Best Online Blackjack Casinos in Australia 2024
Blackjack is one of the easiest table games in online casinos today. It is also extremely fun and engaging, which explains its popularity among punters. However, this game’s popularity also makes it a good way for fraudulent casinos to reel in unsuspecting players. Also, you need to understand the game before playing, or this seemingly easy game can make you lose cash.
This means if you want to get the best experience, you need to be certain about the casino you want to play. You also need to understand everything possible about the game of blackjack. That is why we will be providing you with a list of the top casinos to play, along with everything you need to play blackjack and win big in this blackjack guide!
Top online Blackjack casinos in December 2024
Brief history of blackjack
There is still a lot of ongoing discussions about the origins of the game blackjack. But many researchers believe that it was introduced in 1700 in the French casinos. It was known Vingt-et-Un, meaning Twenty-one. It was most likely developed from Chemin de Fer, a card game popular at that time. This was during King Louis XV’s reign.
According to other prominent theories, the Romans invented Blackjack. This is because they enjoyed gambling, but there is no confirmation about this theory. There is a belief that the Romans used wooden blocks painted with different numbers instead of paper cards.
The popularity of the game spread in North America in the 18th century. This happened with the French colonists’ aid. At this point, it evolved and could be found in 1820, at the legal gambling halls of New Orleans. The rules were not the same as the present blackjack, but it was still a fun game. For example, in the earlier type of blackjack, only the dealer could double. What’s more, during this period, there was a story of Eleanor Dumont. Eleanor was born and raised in France before migrating to America. She was apt as a dealer and continued to travel around the world. This was until she set up a gambling hall in Nevada. It was called Vingt-et-Un, and people started to come from every location to play against her. They saw her as different from other card dealers, thereby increasing its popularity even further.
During the 20th century in Nevada, this game was still known as 21. However, at this point, its name was changed to Blackjack. Since casinos and gambling halls needed a means of promoting the game, they offered bonuses along with one that offered extra if blackjack was dealt alongside the Ace of spades. Eventually, this name stuck even as the bonuses faded. Since gambling was deemed legal, blackjack rules have also gone through some changes, and that is what we know and use today.
Blackjack Rules
To play live blackjack and win in online casinos, you need to understand the rules guiding it. We will begin with the basic rules of the game. Blackjack is a card counting game where one person or more plays against the dealer.
The aim is to:
- A: Get your overall card value as close as you can to 21.
- B: Get a higher hand than the dealer to beat his hand.
- C: Get the dealer to draw cards till his hands surpass 21. This is known as making him “go burst.”
If you beat a dealer, you get double his bet(1:1). This is unless he lands a Blackjack, a card with a value of 10, and an ace. The payout for this is 3:2.
When the blackjack round begins, a player gets two cards. Then, the following are the options available to you as the player:
- Stand: You are fine with your cards, and you don’t want any extra cards.
- Hit: You draw an additional card. You can draw until your card hand is higher than 21.
- Double: You estimate that you have good odds and double your bet. Then, you can draw an additional card.
- Split: if you have a pair or two other cards that makeup 10 points combined, you can decide to split the cards or double your bets. This will leave you with two hands. The dealer then deals one more card to each hand automatically. Next, you must decide to stand, hit, or double, depending on each hand. However, there are games where if you split first, you would be unable to double.
Rule variations
Sometimes, the rules of mobile blackjack will divert from the typical ones discussed above. You must understand each of the variations, so you don’t get blindsided during gameplay.
Rule variations can impact how much you win, and you need to consider them so you can adjust your strategy accordingly. Below, we will be discussing each of these rule variations in detail.
Dealer stands on soft 17
The dealer continues to draw cards until he lands a value of 17 or more. In some variations, the dealer can stand on 17, while in others, they can decide to hit. If the dealer goes with the latter, the pay-out percent is impaired by 0.2%.
Dealer hits on soft 17
If the dealer chooses to stand on 17, the player gets a statistical advantage. This is because now, the probability of the dealer going bust is much higher.
Surrender
There are blackjack tables that give players the chance to surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack. This is not common, but it is to the advantage of the player. Late surrender is more frequent, and this is not to the player’s advantage.
Resplit
This is the chance to split an already split hand. Players have this chance on many blackjack tables, but not everyone. Any game that provides this chance is more beneficial for the player.
Doubling after split
Here, when you are handed a pair, and you split it, the casino can let you double your hand. The casino allows you to double your wager size after dealing with your initial cards. However, the house requests that you can be dealt with only a single extra card.
Resplitting
This simply means splitting a hand you have already split. Some blackjack tables allow you to do this, and it offers you great benefits.
Early surrender
This is when the player decided to forgo their hand as soon as the dealer deals the card before checking for a natural blackjack. Players need to forgo half of their initial wager if they go with an early surrender.
6 to 5 blackjacks
These are the odds online casinos pay if you land a Blackjack. So if you use a small $10 bet and land a 21, you will get $12 instead of $15 on a 3 to 5 blackjack.
Single deck vs multi deck
In the single deck game, the dealer utilizes one deck of cards. However, in the multi-deck tables, the dealer will use 2, 4, 6, or 8 decks. This is usually dependent on the game a player chooses to go with.
Card values
Blackjack card values never change regardless of the game variation you decide to play. The values include:
- Cards 2-10: These have a value that is the same as their number. For instance, 2 has a value of 2, and 3 a value of 3.
- Face cards like King, Jack, and Queen have a value of 10.
- Ace can either have a value of 1 or 11.
How & where to play blackjack
Blackjack is a popular card game that has been existing for many years. It is easy and fun, especially when you fully understand the rules guiding the game. However, to get the best it has to offer, you need to understand a few strategies. This how-to guide will let you in on the basic blackjack rules. Below is a step by step guide on how to play blackjack online.
Strategy in Blackjack
Blackjack is an easy card game, but this is only the case with the appropriate strategy. Below, we will cover the best strategies for two varying blackjack games: Dealer stands on soft 17 and dealer hits on soft 17.
If you use the wrong blackjack basic strategy and make errors during gameplay, you can reduce the payout percentage of the game to 95%. This can make things more complex. You need to go along with the appropriate strategy and be smart about it.
Strategy: Dealer stands on soft 17
This strategy works for blackjack, where the dealer decides to stand on soft 17. Blackjack games where the dealer can do this offer the most advantage to players. A dealer who stands on soft 17 can’t improve his hand, so all you need to do is make a hand of 17 or more.
Strategy: Dealer hits on soft 17
If a dealer chooses to hit soft 17, things can become tricky. This position places the player at a disadvantage, as it gives the dealer an opportunity to make 18,19, 20, and 21 hands that can win themselves when pitted against a player pat hand. Counter this by doubling down on an 11 presuming the dealer has an Ace. Also, do the same if the dealer has a 6, and you have a soft 19.
The pros and cons of playing Online Blackjack
It is common knowledge that blackjack is fun and simple. However, similar to any other good game, it also comes with a few drawbacks. Understanding both aspects is necessary if you plan to get the best outcome when playing in an online casino. Below, we will investigate the major pros and cons of this game.
Pros
- You can play for free
- Tons of blackjack variants to try out
- Higher payout percentage
- There are many strategies to use
Cons
- Not understanding a strategy can lead to losses
- You can't use some blackjack strategies when playing online.
Vocabulary: Blackjack terms
There are many terms in Blackjack that can affect your gameplay. These terms can be confusing for players who don’t understand them and give them a lower advantage in online casinos. If you want to increase your chances of winning, you will need to understand these terms and what they do. This way, you can leverage them and get a better hand than the dealer.
Some of the common blackjack terms are discussed below:
Hit
When you want another card from the dealer, you hit.
Stand
If your initial two cards are fine by you or have hit before, you can decide to stand when you want. This means you won’t take any other card.
Double down
If you have a hand that looks like it has prospects, while that of the dealer seems weak, you can double down and double your wager. If your hands are great, you can win double the amount you would have without doubling down.
Split
Presuming you get two cards with equal value, you can decide to split to match your initial wager. This will mean you can now play two different hands.
Surrender
Some blackjack variants allow you to surrender your hand without doing anything further. This is a great choice if you feel you have a bad hand. However, you will only get back half of your initial wager.
Insurance
This is a side bet that lets players wager half their initial bet against the dealer hitting a blackjack. Players can only take insurance only if the dealer displays an ace.
Bust
This means you have run out of cash. It is something you want to avoid in blackjack.
Push
If you get an overall sum more than the dealer without busting, you win. However, if you and the dealer get blackjack or other hands with equal sums, it is known as a “Push.” Here, nobody wins.
Different types of blackjack
Blackjack comes in various types, all built to help you have fun. However, the basic rules of each one are not different. The only changes are in the payouts, gaming options, and the number of decks. You need to understand each of them and how they work so you can pick one that best suits your gameplay.
Below are a few of the common types of blackjack you will often find in online casinos.
Blackjack surrender
This is a variant of the typical blackjack game where players can choose not to play their hand. When they surrender the hand, they forfeit half of their bet and get half back. This a great option if you have been dealt a bad hand. It helps you minimize losses.
Blackjack switch
Blackjack Switch is a type of blackjack where you can switch cards between two hands. You need to ensure two bets are the same and can switch the second card the croupier deals to each hand.
Live Blackjack
Live Blackjack is one of the most common forms of blackjack played in online casinos today. The same basic rules apply, but instead of playing on an actual table, you play in a live online casino. You can play this game against a real-life dealer from the comfort of your home.
Atlantic City Blackjack
Like other forms of blackjack variants, the basics of this are the same. However, here the dealer stands at soft 17 and can peek to find out if they have a blackjack. Players can also split as much as three times and double down on any two cards.
European Blackjack
This offers players slightly better odds than the typical blackjack. It is played using two decks of cards, which is different from others with a lot more. Here, the dealer stands on soft 17, which gives the player a better advantage. Also, blackjack pays 3:2, and players are only allowed to double down when they have cards showing 9, 10, or 11.
Perfect blackjack
Perfect blackjack has the same basic rules as the typical blackjack with a major alteration in the bets. When each hand begins, the player can make an additional side bet. This side bet is a form of gamble the player takes in anticipation that the initial two cards dealt to them by the dealer will be the same number.
Ways to increase and decrease the house edge
The house edge is the mathematical advantage casinos have over players. It can have a huge influence on how much you win or lose. Typically, blackjack comes with a low house edge, but there are specific strategies that can increase it. The good news is that you can decrease it too if you know how to go about it.
Here, we will be looking into some of the best strategies that can help you achieve this feat and boost your winnings.
Counting cards
Card counting is a system of tracking where you use your memory to keep tabs on the cards the dealer has dealt. The game is typically dealt from a shoe, and there are a limited number of cards circulating in every round. This makes it probable for a player to guess the cards left in the deck and alter their betting strategy alongside. Some casinos frown upon this strategy, but it is not exactly illegal.
Shuffle tracking
This is an advantageous gambling strategy where you keep tabs on specific sequences of cards via a succession of shuffles. This strategy can offer you a lot of advantages if you know your way around it.
Identifying concealed cards
In a game of blackjack, the dealer usually has a few concealed cards that have not been dealt yet. This strategy involves you peeking and gaining knowledge of the value of a concealed card so you can use the details to create strategic decisions.
Play blackjack with the guidance of DiverJoe
As you can see, blackjack is an amazing game that can offer you tons of fun if you choose the right casino to play. There are numerous variations to choose from and amazing strategies that can help you win big!
Remember that the online casino you settle for should have the correct license. It should also have great customer support and offer different types of blackjack. If you don’t want to go through the stress of choosing the right casino, you can check out our list for the best options available. Each one has been properly vetted to ensure you get only the best.
Frequently asked questions about online blackjack
Can I play free blackjack?
Yes, you can play blackjack for free. Many of the casinos on our list will allow you to play this game in demo mode.
Can you beat the house in blackjack?
Yes, you can. However, you need to fully understand the game and have a clear strategy in place. This is the only way you can beat the house.
What is the return-to-player in blackjack?
Classic blackjack has a theoretical RTP of about 99.67%.
Can I count cards in online blackjack?
Yes, you can count cards in online blackjack. Simply keep track of what is being dealt.
Can I use strategy in blackjack?
Yes, you can. There are tons of strategies you can effectively use in a game of blackjack. Simply choose one that best aligns with your gameplay.