Millions of Brits love blackjack because it’s the perfect blend of luck and skill. While when playing other games such as slots, you may only rely on your luck, blackjack gives you the chance to change the outcome using strategies and systems that are checked and were proven to work in your favour. This article will tell you where and how to safely play real money online blackjack and which bonuses to cash in on to get off to a good start.
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How the Perfect Blackjack Casino Looks Like
With the hundreds of online casinos 10that cater to UK users, finding the best site for blackjack players can be quite the difficult task. I know, you will say that all operators offer blackjack and you are right. But there is more to it than meets the eye, because while some do a wonderful job at it, others fail in more than one way.
First and foremost, safety should always be a must so it goes without saying that the casino you choose needs to provide a safe and secure gambling environment. But there are many other things to consider when playing blackjack for real money. Here are the characteristics of a good site to play at:
- Safety & Technical Security – UK Gambling Commission licence and other safety certificates, safe banking transactions via encrypted transmissions
- A Rich Collection of Games & Wagering Limits – variety in terms of games and betting limits, mobile and live-dealer titles
- Blackjack-Orientated Bonuses – Deposit offers and other bonuses with a high blackjack wagering contribution
- Payment Methods – Free, fast and secure payment processors for money transactions
- Customer Support – A team of professional customer services representatives to answer your queries 24 hours per day via live chat, toll-free phone and other means
Experienced players and high rollers know the importance of a wide range of games and limits when playing online and this is something you shouldn’t overlook either. You can play the classic version at any gambling site, but what you really want is a nice collection of blackjack variations, with high RTPs and rewarding sidebets, bonuses with a good wagering contribution for blackjack and overall the perfect conditions for an optimal real money experience.
Variations and Games to Play for Maximum Win – Payouts and Sidebets
When it comes to the biggest difference between playing online versus playing in land based locations is variety and you would be a fool not to take advantage of it. There are casinos with over 30 blackjack tables, each with different rules, number of decks, sidebets, wagering limits and last, but by all means least, RTP (return to player), which should be your ultimate concern if you want to make money playing blackjack. Without further ado, here are the best blackjack games to play for a higher chance of winning:
- Single Deck Blackjack: – Single Deck Blackjack by Microgaming has an RTP of 99.91%, thanks to the fact that the dealer stands on all 17s and the game is played with one deck of cards
- Blackjack Switch: – Powered by Playtech, this game has a unique rule according to which you are allowed to switch the top 2 cards of the 2 hands that you play, thus turning 2 potentially disastrous hands in 2 winning hands. The RTP is 99.87%
- Premium Multihand Blackjack: – A table on which you can play up to 5 hands and the game is played with 6 decks of cards. This Playtech game has an RTP of 99.71% and you can try it at Betway Casino
- Pontoon: – Blackjack pays 2 to 1 and it’s called a Pontoon. The main difference from the classic version is that all the 10s have been takes out of the 8 decks that the game is played with. There is also a five-card Charlie and the RTP is 99.68%
- Blackjack Touch Single Deck: – Even though it is a single deck game, the RTP is 99.59%, because the dealer hits soft 17. Another feature is the fact that you can take Even money if you have a blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace
- Blackjack Surrender: – A game with an RTP of 99.65%, Blackjack Surrender is played with 6 decks, the dealer stands on soft 17 and late surrender is allowed and there is also a payout for 7 card Charlie
Usually, you want to look for a game that is played with one deck of cards, since the more decks you play with, the higher the house edge. But there are cases in which a game is played with as much as 6 or 8 decks and it still has a higher RTP than others. Why? One of the reasons could be that blackjack pays 2 to 1 as is the case with Pontoon, which lowers the house edge by a whopping 2.26%. Another rule that works in your favour is the five card Charlie, with states that the player automatically wins if he has five or more cards without busting. This rule alone will raise the RTP with 1.46%. There are cases in which such a hand pays 2 to 1.
Sidebets feature some pretty appealing payouts, but I should tell you right off the bat that playing them on a regular basis may hurt your bankroll. For example, the Perfect Pair sidebets pays 25 to 1 if your or the dealer’s first two cards are identical. This means that the cards are of the same value, colour and suit and the lowest payout is 6 to 1 if your first two cards are of the same value. As good as that may sound, this sidebet raises the house edge with up to 6%. So my advice is to stick to Classic Blackjack and only play with such sidebets in play or practice mode.
Wagering Limits – Minimum and Maximum Bets
Another thing to consider when playing blackjack online for real money are the betting limits. You will see that usually the highest stakes are accepted on live dealer tables, about which you can read more in the dedicated paragraph. As far as RNG blackjack games are concerned, the maximum bet per hand is usually somewhere around £1,000. The minimum allowed wager can vary between 50p and £10, depending on the table you play at. But 888 Casino will allow you to bet as much £3,000 on Multihand Blackjack, where you can play up to 5 hands. That adds up to £15,000, which can satisfy even the pickiest of high rollers.
Blackjack Bonuses and Promotions
Another perk of playing on the Internet is having the chance to cash in on bonuses and promotions that will give your starting capital a boost. But there are some tricks to doing so, the first one being to check the wagering contribution for blackjack. If slots and scratch cards contribute 100%, blackjack games usually have a contribution between 5% and 25%. This is important because it affects the time you take to play through your bonus, before you can cash out. At Ladbrokes Casino, for example, blackjack has a contribution of 20% to the terms and conditions of the first deposit bonus.
There are other promotions that operators offer to reward users for playing during a certain period of time, such at 888 Casino. There are hidden bonus cards in the blackjack shoes at live blackjack tables, the smallest value of which is £25. All you have to do is play and if you are lucky enough to get one of those cards, you can win as much as £150.
Where Can You Find a Rich Mobile Selection?
Mobile apps have become the future of online gambling, so you have to look for a casino with a good selection of blackjack titles that you can play on the go. While most apps feature a pretty big selection of slots, the same thing can’t be said about blackjack games.
And still, there are casinos that manage to satisfy the player’s need to play mobile blackjack, for real money and even in practice mode. There are usually two ways of playing. You can access the website in your browser or download the app from the iOS store or from the operator’s site. The good news is that you have the chance of enjoying many live dealer games and you will find that usually the apps offer a lot of tables, with varying limits. You can read more on the topic in the next paragraph.
Live Dealer Blackjack Online
BetVictor Casino is a good choice when it comes to playing live online blackjack, since there are 4 different live dealer platforms to choose from, some of which are even available on mobile. You have to choose between NetEnt, Media Live, Evolution Gaming and Extreme Live Gaming. You can play blackjack at Victor’s Live Casino, BV Grand, Victor Royale or BetVictor Extreme Live Casino. Limits reach as much as £25,000 and the minimum bet is set at 50p.
And the best part about it is that you have the option to bet behind seated players, if all seats are taken. That means that you will can only wager, but all decisions are taken by the seated player. You can also pre-set your choices in case the player decides to double, split or surrender. Other features include changing the table view between classic and 3D, a comprehensive wagering history with the outcome of all played hands and my personal favourite – multi-table play.
Banking Options and Safety Issues
Payment options are an important aspect and should not be overlooked. You need to find a casino that supports transactions from many payment processors so that you can choose the one that suits you best. Both deposits and withdrawals need to be safe and free, although in many occasions the latter are not. Sometimes even deposits via methods like PayPal or Bank Transfer may include fees, but these are set by the payment processor and not by the operators.
All information transmitted to and from the casino site is encrypted, so you can be sure that your personal and banking data are in safe hands. For that purpose, operators use software provided by companies such as Thawte to encrypt sensitive information regarding your account and banking transactions. Safety is also guaranteed by other international organizations such as eCogra, to which 888 is a co-founder.