Live Dealer Blackjack Online July 2024
Blackjack is one of the most revered card games out there. It's much simpler to learn than poker but can be just exciting, especially when you play at a brick-and-mortar casino.
The good news is that you don't have to venture out to your local casino to get in on the action. Live dealer blackjack is available online, allowing players to have an interactive gambling experience from the comfort of their homes.
Learn more about this live dealer game in our comprehensive guide. We'll also cover basic blackjack strategy, betting limits, online casinos that offer welcome bonuses so you can get started, and more.
CONTENTS
- How Does Online Live Dealer Blackjack Work?
- Online Live Dealer Blackjack Rules and Tips
- 10 Blackjack Terms You Need to Know
- Live Dealer Blackjack Etiquette
- How Do You Win Playing Live Dealer Online Blackjack?
- Standard Online Blackjack Game Rules
- Blackjack Strategies for Different Game Variants
- Live Dealer Blackjack Online Pros and Cons
- Best Live Blackjack Games Online Casinos
- How to Register and Play Online Live Dealer Casino Games
- Why Choose Live Dealer Online Blackjack Games Over Other Options?
- Live Dealer Blackjack Online FAQs
HOW DOES ONLINE LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK WORK?
Live dealer blackjack casinos mainly include live casino games from Evolution Gaming (and sometimes Pragmatic Play and Vivo Gaming). Blackjack tables are available alongside baccarat, roulette, and other live dealer games.
Players can usually access a live video stream at an online casino via a real casino in their state to play live blackjack. A land-based casino can stream games with a real dealer to online casino players on a desktop platform or an Android or iOS mobile device.
When you enter a live blackjack lobby online, you'll get to interact with a human dealer and other players. In-game features often include Chat, Switch View, and Live Support. A "How to Play (?)" tab provides over a dozen selections with information on things like Game Rules, Side Bets, Return to Player (RTP), and Game History.
ONLINE LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK RULES AND TIPS
Live dealer blackjack at an online casino is most likely familiar to those who play live blackjack frequently. The game's objective at live dealer blackjack casinos is to get as close to 21 without going over it.
A natural blackjack is the best hand and usually pays 3 to 2 at a land-based or online casino. A player or the casino (house) gets a natural blackjack when dealt an Ace (which counts as one or 11) and a face card (Jack, Queen, or King) or a ten on their first two cards.
The game starts with players receiving two cards face-up, while the dealer’s cards get dealt with a face-down hole card and one card facing up. If the dealer’s face-up card shows an Ace, blackjack tables generally offer Insurance, which pays 2 to 1.
If the dealer gets a natural blackjack, the player loses automatically unless the player also gets blackjack. If the dealer and player have a hand of the same value, it results in a tie or "push."
After receiving their first two cards, players can choose to “Hit” (request another card) or “Stand” with their hand (no more cards). Live dealer blackjack on casino apps may offer different game rules, allowing players to Double Down on any hand or Split any pairs.
TIPS FOR PLAYING LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK
Here are some basics to remember when playing live dealer blackjack:
- Set a daily, weekly, or monthly budget for gambling at a live casino (never gamble what you can’t afford to lose)
- Use the basic blackjack strategy regarding hard and soft totals
- Avoid set bets (including Insurance and Perfect Pairs) to get the lowest possible house edge
- Stand on 17 or higher
- Always Double Down on 11
- Always Split 8s and Aces
10 BLACKJACK TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you’re new to live dealer blackjack, knowing basic terms can help you better navigate this unfamiliar online environment.
While you play live blackjack games, here's some lingo to remember:
- Action: The amount of money wagered at live dealer blackjack tables; also refers to when it’s a player’s turn to make a decision.
- Advantage: The built-in house edge of a live dealer game (most blackjack games offer a casino advantage of about 0.50%).
- Bankroll: The money available to a player during a gaming session.
- Basic Strategy: Special charts show optimal strategies for how to play any hand in live blackjack games.
- Bust: When a dealer or player’s hand goes over 21, they lose automatically.
- Camouflage: A professional gambler who disguises their skills when they play live blackjack games.
- Card Counting: Professional gamblers may use card counting of face-up cards to assign values to the strength or weakness of their hand at live blackjack tables; live dealer online blackjack with multiple decks may use continuous shuffling machines to reduce card counting.
- Expected Value (EV): The average amount of money a player can expect to lose or win during live blackjack games.
- Soft Hand: Any hand with an Ace that retains a value of 11 without exceeding 21.
- Surrender: Live blackjack tables may offer a Surrender option, which allows players to give up their hand with half their initial wager returned.
LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK ETIQUETTE
Like their land-based partners, online casinos require basic casino etiquette from players at live dealer games. We’ll briefly discuss how to be respectful at the best live blackjack casinos:
BE POLITE
Live blackjack from Evolution Gaming features various live dealers from all backgrounds. While it can be easy to forget that they're people too in an online setting, you should always treat them with respect. The same goes for your interactions with other players—always be courteous, just as you should be at a brick-and-mortar casino.
KNOW THE BASICS OF THE GAME
If you’re new to live blackjack, we recommend first trying a free demo play version of online blackjack. Testing out the game with no stakes involved and at your own pace will help you become familiar with the rules.
BE READY
While a virtual game plays at your own pace, you should only enter and “sit” to play live blackjack online when ready to start. Live dealer blackjack games from Evolution Gaming may automatically disconnect players who’ve gone idle for too long.
REMAIN ANONYMOUS
Generally, players should avoid giving out personal information when playing online live blackjack. Sure, you can mingle with other players and the dealer, but they don't need to know your sensitive details. The best way to protect your data is to keep it to yourself and play live blackjack online at our recommended secure options.
Read: Learn more in our casino glossary.
HOW DO YOU WIN PLAYING LIVE DEALER ONLINE BLACKJACK?
We’ve covered the basics of playing live blackjack online via Evolution Gaming. Here are a few more details about adhering to optimal strategy charts depicting the basic strategy.
STAND ON 17
Remember to stand on 17 or better against any hand when you play live blackjack online.
DOUBLE DOWN ON 11S
Part of the optimal strategy at live blackjack casinos is for players to double down on 11s against any hand since it’s one of the best starting hands. Any ten or face card would give players a 21, while a six, seven, eight, or nine offers totals of 17 through 20.
STAND WITH 13, 14, 15, OR 16 IF DEALER CARD IS LOW
If the dealer in live blackjack shows a face-card of 4 through 6, players can Stand on 12. For a dealer’s total ranging from 2 to 6, players should Stand on 13 through 16.
DON'T SPLIT ON 10S
Live blackjack players should never Split pairs that total 20 (i.e., 10-J, J-Q, 10-K). Breaking up two tens helps the dealer bust a player since a 20 is a solid hand against any dealer’s face-up card.
SPLIT ACES
Splitting Aces offers live blackjack players an excellent chance to make two valuable hands with Aces (one or 11). Check the live casino blackjack table for rules on how many times you can Split Aces.
DON'T TAKE THE INSURANCE BET
Taking the Insurance bet at live blackjack helps improve the casino's house edge. Avoid the extra wager that supposedly “hedges” against a potential natural blackjack for the dealer. Take the loss and move on to the next hand.
EIGHT ALWAYS HITS
With any hard total of 8, players should Hit. You can Split 4s if the live blackjack game allows a Double After Split (DAS or P/H), and the dealer shows a 5 or 6.
With A-7, players can Double if allowed; otherwise, they can Hit (D/H or Ds) against 2 through 6, Stand against 7 or 8, and Hit against a 9, 10, or Ace.
STANDARD ONLINE BLACKJACK GAME RULES
There are many different versions of blackjack, including about a dozen live blackjack games from Evolution Gaming. Here are some standard rules at live dealer blackjack sites.
BLACKJACK PAYS 3:2
Most live dealer blackjack casino options offer a Classic Blackjack variant where the house pays 3 to 2 for a natural blackjack. A low casino advantage should be under one percent whenever the table pays 3 to 2 for blackjack.
DOUBLE DOWNS
Doubling down at live blackjack offers players a slight advantage from drawing additional cards. However, a game like Infinite Blackjack (with an unlimited number of players) only allows players to Double on their first two cards; a Double Down is not available after a Split.
With 5s or a hard total of 10, players can Double Down if possible or Hit against 2 through 9 (D or D/H). Players can D/H with a hard total of 9 against a 3 through 6. Other options for doubling down include A-2 through A-7, depending on a dealer’s face-up card.
DEALER STANDS ON SOFT 17
The basic strategy in live blackjack differs slightly depending on the house's number of decks (four to eight); the optimal strategy changes based on whether the dealer stands or hits a soft 17.
Some strategy variations include D/S (Double if allowed; otherwise, Stand) with a soft 18 against a 3 through 6 and Stand with a soft 19 against a 6. With a hard total of 15, you’d Hit against a dealer’s Ace rather than Surrender, if available.
BLACKJACK STRATEGIES FOR DIFFERENT GAME VARIANTS
Part of what makes blackjack so exciting is the different varieties. Check out these different games and see if they're available as live dealer titles at your preferred online casino:
MULTI-HAND BLACKJACK
Multi-hand blackjack may be available via live dealers, where players can play up to three or more hands simultaneously. While live multi-hand blackjack might be rare for online players, Evolution Gaming offers a Bet Behind title. Players and observers can wager “behind” one or up to seven participants at the table.
Playing multi-hand blackjack involves more risk in beating the house edge. Playing single-hand live blackjack with as few decks as possible offers the best chances of winning, especially for new players.
BLACKJACK SWITCH
Blackjack Switch allows players to switch cards between two hands. This blackjack variant may be available at land-based casinos, and the casino advantage is usually about 0.58%.
If there's a higher house edge than virtual or live blackjack games at online casinos, new players may want to avoid Blackjack Switch. However, it offers a unique way of approaching the basic strategy—including the ability to Hit Split Aces, Double Down after a Split, and Surrender after doubling down.
Players can switch or exchange weak cards from their two hands. Switching to a weak card with the dealer is another option when receiving a strong card in the other hand.
We’d recommend avoiding any Blackjack Switch games that pay even money for a blackjack.
LUCKY LUCKY BLACKJACK
Lucky Lucky is one of the various side bets in live blackjack. Based on the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card, the side bet may offer payouts ranging from 5 to 1 to 1,000 to 1.
Check the in-game settings or ask the casino about the RTP for Lucky Lucky side bets.
ATLANTIC CITY BLACKJACK
Atlantic City Blackjack is a variant of the classic casino game. Game rules differ from traditional versions for how and when a dealer checks for blackjack (including tens), splitting up to three times, doubling down after splitting, and Surrender.
Players might find Atlantic City Blackjack as a virtual game at live blackjack sites.
SPANISH 21
Spanish 21 is a blackjack variant played with 48 cards per deck instead of the standard 52-card approach. The 10s removed from each deck significantly lower the RTP for a higher casino advantage.
Players may use a Double Down Rescue that returns half their wager after doubling down (if they don’t bust). There are different payouts for 21, based on card totals (for instance, a 6-card 21 pays 2 to 1).
Side bets include Super Bonus (three 7s of the same suit against a dealer’s 7) and Match the Dealer with payouts ranging from 3 to 1 (one non-suited match) to 24 to 1 (two suited matches).
LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK ONLINE PROS AND CONS
If you're still deciding whether to give live dealer blackjack a try, consider these pros and cons:
PROS
The following pros make live dealer blackjack a favorite among many gamblers:
- Exclusive casino bonuses and jackpot options
- Wide variety of live games, including Blackjack Party and Infinite Blackjack
- Replace the stringent RNGs of virtual games with human interactions
CONS
- An increased risk level compared to virtual games, especially for new players
- No free versions or demo play options are available
- Betting minimums might be higher than other titles
BEST LIVE BLACKJACK GAMES ONLINE CASINOS
When you feel comfortable with the game's mechanics and want an added level of excitement, many real money online casinos offer live dealer blackjack games.
Check out our top picks below:
CAESARS PALACE ONLINE CASINO
The Caesars Palace Online Casino offers various blackjack tables with betting limits ranging from $1 to $10,000. We appreciated the various live blackjack games available for players of any bankroll or skill level—including a Live Dealer Blackjack en Español.
BETMGM CASINO
The BetMGM Casino is well-known for its thousands of slots plus progressive jackpots for players in each legal jurisdiction. There are also numerous virtual blackjack games and a handful of live blackjack titles.
There’s a Power Blackjack game where players can Double Down up to three times (Triple and Quadruple Down). However, the game doesn’t use any 9s or 10s, and there’s no Six Card Charlie rule, which allows a player to automatically win after receiving six cards without busting.
If you get started with the BetMGM Casino welcome bonus, you'll appreciate that live dealer blackjack (20%) contributes more to the offer's wagering requirements than regular blackjack (10%).
BET365 CASINO
Registration required.
The Live Dealer category for the bet365 online casino remains limited. For players looking to try something different, Live VIP Blackjack offers an RTP of 99.38% or a casino advantage of 0.62%
There’s also an original blackjack game with an RTP of 99.57% and a house edge of 0.43%.
FANDUEL CASINO
FanDuel offers mobile apps for its sportsbook with an integrated casino and top-rated standalone options for players in multiple states. Infinite Blackjack is a popular choice, with an RTP of 99.47% for the base game.
The RTPs of the four side bets range from 94.12% (Bust It) to 96.3% (21+3).
DRAFTKINGS CASINO
The DraftKings Casino is another popular option for live blackjack. Like BetMGM and FanDuel, DraftKings offers various exclusive blackjack titles for virtual blackjack.
The DraftKings Live Dealer category provides over two dozen live blackjack titles, with options for minimum bets ranging from $15 to $250.
HOW TO REGISTER AND PLAY ONLINE LIVE DEALER CASINO GAMES
To start with live dealer blackjack, you can sign up at one of our recommended online casinos.
- Choose an online casino licensed in the U.S.
- Go to the casino site, download the mobile app, and click ‘Sign Up’ or ‘Register.’
- Enter an email and create a password.
- Type in the required personal information (name, address, date of birth, last four digits of your social security number, and mobile number).
- Register with a relevant bonus code for a welcome bonus like a deposit match or bonus spins (if available).
- Make a deposit to access your bonus and live game options.
WHY CHOOSE LIVE DEALER ONLINE BLACKJACK GAMES OVER OTHER OPTIONS?
Some reasons to play live dealer blackjack online over other games include:
- Personalized experiences with a live dealer for a more authentic casino environment
- Easy to play online with better access to in-game features and settings
- Offers an exciting user experience
LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK ONLINE FAQS
Want to learn more about live dealer blackjack and ways to play? Here are some FAQs to clear things up:
CAN I PLAY BLACKJACK WITH A LIVE DEALER ON MY MOBILE PHONE OR TABLET?
Live dealer blackjack is available for iOS and Android users via any eligible mobile device.
WHERE IS THE BEST LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK?
The best live dealer blackjack is available from our recommended online casinos, which are licensed and regulated in the U.S. Players should choose an option that allows Surrender while using the basic strategy.
IS ONLINE LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK SAFE?
Online live dealer blackjack that gets regulated by a gaming enforcement agency in the U.S. remains fair and safe. Games get routinely tested by third-party companies for accuracy as well.
DO ONLINE LIVE DEALER BLACKJACK GAMES LET YOU WIN REAL MONEY?
Yes, you can win real money at online live dealer blackjack. Blackjack is a casino game that offers one of the highest return-to-player (RTP) averages for players, with a house advantage of less than one percent. Payout speeds for withdrawal requests depend on the online casino, ranging from less than 24 hours to a few days or weeks (for check by mail).
HOW DO YOU PRACTICE BLACKJACK ONLINE?
You can find games at operators like BetMGM, DraftKings, or FanDuel to practice blackjack online. Some online casinos may offer free demo play options from IGT, Light & Wonder, and NetEnt.
CAN LIVE BLACKJACK DEALERS SEE YOU?
Live blackjack dealers use a video screen to see players' names via a chat. Video only comes from the studio in legal casinos.
IS THERE A LIVE DEALER ONLINE THAT WILL TEACH YOU BLACKJACK?
Live dealers cannot offer advice to players at online blackjack tables. Instead, players can read our reviews and how-to guides to learn how to play blackjack and other casino games.