| Online Blackjack Casinos |
Welcome Bonus |
Bonus Code |
All Blackjack Games |
RNG Blackjack Games |
Legal In |
Site Rating |
Secure Link |
Terms |
Vegas Strip Blackjack
Vegas Strip Blackjack is named after a stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard that is famous for its many hotels and casinos. It is also one of the most played blackjack variations on "The Strip". Initially, you could only play this version in Las Vegas. However, now you'll find it is one of the best online blackjack games at most major casinos.
This blackjack variation has a low house edge and beneficial exceptions to the standard blackjack rules. Vegas Strip Blackjack is played with four decks of cards that the dealer shuffles after each hand. Gameplay includes dealer peek, insurance, splitting, doubling, and other exciting features. Single and multi-hand variants are also available, with a house edge of 0.36%.
The game starts when you place your bet on any hand position you want to play. Some versions allow you to play more than one hand simultaneously. Once you've made your bet, you receive two face-up cards, while the dealer receives one face-up card and one facedown. If the dealer's face-up card is a 10, they will check for Blackjack. If it is an Ace, then you'll be offered insurance against the dealer having Blackjack, which costs half your original bet. If the dealer goes on to have Blackjack, your payout is 2:1.
The round proceeds as usual if the dealer doesn't have Blackjack. Each hand has three main options: Stand, Hit, or Double. Double down is permitted on every hand, but only after the dealer deals the first two cards. It's also possible to split your hands if the first two cards dealt to a hand have the same value.
Atlantic City Blackjack
Atlantic City Blackjack is another well-known variation of the game that's named after a top gambling destination. The game's basic rules are similar to those in the classic blackjack game but are more player-friendly. The distinguishing feature is that the game uses eight decks of cards. However, there are some subtleties you should fully understand.
It's possible to double down on just about any hand total and is also possible after you've split your hand. However, it would help if you remembered that doubling down can only be done on your initial hand. Atlantic City Blackjack rules are also very relaxed when it comes to splitting. For example, you can take advantage of the split option up to three times, with one exception being matching Aces - you can only split these once.
Late surrender is another unique feature of this variant. The benefit is that it lessens the house advantage further. This rule means you can surrender your hand after the dealer checks their hole card. Atlantic City Blackjack has a house edge of 0.36%.
European Blackjack
European Blackjack was one of the first types of blackjack games. Like all the best blackjack games, the objective is to beat the dealer by having a hand worth more points than the dealer's without going over 21. Odds in the game are set at 3/2, while it has a house edge of 0.39%.
You play the game using two 52-card decks, which increases the house edge. There are some subtle differences with this variation. For example, the dealer deals or consults their second card after players have played their hands. You can take the insurance side bet if the dealer's up card is an ace. The dealer doesn't peek at their cards and allows players to play out their hands before they check for blackjack.
There are far fewer opportunities to double down in European Blackjack. You can only double on hands with a 9, 10, or 11 value. The options for splitting are also stricter. You can split once in the game and only 10-value cards of the same face/value. Some European Blackjack games offer a surrender option, which allows you to give up half of your bet if you don't like your hand.
Double Exposure
Double Exposure Blackjack is a variant of the classic game, but with the crucial difference of both dealer's cards being face-up. Usually, this difference would balance the odds in your favor; however, other differences level things up. Let's look at these in more detail.
In many games, having a blackjack pays 3:2. However, in Double Exposure Blackjack, it pays 1:1. The insurance option available in many of the best online blackjack games is not there, making the payouts equal to -1 to 1. Something else you can't use to your advantage is the push when you and the dealer have a tie.
Other differences in Double Exposure Blackjack tend to vary depending on the platform you're using. Some allow you to double down only if you have a hard 9, 10, or 11. With some, you can't get a natural once you split your hand. This means that if you have an Ace and a 10-value card, you can't count this simple 21-value hand as blackjack. Therefore, if the dealer gets a natural, your hand won't win or tie against it.
Blackjack Switch
Blackjack Switch is a variant with a unique twist. You play the game with two hands, with the option to switch the second card dealt to each hand. Such a feature adds an extra layer of strategy, which you could use to increase your chances of winning.
The game is played with six or eight decks; the dealer must stand on all 17s. You're permitted to split any pair, including Aces. However, you can only double down on 9, 10, or 11. Each hand has a separate bet, which must be identical amounts.
The primary rule of Blackjack Switch is that you can switch the second card dealt to each hand if you want to. For example, if you have a king and a 6 in one hand for a 16 and a jack and a 5 in the other for a 15, these would be bad hands. When you're playing Blackjack Switch, you can switch out the king for the 5, giving you a 20 in one hand and an 11 in the other. The odds for this game are set at 1/1, while the house edge is 0.58%.
Progressive Blackjack
Progressive Blackjack is simply blackjack with a side bet for a progressive jackpot. If you decide to place the side bet and a specific combination of cards appears, you can share the jackpot with others who put the same side bet. The game's general rules are the same as classic blackjack but with the added excitement of the potential for a jackpot win.
Once one or more players have won the jackpot, it accumulates again. Typically, a small fraction of each player's side bet goes into the progressive jackpot pot, while the rest of the sum contributes towards the pot's seed. It works this is way so the jackpot doesn't have to start accumulating from scratch should anyone win the entire jackpot. Instead, the jackpot resets to a predetermined amount and starts building from there.
There are progressive blackjack variations that you can play with multiple hands. This way, you can place up to 5 bets and play 1 to 5 hands, improving your chances of hitting the jackpot. You should note that some variations that only allow side bets for one hand.
Spanish 21
You play the game of Spanish 21 with a deck of 48 cards. From the standard deck of 52 cards, the four 10s are removed. The fewer number of cards gives players a slight advantage. In addition, the chances of the dealer having a natural 21 are lower.
Like all online blackjack games, the goal is to get a hand value of 21 or as close to it as possible. Another key difference with this variation is that you can surrender your hand after the dealer checks for blackjack. This isn't an option in traditional blackjack. The advantage of surrendering is that you can save half of your bet if your hand is likely to lose. It also gives you a better chance of staying in the game and winning in future hands.
Players can "resplit" their hands and double down on any hand, no matter how many cards are dealt. You can even double down after splitting or resplitting. Another key feature of the game is that if you hit 21, you will always win, and blackjack always beats a dealer blackjack. Although, hitting a blackjack is harder because of the lack of 10s.
Multi-Hand Blackjack
Multi-Hand Blackjack is a recent addition to the list of best blackjack games. Most of the rules follow classic blackjack gameplay, barring one key exception: players can play multiple hands at once. The number of hands you can play varies. Some games allow 2, while others allow 3, 4, or 5. It's usual for each hand to have the same bet size. However, some operators offer the option of different bet sizes.
You play the hands sequentially, starting at the first base spot and moving left. The game generally involves six or eight decks, with a payout of 3:2. Specific rules of the blackjack variant tend to vary from casino to casino.
In some, dealers must stand on soft 17; in others, they must hit. Likewise, surrender is allowed in some, and players can take insurance against the dealer's ace in others. Such differences mean it's best to double-check the rules before choosing which multiple-hand format to play.
Bonus Blackjack
Bonus Blackjack is another recent addition to the line-up of the best online blackjack games. It shares most of the rules with the traditional card game but with one significant difference. There is the possibility of getting a bonus should a blackjack be formed with certain cards at relatively high odds.
The name of this game is somewhat misleading. It is not merely a bonus in a game of blackjack. It is a variant that features interesting side bets alongside the traditional blackjack bets. However, the real star is the optional side bet since it offers the highest payout of all blackjack bets.
As mentioned, the rules are basically the same as classic blackjack. Dealers must hit on a soft 17, and players can split, double down, and take the insurance bet. However, in this variant, you can't surrender. If the dealer deals you any two suited cards, the Bonus bet, if you make it, pays 5:2. A Jack and an Ace will pay 25:1, while a Jack and an Ace of Spades has a payout of 50:1.
By Mike J. Davies
Senior Editor at Casinos.US
Updated: March 13, 2024
