Blackjack Sites 2024 – Where to Play 21 for Real Money

Top Online Blackjack Sites for 2024

The History of Blackjack

Lots were going on in the blackjack world before these online blackjack sites even existed. The game first originated in France in the 1700s with the name “Ving-Et-Un”, or “twenty-one. It traveled across Europe, arriving in America in the 1800s, where it underwent a few rule changes, giving us the variations that we are familiar with today.

All variations of blackjack have a similar table layout. The tables are generally made of green felt with a curved, half-moon shape separating the dealers from players. The number of card outlines depends on the capacity of the table, which can range from 2 to 7 people. In some cases, the couple of basic rules of the particular blackjack variation would be printed on the table.

Rules of the game of 21, played on blackjack sites or at a brick-and-mortar casino, would be more or less the same. The variations exist when some of these rules are tweaked slightly or changed completely. Below are the standard play and rules of classic blackjack.

Basic Blackjack Gameplay

• The dealer shuffles a card deck of between 52 (1 deck) and 312 (6 decks) cards.
• Cards are dealt to the players face up. The dealing ends with the dealer receiving one card face up.
• The dealer deals cards a second time. All players receive cards, again, face up. Only the dealer gets a card face down.
• Any player with a blackjack will be paid out at this stage.
• The player to the left of the dealer will decide their move – either to hit, stand, or surrender. Players can also double down or split cards, depending on the outcome of their hand.
• All players decide on their moves in this way. The dealer then reveals their face-down card to the players.
• The dealer then chooses to either hit or stand. This depends on their card hand. If the total is 17 and more, they stand. Otherwise, they will need to hit.
• The dealer compares the cards and pays out winners. The remaining bets are collected by the house.

Key Rules to Remember

• Face cards or court cards are all valued at 10. Number cards are valued at face value. Aces can be either 1 or 11, depending on the hand.
• Players can’t play on two Aces after splitting.
• Players can double a hand from a split by multiplying their bet.
• A dealer must hit when their hand value is < 16.
• A dealer must stand at a hand value of 17 or more.
• A blackjack is when a player lands an Ace and a face card. Blackjack pays 1.5x of the original bet.
• If a player goes bust before the dealer reveals their second card, they are considered to have lost the bet, even if the dealer’s cards are bust as well.

Types of Blackjack Variations

Both standard blackjack and online blackjack are played in 3 main variations – European Blackjack, American Blackjack, and Vegas Strip Blackjack. However, these are not the only variations. Others include Blackjack Switch, Pontoon, Super 7, Perfect Pairs, Spanish 21, Speed Blackjack, and more. Most of these rarer variations are now a common sight on online 21 websites. Let’s take a look at some of the usual sightings at some of the best online blackjack sites on the Internet:

Best Online Live Blackjack Sites

We’ve seen a myriad of options for RNG blackjack, but what about live blackjack sites? We have details on that here as well. Some of the top live dealer blackjack games include Free Bet Blackjack, Live Infinite Blackjack, Perfect Pairs, and Speed VIP Blackjack to name a few. These games are a staple over at best blackjack sites like Betway, 888casino, Bodog, and casino 777.

The powerhouses for live blackjack games are naturally Evolution Gaming and Ezugi. However, there are a few good live games from Pragmatic Play, Playtech, Microgaming, Red Rake, and a few other casino software developers.

The most common variations to expect are the:

• Multihand Blackjack
• Speed Blackjack
• Power Blackjack
• Vegas Strip Blackjack
• Classic Blackjack
• European Blackjack
• American Blackjack
• Spanish 21

Genius Games From Genius Developers

When looking at RNG blackjack options, you’ll see names like Red Rake, Playtech, Microgaming, and a long-list more. But when we look at the players behind live games, you’ll see that Ezugi and Evolution Gaming are the frontrunners. Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Microgaming, and Playtech also actively create live games, although not as many as the previous two names. Smaller companies like Medialive Casino and Extreme Live Gaming also release some pretty good live options.

Let’s take a look at some of our favorites in casino software development:

• Evolution Gaming – Probably one of the most notable names, Evolution is best known for its great graphics and game interfaces. Their game designs make you feel as if at a brick-and-mortar casino and have simple controls and in-game navigations, to ease the betting process for you. Games to try from these guys are Evolution Live Blackjack, Speed VIP Blackjack, and Infinite Blackjack.
• Ezugi – Just behind Evolution is Ezugi, with their versatile live game library, packed with immersive, engaging, and most importantly well-paying games. Some of the famous Ezugi titles include Unlimited 21 Blackjack, Blackjack Bet Behind, and Classic Blackjack.
• Playtech – Playtech stands as one of the best when it comes to RNG games. Their games offer a wide range of betting limits across their tables, leaving something for everyone. Of course, it goes without saying that this feature is accompanied by a stellar audiovisual design and robust gameplay. Try out names like Lucky Blackjack, Blackjack Pro, Double Attack Blackjack, and more.

Opting for Mobile Blackjack Bets

Many don’t realize that they now have the ability to take their bets with them wherever they go. Most online blackjack websites now allow their players access from a mobile browser. However, the best blackjack casinos online tend to have their very own casino applications that allow players to access their entire game library and special features right from their smartphones and other mobile devices. These applications are most commonly compatible with iOS and Android, which are the most widely used operating systems.

When comparing desktop versions with mobile sites or casino applications, the most glaring difference is the additional ability to use built-in gestures on a smartphone to navigate and place bets, especially on live blackjack sites. The mobile layout is designed to respond instantly to common gestures like touch, scroll, tap and shake. Additionally, mobile layouts have fewer text blocks and more images, which mean even more engaging displays and user interfaces.

Hot Tips for Blackjack Players & Fans

Surely we wouldn’t leave you hanging without a few tips out of the pro’s books. When looking for a blackjack game, be sure to look at the RTP. This value tells you the average expected return rate on each of your bets placed at a particular table. One more key thing to look at is bet limits. Some tables are designed for high rollers, with a few additional perks while others are for those who want to have some fun with tighter budgets.

Another good tip is to look out for games with additional bets. Optional side bets like burn, insurance, switch and more give you a slight advantage when playing. They can also help minimize losses when playing for multiple successive rounds. Don’t work harder, work smarter.

Our Professional Verdict

As we’d covered earlier, in our minds, some of the best blackjack sites to play at, whether for RNG or live, are Betway, Bodog, 888casino, and its sister site, 777. The games provided here are by top casino software developers and have not only great audiovisual cues, but also an exciting and engaging gameplay. These casinos have also jumped on the mobile casino bandwagon, providing both mobile site access and proprietary applications for their players to use on the go. Check them out and play your hands with the pros!

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