What Is Blackjack?
Online blackjack is the digital version of the traditional card game of the same name offered by the casino operators. It can be played against the computer (RNG blackjack) or against a real dealer (live blackjack). The rules are the same for both. Payouts and chances of winning may vary depending on the variant you play. In any case, your goal is to reach 21 points using the card values or beat the dealer. The term “blackjack” refers to a specific hand both in land-based and online versions: An Ace and any card that is worth 10 points, which makes the result 21 points.
Choosing the Right Blackjack Casinos: What We Pay Attention To
In order to have an enjoyable and rewarding experience in a blackjack online game, you need to choose the casino where you will play it carefully. We use many criteria when evaluating online blackjack casinos to make sure you get the best gameplay possible. Below you can find the evaluation criteria we use for this purpose.

Blackjack Online Casino Licensing
The first thing we look at in online casinos is that they are licensed and offer fair games. We only consider legal online blackjack casino sites. In this context, we prefer online casinos licensed by agencies such as Malta Gaming Authority and Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and we expect these sites to have fairness certificates from independent auditors such as eCOGRA.
Security and Personal Data Safety
In addition to the license, we also expect online casinos to offer a high level of security and privacy. For this purpose, we give priority to sites that encrypt all their pages with 256-bit SSL and carefully read the privacy policy of each casino.
Casino Bonuses in Stock
Blackjack online gambling can be much more fun and profitable with the right casino bonuses. We make sure that blackjack fans can take advantage of advantageous promotions both in the beginning and afterward. We only prefer bonuses with fair terms.
Blackjack Games Variety
There are many different variants you can play at a blackjack table, and they all provide a different experience. We care that the blackjack collections of online casinos are satisfactory in terms of quality and variety, and we test all these games ourselves.
Mobile Friendliness
You can also use mobile devices to play blackjack online in Canada: we make sure that online casinos offer a seamless experience on mobile. In this context, we test the website with browsers of different operating systems and evaluate native applications separately.
Banking Methods and Payout Speed
We make sure that you can quickly withdraw your winnings after you play online blackjack and make instant deposits. In this regard, we prefer online casinos that support different payment methods suitable for all players.
Responsive Support
And, of course, if you have a problem or want to give feedback, we want you to be able to do so 24/7: that’s why we also test the support teams of online casinos with different scenarios and see how professional they are.
Online Blackjack Common Variations
As we mentioned above, when you want to play online blackjack, you can choose from many different variants. While the basic rules are the same, these variants may include different payouts and additional rules & bets. To help you choose, below, we list the main variants you can find at blackjack casino online sites.
Classic Blackjack
It is the best online blackjack variant, according to many players. Classic rules are used, there are no additional bets, and it is played with either one or two decks. It is a good option for beginners.
Blackjack Switch
It was invented by Geoff Hall in 2009. Two hands are dealt at the same time, and the player is allowed to trade the top two cards between the hands. Natural blackjack pays 1:1 instead of 3:2.
Multi-Hand Blackjack Gold
It is a variant developed by Microgaming and is also the name of a series. It uses the classic blackjack rules, but it is possible to play with 5 hands at the same time. It is played with five decks and has an RTP of 99.42%.
Spanish 21
Also known as “pontoon”. It is a variant that appeared in 1995 and is played with special 48-card decks. If both the dealer and the player have 21 points, the “push” does not occur, the player wins the game.
European Blackjack
In this variant, players are only allowed to split once, and the only cards that can be split are 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings. Also, the dealer takes his second card after the player has made his decision.
American Blackjack Games
In the American variant, it is possible to create four different hands by splitting three times. Also, unlike the European variant, the dealer can look at the hole card before the player declares his decision.
Atlantic City Blackjack
It is a variant that has been played in New Jersey casinos since the 1970s. It’s pretty much the same as American blackjack, but the split rules are a bit stricter, and late surrender is allowed.
Perfect Blackjack
This variant has a side bet called “Perfect Pairs”. If the player’s first two cards are a pair of the same suit (e.g., red 2s), the side bet is won, and an additional payout is made. Other than that, it is no different from classic blackjack.
Live Online Blackjack
Most of the variants listed above can be played against a real dealer at online casinos that offer this option. The rules do not differ, you just play against a real person instead of a computer.
Beloved Online Blackjack Games
Below, you can see the best blackjack variants suitable for players of all experience levels and the best blackjack casino online sites to play them. We recommend starting your adventure with these games and at these online casinos.
Blackjack Game Type |
Best Online Casino to Play |
European Blackjack |
Betway |
American Blackjack |
888 Casino |
Blackjack Switch |
Casino.com |
Multi-Hand Blackjack Gold |
Spin Casino |
Blackjack Casino Software Providers
There are many studios that develop real money online blackjack games, but as one might expect, some do better than others. To play online blackjack for real money, we recommend you choose the games of the following studios.
#1 |
Evolution Gaming |
#2 |
NetEnt |
#3 |
Microgaming |
#4 |
Evoplay |
#5 |
Play’n GO |
Blackjack Online Casino Bonus Types
When you play at the best online casino for blackjack, you can enjoy many bonuses. Learning how to use promotions is just as important as learning how to play blackjack at casino. This is because the right bonus will give you a free bankroll or refund some of your losses. Below we mention the most common online blackjack bonuses.
Blackjack Casino No Deposit Bonus
We can say that this offer is the best online blackjack bonus you can use. There is no need to make a deposit to claim it: you just sign up, and the casino credits a small bankroll to your account immediately. Here are some of the offers in this category you can use right now.
Online Casino Blackjack |
Free Signup Bonus |
⭐ Vulkan Vegas |
€25 no deposit bonus |
⭐ Prism Casino |
$30 free chip |
⭐ Ice Casino |
€25 free chip |
⭐ Wild Sultan |
$7 |
⭐ SuperCat Casino |
$5 |
Online Blackjack Canada Welcome Bonus
This offer is exclusive to new players and their first deposits. When you make a deposit at online casinos for the first time, the casino will match it by a certain rate. If the match rate is high enough, you can get a huge additional bankroll. Below, we are listing the best welcome bonuses in 2023.
Blackjack Casino |
First Deposit Bonus |
⭐ Ice Casino |
Exclusive €1500 + 270 FS |
⭐ Jackpot City |
Up to $1600 |
⭐ 888 Casino |
Up to €1500 |
⭐ Spin Casino |
Up to C$1000 |
Best Mobile Blackjack Casinos
You can try your luck at blackjack and win real money on mobile too. As long as you pick the right casinos for this job, this will be a fun and seamless experience. Here are the top casinos that offer the best online blackjack app in 2023:
- Spin Casino
- Jackpot City
- Vulkanbet
- GG.Bet
- Betway
New Online Blackjack Casinos
To offer the best payout online blackjack rates to our visitors, we constantly check online casinos to find the top bonuses and latest games. At the moment, the following new casino sites are able to offer you the best gambling experience:
- Ice Casino
- Wildz Casino
- Prism Casino
Diamond Tips to Play Blackjack Online
If you want to learn how to win at online blackjack, start reading with our tips and tricks. Below, we are listing the most important things every player knows.
Learn Blackjack Rules
The first thing you need to do is learn the rules. Blackjack has a simple ruleset, but its payouts and side bets can greatly differ between variants. Take a look at the variant list we shared above and learn their rules first.
Practice for Free First
The best blackjack strategy you can use is taking advantage of “demo” games. You can play them for free, and the rules & winning chances do not differ. This means you can learn the game or test a specific strategy without taking a risk.
Build Your Own Betting Strategy
Most players use pre-defined strategies that are tailored for specific hands. While this may be a good idea in the beginning, make sure to develop your own strategies based on your own style. Use all other strategy templates just to get an idea.
Don’t Use the Blackjack Insurance
If the dealer’s card is an Ace, you can take an insurance bet to recover some of your initial wager. However, this bet increases the house edge up to 7.5% and is never a good idea for the same reason: avoid it completely.
Choose the Right Online Blackjack Game
Among all blackjack variants, you should choose the ones that best suit your experience level and play style. For beginners, classic blackjack games with 1-2 decks are the best choice. Variants with side bets are fun, but they can make the game complex and increase the house edge.
Blackjack House Edge and RTP
Blackjack is the casino game with the highest RTP and lowest house edge. RTP (return to player) is a value that shows how much of your investment you can recover in a casino game. The house edge represents how much the casino will win from each of your bets. For example, if a game has an RTP of 95%:
- You can recover 95 CAD of every 100 CAD you deposit,
- The casino will earn 5 CAD from every 100 CAD you deposit.
In this context, blackjack’s RTP values start at 99% and vary depending on the variant being played. To give some examples:
- Spanish 21 (99.64% RTP, 0.36% house edge)
- Blackjack Switch (99.92% RTP, 0.08% house edge)
- Atlantic City Blackjack (99.65% RTP, 0.35% house edge)
- Multi Hand Blackjack (99.42% RTP, 0.58% house edge)
You can see the RTP of a blackjack variant on the paytable screen. Ideally, we recommend choosing the variants with the highest RTP rate.
Blackjack Cheat Sheet: How to Decrease the House Edge
As can be guessed from the section above, the lower the house edge, the better. Here are some tips that can help you to lower this value further: some of them are quite effective.
Number of Decks in Blackjack
Blackjack games with a single deck always offer lower odds. For example, let’s say the first card is an Ace: this means there are 16 cards left in the deck with a value of 10, so the probability of reaching 21 points is 31.37% (16/51). If there was more than one deck, this percentage would be higher.
The Payback
Prefer games that offer the standard 3:2 payout for making a blackjack: the house edge is 0.5% in them. Some variants offer bigger payouts, which can be as big as 6:5, but they have higher house edge rates (1.90%). Sticking with classic rules and payouts is almost always a good idea.
Soft 17 Rule
Tables where the dealer must hit on soft 17 have a 0.2% higher house edge. Prefer games with “stand on soft 17” rule. This is a small change, but even the smallest changes are important if you want to get an edge.
Late Surrender
Late surrender can decrease the house edge by 0.07%. There are a couple of blackjack variants that let you do this, and while the difference is not that big, playing those games will still be a good idea: you need every edge you can get.
Doubling Down Rule
If doubling down is allowed after splitting, the house edge will decrease by 0.13%. However, if doubling down is allowed only for 10 and 11, the house edge will increase by 0.21%. Playing games with liberal doubling-down rules will always be a good idea.
Best Blackjack Hands to Start
Your first two cards can be anything, but there are some specific hands that give you an advantage. Starting with such hands can even let you win before the game actually starts. The best starting hands a player can get in blackjack are listed below.
21 (Blackjack)
Any two cards that are worth 21 points (i.e., Ace + 10) will win the game. This is the best possible scenario for the player unless the dealer has 21 too. In some variants, this results in a push, which means the game is void.
Hard 20
If the two cards you get are worth 20 points and do not include an Ace (i.e., 10 + Jack), this is the second-best possible hand you can get. Do not hit, just stand: most likely, you will win the game as you are lacking only one point.
Soft 20/19
This time, one of your first two cards is an Ace (that’s why it is called “soft”), and the other one is worth 8 or 9 points, i.e., Ace + 8. Once again, you are very close to 21 points, so the best move you can make is to stand.
Pros of Blackjack Online Casinos
Playing at a blackjack casino offers you many advantages, as long as you pick the right website. These include:
- ➕ You can take advantage of bonuses to increase your bankroll (or get a free bankroll).
- ➕ You can access different variants of blackjack and get a different experience in each.
- ➕ You can play against a real dealer or a computer: your choice.
- ➕ You will be able to play for free and learn the rules & test different strategies.
- ➕ You can try your luck on different devices, including mobile, and play anytime & anywhere you like.
- ➕ You can join blackjack tournaments to win more prizes.
Playing Blackjack Online for Money vs Free
You can play blackjack for free or with real money. While the main rules of the game and winning chances do not differ, both options offer different experiences, which means they have advantages and disadvantages. The table below will give you an idea of what to expect from both.
Online Blackjack Real Money |
Play Blackjack Online for Free |
You can win real money. |
Payouts are not real. |
You can play against real dealers. |
Live dealer games cannot be played for free. |
You can use bonuses. |
You cannot use bonuses. |
You can lose money. |
You cannot lose money. |
You need to make a deposit to play. |
No deposit is needed. |
History of Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the oldest casino games, and there is no consensus as to when it originated. Most historians think it was invented by Spanish sailors in the 15th century. As a matter of fact, it is possible to see this game mentioned in the books written in the 1600s: Did you know that Miguel de Cervantes was a famous blackjack player? We know that the game became widespread in England in the 18th century and in France in the 19th century and that it entered the United States in the early 1800s.
Glossary of Blackjack Terms
You will hear lots of “slang” while playing blackjack online, and understanding what they mean is quite important. Here is a list of the most common terms and their meanings.
- ➡️ Insurance: If the open card of the dealer is an Ace, you can take an insurance bet and get a payout of 2:1 even if you lose the game.
- ➡️ Push: If both the player and the dealer have 21 points, this is called a “push,” and the player’s bet is returned, there is no winner. In some variants, player 21 beats dealer 21.
- ➡️ Surrender: You can choose to recover half of your bet after seeing your cards and the up card of the dealer. This is called surrender, and it ends the game. You only lose half of your wager.
- ➡️ Stand: It simply means “no more cards”. If you have 20 points, for example, you should pick “stand” to avoid getting another card.
- ➡️ Split: If the first two cards you get are a pair (i.e., 10 + 10) you can split them into two hands and play each hand independently from the other.
- ➡️ Double Down: This simply means that you want one more card, and you are doubling your initial wager. Some variants have strict doubling rules, i.e., you can double only at a specific point in the game or after getting specific cards.
- ➡️ Hit: If a player chooses “hit”, the dealer gives one more card – simple. You are telling the dealer that you want another card. You can hit as many times as you want, as long as you do not exceed 21 points.
- ➡️ Side Bets: Additional bets for a specific outcome, for example, getting a pair above 5 with the first two cards. Side bets can be about anything, and you can still win them even if you lose the game.
- ➡️ Bust: If you exceed 21 points, you “bust”, which means losing the game. The dealer can bust too, it is not specific to the player.
Problem Gambling
When choosing blackjack casinos, choose websites that follow the rules set by the Responsible Gambling Council. These online casinos offer self-exclusion tools that allow you to constrain your gaming time and budget. This way, you can prevent blackjack from becoming an addiction and limit your losses. Like any other casino game, blackjack should be played just for fun.
Online Blackjack Canada FAQs
⚖️ Is online blackjack legit?
Yes. Blackjack online is a legit casino game as long as you play it at licensed, legal, and fair casinos.
🃏 Can you count cards in online blackjack?
Yes, counting cards is a valid technique, but it is not as easy as it sounds. Use it only on games with few decks (1-2).
💲 Where can I play blackjack online for real money?
There are dozens of online casinos that offer real money blackjack: it is a very popular card game. Try to pick the best ones using our tips & tricks.
🧑 Is there any online casino to play blackjack online with friends?
Casinos that offer live dealer games support multiplayer gameplay. By connecting to the same table, you can play with your friends.
❌ Is online blackjack rigged?
No. If you play it at legal & audited casinos, blackjack will be a fair game, like all other games. Rigged games are a risk only at rogue (illegal) casino sites.
🎴 How many decks in online blackjack?
This depends on the game you play. There are games that are played with a single deck. In general, however, 6 to 8 decks are used in blackjack.
🆓 Where to play blackjack online for fun?
Any online casino that offers RNG blackjack games will let you play those games for free too. The only exception is live dealer blackjack, it cannot be played for free.