Online Blackjack – Let’s Make Some Real Money!

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games of all time. It stands out from the rest, because in blackjack, not everything is pure luck. If you know the rules and variations well enough, you will be able to devise a strategy that will ensure you the highest RTP and lowest house edge. With the right amount of thought and skill, you can win big by playing blackjack.

The best way to start winning real money from blackjack is to pick a good online casino and practice there. Once you feel confident enough, it’s on to the real money gaming and real winnings. But which casino offers the best online blackjack experience for UK citizens? We did our research and came up with this list of the best places to play the classic casino game on the Internet – including their average theoretical RTP percentages.

• 888 Casino Review99.52%£100Bonus4.8/5.0.Play Now!
• Jackpotcity Test99.65%£1000Bonus4.7/5.0.Play Now!
• Ladbrokes Review99.59%£600Bonus4.6/5.0.Play Now!

Each of those operators offers a great collection of games, enticing welcome bonuses and exciting promotions. But, in order to start winning at blackjack, you need to know all there is to know about the game itself. In the following article, we will tell you all that is essential about the game – we might even throw in some tips & tricks towards the end.

Blackjack – Game Analysis

One of the essential things to know about blackjack is that there are many variations of the game. The core principles usually remain the same, but there are many additions that may or may not be present in your game – and those additions generally affect the house edge and your RTP percentage. So, it’s important to know exactly what type of game you are playing. Before we dive into the many different variations, let’s get on the same page about the core rules of blackjack.

The Core Rules

In blackjack, you are always playing against the dealer – the house, so to say. Two cards are dealt to each player and two to the dealer. The players’ cards are always shown face up while the dealer has one of them face down. The objective is to get a combination that equals or is as close to 21 as possible. Aces count as either 1 or 11, face cards count as 10, and the rest have a value equal to their number. You need to have a bigger combination than the dealer – as long as it doesn’t go over 21. If it does, you ‘bust’ and automatically lose.

Once you have placed your bet and received your hand, you can do one of the following actions:

• Stand – You do nothing and pass your turn to the next player/the dealer
• Hit – You take an additional card from the dealer
• Split – You split your cards into two independent hands
• Double – You double your initial bet and take only one more card from the dealer
• Insurance – You place an additional bet that wins if the dealer has a blackjack
• Surrender – You stop playing and take back half of your initial bet

The best possible hand you could have is an Ace and a 10-valued card. This combination equals 21 and is called a blackjack

Blackjack Variations

As we already said, there are many additional rules that can be applied, depending on where you are playing the game. One of the main variations is the number of decks in a game. Blackjack can be played with multiple decks – there are games with 1, 6, 7, 8, etc. The house edge grows exponentially as the number of decks in play grows.

Another variation of the rules concerns the conditions in which you can perform the ‘Double’ action. Some casinos allow you to double on any hand while others allow that only on hands that equal 9, 10 or 11. Some operators even do not feature the possibility of doubling at all! Needless to say, if you have restrictions on that action, the house edge is increased a bit.

As far as the ‘Split’ action goes, some variations allow you to split only cards of the same value, while others – any two cards. Again, this affects the casino advantage.

The bottom line is – the more restrictions there are in a game, the higher the house edge – which leads to less earnings for the players in the long run. If you are going to play with real money, make sure you understand what type of game you are playing exactly.

Optional Side Bets

The main bets in blackjack are two – betting on your hand and betting on insurance. Some casinos, however, feature the so-called ‘side bets’, which allow you to place additional wagers. Here are some of the most popular ones.

• Perfect Pairs – you bet on whether the two cards you receive will be a pair
• 21+3 – you bet on whether your hand and the dealer’s up-card will form a poker hand
• Hi/Lo – you bet on whether your initial hand will be more or less than 13
• Bet Behind – you bet on another player’s hand, and if they win, you win too

Even though there are many more side bets, the most common ones are those four – so you are guaranteed to run into them while playing.

Table Limits

If you are going to sit down and play some real money blackjack, you need to pay attention to the table limits. Some casinos allow you to bet very little while others – not so much. You need to decide whether you want to be a safe player or a high roller and play at a table that is best suited for you. Different casinos offer different table limits.

For example, Betway has a rather small betting range – from £5 to £1000. 888 Casino, on the other hand, sports a way bigger range across their blackjack tables. Make sure you choose a game that suits your style and preferred way of playing. This is the only way you’ll get better and start winning actual money.

Recommended Casinos for Real Money Blackjack in UK

If you are a UK citizen looking for a good online casino, you are probably really confused and disoriented. After all, the market has hundreds of websites promoting themselves as ‘the best’ and offering extremely juicy welcome bonuses. Nothing really stops you from going and trying all of them, but it’s wise to find a casino you like and stick to it.

If we had to recommend a casino that is great for blackjack players in the UK, we would probably go with 888 Casino. They have an outstanding collection of games, impeccable live casino, and some of the best bonuses and promotions around. Read more about them in our dedicated review.

Leading Game Developers

When it comes to online blackjack, there are a few software developers whose games stand out from the rest. Undoubtedly, there are many other companies that create good games, but the titles that those 3 gaming companies produce are the standard to which everything else must be measured.

NetEnt have a rather small library of blackjack games, but all of them are absolute gems. Their quality is stalwart, and their mobile versions are the envy of many other software developers. You can find many of their games over at 888 Casino.

Microgaming is hailed as the first developer of real money gaming software. Naturally, their selection of blackjack games is vast, even if it’s a bit outdated. They are responsible for the game with the lowest house edge ever – Classic Blackjack has 0.13% casino advantage! This and other great games from this developer can be played at Betway.

Playtech offer a huge selection of blackjack games, most of them consistent with the high quality one would expect from this developer. In addition, they have the exclusive rights to Blackjack Switch – a variation that many players are fond of. You can find their games at Ladbrokes.

Exciting Live Dealer Games

In our opinion, the best way to play blackjack online is to participate in live dealer games. They provide a truly authentic experience, and are a lot more fun than playing RNG games by yourself. All three of our recommended casinos have live games available – but use different software providers for them.

The only disadvantage that we can think of in regards to live dealer blackjack is the speed of the game. After all, you are playing with real people, and some of them sure like to take their time. But besides that, there is no other game more satisfying than live blackjack – give it a try and see.

Mobile Blackjack Games

With mobile devices on the rise, every good operator should be able to provide a handheld version of their casino. Our top recommended websites are way ahead of their competitors in this field – all of them offer superb mobile casino apps, with plenty of games to enjoy. Of course, blackjack is prominently featured in all of them. The apps are designed to be compatible with iOS and Android devices. Unfortunately, Windows Phone users will have to stick with the browser versions for now.

Live blackjack is also available for people who want to enjoy it on the go. Some of the top online casinos even have separate apps for live dealer games. Overall, if you want to be able to carry an entire casino in your pocket – there is a way now.

Tips & Tricks for Playing Blackjack Online

Contrary to what some ‘experts’ might claim, there is just no way for you to reduce the house edge to zero. All blackjack variations are designed in such a way, that even if you devise and follow the perfect strategy, the casino will always have a small advantage. This should not discourage you at all – never forget that by practicing and following your tactics, you can win big.

There are a number of charts available on the Internet that showcase the best possible moves for any given situation in a blackjack game. Find those and study them – they can be of great help for novice and experienced players alike.

Once you get the hang of it, you might want to start playing with real money. All reputable casinos offer great cash bonuses for all new players which they can claim with a deposit at the casino – some even offer daily bonuses and such. It will be a good idea to spend your bonus money on blackjack since you cannot really lose anything – you can only gain actual money if you win. Don’t forget that every gambling site has certain wagering requirements that must be met before you can cash out any winnings from your bonus money. You can check out our website for details on each of our recommended casino’s wagering requirements.

One last tip – look online for ‘card counting’ and try to learn it, as it can do wonders. Of course, you can only use that technique in live dealer games. RNG games shuffle the deck at random before each round, and that makes it impossible for you to count cards.

Online Blackjack or Real Life Games?

When it comes to playing real money blackjack, many people wonder what the disadvantages of online casinos are. After our thorough research, we can safely say that there are none. The odds of winning are the same (if not better), you can utilize all your schemes and tactics, and you can do it while in the comfort of your own home. Live dealer casinos offer a truly genuine experience, and mobile apps will allow you to enjoy your favourite casino games wherever you are.

We hope you found this information useful. Check out the rest of our website for detailed reviews of the top casinos for blackjack in the UK. After that, choose an operator and go make some money while playing your favourite game. Good luck!