The Best Online Blackjack Sites and Games for UK Players

Blackjack is the preferred game of many successful gamblers because, unlike other games where you have to rely on your good luck exclusively, this game has room for skills and strategy. It’s really not that complicated if you find someone who knows what they’re doing to explain it to you. That’s why we’ve prepared this short but informative overview of the blackjack game. We’ll give you the basic details you need to be aware of before playing at gaming sites but before we do that, here’re the top 3 operators you can start playing at for real money right away.

If you’d like to become proficient first, however, we suggest you read on. We’ll guide you through the maze of games and variations, explaining the rules along the way. We’ll list popular side bets and recommend game varieties. We’ll also give you a short outline of the leading game providers. We’ll talk basic blackjack strategy and advanced techniques. Last but not least, we’ll give you all the particulars of claiming a bonus and playing with it.

Types of Blackjack Games

On the Internet, you can find many blackjack games you can play for real money. Some of the games are very traditional while others are more innovative. Whichever one you choose, though, it’s always important to learn the precise rules and specifics of the game. Another smart move would be to always try a new game in demo mode before you start wagering your own money. To guide you through the current state of blackjack, we’ll now turn to the most important aspects of online games.

The Rules & Variations

Every single game has a set of basic rules that are always the same and then a set of rules that differ from one variation to another. In all blackjack games, the dealer and the player get a hand of two cards – the player gets two face-up cards while the dealer gets one face-up card and one face-down card. The goal of the player is to get a combination of 21 or, at least, a better hand than the dealer’s without going over 21. All face cards count as 10, Ace counts as 1 or 11 and the rest of the cards have a value equal to their natural number.

The best hand is a combination of a 10-value card and an Ace, which is called blackjack. When the player is dealt their hand, they can stand (accept the hand as it is), hit (request another card), double (double the bet and accept only one more card), split (split the two cards into two hands). Buy insurance is also usually an option when the dealer’s up-card is an ace and means that you’re making a side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. Surrender is when you give up and get half of your money back.

• 21 Duel Blackjack
• Atlantic City Blackjack
• Blackjack Peek
• Blackjack Pro
• Blackjack Surrender
• Blackjack Switch
• Blackjack UK
• Double Attack Blackjack
• Double Exposure Blackjack
• Hi Lo 13 Blackjack
• Perfect Blackjack
• Vegas Single Deck Blackjack
• Vegas Downtown Blackjack
• Super Fun 21
• Spanish Blackjack
• Progressive Blackjack
• Premium High Streak Blackjack
• Pontoon

Not all games offer all these options. In some variations, you can split only identical cards and in others – same-value cards. Also, the rules for doubling are different. Some games allow you to double any hand while others – only hands totalling 9,10 or 11. These little particularities make the difference between variations and are the reason for the different theoretical RTPs. For example, if you’re allowed to double on any number of cards, you will have a 0.23% better chance compared to a game that doesn’t allow it.

Therefore, it’s very important to know and understand all the rules for the player and the dealer. If the dealer is allowed to hit soft 17, for example, the house edge will increase by around 0.20%. Other details, such as the number of decks, the availability of early surrender, whether the player is allowed to hit split aces and so on, also have an impact on the house edge.

The Great Payouts of Side Bets

Many online blackjack games offer you the chance to place additional bets called side bets. The most commonly included side bet is called Perfect Pairs and it offers the users the chance to stake on the fact that their first two cards will be a pair. Naturally, the different kinds of pairs have different payouts with Perfect Pair, which means the two cards are of the same value, suit and colour, having the best one. Another popular side bet is 21+3, which stakes that your two cards plus the dealer’s up-card make a poker hand. There are, of course, many other bets, offering you diversity and better payouts than the base game.

Powered by the Leading Game Developers

There are many software houses that develop real money casino games, including blackjack. Some focus on number, while others offer quality. The very best have both a good selection of games and top-notch quality. With such fierce competition, to be the best in this industry means that the company works hard all the time. And the hands-down best software houses that develop online blackjack games are:

Though Microgaming, Playtech and NetEnt are undoubtedly the best in the field, they are far from being the only blackjack game developers worth your attention. Other software houses that include some great variations in their game portfolio are IGT, Cryptologic, Betsoft, Chartwell and Orbis.

Play Blackjack on Your Mobile

Before you choose a real money casino to play at, you’d probably check what game variations they offer. While doing so, don’t forget to test their mobile app. After all, it’s always good to have the option to play, no matter where and when. When it comes to basic requirements, as long as you have a smartphone or a tablet with an Android version 2.3+ or an iPhone or an iPad running on iOS 6.0, you won’t find trouble playing any of the many available mobile-friendly games.

Select Your Real Dealer

Those of you who are hesitant to try playing blackjack online because they don’t trust the computer-generated games and want to play with a real dealer will be glad to find out that today, all reputable online casinos also offer live-dealer games. At those live tables, there are side bets and the option to bet behind a player already seated at the table. You will also be able to chat with the dealer and the other players. Most importantly, you will be able to play anytime, anywhere, thanks to the state-of-the-art live casino apps that the software houses have developed.

The Best Blackjack Bonuses

One of the best things about playing casino games online is the fact that gambling sites offer great bonus opportunities, something that is really rare at land-based casinos. Unfortunately, blackjack games are not always included in these promotions, and if they are, they contribute only 5% or 10% toward the wagering requirements. That’s why it’s very important for you to read the bonus conditions carefully before you claim any of them.

On the other hand, there are sites that assign blackjack a good weight towards the wagering requirements. There are even those who are generous enough to offer special bonuses for table/card or specifically for blackjack games. Then, there are live games, which, unfortunately, aren’t usually included in the welcome bonus. Still, there are casinos that have special live game bonuses. A great place to play this game against a real dealer is 888 Casino, where there are special promotions to make the game even more fun.

Tips & Strategies – Get Extra Help

Though luck does matter in this game, you can significantly improve your chances at winning by improving your player skills. The first thing you should do is decide which variation you’re going to play and find a strategy chart for it. Then, start practising in demo mode, for example. However, bear in mind that even if you play with the perfect strategy, the casino will still have a slight advantage.

People have tried to overcome that advantage by combining basic strategy charts with progressive betting schemes but the fact is that this strategy brings its fair chance of busting. A much safer way to try and beat the house edge is to claim the best UK casino bonuses and play with them. If you play with the perfect strategy and satisfy all the requirements, you have a great chance to come on top.

Another way you can secure yourself better chances of winning is to use card counting techniques. This will only work if you play at the live casino as in the RNG games the deck is shuffled after each hand, making counting cards impossible.

Conclusion – Online Blackjack Is the Best

As you have probably gathered from our review, we love playing blackjack online. It’s hardly a secret that online casinos have many advantages over traditional land-based ones. That goes double for blackjack games. RNG games fulfil your desire for easily-manageable play while live tables bring on the full glamour of the croupier dealing just for you, as it seems. And the bonuses! Nowhere offline will you get the kind of perks you are offered online. So, if you enjoy the game of blackjack, make sure you check out our top-rated sites and have endless hours of fun placing bets using strategy charts, card counting techniques or winning awesome payouts thanks to the great side bet options.