newcomer in the online gaming industry. However, the company has immediately established an excellent reputation. Mainly, it's for providing quality online casino games. Blackjack card games by Pragmatic are famous for their user-friendly dynamic gameplay and interface.
Another leading game provider in online gaming, Evolution concentrates on providing casino games, including blackjack. Remarkably, the company has multiple awards for product excellence. Their online blackjack games are famous for their realistic feel. It makes players feel like they are at an actual blackjack table in a land-based casino.
Founded in 1999, Playtech is one of the top gaming providers globally. Remarkably, the company has earned a reputation for creating revolutionary and highly entertaining casino games. Its games, which include different blackjack variations, are famous for high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay.
A lot of people send Gambling Zone questions about online blackjack. Here is a collection of the most common questions we get asked and their answers.