Online Blackjack California
The easiest game to play with the best chance to beat the house, blackjack is the most popular table game in just about every casino. From online casinos in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan, to landmark land-based casinos in Las Vegas, regional brick-and-mortar casinos all over the US, and Sweepstakes casinos you can play online all across the country, blackjack is king.
California requires special versions of table games, in order to fit the state’s gaming law’s definitions, and most of these are variations of blackjack. The most popular is called “ California 21,” and you can. Online Blackjack is one of the most popular California online casino games around and for good reason. Its allure comes in its simplicity, as all players must know is when to hit and when to stand in order to attempt to beat the dealer. European Blackjack. This game is like Classic Blackjack, but with a European flare. You’ll feel like your placing bets in a glamorous casino in Nice or Lyon as you challenge the dealer at online European Blackjack tables at Harrah’s Online Casino. The rules are similar to other Blackjack variations, the objective being to get a hand value.
Those searching for an in-depth look at online blackjack across the US have come to the right place.
The following is a comprehensive real money blackjack guide, including everything you need to know about online blackjack and live dealer online blackjack. From where you can legally play to which online casinos offer the best blackjack games and the reasons why online blackjack is superior to the live version of the game, you’ll find it all right here.
Play online blackjack for real money at the best US casinos
Playing real money blackjack online
There are three real and truly identifiable advantages to playing blackjack online rather than your local casino.
The obvious first one is convenience. You can play blackjack online from your living room sofa. There’s no need to travel anywhere. Even if there were a casino across the street from your home, playing online blackjack at home would be the more convenient option.
Next is the cost.
By taking advantage of the bonuses available at online casinos or the offers from Sweepstakes casinos you can actually play blackjack for free and possibly build a bankroll out of thin air that allows you to continue playing. Plus, you can’t win every time you play. So, you’re going to want to limit your losses when things don’t work out as planned. Online blackjack games have much lower limits allowing you to do just that.
Finally, there’s the experience. While you can have new experience playing the electronic online version of blackjack, you can also have the same blackjack experience you find in a casino playing from wherever you are with access to the internet.
That’s because live dealer online blackjack delivers that experience to you, combining the best aspects of live casino blackjack and online blackjack together.
In fact, it may even be a better version of the live game, since the online betting interface employed by live dealer online blackjack promises quicker and more accurate payouts in what is essentially the same game.
Free blackjack vs real money blackjack
Online Blackjack Card Counting Software
There are all kinds of free-to-play blackjack casino apps and games available on the internet and through various social media outlets. Plus, you can play demo versions of the online blackjack games at most online casinos across the US.
Free online blackjack can be a great learning tool, allowing you to test out different betting patterns and blackjack strategies until you find the ones that work.
The truth is there’s a correct decision to be made in every blackjack situation that leads to maximum profitability and free-to-play-blackjack can help you perfect this optimal playing style without risking any of your own money.
Unfortunately, with no risk comes no reward. In other words, play-money is the only kind of money you’ll ever win with play-money blackjack.
Fortunately, there is one way to win real money playing online blackjack for free. That’s taking advantage of the free bonus money online casinos give you just for signing up or making a deposit. Or, taking advantage of the free virtual currency offers from Sweepstakes casinos.
As we said above, there will be some wagering requirements attached to the online casino bonuses. Clearing these playing blackjack can be tough, but it will most definitely allow you to play blackjack for free and could help you turn nothing into something substantial.
Blackjack casino apps
US online casinos all have mobile casino apps that’ll practically turn your mobile phone or tablet into a mobile casino.
Download and install these apps to any iOS or Android device and you’ll be able to play blackjack online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever you are with access to the internet inside a state where online casinos are legal.
Some Sweepstakes casinos have mobile apps as well, or at the very least, you can play the games they offer through your device’s mobile browser anywhere you are in the US.
To limit size, mobile casino apps generally offer fewer games, but you can rest assured you’ll find blackjack on every single one. Even if it’s just one simple version of the game optimized for mobile devices.
Online casino bonuses and blackjack
Whether it’s free bonus money online casinos give you just for signing up, or a percentage match of your first deposit, most the bonus money you can get from online casinos across the US comes with some kind of wagering requirement attached.
That means you can’t just take the money and run. You have to stick around and gamble with it. In fact, most wagering requirements force you to gamble with the bonus funds multiple times. Of course, once you meet the wagering requirements, anything you win or have left over is yours to keep.
The easiest way to clear these wagering requirements is almost always slots. In fact, most of the time, blackjack or other table games play counts somewhere between 10% and 25% towards clearing the wagering requirements attached.
That means that while it’s not impossible to clear a typical wagering requirement playing blackjack, it’s almost always a lot harder to do than it would be playing slots. Possibly up to ten times as hard.
The low house-edge nature of blackjack is the obvious reason why.
How do you combat this? The first thing to do is look for bonuses with low wagering requirements. Then, try to find bonuses where blackjack counts 25% or more towards meeting the wagering requirements.
Find either and you should obviously pounce on it, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to try to clear any bonus playing blackjack.
The low house-edge nature of the game also makes it entirely possibly to clear even the toughest of wagering requirements.
Legal blackjack casinos
In most of these jurisdictions, established online casino brands have partnered with the brick and mortar casinos. They have a mix of websites and apps, allowing you to enjoy blackjack, slots and many other table games. You’ll be able to gamble legally within state lines.
While regulation of online casinos is spreading, many states have opted for online sportsbooks only. If you are in a state without regulated casinos, you can enjoy blackjack at Sweepstakes Casinos.
NJ blackjack sites
New Jersey’s top online casinos are havens for blackjack players. Here’s a look at some of the blackjack variants they offer:
Golden Nugget
- IGT Blackjack: 0.40% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Blackjack Pro: 0.41% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Vegas Blackjack: 0.40% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Side Bet Blackjack: 0.46% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- European Blackjack: 0.59% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.10 minimum bet
- Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.50 minimum bet
- Live Dealer Blackjack: 0.66% House Edge, $5 minimum bet
Tropicana Casino
- Atlantic City Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum
- Single Deck Blackjack: 0.26% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Vegas Downtown Blackjack: 0.39% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Vegas Strip Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
Virgin Casino
- Atlantic City Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum
- Single Deck Blackjack: 0.26% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Vegas Downtown Blackjack: 0.39% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Vegas Strip Blackjack: 0.36% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
Caesars Casino
- Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.10 minimum bet
- Blackjack Micro Limit: 0.70% House Edge, $0.50 minimum bet
- European Blackjack: 0.59% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Vegas Blackjack: 0.40% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Blackjack Pro: 0.41% House Edge, $1 minimum bet
- Blackjack Pro Micro Limit: 0.41% House Edge, $0.25 minimum bet
Unibet Casino
- Classic 6-Deck Blackjack: 0.46% House Edge
- NextGen Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge
- Atlantic City Multi-hand BlackjackPro: 0.36% House Edge
- Atlantic City Single-hand BlackjackPro: 0.36% House Edge
- Blazing 7s Blackjack: 0.67% House Edge
- Multihand Blackjack: 0.72% House Edge
- Super Fun 21 Extreme: 1.4% House Edge
- Zappit Blackjack: 1.15% House Edge
PA blackjack sites
Pennsylvania casinos can only run blackjack games under a set of rules specified by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). That means blackjack pays 3:2, the dealer stands on soft 17, players can double down on any two cards, split up to three hands and double down after splits. Plus, late surrender is allowed. All this lowers the house edge to 0.40%.
The top three PA online casinos have the following blackjack games running with PGCB rules:
BetMGM
- Standard Blackjack
DraftKings Casino
- DraftKings Blackjack
- DraftKings Classic Blackjack
- DraftKings Pride Blackjack
- DraftKings Multihand Blackjack
- DraftKings Christmas Blackjack
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Live Dealer Infinite Blackjack
Caesars Casino
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Live Dealer Infinite Blackjack
- Classic Blackjack
WV blackjack sites
West Virginia casinos run blackjack games under standard rules which include blackjack paying 3:2, dealers standing on soft 17, and players having the ability to split doubles.
The top two online casinos in the state, BETMGM and DraftKings Casino, run a variety of blackjack games under these rules. In fact, DraftKings may offer several different blackjack titles in WV, but most are just classic versions of the game with different graphics and themes.
Sweepstakes casino blackjack
Two of the most popular Sweepstakes Casinos available to players all across the US offer blackjack: Chumba Casino and FunzPoints.
Sweepstakes Casinos like this let you play online blackjack even in states that have yet to legalize online casinos. They do this by operating under federal sweepstakes laws. It works because they only let you play with two different virtual currencies, not cash. One currency has no cash value, and while the other does, you can’t buy it.
In fact, there are only three ways you can get it: Contact the Sweepstakes Casinos to get it for free. Win it in a free contest though the Sweepstakes Casino’s social media account. Or, get it free when you buy some of the other virtual currency that can’t be traded in for cash.
Once you have some these Sweeps Coins or FunzPoints you can use them to play blackjack online at Chumba Casino and FunzPoints and redeem any you win or have left over for cash. Chumba and Funzpoints feature classic versions of online blackjack with graphics, animations and sounds that enhance the player experience.
Most games start with minimums as low as one Sweeps Coin or a single Funzpoint.
The different variations include:
- Progressive Blackjack featuring a progressive side bet jackpot.
- Blackjack Surrender offering the option to surrender and paying out all seven card hands.
- Spanish 21 with 6-8 decks, no tens, the surrender rule, and player 21 wins.
- Pontoon with Spanish 21 rules and a minimum hand of 15.
- Blackjack Switch played with two hands, card switching and dealer bust on 23.
Online blackjack variations
Different blackjack games have different rules and many of these rules have a major impact on the house edge.
Things like the number of decks in the shoe, what blackjack pays, and the dealer rule for hitting or standing on soft 17 all have an impact on how player-friendly a particular blackjack game is. As do the rules for doubling down, splitting, and surrender.
Each can push the house edge up or down up to 1.4%.
What that means is you should steer clear of blackjack games with house-friendly rules like:
- Blackjack paying 6:5
- Dealer hitting on soft 17
- No doubling after splitting
- Doubling down on certain hands only
- No surrender
- No re-splitting aces
Here’s a look at some of the rules for a group of the most popular online blackjack variations you’ll find at online casinos across the US:
Single-Deck Blackjack
- House Edge: 0.26%
- Impactful Rules: One-deck shoe, Dealer stands on soft 17
Atlantic City Blackjack
- House Edge: 0.36%.
- Impactful Rules: Dealer stands on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split 10,J,Q, or K up to three times, Late surrender
Vegas Strip Blackjack
- House Edge: 0.36%.
- Impactful Rules: Four-deck shoe, Dealer stands on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split 10,J,Q, or K up to three times
Vegas Downtown Blackjack
- House Edge: 0.39%.
- Impactful Rules: Two-deck shoe, Dealer hits on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split pairs
Vegas Blackjack
- House Edge: 0.40%.
- Impactful Rules: Dealer stands on soft 17, Double down on any two cards, Split 10,J,Q, or K only once
PGCB Blackjack
- House Edge: 0.40%.
- Impactful Rules: Dealer stands on soft 17, Blackjack pays 3:2, Double down on any two cards, Surrender
What should I look for in an online blackjack casino?
Not all the online casinos that offer blackjack are built the same. If blackjack is your game and the primary reason you’re looking to sign up for an account with an online casino is so you can play blackjack, you should look for an online casino that truly caters to your wants and needs.
Try using the following criteria and asking some of the following questions to help you choose:
- Blackjack variations: The more the merrier and the lower the house edge the better.
- Bonuses and promotions: Every online casino has bonuses, but how low are the wagering requirements attached and does blackjack count 25% or more towards meeting them?
- Mobile games / apps: Every online casino has a mobile app, but how many mobile blackjack variations do the apps have?
- Live dealer games: Are there live dealer blackjack games so I can enjoy the live blackjack experience online?
- Legal and regulated: Is this online casino in a state where online casinos are legal and I can turn to state regulators for help if something goes wrong? Is my money safe, or could this illegal offshore operation fold up overnight locking up my cash?
- Customer support: Does this online casino have 24-hour phone or online support or will I have to deal with a bunch of unanswered emails if I have a problem?
Live dealer online blackjack casinos
The online casinos in Michigan, NJ and PA have brought together the best of both the live casino and online casino blackjack worlds for live dealer online blackjack games. Live dealer online blackjack games are also headed to Michigan in 2021.
It’s real dealers using real cards on real tables in front of cameras inside a real-life casino studio. Then, the online casinos broadcast the games live and you can bet online using a graphic interface.
It really is a live and online blackjack hybrid that involves the best aspects of both games: The speed and accuracy of online wagering and the trustworthiness and transparency of real people using real casino equipment in a live casino.
Live dealer blackjack games are a little more social as well, allowing you to chat in real time with the dealer and other players. The popularity of live dealer online blackjack games is growing every day alongside the list of online casinos offering the games.
Should you count cards?
You may already be aware that while counting cards isn’t against the law, live casinos seriously frown upon the activity and reserve the right to ban players caught doing it.
However, online casinos really don’t mind if you try. That’s because most online blackjack games employ a continuous shuffle process that renders the count worthless. Plus, even those that don’t are really only using half of the cards in a shoe, making it very difficult to keep count or take advantage in any way.
Card counting works on the idea that playing with a shoe holding a higher percentage of high cards gives you an edge. You keep track of the number of high cards left in the shoe and increase your bet when it’s high enough to give you that edge.
Card counters worried that increasing the bet might top off dealers and pit bosses signal in team members to take advantage of a favorable count instead.
While you don’t really have to worry about that online, there’s enough other things in the way to make card counting difficult to impossible.
Single Deck Blackjack games might be the best to count, but by the time the count is in your favor, it’s almost always time to shuffle up again and too late to take full advantage.
Blackjack Strategy Basics: How a Typical Hand is Played Out
Blackjack tables have spaces for up to 7 players. Your objective is to beat the dealer, there are three ways to do this:
- Have a total closer to 21 than the dealer does when the hand is competed
- Get dealt a ‘blackjack’ (picture card or 10 with an ace) when the dealer does not have one
- Have a live hand when the dealer busts by hitting 22 or more.
Here is how a hand works in the most common (US) blackjack variation.
- Each player must place a bet before they are dealt into a hand.
- The dealer deals two cards to each player face up
- The dealer deals herself one card face up and one face down
- If the dealers ‘hole card’ is an ace, they will offer insurance to the players against a dealer blackjack (see below for more on this bet).
- The dealer will now ‘peek’ at the hidden card when a 2-card blackjack is possible, if they hit this then the hand ends. All players not getting a blackjack (which is a push) will lose their bet.
- Each player now chooses whether to stand on their current total, hit, double down (add an additional bet) or split their cards. In some games a surrender option, returning half of the bet, is also offered.
- If any player goes over 21, their hand is dead – and their bet is lost.
- Play continues until all players have either busted or stood on their current total.
- The dealer then turns over her hidden card. She will hit or stand depending on the specific rules of the game. For example, standing on a hard 17 or over and hitting on soft 17 or under.
- If the dealer does not bust, then her score is compared to those of each player to determine who wins, loses and where there is a push.
In blackjack, aces can count as either 1 or 11. You will hear ‘Soft 17’ (for example) when the dealer has an ace plus a 6. If the next card is a 4, you can revert to counting the ace as 11 – making your total a 21. If you get a 10-value card, then your hand becomes a ‘Hard 17’
Your Decisions Explained: Stand, Hit, Double or Split
There is an optimal blackjack strategy for each combination of your cards’ total and the dealer’s up-card. While there are small differences depending on the number of decks in use and the specific rules on splitting and doubling down – understanding ‘basic strategy’ will keep the casino house edge very low.
A strategy card will show you the exact strategy for each combination. Below are the basics to keep in mind.
When to Hit: You’ll be hitting most of the time when dealer has a high probability of making a total between 17 and 21 and you have 16 or under. When the dealer shows a picture card, ace or two, you will almost always hit. If the dealer has a 3, 4, 5 or 6 showing, they have a higher probability of busting. This means you won’t hit as often when you have a chance to bust yourself.
When to Stand: Any time you have a hard 17 or better, your best strategy is to stand. If the dealer shows a middle card (especially a 5 or 6), there are many spots where you will stand with a hand between 12 and 16. In most games, the best strategy with a soft 17 is to hit.
When to Double: Doubling, or Doubling Down, involves placing an extra bet equal to your initial wager on a hand. You are then dealt one more card. Rules vary on when you are allowed to do this. The ideal situation is when you have 9, 10 or 11 in your total, and the dealer shows a middle card.
When to Split: When your cards are identical (for example a pair or 10’s), your choice is between standing and splitting. If you split, you need to place an extra wager – effectively playing 2 hands. You now play these hands individually, hitting, standing, splitting or doubling down. The ideal time to split is with 2 high cards against a dealer middle card. You’ll usually stand with 20 if the dealer shows a picture card.
When to Surrender: Some games have an optional surrender. This allows you to ditch a terrible hand (for example 16) against a dealer picture card. You’ll pay half of your initial bet to surrender.
Types of Blackjack Game and Blackjack Variations
There are two main ‘core’ blackjack games, plus 100’s of variations which include side-bets and novelty games based on the original concept.
Here are the two main variations:
- US Blackjack: This was described in the typical hand above. The dealer takes two cards at the start of the hand and will ‘peek’ at the hidden card when a blackjack is possible.
- European Blackjack: The dealer only gets one card at the start of the hand. After all the players have completed their actions, the dealer takes another card. This means you won’t know whether the dealer has a blackjack until the end of the hand, which does affect your strategy.
Here are some of the other common real money blackjack variations you’ll find on casino floors and in online casinos:
- Double Deck / Single Deck: Usually reserved for the high rollers, these games use just 1 or 2 decks instead of the usual 6 to 8.
- Spanish 21: This variation removes the 10’s (though not the picture cards) from the deck, leaving 48 cards in each deck.
- Free Bet Blackjack: You can get a free bet token to double or split in this game. To balance, if the dealer hits 22, winning player hands are considered a push.
- Blackjack Switch: Here you get dealt 2 hands and can swap the cards between them to hit the best possible score.
- Pontoon: This game originated in the UK. It has similar rules, though uses different terms including ‘Stick’ and ‘Twist’.
Online Blackjack Side Bets
Blackjack does not have the possibilities of huge wins compared to casino poker games like Let It Ride and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. To balance this, many casinos offer side bets. These are optional bets, and the stakes don’t need to match the main bet in many circumstances. For example, you can bet $25 per hand in the main game, with an optional $5 side bet.
Popular options are ‘Perfect Pairs’, where you can win based on hitting a pair as your hole cards, with bigger payments for suited aces – or ‘Blazing 777’s’ which pays big prizes with 3 7’s as your first 3 cards.
Keep in mind that side bets have a higher house edge than the main game. Some live casino side bets have progressive jackpots.
What is the house edge on blackjack?
The best blackjack games have a tiny house edge. This can be under 1% with the right mix of rules. Ideal games have as few decks as possible – the dealer should hit on soft 17, liberal rules including the ability to split and resplit, and to double down after splitting – plus a surrender option.
Most regular blackjack games have a house edge of around 2% to 3%. This assumes you are making ‘perfect’ decisions in line with the strategy card of the game you are playing.
A common change in live casinos is to pay 6:5 instead of 3:2 on a player blackjack. This increases their long-term house edge by almost 2%. The smallest stakes games rarely have the ideal rules these days, though if you are playing $50+ per hand (live) then you’ll be able to find games with a lower house edge.
Blackjack Card Counting and Advantage Play
While card counting is not against the law, casinos will quickly ban players caught doing this.
The concept is simple, that a deck with more high cards as a proportion of the total is more favorable for the player. With enough high cards, the house edge can become positive for the players. Card counters employ different methods of keeping track of the cards dealt. When the count becomes positive, they increase their bet size significantly – taking advantage of the house edge.
The problem with this strategy is that going from $5 to $500 bets is very obvious to the dealers and pit bosses. While the MIT blackjack team had a signaling method in the famous movie, casinos are aware of this too – making counting very difficult.
There is nothing to stop you increasing your bet size online. To counter card counting, the games only use half of the cards in an 8-deck shoe. This makes getting a ‘true count’ very difficult. The count (whether you count high or low cards) is always divided by the number of remaining decks to account for variance in the spread of the high / low cards. Single or Double Deck games are ideal for counting – though in live casinos these games will be the most closely watched.
Casino revenue
Data from the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), confirms blackjack is a popular and profitable table game in Nevada casinos.
Though other table games have emerged in the 21st century, the blackjack win amount recorded by Nevada casinos has been around $1.1 billion annually. External factors, such as novelty table games and general economics, certainly impact blackjack revenue. Even still, data since 2000 shows blackjack has been a consistent profit source.
A sharp increase in revenue from baccarat, a table game popular among super-high rollers, has put blackjack in the No. 2 spot in the annual revenue category since 2009. This was a distinct and defining year for Las Vegas gaming revenue. It marked a national recession and the long-awaited opening of City Center. This new venue included two major casinos, Aria and Cosmopolitan.
Even though Nevada baccarat revenue surpassed blackjack revenue by more than $100 million in 2015, the annual win amount from craps was just a fraction of blackjack’s. Nevada casinos earned about $383 million from craps in 2015 compared to $1.09 billion from blackjack.
Blackjack across the US
Nearly every casino in the United States that offers table games offers blackjack.
Since this statement does not hold true for craps or roulette, it’s a testament to the game’s popularity and understanding among players and regulators alike.
Florida
Florida, for example, is an emerging gaming destination and jurisdiction. For the time being, a compact between Florida’s Native American tribes and the state government limits the presence of non-poker table games to tribal casinos. That exclusivity makes casino-resort properties like the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood one of the most lucrative in North America. The South Florida casino is home to over 100 table games and dozens of active blackjack tables at peak hours.
California
On the other coast, California has its take on the game of 21. In the 1980s, to get legislators and regulators to agree on the expansion of table games (mainly poker), card rooms began offering the game but only if non-licensees banked them. The California system stems from the acceptance of parimutuel wagering. (California is home to dozens of racetracks like the famous Santa Anita, which opened in 1934.)
California’s regulatory limitations require all wagering competitions to be parimutuel forces players to wager against each other. They do not wager directly against the house. State-sponsored card rooms and racetracks make money by taking a structured percentage out of the prize pool. The take is based on the total amount wagered.
To allow blackjack in a parimutuel-only gaming environment, the game in California is “banked” by other players. It can also be banked by a “corporation” that provides the service to the casino full time — a fee collected from each player before every hand goes directly to the casino. It is separate from the wagers (and subsequent wins and losses) on the table. It’s effectively an ante required to be dealt into a round of blackjack.
Oklahoma
Charging a fee to play a hand of blackjack is not unique to California. In Oklahoma, tribal casinos collect what is commonly referred to as an “ante” (as opposed to “commission”). This equates to 50 cents from each player before every hand. At Winstar World Resort in Thackerville, just across the Texas-Oklahoma border, dealers collect blackjack antes 24/7 on one of the biggest casino floors in the country.
Other venues
Though gaming laws vary from state to state, one is never too far away from a live blackjack table. Outside of Nevada and Atlantic City, blackjack players can find favorable gaming conditions in the Midwest and Gulf Coast. Riverboat and tribal casinos in Missouri, Mississippi and Louisiana have been hotspots for decades.
Not all blackjack is created equal
To many players, blackjack is still blackjack no matter the rules or how it is dealt. Unfortunately, this perception is untrue.
Blackjack is a game where the host determines the conditions. Minor variants are common between casinos and even within the same casino. For players, it’s imperative to identify how the specific rules and/or paying a commission affect the overall game.
Some conditions are the result of legal regulation. Others are simply a mechanism to adjust the house advantage and, therefore, hold and win percentages.
Blackjack, the event of getting dealt a two-card 21 pays 3:2 or 1.5-to-1 on a wager. Sadly for players, 6:5 or 1.2-to-1 blackjack is a rapidly increasing occurrence.
One might wrongly assume 6:5 payouts exist only to offer single-deck games. Unfortunately, there are properties in Downtown Las Vegas that offer 6:5 shoe games — and eight-deck shoe games to boot. Avoid these games.
For the time being, plenty of authentic 3:2 games can be found within a short walk of a blasphemous 6:5 shoe game. On a positive note, the 6:5 trend seems to be concentrated in certain markets, like Las Vegas. Thankfully, it’s not a sweeping trend across the world.
FAQ
Which online casino has the best blackjack games?
With almost two dozen blackjack games available, BetMGM in New Jersey really is the best online blackjack casino in the US.
The blackjack titles list includes:
Online Blackjack California State
- Multi Hand Blackjack
- BetMGM blackjack pro
- BetMGM Blackjack Pro sp
- Blackjack fortune spinner pro
- bj fortune spinner mobile
- Blackjack
- Blackjack Fortune Spinner
- BLACKJACK PRO
- BLACKJACK PRO MOBILE
- borgata blackjack pro
- borgata blackjack pro mobile
- Perfect Blackjack Pro
- Premium Blackjack Pro
- Premium Blackjack Pro
- Mini Blackjack Poker
- Blackjack Mini
- PARTYCASINO BLACKJACK PRO
- PARTYCASINO BLACKJACK PRO
- First Person Blackjack
- Blackjack
- Blackjack Xchange
- Multi-hand blackjack; and
- Multi-hand Blackjack Pro
For those not in New Jersey, Chumba Casino represents a pretty good alternative. It’s available all over the country and boasts the following list of blackjack titles:
- Progressive Blackjack
- Blackjack Surrender
- Spanish 21
- Pontoon
- Blackjack Switch
Which blackjack game offers the lowest house edge?
Single-Deck Blackjack has the best odds of any casino game in the country, not just blackjack, but all casino games. The house edge is a paltry 0.26%. The fact just one deck is used instead of six or eight is the difference maker, but the dealer standing on soft 17 helps too.
Is three card poker better than blackjack?
Three Card Poker is a bit of a blackjack alternative. It’s you against the dealer in an effort to try to make the better three-card poker hand. Unfortunately, the 3.07% house edge makes it a pretty poor alternative to the many blackjack variants that boast less than a 1% house edge.
Three Card Poker can be fun, but you’ve got a better chance of winning playing blackjack.
Is online blackjack rigged?
No, online blackjack isn’t rigged. The game appears at state licensed online casinos who rigorously test every game for fairness. Online blackjack uses a computerized random number generator to determine the outcome of each hand and state regulators test these too.
The truth is that online blackjack games have a house edge, which means online casinos are going to make money off you playing over the long haul. Since you’re basically giving them your money by playing they have no reason to try to steal it.
Can blackjack be beaten?
Theoretically no. However, the low house edge means you’re going to lose less playing blackjack over the long haul than most other casinos games.
Of course, you can get lucky in the short term and beat the game. Or, you can play perfectly and take advantage of various bonuses, promotions, and even dealer mistakes to beat the game.
Blackjack is one of the oldest and most popular card games in the United States. In the state of California, there are thousands of active casino tables that offer blackjack, so it’s no surprise that the online market for 21 is booming and more people than ever are interested in doubling down over the Internet.
Below, we will provide you with the details you need to comfortably play blackjack online at safe and secure casino sites. We will dive into the federal and state laws of gambling on the Internet and the international implications that those laws have on the websites that offer US-facing casino options.
We have been in the industry of online gambling as fans and gamblers for over 20 years, and our team of specialists have personally vetted and verified every website that we recommend to you in this guide. You will find a similar guide dedicated to informing you about California online slots betting.
Is It Legal To Play Online Blackjack in California?
Yes! There are no CA gambling laws or federal US gambling laws that prevent Golden State residents from playing real money 21 over the Internet with offshore casinos. That said, you should always use a legally sanctioned offshore blackjack site that is licensed properly within its jurisdiction and geographic location.
Proper regulation is key to ensuring fair play and financial security when engaged in licensed California online casino betting. All of the casinos you see listed in this guide are operating legally within the industry, and each has the proper licensing and compliance credentials.
Top Rated Offshore California Casinos For Playing Online Blackjack
Here, we have listed our favorite online destinations for playing 21. We have compiled this short list over the course of the last 20 years as enthusiasts of the online gambling entertainment industry. These sites are all compliance certified and located outside of the United States.
We have doubled down and tripled checked these site's regulatory oversight commissions and have made sure that they all operate within legal and licensed jurisdictions. These are our favorite online blackjack sites, and they each offer dozens of video blackjack games, and most also include live dealer blackjack tables for that human touch. Still, 'hit me' is never to be taken literally!
Casino Name | Bonus Offer | CA Accepted? | Play Now |
---|---|---|---|
Bovada Casino | 100% Up To $3,000 | Visit Site | |
Slots.lv Casino | 100% Up To $5,000 | Visit Site | |
Cafe Casino | 500% Up To $5,000 | Visit Site | |
Sun Palace | 400% Up To $10,000 | Visit Site |
California Online Blackjack Betting FAQs
What Federal Laws Impact Online Blackjack Betting in California?
Technically, there are two federal gambling laws that impact online casinos and blackjack options, but neither of them actually makes playing real money online 21 illegal.
The Federal Wire Act 1961 was clarified in 2011 (and upheld in 2020) to only pertain to US-based sports betting.
The scary-sounding Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA, 2006) doesn’t make online casino gambling illegal in any way, it just adds a penalty structure for fining those banking institutions that knowingly process payments to and from non-US-regulated Internet gambling sites.
Neither law applies to individual players, so you can enjoy legal online blackjack from any reputable offshore casino operator like those listed here.
Will California Legalize Online Casino Betting For Real Money Anytime Soon?
The reason there are no Internet gambling websites that are located within CA is because California has not yet taken steps to regulate them. It is up to each individual state to determine their own destiny regarding online casino gambling, including playing blackjack online.
The topic of online gambling has been actively discussed in California, but primarily in relation to online poker. Due to consistent conflict between online poker proponents and tribal gambling business owners, nothing has yet come to fruition.
If online poker ever does actually become legal in the Golden State, then CA online casinos – and hence California online blackjack betting – will probably not be too far behind.
Are There Blackjack Bonuses and Promotions For California Players?
Yes! When you join an online casino, you will get access to casino welcome bonuses (and, often, casino reload bonuses). These online casino bonus options match your deposits by a specific percentage up to a designated maximum amount.
For example, you may see a 21 bonus that looks like this: 50% match up to $500. In this bonus, the casino is agreeing to match half of your deposit up to a maximum of $500. In other words, if you deposit $1000, you'll get $1500 with which to play online blackjack and other online casino games.
Note: At most sites, playing virtual blackjack (that is, video blackjack titles) will apply to your bonus rollover requirements at a rate of 10% to 20%. Live dealer blackjack does not usually contribute to your bonus playthrough, so please be sure to read all relevant terms and conditions before accepting any BJ bonus offered.
What Variations of Blackjack Can California Residents Play Online?
Over the hundreds of years of play, the game of twenty-one has developed into multiple versions. On the Internet, you can find the largest possible selection of different kinds of 21. The game is normally played with 6 to 8 decks in a 'shoe' to prevent card counting, but you can also find games that use just a single deck as well as double and triple deck games.
There are other slight changes to the game that have allowed for specialty bets like Bovada’s “Perfect Pairs” that reward your luck for being blessed with a particular pair of cards that match. There is another specialty version called Zappit Blackjack commonly found as well. Zappit will allow you to “zap” your hand and exchange your cards if they add up to 15, 16, or 17. The specific BJ games found in the menus at our recommended sites vary from brand to brand.
Are Online Blackjack Games Fair?
Each website that is recommended here is compliance certified through third-party watchdogs, and all games of online 21 use vetted Random Number Generation (RNG) software made by the top developers in the world, like Realtime Gaming, Betsoft, and Microgaming. These brands also make the video blackjack terminals you find in regulated domestic brick-and-mortar California casinos.
RNGs are computer algorithms that are programmed to ensure statistical randomness and fair play for the common fan. The best casino websites contract with top-class companies that don’t have any connection to the gambling websites themselves to test the algorithms objectively for appropriate levels of randomness and fair play guidelines. All of our recommended blackjack sites are regularly audited and proudly display their compliance certificates.
Can I Play Blackjack For Free?
Not only are you able to play blackjack online for free, but we actually recommend it. Free online blackjack is the best way to become acclimated to the game’s interface for new players, to see how you like the environment at the casino you are visiting, and to test out your best blackjack betting strategy, all without risking a single penny.
If you are playing at a casino you’ve never played at before, we strongly suggest that you enjoy some free play 21 before you make a deposit into your account. Not all sites offer free blackjack, but most do as a way to let their customers play 'demos' of their award-winning online blackjack games.
Online Blackjack Card Counting
Can I Play Blackjack From My Mobile Phone?
The responsive mobile technology used by each of the best online California casinos will redirect you to their mobile enhanced interfaces for on-the-go play. From your smartphone or tablet, you can access your account to make deposits, request casino payouts, and play any of your favorite games, including real money blackjack online.
Best of all, you don't need any iPhone blackjack apps or Android blackjack apps to enjoy the experience. All you need is a modern smartphone, an up-to-date web browser, and an account at any site listed here. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can play blackjack for real money from anywhere in the Golden State, any time you please.