There are over 2,000 registered quality online casinos available to gamblers worldwide, and choosing the best site to play blackjack for real money could be a problem. The site could be offering great blackjack games but withdrawals of winnings could be a nuisance.

There are quality casino operators, and then there are those who are not. Perusing through casino reviews, Free Blackjack Money is proud that some of the more credible online casinos to play blackjack for real money are actually partner sites.

Betfair

Betfair Casino has been servicing millions of satisfied online gamblers since 2006. Licensed by the Malta Gambling Authority, it is assured that the site is safe, run by honest and rule-abiding operators. Upon signing-up, new players are given a 100% matching bonus of up to $100, sans any bonus code.

BetFair is one of the best sites to play blackjack for real money. It not only offers live blackjack, but other game variants such as 3-D blackjack, Multi-Hand, and Charlie 7.

William Hill Casino

William Hill started out as a postal/telephone betting station back in the 1930s. Through the years, the company has evolved into a credible betting shop, and the largest one across the globe. It was in 1998 that William Hill online casino was established. As a respectable name in the online gambling industry, it boasts of a huge number of happy customers/players.

New players are given a 100% matching bonus of up to £150 for a first deposit bonus. Available for live blackjack play are variants such as high-or-low-stakes blackjack and Genie blackjack.

Paddy Power Casino

The Irish company was founded in 1988, operating as a bookmaker. In 2000, Paddy Power online casino received the distinction of being listed in the London and Irish stock exchange. New registrants are afforded a €/£5 no deposit bonus. A 100% matching bonus of up to £500 is also offered.

Offered are over 15 variants of blackjack, making Paddy Power one of the top online casinos to play blackjack for real money.

888 Casino

888 Casino has been in the online gambling business for over 20 years. It is undoubtedly one of the most respected casino operators today. An $88 no deposit sign-up bonus awaits new members from Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark. Another 100% matching bonus on the first deposit is given. Depending on the code, cash bonus of up to $140 is afforded too. We are offering new players an exclusive £1,500 Welcome Bonus with code: Welcome1

Offered are classic blackjack as well as other variants, and live blackjack.

The popularity of Blackjack Tournaments has reached a new height in recent years. Both land-based and online casinos have been offering them to attract more players to play. Currently online casinos are offering Blackjack Tournaments on a regular basis as more players opt to play.

Blackjack Tournament Basics

Basically, one is competing against other players rather than the dealer when playing in a Blackjack Tournament. All players pay an entry fee to join a Blackjack tournament. The entry fees are collated and go into the prize pool, with the casino taking a certain percentage. All players start off with the same number of hands and bankroll when competing. The bankroll or starting stack has no real monetary value but they are used the same way as normal blackjack chips are used. It does not matter how many chips the winner has at the end of a round as the object of the game is to end with the most number of chips.

Blackjack Tournaments may involve either a single round, or multiple rounds, with every round played over a fixed length of time or a fixed number of hands. Players lose or win chips against the dealer, with the order of play changing at every hand. If the tournament is a single round play, the chips are counted and the players are ranked based on their number of chips. In a multiple rounds tournament, players are eliminated at each round based on their number of chips held at the end of a round. The top player then progress to the next round and so on. At the last round, the winner is the player with the most chips.

Types of Blackjack Tournaments

There are several types of Blackjack Tournaments and they are as follows: single table, multiple tables, elimination, non-elimination, scheduled, sit and go, rebuy, freeroll, guaranteed, and satellite.

Single Table & Multiple Table Blackjack Tournaments – Single table tournaments are played on one table, whereas multiple table tournaments are played on several tables. Elimination rules apply in multiple tables’ tournament, with the numbers of tables decreasing as tournament players are eliminated. The end result of a multiple tables blackjack tournament is the final round played on a single table.

Elimination & Non-Elimination Blackjack Tournaments – In single elimination format, tournament players are eliminated in each round, with either the player with the least chip being eliminated, or all players eliminated except for the top two players. In non-elimination tournament format, only a single round is involved with the player with the most chips at the end of the game as the winner, and the rest of the players ranked based on the number of chips they have.

Scheduled & Sit and Go Blackjack Tournaments – These tournaments are based on the play time and registration schedule. In scheduled tournaments, advanced registration is required, and tournaments start at a set time. In sit & go tournaments, game starts as soon as there are enough registered players.

Rebuy Blackjack Tournaments – Players are permitted to buy more chips if they start to lose. This way they are free to take more risks without the threats of elimination. However, the fees for a rebuy are quite high, almost on par to the original entry fee. The money from rebuy goes to the prize pool.

Freerolls Blackjack Tournaments – These tournaments are free to enter, but cash is the pot though fairly low. These tournaments are held to attract new players, or as reward for regular players.

Satellite Blackjack Tournaments – Winners get no cash prize. Instead, they qualify and are guaranteed entry into a higher value tournament.

Guaranteed Blackjack Tournaments – The prize pool for this type of tournament is minimal and not based on the number of registered players. Guaranteed tournaments attract players as the guaranteed pot prize is the total entry fees.

The hugely popular casino card game blackjack dates back hundreds of years. The earliest form of the game that we know and love today was called twenty-one, and was first written about by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes in 1601. When the game was introduced in the USA, to entice more players some gambling houses offered better odds on certain hands, such as pairing the ace of spades with either of the black jacks. Lucky punters who were dealt this “black jack” hand would receive a ten-to-one return on their stake. Those generous odds were quickly scrapped but the name caught on.

Nowadays, though, blackjack refers to any starting hand equalling 21. There are now, however, various different strains of the game to appease modern audiences, some of which are highly exciting. There is also huge potential for the game to move into the realms of virtual reality.

Exotic Variants of Blackjack

Some players like to spice up their blackjack games by incorporating different tried and tested strategies to try to get the edge over the house. Others hunt down more irregular variations of the game which have cropped up in recent years as the online casino industry continues to boom. The sector is projected to rise from a volume of $37.91 billion in 2015 to around $59.79 in 2020, so players will probably see even more exotic forms of blackjack come about in the near future as well, in the spirit of providers being eager to offer more variety and stand out from the competition.

Most of the newer, original forms of blackjack follow the rules of the classic game. This helps newcomers quickly understand how to play, rather than them having to learn the rules of a new game. There are numerous twists on the game at online casinos, for instance NetEnt’s multi-hand blackjack. In this variant, players can take charge of a few different hands at the same time, thus increasing the amount they stand to win from their original stake. This, of course, is a welcome twist for many experienced players. There is also Hi-Lo 13 Blackjack from Microgaming, which gives players the chance to have a side bet on whether their starting hand will be higher or lower than 13. This adds another element to the game, and can lead to new strategic approaches when playing blackjack. The diversification of the classic game from Betway Casino is another example of how blackjack is being spiced up to boost its appeal to wider audiences. When players have a hand of six cards or more that equal a value of twenty, they automatically win – even if the dealer has blackjack. Players can also split a hand up to four times, and double down whenever they want. In addition to all these more exotic variants, there is Perfect Pairs European Blackjack, versions of which have been developed by various software giants including Playtech. In this offshoot of the classic game, players can have a side bet on whether they will be dealt a pair or not. If they get a mixed pair of, say the 3 of hearts and the 3 of spades, they get a 7/1 return on their stake. A coloured pair where the cards are both red or both black pays out 15/1.

What Could Come About in the Future?

With casino software giant Microgaming already having come up with early-stage versions of VR Roulette – while NetEnt has already launched a VR version of it’s Gonzo’s Quest slot – it seems fair to assume that a VR blackjack game could be around the corner soon. The company who was responsible for powering the first ever online casino in 1994 won the Digital Gaming Innovation award at the Global Gaming Awards in 2015 for their revolutionary idea. VR sales are rising gradually, but have strong projections for the future. The industry was worth $6.1 billion in 2016, but that is expected to grow to $215 billion by 2021. This suggests that developers will desperately be trying to create software for this up and coming platform. With blackjack being one of the most popular casino games of all time, it would be great to see it have a VR reboot. The VR Roulette game gives players an immersive experience in which they can stand and play at a roulette table operated by a robot croupier in the middle of space. And players who have tested the game have all said that it is exceptional. This format would also work really well for blackjack, because the game uses a similar amount of table space and also requires a dealer to deal the cards. There is even a chance that in the future, there could be full-scale virtual casinos in which players can walk around and play different games – although we’ll be clearly seeing smaller-scale VR casino games before that happens, judging by current developments.

Other Games That Have Evolved to Boost Their Appeal

Slot games are another prime example of a casino classic which has adapted to the evolving technology market. In the past, they were coin operated machines that required players to pull a handle on the side to spin the reels. But now developers like Microgaming, Playtech, and NetEnt are looking to create fresh and original products that incorporate highly advanced graphics on state of the art devices, and are often based on current trends in popular culture. For instance, Microgaming has created a Game of Thrones slot in an effort to attract the masses of people that watch the HBO show and give them another way to enjoy it. The season 7 premiere was watched by an astonishing 16.1 million people, so it makes sense to try to offer something to this bulging market. Playtech previously had a deal with Marvel, while NetEnt have begun to produce content such as Jack’s World for VR devices.

Although some games like blackjack, roulette, poker, and even games from other genres like chess have not had to change too much over time to keep people playing, it is wise to keep offering fresh alternatives to keep people interested. The way forward for blackjack now looks to be moving into VR, and perhaps adding some special effects or interesting surroundings to spruce things up a bit.

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A student from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has recently started another Blackjack variant that is now offered in casinos along the Strip.
Named Easy Jack, this variant was created by Matt Steam. The new variant naturally follows the basic Blackjack game, but a more simplified one.

Matt Steam’s variant Blackjack aims to get an 11 and not the usual 21. Players are dealt an initial card and not the usual two. And that basically sums up the Easy Jack Blackjack variant. The rest of the rules are based on the standard 21.

Hannah Casino, owned and operated by Caesar’s Entertainment is now offering the latest variant. On its trial run, the variant is scheduled to run until the end of 2017. Jerry Beans, Caesar’s vice president, said that it will be a breeze for someone to master the game. He said “With a game like this you can really sit down and jump into and be an expert at it pretty fast.” As of the latest survey, Bean claims that casino guests are immensely enjoying Easy Jack Blackjack.

At the facilities of UNLV’s Center for Gaming Innovation, Steam further developed the rules of the game. The center actually has a mock casino that serves as the laboratory classroom of game innovators. The main objective of the center is to help talented young minds to create, develop, and test new patents, new products, and new games. According to the executive director of the Center – Mark Yoseloff, the more interesting and fulfilling a game is, the more it will help the state of Nevada increase job opportunities and revenue.

The Gaming Control Board is now reviewing the Blackjack variant Easy Jack. Upon approval, Matt Steam will now be at liberty to lease out his patented Blackjack variant to any casino.

August 23, 2017 — St. Johns, Antigua (Press Release) – Carrying on their new tradition of adding a little more happiness to Friday Happy Hour, Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes are boosting all Blackjack wins by 5% this Friday between 7:00 and 10:00 pm Eastern.

“Summer time and the livin’ is easy,” said Intertops’ poker manager. “By Friday afternoon lots of us are sliding into the weekend and what better way to start an epic summer weekend than with 5% added to all your blackjack wins!”

To get their 5% Blackjack boost all players need to do is play Blackjack Friday, August 25th during Happy Hour. Both online casinos, well known for their busy poker rooms, also offer a selection of slots and table games. Under the Casino tab in each poker room there are several versions of Blackjack to choose from including Double Draw and Perfect Pairs. (Games in Intertops’ main casino do not qualify for this promotion.)

Winnings, to a maximum of $250, will immediately be credited to players’ bonus balances and released for withdrawal once the 15X play-through is completed.

There’s an optional re-draw on hand 15, 16 and 17 in Double Draw Blackjack and in Perfect Pairs Blackjack a natural pair pays 5:1, same-colored pairs pay 10:1 and a perfect pair (both cards the same suit) pays 30X.

Details are available under the Casino Promotions tab at Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes.

Intertops Poker and Juicy Stakes are popular with poker players all over the world and are well known for the selection of online slots and table games from World Match, Lucktap and Betsoft that they also provide.

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Geoff Hall is the inventor of two blackjack variants: Blackjack Switch and Free Bet Blackjack. His latest variant is Zombie Blackjack which debuted at the Venetian on August 9, 2017.

Just like a Zombie who gets to come back to “life” after death, it is possible for a busted player to rise back and win against the dealer. The gist of this Blackjack variant is if a dealer has a 7 up to Ace as his upcard, and the player’s hand busts, the game is not yet over for the player. He still has a chance to win. The busted bet of the player will be set aside, and see if the dealer busts as the game goes on. If he does, the busted bet will be active again, and win more money even. The “push 22” rule applies here. Basically this means that if the dealer busts with 22, players that have not busted and do not have blackjack will “push”.

Zombie Blackjack changes the basic principle of Blackjack, in a sort of positive way. In a normal game of Blackjack, once a player has a busted hand, the game is over for him. In this variant, a player with a busted hand gets to win more if the dealer busts along with him.
A player can still double down and split on top of the Push 22. With this variant, a player has to learn a whole new set of strategy with regards to the ruling of Push 22.

If a dealer’s upcard is 2 through 6, there is no need to change strategy for Zombie Blackjack. However, it is best to double on 9 versus 6; double on all 11’s and 10’s; hit 12 versus 2 to 4; hit 13 versus 2; and stand on all 14s and up. It is best to double on 17 and 18 versus 5, 6, on soft hands. On all pairs of 4s it is best to hit while opting to double on 5s. All Aces are best split. On 4 to 6 versus 6s and on a pair of 7s versus 2, it is best to split, but split others more so on pairs of 8s. It is best to stick on pairs of 9s versus 2 and 3.

If a dealer’s upcard is 7 and up, doubling down is no longer an advantage. For hard hand, it is best to double down on 11 versus 7(dealer’s); hit everything below 17, hitting hard 17s versus 8 to Ace.

For soft hands, it is best to hit soft 18 versus 8, with the player getting two chances for a better hand. If a player fails to get an Ace to 3, and gets a 10 or a Face instead, he has another hit coming. The odds of improving the hand increase. If the player busts, he still has the chance to get a winning hand.

In pairing, it is best to split 2s and 3s versus dealer 8. Hit pairs of 5s versus 7. Pairs of 6s are best split versus a 7. A bust is no longer costly so creating more hands that could bust is alright. Pair of 7s versus 8 is best split. When pitted against dealer upcards of 7 and up, pair of 9s is best split. Split all pairs of Aces and stand on 20s.

A dealer’s bust is not a concern unless a player sticks on hand or holds a 17 or 18. It is not a winning move to stick to sub 18 hands as a player forfeits his chances of improving his hand. Then again, a player can still win by not hitting when the dealer busts with 22.

Zombie Blackjack seems to be a winner with a 99% payback if the pay is 3 to 2.

Playing a good game of Blackjack takes a lot of experience and hours of learning strategies and approaches. A new blackjack player has a lot to learn about the game hence making mistakes is inevitable. However, these common mistakes new blackjack players make can be easily avoided for greater chances of winning hands.

Taking Insurance

Taking insurance sounds good, but in most cases, it is not worth the trouble and risk. Insurance is a positive move if a player has the experience to accurately count cards, and therefore is almost 100% sure that the dealer has blackjack. Note that unless one is playing in a tournament, the goal in blackjack is to beat the dealer and not necessarily get 21.

The reality of the game is that even the most gifted card counters can only be 80% sure that the dealer has a blackjack. Getting insurance would most likely benefit the casino than the player. Insurance bets are best left to experienced blackjack players.

Money Management

A way of limiting the amount of money a player is willing to lose in a game is called the stop-loss money management system. Basically, the system prods a player to stop playing once he reaches his limit. This system may seem to be a winning move, but as a blackjack strategy, it is not. Why?

The game will eventually pay out. If a player quits every time he loses, he will never ever get back up. Good and experienced blackjack players know that losing is all part of the game, and that riding out losses will eventually pay off.

Betting Higher When Winning

One may call winning streaks as coincidences, and that is the truth! A few good hands does not equate that the next hands will be winners too. So, it is not to one’s advantage to up one’s bet when on a roll. Believe or not, a few winning hands will not increase the odds of winning.

Even Money Odds

Winning the same amount of money that a player bets seems to be a safe way of betting. This practice makes player to bet more on games that has a larger pot to win because they think things will even out in the end, or he has nothing to lose. In the long run, even money will eventually decrease one’s overall winnings. The best “bet” is to know the exact odds before wagering.

As in everything, experience and practice (and a sufficient bankroll) are necessary to win in blackjack.

Ed Thorp is one of the originals who’s who in Blackjack’s Hall of Fame. A PhD holder in mathematics, Thorp theorized that it was possible to play Blackjack for a profit. All he had to do was figure out how. Beat the Dealer is Ed Thorp’s ground breaking book that detailed the ways and means of winning in the game of 21. His gaming probability theory not only proved to be useful in Blackjack but also became the core foundation in building successful hedge funds.

A Man for all Markets, Ed Thorp’s latest book, details investing lessons he learned from Blackjack strategies.

Blackjack and the Market can both be analyzed

Thorp believes that gambling is a lesser version of investing since both are closed system. This means that the outcome is only affected by a limited amount of factors: blackjack-wise, what cards remain to be played and what cards have been played. Though there are more factors considered in investing, the market can still be analyzed based on evaluation of gathered data.

Developing a strategy

Ed Thorp developed a strategy to win in Blackjack. His approach taught players when to stand, hit or double based on the player’s two dealt cards and the dealers up card, and the possible make-up of the cards yet to be dealt. Though this approach is no longer possible due to current casino rules, new adaptations to make Thorp’s analysis relevant have been made by some authors.

In investing, Thorp analyzed if a stock is overvalued or undervalued. By considering anomalies in pricing, he was able evaluate stocks and make the right decision in his personal investments.

Testing the strategy

Ed Thorp was able to test his gaming theory in the 1950s by using MIT’s IBM computer. Thorp’s research was founded on the Kelly Criterion which is actually a proportional betting system based on the player’s advantage. Today, the availability of computing power is almost unlimited. There are apps and programs available online to help test one’s investing strategy or methodology.

Money management is required

It is not a wise move to over bet in any game of Blackjack even if one has the advantage. There should always be a balance between return and risk in a game of Blackjack. It is the same principle in securities investing. A mistake in capital management collapses the market and almost destabilized the whole financial system of USA in 1998. On the other hand too conservative market investors could miss out on huge returns. It is necessary for both Blackjack players and investors to find the right balance between risk and return to get ahead.

Psychology plays a part

The swings in Blackjack could prove to be mentally trying for most players. It will be hard to place a big bet if one’s bankroll is depleted. However, one must always trust the “math” that sooner (or later) the player will be at an advantage. It’s the same thing with investing. One has to stay and persevere with his methodology and strategy for sooner than later; the money will come flowing in.