When it comes to table games, blackjack is undoubtedly the most popular casino game in the world. Almost everyone understands the basic rules, and hundreds of books have been written about it. The combination of fast action, strategy, and one of the lowest house edges in the casino has made it a timeless classic – and an obvious game for online casinos to offer to their clients.
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Online blackjack is hugely popular, with most online casinos offering multiple forms of the game (many of which we'll talk about on other pages). In most respects, the rules found in a real world casino will be the exact same as those found in blackjack online. Usually, the only differences will be that the action moves a little faster, and that the cards are reshuffled after each hand. At some online casinos, you may even have the option of playing with a live dealer via streaming video!
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Contents
Standard Rules
Online blackjack games can have rules that vary slightly, but for the most part, the general framework of the game will be similar to the one we describe here. A hand begins with the player making a bet. The dealer then deals two cards each to the player and the dealer. The player's cards are both dealt face-up, while the dealer will have one card face up (the 'up card') and one face down (the 'hole card'). The object of the game is to make a hand worth as close to 21 points as possible, without going over.
Each card is assigned a number of points based on its rank. Numbered cards are worth a number of points equal to their rank (i.e., a four is worth 4 points). Tens and face cards are worth 10 points. Finally, aces are worth 11 points, unless they would cause a hand to go over a total of 21; in that case, they are worth 1 point. If at any point the player or dealer hand goes over 21 points, that hand is said to have 'busted.'
A hand with an ace that is still worth 11 points is known as a 'soft hand,' because it cannot go bust; if the hand would go over 21 points, the ace would revert to being worth 1 point instead. Other hands are known as 'hard hands.'
The best possible starting hand is an ace plus a card worth 10 points. This totals 21 points, and is known as a blackjack. If the dealer's up card is a ten or an ace, the dealer will check for blackjack. If the dealer has 21, it is immediately revealed, and all player hands lose – except for players who also have been dealt 21, which results in a push. It's worth noting that before the dealer checks, the dealer will offer the player insurance. The insurance bet costs half the amount of the original bet, and pays 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack.
Essentially, the combination of losing the original bet but winning the insurance bet causes the player to break even for the hand, 'saving' their original wager. If the dealer does not have 21, the insurance bet loses, and the hand continues as normal. If the player has 21 the dealer will typically offer the player 'even money' on their hand; this is, mathematically speaking, the exact same bet as the insurance bet. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the hand continues. Players with twenty one win immediately at 3-2 odds. If a player does not have a blackjack, the player has several options for playing their hand.
Player Hand Options
Stand
At any time, a player may choose to stand. This means the player will take no further cards for their hand.
Hit
If the player chooses to hit, the dealer will give them one additional card for their hand. A player may choose to hit as many times as they like, until they either go over 21 and bust, or decide to stand.
Double Down
Doubling down is available to the player only on their initial two card hand. If the player chooses to double down, they must make a second bet equal in size to their original wager. The player will then receive one more card from the dealer, after which they must stand. The player now stands to win or lose both bets depending on the outcome of the hand.
Split
If the player was dealt two cards of the same rank, they have the option to split them into two separate hands. Each of these new hands will be dealt a second card, and each hand will be played for a full bet. Typically, players will be allowed to do anything they wish with these new hands, including doubling down or splitting again (resplitting is usually only allowed for up to a maximum of four hands). However, in most games, players do not get these options when splitting aces – they will simply receive one card for each ace and be forced to stand at that point. In addition, 'blackjacks' after splitting will normally only count as 21 points, and not as an automatic win at the higher 3/2 odds.
Surrender
In some games, players will be given the option of surrendering their hand. A player who surrenders gives up on the hand, forfeiting half of their bet. The other half is returned to them. There are two variations of this rule. In late surrender, the player may choose to surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack. In early surrender, the player may choose to surrender before the dealer checks. If at any point a player busts, they immediately lose the hand, and the dealer collects their bet. After all players have busted or decided to stand, the dealer reveals their down card.
Dealers are required to play their hands according to very strict rules that are usually printed on the table. In most games, dealers are required to hit with hands of 16 or less, and must stand with hands of 17 or more, regardless of what hands the players hold. In some games, however, the dealer will also be required to hit on a soft 17. If the dealer goes bust, all players who are still in the hand win even money on all bets. If the dealer stands, the dealer's hand is then compared to each player hand. If the dealer hand is higher, the player loses their bet. If the player hand is higher, the player wins even money on their bet. If the two hands are equal, the bet is considered a push.
This image from an online blackjack game shows the options available to the player during a hand
Online Blackjack for Real Money
As we mentioned earlier, there's no shortage of online casinos for you to choose from. It's unlikely that there's a single casino site out there that doesn't have at least one blackjack game, and most have several different versions of it to choose from. Oftentimes, these different games will have various side bets, and are otherwise identical. In other cases, the number of decks or some other rules may be different; this means that one game might be better for the player than another one at the same casino.
There are other factors to consider when you play blackjack for real money. At some casinos, you'll have the opportunity to play in tournaments, while others offer special perks like games dealt by live dealers. However, for most players, choosing the best place to play will come down to where the house edge is lowest, and where the games are the most fun to play. Below, we've picked out some of our favorite places to play 21 online.
How to Win Money
There is no one strategy that's appropriate for every online blackjack game. There are hundreds of different online casinos that offer dozens of different variants of blackjack; since each game may have slightly different rules, the correct strategy for each one is also different.
The first element of blackjack strategy is what's known as basic strategy. Basic strategy is the collection of mathematically best plays for every situation you might encounter during a hand. Each game has a slightly different basic strategy depending on the exact rules being used, including the number of decks, whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17, surrender rules, and other factors.
While publishing a comprehensive list of strategies for every one of these would be nearly impossible, there are shortcuts possible for players who want to learn a simple strategy that comes close to emulating the basic strategy for most the commonly played variants. The following simple strategy doesn't require you to memorize the right play for every situation, or search a large chart while you're playing. For most games, the house edge when using this strategy should be no more than 0.2% higher than with perfect basic strategy.
It's also worth mentioning that this strategy is similar to one developed by Michael Shackleford, and his work was invaluable in the development of our strategy.
Easy Strategy to Keep the House Edge as Low as Possible
Our simple strategy is divided into three parts: what to do with hard hands, what to do with soft hands, and what to do with pairs.
Hard Hands
- With hard hands of 8 or less, always hit.
- With a hard hand of 9, double if the dealer's up card is in the range of 3-6; otherwise, hit.
- With a hard hand of 10 or 11, double if the dealer's up card is lower than your hand's total; otherwise, hit.
- With a hand hard of 12-16, hit if the dealer is showing a 7 or higher; otherwise, stand.
- With a hard hand of 17 or higher, always stand.
- If you are supposed to double down but cannot, hit instead.
Soft Hands
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- With a soft hand of 15 or less, always hit.
- With a soft hand of 16-18, double down if the dealer's up card is in the range of 3-6; otherwise, hit.
- With a soft hand of 19 or higher, stand.
- If you are supposed to double down but cannot, hit instead (except with a soft 18; in that case, stand).
Pairs
- With a pair of eights or aces, always split.
- With a pair of fours, fives or tens, never split.
- With a pair of twos, threes, sixes, sevens or nines, split only if the dealer is showing a 6 or less.
- If you do not split, play the hand as normal based on the above guidelines for hard and soft hands.
Other Rules
- Surrender (if allowed) with 16 against a ten or an ace.
- Never take insurance!
To clarify that last rule, it's important for all serious players to know that under any basic strategy, players should never take insurance or even money on blackjacks. The house edge on insurance is over 7% (varying slightly depending on the number of decks being used), which is much higher than the standard game, even for players using relatively poor strategies.
A chart displaying perfect basic strategy. Our simpler version above has almost the same house edge
How to Count Cards
For internet blackjack, card counting simply isn't an option. In most cases, the casinos 'reshuffle' the entire shoe after each hand, meaning there is never any true deck penetration. This is even more effective than the automatic shuffling machines employed in many live casinos, and means that regardless of what cards have come out on even the previous hand, all cards are equally likely to be selected for your next hand.
While card counting is not effective for online play, we will still outline a very basic card counting system for those who are interested in understanding the basics of how they work! Card counting relies on the fact that some cards are better for the player than others; a shoe that is still rich in those cards – namely, tens, aces and (to a lesser extent) other high cards – can actually tilt the odds in the player's favor against the house. Conversely, fives and other low cards are bad for the player, and make the odds better for the house. By tracking which cards have removed from the deck, the player is able to wager more money on hands in which the odds are in their favor, and less money (or none at all) when things are looking bad for them.
In addition, players may be able to make informed decisions on surrendering, taking insurance, or violating basic strategy based on the cards that have been removed from the shoe. The simplest card counting systems are known as 'Ace-Five' systems. These card counting techniques only require the player to track the number of aces and fives being removed from the deck during play. Each ace that is removed from the deck is counted as a -1; each five that is seen adds +1 to the count. Here is an example that shows how such a system might work.
The player starts with a count of 0, and makes a small wager – perhaps the minimum allowed at their table. This bet size is known as a 'unit.' If the count reaches +2, the player should double their bet to two units until the count drops back down. If the count reaches +4, the player should raise their bet to three units. After that point, add an additional unit for every +1 added to the count.
At the beginning of each shoe, fall back to betting your initial one unit bet. Obviously, much more precise and intricate systems are available for players to use, many of which can produce rather sizable advantages for the player – presuming they can avoid detection by the casino, which may choose not to allow known card counters to play in their games. However, even the simple Ace-Five systems like the one outlined above are powerful enough to reduce or eliminate the house edge from most blackjack games.
Odds
As we mentioned earlier, the rules of blackjack vary greatly from game to game. Online casinos therefore, can have very different odds depending on the rules that are being employed. For a baseline, let's talk about a game with the following rules:
- An eight deck shoe
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Players are allowed to double on any two cards, or after a split
- Players can resplit up to four hands, but cannot resplit aces, or hit split aces
- Late surrender is not allowed
- Blackjacks pay 3-2
This game has a house edge of approximately 0.45%, and is a typical form of the game that can be found either online or in a brick-and-mortar casino. However, several common rule changes can alter the house advantage, sometimes significantly.
For instance, reducing the number of decks used in the shoe is a surefire way to improve the players' odds. A single deck game will reduce the house edge by .48%, while a double deck game lowers the house edge by .19%. Other rule changes that can help the player include the ability to surrender (.08%), allowing the player to draw more cards after splitting aces (.19%), or allowing players to surrender before the dealer peaks for blackjack (.24% if this is allowed against a ten, and another .39% if it is allowed against an ace).
Of course, casinos aren't usually in the business of giving players something for nothing, and there are also many rules that can tilt the balance back in the casino's favor. The most insidious of these is paying only 6-5 on a blackjack. Most online variations of 21 do not resort to this tactic, but it is becoming increasingly common in live casinos, particularly in single deck games. This rule has a devastating effect, adding 1.39% to the house edge.
Luckily, you won't run into short paying blackjacks too often, but there are other rules that can hurt your chances, too. If the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17, that adds about 0.22% to the house edge. Other rules that can hurt the player include not allowing the player to double down after splitting hands (.14%), or limiting how many hands the player can split (0.10% if the player can only split to two hands, or 0.01% if the player can split to three hands).
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Live dealer blackjack is nowadays one of the most popular online casino games. It has the same feel and look of the real blackjack found in land-based casinos, but it's played through a live stream with a professional dealer sitting in front of the camera.
There are literally hundreds of different websites on which you can enjoy live dealer blackjack these days such as Wild Casino. Apart from websites being different, the games aren't always the same either. Although some blackjack games might have the same rules, there can be quite a gap in the video and sound quality, interface, and the overall aesthetics of the game.
My article will focus on several key factors of choosing the finest live blackjack game and playing blackjack in general:
Read the following text carefully, and you will certainly pick the best live blackjack games on the web!
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Top US Live Dealer Blackjack Casinos
Picking the best live blackjack casinos was not an easy task. I have put myself into the player's perspective and taken into account many things in order to come up with the ultimate list of the finest blackjack casino operators.
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When it comes to choosing where to play libe blackjack for real money you should not venture on your own, especially if you don't have that much experience with online gambling to begin with. You will at least need some basic guidance, and that's where I come in.
By reading my article, you will be able to learn all about the best casino sites that offer top-shelf live blackjack games. I selected these websites according to certain criteria that ensure you will enjoy fair and legit casino games with the best possible gaming experience.
How We Choose Our Live Blackjack Casinos
Just in case you were wondering what is so important when choosing the right blackjack game and website, here are several key factors that played a role in the creation of this list.
Licensing and safety
Checking whether the casino operator is licensed by a legit regulatory body and whether their services provide users with all necessary safety measures in terms of monetary transactions and the security of personal details.Top Online Gambling Sites
Game Variety
There are several variants of live blackjack games that you can try online. The majority of the sites on my list will have more than one game at your disposal so you can switch between them easily.Streaming quality
Top online casinos offer the best video and sound quality for streaming their live dealer blackjack games. However, you still need to have a stable Internet connection in order to experience the game in HD.Live blackjack bonuses
The websites you can find here offer great welcome bonuses that can be used for playing live blackjack, among other casino games.Mobile Compatibility
Playing on the move is what online gambling is all about. The most convenient way of playing live blackjack these days is by streaming the game on your mobile phone or a tablet. All the casinos on my list are mobile-friendly.Banking Options
Money transactions on a casino site should go as smoothly as possible. By choosing one of my favorite sites, you would be able to enjoy quick deposits and withdraws with minimum fees.Live Dealer Blackjack Versus Land-Based Blackjack
While blackjack in a land-based casino can never be truly replaced, live online blackjack is at least the best possible way to mimic the experience of playing on a real blackjack table.
What's more, you can enjoy live dealer blackjack from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere else you see fit. Bonuses and promotions that are associated with playing live dealer games are yet another thing that is exclusive to online casinos.
In other words, playing blackjack online is simply more convenient and comes with more perks compared to the land-based version of the game.
As far as the rules go, they will be the same regardless of the manner of playing the game. However, online operators usually offer several different variations of blackjack, while you might find only one or two blackjack tables at your local casino.
How Does Live Blackjack Work
If you load a game of live blackjack on your desktop, smartphone, or tablet, you will see a virtual gaming table, which you can use to place bets. At the same time, the gaming screen includes a video box through which the live gaming action is continuously streamed to your device. In the live video, you can see a real croupier operating the live blackjack game.
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You must understand that the video you see is not per-recorded and the game you are playing is not generated by computer software. You are viewing a game that is really being played either at a gaming studio or at a land-based casino. You are also placing bets on that game. If you still feel that this cannot be possible, you can interact with the croupier running the game through a chat box on your gaming screen.
Since live blackjack is a game that is actually being played at a physical location, it takes you as close to the land-based casino gaming experience as possible.
Live Blackjack in the US
Since the US is a grey jurisdiction, US players cannot enjoy a wide choice of live blackjack games. Ever since the US federal government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006, a large number of operators, payment processors, and software providers withdrew from the US market, leaving residents with very few gambling options.
For example, Microgaming, the casino gaming software giant, has developed the largest number of live games, but doesn't offer its services to US residents.
In spite of this, US residents can play at live casinos powered by US friendly software providers such as Visionary iGaming and Global Gaming Labs. The latter has been in the US for a long time and has partnered with well-known online casinos that offer live games such as Wild Casino.
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You can rest assured that live blackjack games are 100% fair and random.
A live blackjack game can just not be rigged by the casino authorities because its results are based on actual gaming activity.
To start playing live blackjack, you only have to register any of our recommended live blackjack casinos.
How to Play Live Blackjack: Step by Step Guide
I will take the liberty of assuming that you're not a very experienced online gambler (that's probably why you're reading this article in the first place), but don't worry, we all have to start somewhere. I didn't know much about live blackjack not so many years ago, and now I feel I'm capable of guiding other people on how to play it.
So, without further ado, here are a few necessary steps that you need to take in order to start playing live blackjack.
Choosing Casino Operators and Game Providers
First thing's first, and that's picking the online casino with quality live blackjack games. I've already done that part of the homework for you, so you can simply check my list above, but that's not enough.You also need to consider the type of game you're looking to play. New casino 2018 no deposit. If you enjoy common draw blackjack, I suggest you try NetEnt's version of the game.
For players who prefer a low-stake game with communicative dealers, Evolution Gaming's Live Blackjack Party should do the trick.
In any case, choose your operators and providers wisely so you can have the best possible live blackjack experience.
Setting up an Account and Depositing
If you wish to play for real money, you first must set up an account on your desired online casino site. The registration process is usually quite straightforward and requires a few easy steps that include entering your personal details.Unless you are using a live blackjack no deposit bonus that some online casinos offer, you will be required to fund your account. The minimum deposit amount depends on the operator's rules, but it's usually around $10. Simply choose your banking method and wait for a couple of minutes before the deposit goes through.
There are also in-game deposits that allow you to refund your account without losing a seat at the table.
Finding Live Blackjack Games
While you're on the operator's homepage, try to locate a section that includes all the casino's live dealer games. Here, you will be able to find live blackjack among other popular live games such as roulette, casino Hold'em, baccarat, and others.Click on the game of your choice and wait for it to load. Once the current round of betting ends and the next one begins, you will be included in the game.
Live Blackjack Betting
The digital interface of the game will help you keep track of the betting. To bet, simply click on one of the differently-sized chips.The timer will clearly state how many seconds you have left until the bets are closed, but this will also be stated by the dealer sitting in front of the camera.
Once the action starts and the cards are dealt, you will have several options on how to play your hand.
- Hit or receive another card
- Stand or stop receiving any more cards
- Double their bets in case of a favorable hand
- Split pairs and play two hands simultaneously
The resulting hand is then compared to the dealers and players will either win or lose their bets. After the winning hands are revealed, your winning bets will be paid according to the paytable that you can check inside the game. For example if a player gets blackjack or a hand that equals point value 21, they will receive a payout of 3 to 2. If players do not win anything, they can place another bet and play again.Any lost bets are automatically deducted from your balance.
Depending on the rules of the live blackjack game they are playing, players can also purchase insurance against a possible dealer blackjack or surrender bad hands and get back half their bets.
Each live blackjack game has a separate set of rules for dealers and players. If players need to interact with the live croupier or fellow players anytime during the game, they can do so using the chat box in their gaming screen. However, chat rules are very strict at live casinos. Players are not allowed to make rude or offensive remarks. If they do, the live casino will prevent them from using the chat functionality. In order to protect live dealers from such unpleasant experiences, some casinos do not offer the chat functionality, but this takes all the fun away from the live dealer game.
Withdrawals
You can choose to end the game of live blackjack in between any two hands. All winnings will be credited to your casino account, after which you can request a withdrawal to your banking method of choice.Navigate to the casino's cashier page and request a cash-out. Depending on the payment method, you might wait between 48 hours and several business days for the payment to go through. Of course, you can always choose to keep the money in your account and use it to play more live blackjack.
Live Blackjack on Mobile
All modern live blackjack games are mobile-compatible, meaning that you can enjoy playing them on your personal smartphone or tablet. Most of all, mobile players have all the same options as desktop users.
Enjoying live blackjack on mobile is really convenient and allows you to play on the move — something that's simply not possible when playing on PC.
Depending on the casino site, you can play live blackjack either by entering a mobile-friendly website directly through your browser or by downloading their dedicated mobile app. The majority of sites from my list have live blackjack available to both iOS and Android users.
Live Blackjack Tips & Strategies
The game of blackjack is more about luck than it is about skill, but you should nevertheless be familiar with some betting strategies if you wish to raise your chances of winning.
So, before you even create an online casino account and load your first live blackjack game, you should come up with an effective game plan. Luckily, you won't have to overheat your brain and learn all the mathematical possibilities on your own. All you need is a few betting charts that I will share with you below and that are relatively easy to follow.
Live Blackjack Rules
Live blackjack is similar to online blackjack and the blackjack played at land-based casinos. The game has a number of variants, each of which stands in a class of its own although based on standard blackjack rules.Here are some of those rule variations:
- Live blackjack games may use six, seven, or eight decks of playing cards.
- Live casinos may offer either one-to-one blackjack tables the way it is done at land-based casinos or one-to-many tables.
- Croupiers running one-to-many tables receive bets from as many players as possible and deal the same hand to each player.
- The dealer will either stand or hit on soft 17.
- Rules related to doubling the wager, splitting card pairs, the number of times pairs can be split, surrendering, purchasing insurance, and so on vary from one live blackjack game to the other.
- The betting limits vary from variant to variant and casino to casino. If you are a high roller who wants to play high-limit live blackjack, you only have to contact customer care. Depending on the online casino you are playing at, you can bet up to $5,000 at a time.
When to Hit and When to Stand
Naturally, the decision of whether to hit or stand should come once you are familiar with the dealer's up-card and your own cards. The table below shows a mathematically proven strategy that will always give you the best chances of winning in every possible situation.The best thing about this table is that you won't be required to memorize it. Simply keep the printed version of the table near you when you're playing the game. Of course, you won't be allowed to do this while playing blackjack in a land-based casino, but since the live blackjack dealer cannot see what you are doing, having this kind of a cheat-sheet is completely legal
Splitting Pairs
Splitting Pairs allows you to split two cards of the same value and play them as two separate hands. Of course, this also means that you need to make another bet equal to the original one.Many novice players think that splitting any two identical cards is favorable, but that's far from the truth. You should only split your hand on certain card values while also paying attention to the dealer's up-card.
Doubling Down
Doubling down in live blackjack means that you can double your bet once the cards have been dealt to you. However, a general rule states that you are only able to receive one extra card after doubling down, so be careful when you choose to do this.Again, you should consider the dealer's up-card as well, and check the table's rules, as some games have extra restrictions when it comes to doubling down.
Things to Consider When Playing Live Blackjack
Apart from the general rules of the game and its strategies, there are also a few technical things you need to consider before stepping into the world of live blackjack.
Stakes
One of the first things you need to do before playing any online gambling game is to decide on your gambling budget. Think about how much money you are willing to risk while playing live blackjack, which will then help you decide on the stake limits.Some live blackjack games are played with relatively low stakes, making them ideal for beginners. Others, like VIP live blackjack, are reserved for high-rollers that can spend up to several hundred dollars per betting round.
Hardware
Live casino games are a little more demanding than regular ones. Make sure that the device you are playing on is capable of supporting these games so you can play without any technical issues.If you're playing on a relatively new PC or mobile device, you shouldn't encounter any problems, but inform yourself on the minimum system requirements just in case.
Internet Connection
Internet connection is important for two reasons. First, you would want to avoid being cut out of the game because of the lost or slow internet connection. All technical errors on your part will result in an immediate loss relating to a current betting round.Also, a stable internet connection will allow you to enjoy live blackjack in crystal clear HD picture quality, which is the whole point of playing the game with a live dealer. Low video and sound quality mean that you probably have a slow internet connection.
Final Thoughts
Live blackjack is the most popular live dealer game in the US and beyond. It offers a perfect combination of strategy and luck, and can make you rich incredibly quickly, but only if you play your cards right.
In order to have the best possible experience when playing live blackjack, you need to choose the best operators with high-quality games in their libraries. The list I provided above includes some of the most renowned online casinos that host thousands of players on a daily basis.
I had a really good time writing this extensive live blackjack guide, and I hope you did too while reading it. If you want to ask me a question or wish to add something to this subject, feel free to leave a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions
With Live Dealer Blackjack offering the same human touch, rules, and gambling experience you can find in the best of land-based casinos, there are little excuses not to give this popular casino game a try. And if you're still unable to make up your mind, here are the most frequent concerns about Live Dealer Blackjack addressed, to help you on your way.
How to play live blackjack?
What are the best live dealer blackjack casinos?
Where can I find the best live blackjack games for US players?
How does live dealer blackjack work?
Can I make a living by playing live blackjack?
How to beat live blackjack?
Is Live Blackjack Fixed?
The simple answer to this question is that casinos don't need to fix their games to earn money. Blackjack has an inherent house edge that ensures casinos turn a profit with each hand and have fewer reasons to cheat. Also, most players who join a table are rarely skillful enough to increase their advantage significantly, thus giving the casino an even bigger house edge and fewer reasons to pull tricks.
And even if a casino dared to fix their games, the news will spread so fast around the online community that it will be impossible to prevent leaks. This will, in turn, get the casino blacklisted and lead to millions in loses, which is not something worth risking over an already profitable game.
Can I play live dealer blackjack on mobile?
Can You Count Cards in Live Blackjack?
Even though it seems like the perfect opportunity, since Live Dealer Blackjack doesn't rely on RNGs, the reality is that card counting in live games is impossible. Not only do live dealer games use 6 to 8 decks, which complicates the matter by itself, but they also only go up to 50% penetration. This means that you'll never get past half the deck, thus making your counting skills entirely useless.
What is the House Edge in Live Blackjack?
There is no simple answer to this question. With Blackjack, the house edge depends both on the variation of the game but also you as a player. The more skillful and optimal your play is, the lower your house edge will be.
The average theoretical house edge is often said to be 1%, but with the right rules and style of play it can go even lower, sometimes even as low as 0.48%. However, it can also get higher, especially if you have little knowledge of the game.
Is Strategy Important?
Yes it is. Blackjack is a game of using simple math and planning, and as such requires a sound knowledge of basic strategy. If you're only playing it haphazardly, you will only waste your money away.
Do Other Players at the Table Affect my Outcomes?
As logical as this common myth sounds, it is very far from the truth. While it's true that a player before you might have some effect on the next outcome, mathematically speaking this doesn't affect your odds at any significant level.
What's the Difference between Live Blackjack and Blackjack in Land-Based Casinos?
There's little to zero difference between both games, except for the personal experience. Both offline and online live Blackjack games have a human dealer, follow the same rules, and pay out the same.
There might be some games that offer a different rule or two, but the same can be said about land-based casinos.
How Many Decks are used in Live Blackjack?
Since Live Dealer tables can be abused with the help of software and card counting algorithms within the comfort of your home, live dealer games are usually played with 6 to 8 decks. Eight decks is the most common variety, as it allows for longer play before the cards are reshuffled. It's always important to note the number of decks used, so that you can adjust your strategy.
Should I Accept 'Even Money'?
Live dealer games now offer the same insurance that you can find in land-based casinos. The 'even money' bet is normally offered when a dealer's hole card can end up being a 10 value card, thus giving the dealer Blackjack. The wager pays 2 to 1, meaning you can end up with half your money back, should the dealer win.
But as lucrative as this sounds, it's highly advised that you don't take insurance, since statistics have shown that the probability of dealer Blackjack is lower than the probability of busting. Namely, you have a 69% chance of winning that bet, i.e. you have the upper hand.
Can I Play Live Blackjack for Free?
No. While there are some casinos that let you watch a Live Blackjack game for free, you can't actually interact in any way with the game. Thus, if you want to practice your strategies, you can use the free demo versions of regular Blackjack games offered at most online casinos.
How Fast Does My Internet Connection Have to Be When I Play Live Dealer Blackjack?
Since live games are streamed in HD, it is better if you have a fast optical or ADSL connection for best experience. Lower connections speeds will lead to glitches and lags, which can end up causing mistakes from your side. That's why you should always check your connection speed before you join a table.