Play Online Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games. Collect 21 points and you can win lots of money. PlayLive Blackjack against the house and with other players online.
The game where the odds can be stacked in your favor
Slots are the most popular casino games in the world, however, Blackjack is the pros’ choice. Online Blackjack is simply a match between you and the dealer. Both start with two cards, and the goal is to get as close to a total of 21 without going over.
What is unique about Blackjack, however, is that you can get an advantage with the right moves at the right time.
What type of Blackjack is best for you?
There are different types of Blackjack. Some follow a traditional format; others add something extra to the mix. Some of the best options online are:
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Classic Blackjack
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Blackjack Party
Blackjack variants with the highest RTP:
| Game | Average RTP | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack Charlie 7 | 99.84% | You win even if you draw 7 cards without exceeding the 21 limit |
| Single Deck Blackjack | 99.75% | Fewer cards with the value 10 hits. |
| Atlantic City Blackjack | 99.65% | Late surrender is allowed. |
| Pontoon Blackjack | 99.64% | You can double at any time in the game. |
| Blackjack Surrender | 99.62% | You can return your cards to the dealer in exchange for new ones. |
What are the best online casinos for Blackjack in South Africa?
This popular card game is offered in almost all the best casinos for US players and for South African players. There are also many other places where you can try to get a hand of 21. Look for the “Table Games” tab at any South African casino you are in.
Is Blackjack online legal in South Africa?
Yes, you can relax and play Blackjack online at a casino. There are many casinos aimed at South African players that offer Blackjack games as part of the game selection. Some casinos only focus on slot machines, but most of them have at least Roulette and Blackjack in the table games section. If you are a big fan of Blackjack, you may want to look around on websites that have many different versions and be spoiled for choice.
Are Blackjack games online rigged?
No, you can be absolutely sure of getting a fair game of Blackjack online. Just be sure to choose a casino that has a valid license from MGA or Curacao eGaming and that has received good reviews from our experts. The use of a random number generator (RNG) in virtual games, regulated by test agencies such as TST and eCOGRA, and professional dealers of Live Blackjack games means that you can always rely on the fairness of the games.
Why play Blackjack online?
This game has become so popular in recent years, mainly due to its simplicity and fast action. Everyone can start playing immediately and enjoy a classic card game. In fact, most people already understand the rules and are comfortable placing bets right away. If you have previously enjoyed playing Blackjack with friends and family, you can play the same game online when it suits you.
| Blackjack online | Blackjack in a land-based casino | |
| Safety | ✔ | ✔ |
| Play anywhere | ✔ | ✖ |
| Bonus | ✔ | ✖ |
| Promotions | ✔ | ✖ |
| Several seats | ✔ | ✖ |
Play from home
The best Blackjack games online provide comfort as well as convenience. No matter what time it is and how much free time you have, it’s easy to start playing. You can use the time that suits you best. The technology with mobile casinos for South African players means that you can now also play while on the go.
You can get Blackjack bonuses online
Getting started in a reputable Blackjack casino is easy, and it gives you more rewards when you take advantage of a welcome bonus in the beginning. Look for the best casino bonus offers that allow you to aim for 21 with extra bonus funds after you sign up.
Access to Live Casino Promotions
The extra atmosphere and excitement of Live Dealer Blackjack make it well worth a try. You should also look for Live Casino bonuses to help you get started in the best possible way.
Play on several seats at the same time
If you like the constant excitement of Blackjack, then playing with several hands is even more action-packed. When playing Blackjack online, just look for the casino’s “multi hand” game, where you can try to beat the dealer on several hands at once.
| Did you know? |
| Blackjack has the best odds compared to other online casino games. The house edge can fall anywhere between 0.05% and 1% in a single deck of cards. |
Live Blackjack – Online experience of a classic game
The game remains the same, but the atmosphere is changed by the presence of a human dealer or the use of a virtual setup. Explore the different ways to play Blackjack online below.
Differences between Live Dealer Blackjack and RNG (Virtual) Blackjack
Live dealer and RNG games are both exciting ways to try this game. The most noticeable difference between blackjack games online is whether a human dealer is present or not. If they are, the live dealer game will be streamed on screen from an elegant studio, giving you the chance to communicate with them while you play.
RNG Blackjack games are presented as virtual games, with a computer-generated table and cards dealt randomly. In this case, it is the casino software that ensures total fairness and random results on each hand. Which of these different approaches is the best way to play Blackjack online? It really only depends on your personal taste.
Virtual Blackjack games online
Many of the best game developers produce virtual Blackjack games with fast and exciting action. This includes Blackjack by NetEnt and Blackjack Lucky Ladies by Felt. These versions usually allow you to bet on different hands by pushing your chips on the bet areas.
Each game developer has their own style, but many of the games have a similar approach, with a nice layout and simple controls.
Studio Live (Dealer) Blackjack games
Live Dealer The Blackjack games all have a human dealer dealt the cards and showing the results. Evolution, Microgaming and Playtech produce many of the best Live Blackjack games for South African players. By looking in the Play Live Casino section you can find, among other things, Free Bet Blackjack, Blackjack VIP and their exclusive branded tables. The live dealer Blackjack selection at South African casinos has grown in recent years, so it seems likely that more new titles will be added in the future.
How to Play Live Blackjack?
Blackjack is played with a dealer and the players. All players play against the dealer and not against each other. The goal is to get a card value that does not exceed 21, but is still higher than the dealer’s value.
Each card is worth its own value, except for the ace, which can either count as ‘1’ or ’11’. Jack, Queen and King all have a value of 10.
The game is played in these steps:
- Each player places their bets.
- The cards are then dealt.
- The dealer deals one card face up to each player and one card face up to himself.
- Another card is then dealt to each player, but the dealer’s other cards are dealt face down. Therefore, every player except the dealer receives two cards face up. The dealer will have one card face up and the other face down.
- If a player’s first two cards are an ace and another card with a value of 10, then you are lucky right away – this is exactly 21 and the player wins. If both the dealer and the player have 21, this is called a “Push” or a draw, and the player gets the bet amount back.
Live Dealer Blackjack Rules and Bets
The goal is to get closer to 21 than the dealer without crossing this magical limit. You get two cards first and foremost and have to decide if you want to ask for more or stick to these two. When it’s your turn, you make decisions whether to double your bet, split your cards into two separate hands, or insure yourself against a 21-hand Blackjack hand. When you’re done, it’s the dealer’s turn to turn over his cards.
They must follow established rules that determine whether they can draw another card or not. The best hand in this card game is when you get a total of 21 on the first two cards, which will normally give you a higher payout and cannot be beaten. Otherwise, any hand that is better than the dealer’s hand without going over 21 will give you a win.
Double Down
When you double, it allows you to double the bet in exchange for an extra card.
Split the aces
Splitting the aces gives the player two chances to beat the dealer. If you do not split the aces, one gets the value 1 and the other 11.
Re-split
If the player receives another ace after splitting aces, they can then split again.
Surrender
A player has the choice to give up the hand after the dealer has dealt cards in the first round, in exchange for retaining half of his original bet.
10 Card Charlie
The rarest hand combination in the game of Blackjack, where a player is dealt 10 cards without exceeding 21.
Side games
Side bets are extra bets a player can place at the beginning of a round. These games generally have a lower RTP than the main game, which means that it is more difficult to make money on them.
Still, the extra excitement they add and the prospect of big wins, if it turns out, means that many players are tempted to give it a try.
- Blackjack insurance
The most common side bet on Blackjack games online is betting on the dealer getting a Blackjack hand of 21 on the first two cards.
You will still lose your hand if this happens, but you will also receive a payout as a patch on the wound.
- 21 + 3
This Blackjack side game is based on your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up cards giving a strong poker hand.
The better this hand is, the more you win. With three of a kind in the same suit, it is usually the top prize.
- Couple side game
There are a few different options here, as you can get different types of pairs on your first cards.
Mixed pairs and coloured pairs are good, but it is a perfect pair of the same colour and value that pays off best of all.
- Bet Behind (Bet in the background)
With this type of Blackjack bet, you bet on another player’s hand instead of your own.
This means that you have no control over the decisions made while the hand is being played.
Number of decks and house edge
The number of decks used in Blackjack games online plays a big role in your chances of winning.
This is because there is a greater chance of getting a Blackjack hand of 21 on the first two cards if fewer decks are used.
The reason for this is that more Blackjack hands are likely to be dealt, giving you a greater chance of getting the higher payout it provides.
Most of the best online versions of Blackjack use eight decks, but some use less than this. You can sometimes see a deck of cards being used, but then it is often shuffled after each hand.
In the table below we can see the effect the number of decks of cards has on the edge of the house, which is the advantage the casino has.
If the house has a low edge, it means you have a better chance of picking up some winnings.
| Number of decks | The advantage of the house |
|---|---|
| A deck of cards | 0.17% |
| Two decks of cards | 0.46% |
| Four decks of cards | 0.60% |
| Six decks of cards | 0.64% |
| Eight decks of cards | 0.66% |
What is a simple Blackjack strategy?
The most basic Blackjack strategy is about knowing when to stand (play with your existing hand) and when to draw cards (ask for another card).
What is best to do depends on the cards you have and also the card face up that the dealer has.
You can get some help by looking at Blackjack strategy tables that contain all the different possible combinations you can come up with.
No matter which cards are dealt, you will see that your best move is listed there.
This simple strategy does not guarantee you a win every time, but it maximizes your opportunities.
The theoretical payback (RTP) listed for Blackjack games is actually based on you using a basic strategy, so it definitely pays to learn how to do this.
H = Hit (Draw Cards)
S = Stand
Sp = Split
D = Double down
When to use Surrender?
The option called “Surrender” (surrender) is sometimes offered when you play Blackjack online. This version is usually seen in games with “Surrender” in the name. These games allow you to fold early and get back part of your bet. This is often worth using Surrender when the dealer has an ace or 10 and you have a bad hand, such as a hand with a value of 12 to 17 without an ace in it. You can win in this situation, but you are more likely to lose.
When should you consider splitting couples?
Splitting a pair of identical cards doubles your bet, giving you two chances to win. It is generally recommended that you split aces to get two strong hands, while a split of a pair of eights breaks up one of the worst Blackjack hands. In other cases, it depends on which card the dealer has shown. The only cards you will probably always avoid splitting are pairs of 10, pairs of 4 and pairs of 5.
When should you double?
Double down is one of the most interesting and aggressive moves you can make when playing Blackjack online. You double your bet against getting just one more card. You will want to do this when you have a better card than the dealer’s face up and cannot lose on any other card you may have. Among the hands where this strategy makes sense is a hand with the values 9, 10 or 11, as well as a 16, 17 or 18. In general, you also want to see a card with a value of between 2 and 6 as the dealer’s hand.
Get to know card counting in Blackjack online
Card counting is a way to keep track of the cards dealt, so you get a better idea of which ones are likely to come next.
This can be done by using continuous counting or the actual number. You may also want to use the high-low approach by assigning values to each card to make it easier to keep track. Not everyone agrees that card counting is something that gives you an advantage.
The general idea is that you change the bet, depending on whether the remaining cards favour you. Ideally, you want to see that there is a high percentage of aces and cards with a value of 10 left to deal, because this increases the chances of a Blackjack hand coming up.
3 Important Tips to Know Before Playing Blackjack Online
When playing Live Blackjack for real money, it is important to be as informed and prepared as possible before you start playing. Our guides are here to help you and teach you the most important aspects of the game.
1. Know the basic rules, side games and payouts
The basic rules are fairly simple, but learning about side games and payouts can lead to some challenges. Use guides and videos to help you learn everything.
2. Learn the Blackjack Strategies
The right strategy is crucial to your success in Blackjack, as it increases your chances of winning in different situations.
Stick to a basic strategy, then you can try something a little more complicated as you learn more.
3. Plan your budget and time
The trick to success is to plan and play responsibly. It is important to be prepared to win or lose. Plan your budget in advance so you know when to quit and give yourself enough time to get used to the game.
Variants of the game
You may be aware that Blackjack has many different versions that are popular around the world.
When you play Blackjack online, you will not find them all, but it is good to know what they are anyway.
Most South African casinos have a relatively good selection of this classic game on their website, but you can also see a few games based on other variants such as the ones below.
Classic Blackjack
This is what we have mostly focused on here, as it is a game with the traditional rules that most people know. You come across variants such as European, American and Multi-Hand Blackjack when you play online, but the basic rules remain the same on most of them. This is a solid starting point for a beginner.
Spanish 21
If you want an interesting variation of Blackjack, Spanish 21 is worth a look. One of the biggest differences is that the player always wins with Blackjack, even if the dealer gets 21 on his first two cards as well. In addition, all 10s are taken out of the decks.
Blackjack Switch
In this Blackjack variant, the player gets two hands and can switch cards between them. Since this gives them an advantage, the payout rate is usually a little lower in this variant. In addition, a dealer with a card value of 22 is also a “Push” (draw), unless the player has a natural Blackjack.
Super Fun 21
This entertaining version of Blackjack has a lot in common with the classic game. Still, you will win if you get 20 on six or more cards, regardless of what the dealer has in his hand.
How to improve your game?
Since Blackjack is a game based on both luck and skill, there are several ways to improve your chances of winning when you play. One is to stick to the basic Blackjack strategy. The casinos and tables you play at can give you extra value when you play, while the following tips can help you get better at this game.
1. Read our gaming and casino reviews
First and foremost, it is important to choose the right online casino where you can play Live Blackjack. Choosing a casino that has special or regular promotions on this game will give you extra value. For example, some casinos will give you cash back on losses when you play Blackjack, which will help you win more overall, while others will reward you with reload bonuses that you can use to play the game with a little extra bonus money. Also, you should have a number of Blackjack tables and different variations to choose from so that you can choose one that suits your budget and style of play. In our casino reviews, we always inform you if a casino offers special Blackjack offers, and also give you an idea of the types of Blackjack tables that are available.
2. Practice for free
Many casinos offer virtual Blackjack that can be played for free, in demo mode. This is a great way to pick up the rules and the way to play, without having to bet any of your money. Only play as normal, but with play money instead of your own money at play. Live dealer games of Blackjack are not offered as a demo option, but by picking up a nice Live Casino bonus you can play with a little extra money.
See streamers to discover new tips
Watching the pros play can teach you the best strategy and tactics. Today you can watch Twitch streamers play Blackjack at various online casinos. Among the most popular online streamers on Blackjack you can follow CasinoSheriff , TheMillionDollarMan
Play Blackjack on your mobile
Like all other online casino games, Blackjack can be easily played on your mobile phone if you register with a casino that is optimized for mobile or has its own app.
Playing Blackjack in a mobile app gives you access to special features, such as push notifications, as well as a more intuitive user experience in general. Not to mention the fact that you can play the games anywhere without having to log in to your gaming account from your mobile browser!