Blackjack has long been the king of the casino, and for good reason. It is easy to play, it has the best odds for winning, and it is the fastest way to win (and lose) money.

Blackjack is now more accessible than ever, with numerous real money online casinos — in addition to traditional brick-and-mortar outlets — offering the game.

♠️ What is online blackjack?

Blackjack is a card game, and the goal is to beat the dealer. To beat the dealer, you must get a card total closer to 21, without going over that number.

Here is what each card is valued as:

  • Cards 2-10 count as face value.
  • Jacks, Queens, and Kings (face cards) count as 10.
  • An Ace can count as a 1 or an 11, depending on which number helps the hand.

For a deep dive into how to play blackjack, check out our online blackjack strategy guide.

Which states allow legal online blackjack?

While it is legal at the federal level, casino gaming is regulated by each individual state. There are certain states that allow traditional online casinos, whereas some states offer what are known as sweepstakes casinos. This is a casino where you essentially play for free but can still redeem winnings. However, not all sweepstakes casinos offer blackjack. 

If you live in a state that offers real money casinos rather than sweeps, we have you covered.

Rhode Island and Delaware also allow casinos to operate online, but these states are currently single-operator monopolies.

🎰 Which casinos have online blackjack?

If you're in a U.S. state with regulated real money casinos, you can play blackjack at a number of well-known sites, including:

For U.S. players located elsewhere, you can play blackjack at any of the following sweepstakes casinos (subject to operator-specific geo-restrictions):

🎰 Sweepstakes casino ⛔️ Restricted states 💡 Guides
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👑 Best online casino to play blackjack — DraftKings Casino

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My experience

"DraftKings offers more than 60 different blackjack games. The live dealer options are stellar, and I highly recommend the themed versions, like Touchdown Blackjack, which combines football with the classic game of 21."

Matt Burke, Casino Expert

DraftKings Casino blackjack

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🔵 Best sweepstakes casino to play blackjack — Stake.us

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My experience

"Stake Originals are games created in-house, and you can really see the care and effort the brand puts into its blackjack titles. There's also a tablet-only version, Low Stake Blackjack, for those who prefer gaming on their iPads (or other tablet-style devices)."

Matt Burke, Casino Expert

Stake.us Casino blackjack

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📝 How to play blackjack online

Here is a step-by-step look at how to play blackjack online:

  • Join a table

    You will first want to identify what the minimum and maximum bets are at a table. Be sure to play within your limits and be mindful of your blackjack budget.

    You will then want to find an open seat at a table. Most blackjack tables have five or seven seats.

    Because you're playing online, you don't have to worry about where you sit at the table or the best time of day to play blackjack.

  • Decide whether to hit or stand

    A key decision when playing blackjack is to “hit” or “stand.”

    “Hit” means that you want another card from the dealer so that your hand’s total will improve.

    To “stand” means that you are satisfied with your current hand and believe that you have the right total to beat the dealer.

  • Choose to hit

    When your total is low, you will want to hit. If your hand is 11 or less, it’s a no-brainer to hit.

    You will also want to be aware of the dealer’s upcard. Per basic strategy, if the dealer’s upcard is between a 7 and an Ace, and your total is 12-16, you should probably hit.

    Novice blackjack players should know that you can keep hitting until you “bust” (i.e., go over 21).

  • Choose to stand

    If your hand totals 17 or higher, you will typically want to stand. The odds of busting are strong if you hit on a number higher than 17.

  • Your hand value

    The dealer will initially give you two cards, face up.

    The dealer will have one card face down and one face up. Remember, your goal is to get closer to 21 than the dealer.

    You must weigh your own hand’s total against the probability that the dealer will have a strong hand to determine your hand’s value.

  • Dealer reveals their cards

    After all the players at the table are done playing their hand, the dealer will flip their hole card (the card that is initially face down). The dealer will then play their own hand.

  • See who is closer to 21

    After the dealer has played their own hand, it’s time to see who is closest to 21. If you are closer to 21 than the dealer, you win. In the event of a tie, it is a “push,” and you will get your original bet back.

Blackjack knowledge is power

Playing blackjack isn't all about strategy. It helps, sure, but in the end, the goal of playing any casino game is to have fun. When the fun disappears from your blackjack game, it's time to take a step back and ask yourself, "What am I getting out of this?" If the answer is, "Nothing but an empty wallet," take a breather. Responsible gambling means playing blackjack and having a blast, not betting it all on one hand. 

🆓 Playing online blackjack vs. free games

There are two options for playing blackjack online. You can either play real money online blackjack, or free online blackjack.

Playing free online blackjack is a great way to warm up for the real deal. Many sites won’t even ask you for sign-up information, giving you quick and easy access to play this exciting game.

Of course, the downside to playing these free blackjack games is that you can’t win money. Only real money online blackjack allows you to wager and win in the true sense.

♦️ Game ✅ Pros ❌ Cons

🤑 Real money online blackjack
  • Can win real money.
  • Claim bonuses and promos.
  • Real live dealers.
  • More blackjack game variants.
  • Risk losing money.
🆓 Free online blackjack
  • No risk.
  • A great way to practice.
  • No sign-up information needed.
  • Fun and stress-free.
  • No opportunity to win money.
  • No live dealer games.

💡 Online blackjack tips

Gamblers crave as much information as possible prior to placing a bet. Knowledge is power at the blackjack table, and we’ll give you some key pointers here:

  • Understand house edge: The house edge is the mathematical advantage that a casino has over the player. What makes blackjack so popular is that the house edge is typically around just 1%.
  • Manage your bankroll: If you are playing for real money at an online blackjack site, you will certainly want to set a bankroll beforehand. This is the amount of money you plan to use for gambling in advance.

How to track casino spending without killing the fun

Being responsible doesn't have to be a buzzkill. Check out our guide on how to track casino spending without killing all the fun.

  • Try betting systems: An easy way to manage your bankroll is to use specific betting systems. Popular blackjack betting systems include the Martingale System, the Paroli System, and flat betting. More on systems in a bit.
  • Always split Aces and 8s: Splitting in blackjack is when you have a pair, and you decide to separate them into two individual hands. One of the most basic rules of basic strategy is to split aces and eights. Splitting gives you two chances to hit 21.
  • Be wary of insurance: Blackjack insurance is a side bet on whether the dealer has blackjack. It is independent of your original bet. The risk here is that insurance bets lose more than they win. The house edge on an insurance bet is around 7.5%, compared to around 1% on a normal game.

Card counting online?

Unfortunately, you amateur card counters are out of luck if you hope to bring down the house virtually. Online casinos use a virtual shoe. It is impossible to count cards when online blackjack uses an RNG (Random Number Generator) to deal the cards. So, you math whizzes will have to get up off the couch, get dressed, and head into an in-person casino if you hope to count your way to glory.

♦️ Popular blackjack variants

Another great thing about blackjack is that there is a wide variety of versions. In addition to the classic blackjack we’ve already discussed, there are wildly fun versions like Blackjack Surrender and Double Exposure Blackjack available to play on real money casino apps and sites. Here are some of the most popular blackjack variants:

Classic blackjack

In classic blackjack, you want to create a card total that equals 21, or at least comes close to 21 without going over it. You want your hand to beat the dealer’s hand.

5️⃣ Top 5 blackjack variants for odds

“How low can you go?” is often associated with the game of limbo, but it also applies to blackjack variants. As we mentioned earlier, a major reason blackjack is so popular is its incredibly low house edge.

Here is a table with the top five blackjack variants for odds:

♦️ Game ⚖️ House Edge

1️⃣ Single deck blackjack

0.13% — uses just one deck, easy to count cards.
2️⃣ Blackjack switch

0.17% — ability to switch the second cards between hands allows for favorable outcomes for the player.
3️⃣ Atlantic City blackjack

0.35% — can split pairs up to three times each.
4️⃣ European blackjack

0.39% — dealer does not get to peak because there is no hole card.
5️⃣ Multihand

0.63% — having more hands gives you more chances at winning.

🤓 Online blackjack strategy

You will hear a lot about basic strategy when discussing the game of blackjack. You might also be asking if basic blackjack strategy works online?

Simple put, blackjack basic strategy is a mathematical set of rules that determines when you hit, stand, double down, or split. Let’s look at the fundamentals of blackjack strategy:

  • Pair splitting: If you are dealt two cards of the same number in blackjack, you can elect to split them. For instance, if you were dealt a pair of 8s, you could choose (and should choose) to split them. This is because with two 8s you would have a weak total of 16.
  • Soft totals: A soft total is a hand that uses an Ace card as an 11. If you had an Ace and a 3, you would have a “soft 14.” The Ace card offers flexibility, as it can be used as a 1 or an 11.
  • Hard totals: Unlike a soft total, a hard total does not have flexibility with an Ace. Let's say you had an Ace, a 6, and a 10. You would have a “hard 17.” The Ace is forced to be a 1 in this scenario, because if it were used as an 11, you would bust. You can also have a hard total without an Ace. For example, if you had a 10 and an 8, it would be a "hard 18.”
  • Late surrender: A late surrender by the player can occur after the dealer has checked their cards and does not have blackjack. The player can fold in this scenario and receive half of their bet back.

💸 Blackjack betting systems

Savvy gamblers will go to the blackjack table with a plan. There are several different strategies, or systems, you can use. While none of these guarantee positive results (it’s called gambling for a reason), they are tried-and-true methods that have been used by veteran blackjack players for decades.

Martingale

The Martingale system goes on the premise that you “must win eventually.” With this strategy, you double your bet after every loss. After a win, you revert back to your original bet size. It is an aggressive and risky strategy.

📖 Blackjack glossary

Blackjack is a pretty easy game to learn, but you will want to know all of the terminology before playing. Here is a handy blackjack glossary with all of the key words and phrases you need to know.

Ace: An Ace card in blackjack can be either a 1 or an 11. If the ace card puts your total over 21, it will be used as a 1. 

Blackjack: Blackjack is when you hit 21 on the nose. That is the ultimate goal of the game. If both you and the dealer get blackjack, then it is a push, and the player gets their original bet back.

Burn card: At the start of each round, the dealer will typically discard the top card from the deck/shoe. This card is called the burn card. This is done to prevent cheating from players. Cheating players may try to mark the back of a card so they know what is coming next.  

Bust: Your hand “busts” in blackjack when it goes over the total of 21. If a player goes over 21 points, they bust and automatically lose.

Face cards: Face cards are the King, Queen, and Jack of any suit. In blackjack, these cards are worth 10 points.

Double down: Double down means to double your original wager. You are allowed to double down after you receive your first two cards. You then receive one more card, and you must stand with it.

Hard hand: A hard hand is a hand without an Ace, or a hand where the Ace has to be counted as 1 to avoid a bust. 

Heads up: Heads up is when you play the dealer one-on-one. In this format, there are no other players at the table. 

Hit: To hit in blackjack means to ask the dealer for another card to add to your hand. You can hit as many times as you want, until you choose to stand.

Hole card: A hole card is a face-down card that the dealer gets. The dealer receives two cards, a hole card and a face-up card (upcard). The dealer peeks at his hole card to see if he has natural blackjack.

House edge: The house edge is the amount of money the casino keeps over time. One of the main reasons blackjack is so popular is that it has a low house edge, often around just 0.5%.

Insurance: Insurance in blackjack is when you make a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. You are allowed to do this if the dealer’s upcard is an Ace.

Natural: A natural is when your first two cards add up to 21. In this scenario, the player wins immediately, unless the dealer also has blackjack.

Push: A push is when the player and the dealer both have a hand with the same total. When this occurs, you don’t win or lose. Your original wager is simply returned to you.

Stand: When you stand in blackjack, you no longer want any more cards. You stand when you are satisfied with your hand. It is the opposite of hitting.

Soft hand: A soft hand is when you can count an Ace as a 1 or 11. For example, if you have an Ace and a 7, you would have a “soft 18.”

Surrender: To surrender is to basically fold your hand early. Half of your bet is returned in this scenario, and you sit out the round.

Up card: The upcard is the face-up card that the dealer displays at the start of each hand. This card helps you choose what you want to do with your own hand.

Star icon Blackjack in Las Vegas

Blackjack is synonymous with Sin City. Every player wants to try their hand against the dealer at least a couple of times during a trip to Las Vegas, so we've picked out some tips to help you get ahead:

Online blackjack FAQ

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Contributor

Matt Burke is an online casino and sports betting expert. He has been an editor and writer in the betting space for more than a decade. He has produced thousands of real money online casino pages and sports betting articles. The University of Connecticut graduate prides himself on accuracy and giving users all of the information they need to make informed wagers.