Best Blackjack Sites in 2024

As the dynamic world of US online casinos keeps evolving, some classic games have been able to withstand the test of time. Such is the case of blackjack, which continues to be a long-standing favorite for both seasoned players and newcomers.

We reviewed the best U.S. online blackjack casinos, those that stand as beacons of exceptional gameplay and feature lucrative bonuses, dynamic options, and thriving communities. We will also touch on the rules of blackjack and share some tips to help you increase your odds of success.

Play Online at the Best U.S. Casinos

What is Blackjack?

Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the most popular card games in the world. You will be able to play blackjack both at online casinos and at brick-and-mortar locations. 

Basically, when you are playing blackjack your primary objective is to beat the dealer. The way you do that is by having a hand value that gets as close as possible to 21. However, you must be careful. If the value of your cards put together exceeds 21, you lose. 

In the section below, we will explain some basic rules to further showcase how to play the game.

Best Blackjack Rules to Know for Online Casino Play 

The first thing you need to understand when playing blackjack is the value of each card. Here’s a breakdown:

• Number cards (2-10) are worth their face value
• Face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) are worth 10 points each
• Aces can be worth either 1 point or 11 points, depending on the value that benefits your hand the most. For example, if you have a 10, and you get an Ace, the ideal thing is to give it an “11” value, because that way, you’ll hit blackjack.

The game starts with the dealer giving each player (and themselves) two cards. The players’ cards are usually dealt face up, while the dealer has one card facing upwards, which is known as the up card, and one facing downwards, which is known as the hole card. 

Once gameplay starts, you need to decide how to play your hand. Here are the decisions you can make:

• Hit: Take another card to try to improve your hand’s total.
• Stand: Keep your current hand without taking additional cards.
• Double Down: Double your initial bet, take one more card, and then stand.
• Split: If you have two cards of the same rank, you can split them into two separate hands, each with a new bet equal to your original bet.
• Surrender: In some variants, players can choose to surrender and forfeit half of their bet if they believe their hand is likely to lose.

After every player sitting at the table has made their choice, the dealer will reveal their hole card. A rule of blackjack is that the dealer must hit until their hand reaches a certain total. Most often, this total will be 17 or higher.

Comparing the Best Real Money Blackjack Casinos

Caesars Palace Online Casino

If you have ever been to Las Vegas, you for sure are aware of the Caesars brand, especially since it operates the iconic Caesars Palace, a landmark of the city. Now, the company brings that glamor to the online world and has become one of the best blackjack sites. To incentivize new players, it is giving a $25 instant first deposit bonus after a deposit of $50 is completed. 

BetRivers Casino

BetRivers is one of the most established casino names in the United States and one of the top blackjack sites. It's offering an attractive bonus of a 100% deposit bonus match of up to $250. This means that if you deposit $250, you will have $500 to play with, considering your deposit and your bonus. You can use this bonus to double your bankroll and head to the blackjack table, where you will be able to engage in different varieties like multi-hand blackjack and more. 

Bet365 Casino

Bet365 is one of the world’s most recognizable brands when it comes to online gambling, and blackjack is no exception. The company first made a name for itself in the sports betting space, and now it has entered the burgeoning U.S. online casino market. Bet365 offers a welcome bonus and matches new player deposits up to $1,000. Bet365 is known for its great reliability, wide game variety, and excellent customer support.

888 Casino

888 Casino is a real money online casino that offers the best no deposit welcome bonus. As soon as you sign up, you will receive $20, which you can use to head straight to the blackjack table. Backed by a global brand, 888 Casino has plenty of attractive features and real money games, and will surely make your experience at the blackjack table engaging and highly-entertaining. 

Hard Rock Online Casino

Hard Rock is another legacy hospitality brand that has developed a thriving online casino. Featuring a bustling blackjack table with plenty of varieties and promotions, Hard Rock is known for its loyalty rewards. To attract new players, it is offering a welcome bonus that matches your first deposit up to $1,000. 

Best Real Money Blackjack Games to Play Online

If you want to play blackjack games online, there is a wide variety of games that you can choose from. Each of these games has a series of unique features and advantages. 

Classic Blackjack: At most online casinos, this is the variety that you will likely find. This game follows the classic blackjack rules that we outlined above, and it is a great choice for beginners and experienced players alike. 

Single-Deck Blackjack: Certain online casinos offer single-deck blackjack games. Some players consider that this gives them increased chances of winning, given that there are fewer cards in play. However, as we might expect, online casinos will likely make adjustments to the rules whenever this variety is offered. So, as we always say, pay attention to the terms and conditions. 

European Blackjack: The main difference in this blackjack game is that the dealer only receives one card, which makes it different from the classic version. 

Vegas Strip Blackjack: If you have played in Las Vegas in person, you might have come across this variety. The main highlight is that it is played with four decks, and it allows additional moves like late surrender, doubling after splits, and split Aces. 

Atlantic City Blackjack: This casino game takes the Las Vegas experience to a new level. In Atlantic City, the blackjack game is played with eight decks. It offers the same additional moves as Las Vegas blackjack. 

Live Dealer Blackjack: In the lingo of online casinos, a live dealer blackjack game means that there is a human dealer playing at the online casino with you. This does a better job of replicating the casino experience than a computerized dealer. 

Progressive Blackjack: In this variant, online casino players are given the opportunity to win a progressive jackpot by placing a side bet. Until someone hits the jackpot, it will keep growing. Therefore, at some point it will be an opportunity for big prizes. However, remember your core strategy, and ensure that you do not get distracted. 

Blackjack Switch: If we compare it to the realm of sports betting, this would be the equivalent of a free bet in case your first bet loses. By playing the switch variety, you can switch the second card dealt to each hand, so if your first set is not favorable, you can switch and get another chance at beating the dealer. 

Perfect Pairs: When playing Perfect Pairs, players can make a side bet on whether their initial two cards will be a pair. If they are, you will receive an extra payout. 

Spanish 21: This variant uses a deck without 10-value cards, making it more challenging to hit 21. However, there is a compensation possibility, in which the house offers special bonus payouts for various combinations. 

Pontoon: If you play Pontoon, the main difference you will encounter between this and the traditional blackjack game is that the dealer will not show any cards until players make their decisions. 

Double Exposure Blackjack: Double Exposure Blackjack is the opposite of Pontoon. Here, both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face-up. However, as always, check the rules carefully, because the online casino might twist the rules in some other way to compensate for the disadvantage. 

Before you play any real money blackjack game, make sure you understand the rules, and remember, the goal is to have fun! Only play what you can afford to lose, and budget accordingly. In the long run, you can be profitable.

Playing Real Money Online Blackjack vs. Free Games

Playing real money blackjack games and free games–which you can do by playing at a social casino or by capitalizing on a no deposit bonus–can both be fun and engaging, depending on your goals. 

If you choose to play real money blackjack games, the main upside, of course, is that you can win cash right away. However, this is also the reason why you need to be careful. If you do not understand the rules or how to manage your bankroll adequately, you will quickly find your financial resources dwindling. 

A way to hone your skills and test the waters before jumping in and wagering real money is to take advantage of no deposit bonuses. As an alternative, you can also play at social casinos, where you can start without a deposit, and still qualify for real prizes because of the sweepstakes model. However, not all social casinos offer blackjack, so before making an account with your favorite social casino, make sure that it offers you the option to play blackjack.

Our Ratings Criteria

There are many aspects that we consider when rating and evaluating the best real money blackjack casinos. Our mission is to give you a safe and enjoyable gaming experience. 

Here are some of the criteria that we use to determine whether an online real money blackjack casino meets our standards. 

• Regulation and licensing: Before even considering making an account to play blackjack at an online casino, ensure that it is licensed and regulated. This will keep your money safe and ensure that your payouts are honored.
• Game selection: There are many varieties of blackjack. Some of them are classic blackjack, European blackjack, and live dealer blackjack. The more diverse the selection, the more likely we are to recommend an online blackjack casino.
• Bonuses and promotions: The best casinos have attractive bonuses and promotions, and especially a welcome bonus. A casino that has a no deposit bonus or offers free spins is a solid option. It allows you to become familiar with how blackjack is played before depositing real money into your casino account.
• Customer support: We highly appreciate casinos that are prompt to respond to customer queries. If the casino is known for notoriously slow responses, or for having no customer service at all, we automatically discard it.
• Banking and payouts: The best real money blackjack casinos have convenient banking options and quick payouts. Steer clear of sites that have long processing times or that have a lot of hurdles as part of their verification process.
• Terms and conditions: Especially when dealing with bonuses and promotions, the best casinos have terms and conditions that are easy to understand. A common one is a playthrough requirement. The real money blackjack casinos we prefer are those that are friendly toward new users.
• Player reviews and reputation: Very often, disgruntled players turn to places like the App Store or Google Play Store to let the public know what they think about a particular casino. We love perusing through them and seeing what players actually think, and whether it matches with what the casino claims to be. We understand that not everyone’s experience will be flawless, but at the very least, a trustworthy casino will have a representative dedicated to responding to customers who have left negative reviews.

Best Online Blackjack Strategies 

As we have discussed throughout the article, one of the best things about blackjack is that strategy and skills matter. Compared to other online casino games–like slot machines–blackjack players can tangibly see how their decisions are impacting their outcomes. Besides the strategy concepts that we have explained above, here are some additional strategies that, from our experience at Lines.com, actually work. 

Table Selection

There are many variations and rules to blackjack. Therefore, scout for those tables that have more favorable rules. Look for games where the dealer stands on a soft 17. Also, pay attention to the odds. There are tables that have very unfavorable odds, for example, paying 6/5 for a blackjack instead of 3/2. If you don’t pay attention to this, you will be disappointed when you see your payout. 

 Know When to Leave

Winning at blackjack requires discipline and self-control. Many professional players we know who have thrived at blackjack over time are able to do so because they know when to quit. 

Here, something that we suggest doing is setting a winning goal, and once you reach it, leave. Then, set aside your winnings, and come back and play with your original bankroll only. 

Also, just as it is advisable to set a blackjack winning goal, set a limit for your losses. If you are having a bad day, and your bankroll dwindles to whatever amount you previously stipulated, accept that this is not your day and leave the blackjack table. 

Manage Your Bankroll

A common mistake that people often make is that they put their entire bankroll on the table right away. As a result, they are either quickly shown the exit, or find themselves at the casino’s cashier scrambling to buy more chips. 

This can be prevented with effective bankroll management. 

If you sit down at the blackjack table with a $1,000 bankroll, and start placing $500 bets, you will be out the door after two failed plays. Therefore, you need to manage your bankroll the way you would manage a financial budget. For example, if you have $100 to play with, break it down into units. Each unit represents a percentage of the bankroll. 

Patience and Practice

Playing blackjack is a great way to test your patience and practice discipline. 

The first thing you need to understand is that sometimes you will lose. This is the main reason why the best casinos are still in business. More often than not, they win. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t beat the casino. 

As a game of strategy, the more you play, the better you can get. To hone your skills, capitalize on casino bonuses that allow you to play blackjack for free. Social casinos are an alternative where you can play without having to risk money. 

Card Counting

This is a strategy that many of the best casinos don’t like, and with good reason. Statistically, card counters have beaten the casino more often. 

Now, granted, you need to keep in mind that while card counting is a strategy that can work wonders at a brick-and-mortar casino (provided that it is legal in the jurisdiction), it is tougher to successfully implement at an online casino. 

Why? 

First and foremost, an important part of card counting is knowing how many decks remain in the shoe. In online games, you cannot see this. Also, many online casinos use random number generators (RNGs) for their blackjack casino games, so it is hard to track card values over multiple hands. 

Nevertheless, if you are skilled at card counting, it is a technique that can, at the very least, help you navigate the blackjack casino world with more ease.

Overview

Throughout this guide, we have covered the best sites to play online blackjack games in 2023. Whether you are planning on playing at a real money online casino or starting out with a social casino, rest assured that visiting an online site mentioned in this guide will provide a solid experience. 

Remember to have fun and play responsibly, only betting what you can afford to lose. The best thing about blackjack is that it is a game of strategy and skill, so your decisions will influence the outcome at the table. Good luck!

FAQs

Can you play blackjack for real money? 

Yes, you can play blackjack for real money both online and at brick-and-mortar casinos. However, it depends on your state’s legislation. 

Is blackjack online legal? 

Yes, in those states in which casinos have been authorized to operate, blackjack is legal. We recommend verifying the status of your casino of choice before making a deposit. 

Is blackjack just luck? 

No, blackjack is about more than just luck. The decisions you make while playing blackjack will increase your chances of success.