How to Play Blackjack Online

Before You Start Playing

When you first begin playing blackjack, there may be quite a few terms that are unfamiliar if you’re not a frequent player. But don’t worry, we’ve listed some of the most common blackjack terms and what they mean below, so you can get started with a little more confidence.

• Blackjack – The name of this card game, blackjack is also the best hand of two cards totalling 21, made with an Ace worth 11 and another card worth 10, such as 10, Jack, Queen, King.
• Hit – Asking the dealer for another card when trying to improve your total hand value.
• Stand – Keep your current hand of cards and end your turn.
• Bust – When your hand goes over 21 in value, you automatically lose.
• Dealer – The house representative who plays against all players at the table and deals the cards, whether human in Live Blackjack or computer AI in non-live random-number-generator (RNG) blackjack games.
• Push – A tie with the dealer in blackjack, which leads to your original bet being returned.
• Double Down – The opportunity to double your bet and receive only one more card.
• Split – The opportunity to divide a matching pair into two separate hands, each with a new bet.
• Insurance – A side bet against the dealer having blackjack when their hand shows an Ace.
• Fold – Quitting or dropping out of a hand and losing any bets you have made.

No matter your blackjack knowledge or familiarity with the gameplay terms, try keep it fun and entertaining: Gamble responsibly, stick to your staking budget, and avoid chasing losses.

Should you experience problems, organisations such as GAMSTOP in the UK can help you control your online gambling.

Step 1: You Need an Online Casino Account

In order to play online blackjack with real money, first you need to open an online casino account, which provides access to the full range of games available.

Important: We only recommend playing online blackjack at casino sites that are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. This ensures that blackjack games are safe to play and have been tested to verify fairness.

To help you choose where to play, our experts have shortlisted the best online casinos for Blackjack. These rankings are based on criteria such as the number and variety of blackjack games available, desktop and mobile compatibility, payout rates and staking options available.

Step 2: Choose the Blackjack Game You Wish to Play

Given there are now many more online blackjack variants and gameplay styles available, we recommend taking your time when looking through the game library at an online casino. This includes deciding whether you want to play against a computer dealer, or alternatively, play live blackjack with a real human dealer.

There are many blackjack variants to choose from, so take your time. Pick blackjack games that appeal to your gameplay preferences, whether you prefer traditional blackjack with simple rules or variants with added features and betting options. Press the game logo to load the game.

Step 3: Check the Blackjack Game Rules & Payouts

Before you start playing any game, take a moment to check the blackjack game rules, including the payout odds for different hand values and side bets. These can sometimes differ according to the blackjack game variant you’re playing. Look for the “i” or “?” icons in the game display, usually found next to the small cog wheel game settings icon.

While the core blackjack gameplay is typically the same in most variants, the biggest differences often come with the types of side bets available, while some games feature bonuses and multipliers. Be sure to read through what options are available, so you don’t miss out on maximising the potential of each hand you’re dealt.

Step 4: Set Your Staking Budget

Each online blackjack game will usually have stated minimum and maximum betting limits, so make sure you check these before placing any bets. Also, remember to set own staking budget ahead of playing, and remain in full control of your spending.

Bet amounts can usually always be adjusted in the main game interface, often displayed in cash amounts or chip values. Always remember to set bet amounts according to your own staking budget.

Step 5: Enjoy Playing Blackjack

When you’re comfortable with all the points we have listed above, it’s time to start playing online blackjack. Don’t rush, take time to become familiar with the game layout, betting options, and any other features.

To start a new hand, place your bet amount and press the deal button. In live blackjack variants, there’s either a timer or the dealer waits until the last bet has been placed, ahead of dealing the cards to each player.

Blackjack Gameplay & Tips

There are now lots of blackjack variants you can try at online casinos, although much of the core gameplay remains the same, aside from any special game features or side bets that may be available. Check the images below to see gameplay examples, with tips highlighting what you should look out for while playing.

These are just a few examples of the features you can find when playing online blackjack. While the base gameplay tends to be the same in most blackjack variants, don’t forget to check out the additional betting options or features in each. This will help you to discover which blackjack variants best suit your own gaming and wagering budget preferences.

Blackjack Variants and Rules

The best online casino sites often feature a great selection of blackjack variants to try. Although most variants tend to share the same core gameplay mechanics, there may be differences when it comes to the number of cards or even how many decks are used in each game. We have listed some of the most popular online blackjack variants below.

• Live Dealer Blackjack – Can be any variant or type of blackjack game with video streaming, using a real human dealer, hosted at a studio or physical casino venue.
• RNG Blackjack – Variants of blackjack that are typically non-live, using a random number generator to deal cards, with computer AI shaping dealer hit and stand decisions.
• Classic Blackjack – Traditional version of blackjack with standard gameplay rules, including the dealer stands with a soft 17 hand.
• European Blackjack – The dealer gets one card first, with no peek for blackjack until after the player acts.
• Atlantic City Blackjack – Type of blackjack that typically uses 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, late surrender is available, with doubling after split hands allowed.
• Vegas Downtown Blackjack – Variant with 2 decks, dealer hits on soft 17, player can double on any two cards after splits.
• Spanish 21 – The most common Spanish variant of blackjack. Uses 48-card decks with no 10s, plus liberal player rules that include late surrender and bonuses.
• Pontoon – British variation similar to Spanish 21, with “Pontoon” referring to a blackjack hand of Ace + 10, Jack, Queen, or King, with no dealer upcard shown.
• Blackjack Switch – Variant in which players have two hands, and can switch the second card they have been dealt between hands.
• Multi-Hand Blackjack – Type of traditional blackjack games that allows players to play multiple hands at once. Can be limited to between two and five hands.

Online Blackjack Games and Special Features

To keep things exciting, different online casino games developers are always coming up with their own blackjack variants. These can have unique gameplay and interface features, side betting options, plus multipliers and bonuses to increase payouts. These are a few of the most popular examples:

• Infinite Blackjack – Featuring four side bet options and low bet limits, this live dealer blackjack game was developed by Evolution. Supports an unlimited number of players in each game session.
• Free Bet Blackjack – Live dealer blackjack game developed by Evolution, with free Double Down and Split bets.
• Power Blackjack – Has eight decks with 9s and 10s removed from each deck, plus four optional side bets available. This is a live dealer blackjack game developed by Evolution.
• Quantum Blackjack – Live dealer blackjack game developed by Playtech, one hand is dealt to an unlimited number of players, with random multipliers on selected cards.
• All Bets Blackjack – Offering multiple side bet options such as 21+3, pairs, and more, this live dealer blackjack game was developed by Playtech.
• Deal or No Deal Blackjack – Live dealer blackjack game developed by Playtech, combining blackjack with Deal or No Deal game show features and side bets.
• Lightning Blackjack – Live dealer blackjack game developed by Evolution, with added features including multiplier bonuses for winning hands.
• First Person Blackjack – RNG blackjack game developed by Evolution, offering the player first-person views of the gaming table, plus an in-game portal that switches to live dealer mode.
• ONE Blackjack – Single seat live dealer blackjack game by Pragmatic Play, with side bets including Crazy 7, Bust Bonus, 21+3, and Perfect Pairs.