Live and Online Blackjack at Online Casinos
Blackjack is one of the oldest games still being played in casino settings today, and with the offering of online casinos, players can enjoy this fast paced game at any time, from any location. Online casinos offer an opportunity to engage in blackjack and with multiple game variations and some stellar casino bonus offers, there are many ways to enjoy the game.
Online casino sites strive to present players with the most realistic experience without having to travel to land casinos. With online blackjack games, players will enjoy the same types of games found in casinos all over the world and they will be able to enjoy games that feature side bets and even those that offer the chance to win progressive jackpots.
These games are designed to offer a true to life experience and many of the top rated sites also offer live dealer blackjack, which provides a feeling of stepping into a land casino, where players can engage with professional dealers and enjoy a game that is played in real time.
Real Money Blackjack
Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games. When playing real money blackjack, players will have to create and fund an account at their selected online casino. When players choose a game they wish to play, they will select their total bet amoun. Many blackjack games that are found online also offer side bets and there are also jackpot games where a small additional bet can enter players into the progressive pool.
Popular Online Blackjack Variations
As mentioned, online casinos support a large assortment of blackjack games and there are some sites that have 10 or more variations on hand. The different variations have rules that make the game more engaging. By accessing some free games, players can become familiar with the different versions and will be prepared to place real money wagers. Each online casino will have different blackjack games based on the software provider that is being used to power the site and below, we discuss some of the more common variations that are featured at online casino sites.
European Blackjack
European Blackjack is a popular option to American Blackjack because of some slight rule differences. With this game, the dealer will not be able to peek at the hidden card until all players have made their bets and playing decisions. This is an advantage to the player as they will have the chance to play their hand even if the dealer has a blackjack. This game is played with 8 decks and the dealer will draw to 16 and stand on soft 17 hands. A blackjack will offer a 3:2 payout and there is an Insurance bet that pays 2:1. Players can double down and spit and can also use an early surrender option when the dealer is not showing an Ace.
Atlantic City Blackjack
Atlantic City blackjack is quite popular with players and this is an 8 deck game where the dealer can peek at their hidden card. The dealer will stand on soft 17 hands and blackjacks will pay 3:2. With this game, players can split and double down and can also buy insurance. Here is no surrender option provided. The game offers a 99.55% RTP when using basic strategy and is one of the top played variations offered online.
Single Deck Blackjack
Single deck blackjack is preferred by almost every experienced player, but it is not always easy to find this game online. The main benefit is that it has the lowest house edge of all blackjack games and it is an appealing option for card counters since only one deck is being used. Since the house edge is so much lower, the payouts are not as good, offering a 6:5 payout for blackjack instead of the standard 3:2 with other games. However, since players will win more often this lower payout is usually overlooked and the game remains one of the most popular choices for online players.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Perfect Pairs Blackjack has a higher house edge than other blackjack variations. However, there is the chance to win jackpot payouts with a side bet that is placed. With the side bet, players can win a bonus payout when they have certain cards in their hand. The bonus payout is independent of the main game, which is a version of American blackjack. The top payout for the bonus bet is 30:1, which is won when players get a pair of the same color and same suit.
Live Dealer Blackjack Online
One of the greatest ways to enjoy blackjack when playing from home is to choose an online casino that features live dealer games. These games are streamed from a land location and use multiple camera views to present the entire game in real time. This brings players closer to the action than ever before and provides a sense of sitting in a land casino setting. With live blackjack, players will have the ability to chat with dealers and all players and there are many benefits to playing these games. The first is the lifelike experience, followed by the offering of game variants, the social aspects and the ability to use game strategies that cannot be used with games that use Random Number Generators.
Many experienced and even professional blackjack players prefer the option of a live game. Since the cards are really being shuffled and dealt, it allows players to make use of card counting strategies that cannot be used with the computerized games at standard online casinos. In addition, many live blackjack games will offer a bet behind option. Since there are limited seats at live dealer blackjack tables, not every player will be able to get in on a game that is in progress. For those that are waiting to play, they can back a player that is at the table, still being able to bet, but not actually playing the game. They will be betting that the player wins, and if they do, so doesn’t the bet behind wager that has been placed.
Types of Live Games
When players enter the live dealer section of an online casino, they will find multiple blackjack tables on hand. These are categorized by game variations and bet limits. Most live dealer casinos will have the popular versions of blackjack offered, which can include American and European blackjack. Some sites will also have other versions, such as Vegas Strip Blackjack, Spanish 21 and even Pontoon. The live dealer section can also house VIP blackjack games.
Live Dealer Blackjack Features and Advantages
With live blackjack games, one of the main features is the higher betting limits that are supported. These games tend to have higher limits than any standard game of blackjack found online.
Since these games do not make use of any Random Number Generator, players will be able to use various card counting strategies when they are playing. The games are played with real cards that are not shuffled after every hand, so it is easier to track the cards that have been played. However, they key to being successful with this strategy is to find games that use the fewest number of decks. Since online casino software providers understand that card counting can be used with these games, they seldom offer games that use fewer than 8 decks. Players will never find a single deck game of blackjack being offered in a live dealer version.
As mentioned earlier, live dealer blackjack games support the bet behind option. There are limited seats at each blackjack table, and when these are full, players will have to wait for an empty seat or they can get in on the action using bet behind. The betting limits of bet behind will vary per casino, but most will allow players to bet the same as those actively involved in the game.
Live dealer blackjack games have many features that make these games more appealing than standard blackjack games found online. With real time play, the ability to engage with dealers, complete views of the table and players and the option of bet behind, playing live dealer games is the best alternative to visiting a land casino.