Online Blackjack

Play Blackjack Online with 888 New Jersey

Blackjack is a casino classic for a reason. It’s easy to learn, fun to play and fast as lightning at the tables.

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Stand, hit and even face off against live dealers with our exciting selection of online blackjack games, including classic and American versions.

We cater to all experience levels, whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned ace. Plus, our exclusive promotions and jackpots means there’s never a dull moment to be had here.

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Try free online blackjack

Completely new to the blackjack table? With our demo mode you can practice and learn the ropes for free. Get to grips with the rules using our free blackjack options.

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Discover blackjack strategies

The Rules of Blackjack

This has to be one of the easiest casino games to learn. The rules are simple: beat the dealer’s hand, without going higher than 21.

Aces can be valued at one or 11, picture cards are worth 10 points and numbered cards keep their standard value.

Here’s how a typical game usually plays out:

• Step One: Place your bets. Each game mode will have a minimum and maximum bet limit.
• Step Two: You’ll be dealt two cards ‘face up’. The dealer will also get two cards – one face down, and one face up.
• Step Three: You choose whether to hit, stand or double down.
  If you hit – you’ll be dealt another card. You can continue to hit until you go bust (exceed 21), or you can stand.
  If you stand – you keep the hand total as it is. The dealer will then decide whether to hit or stand. Typically, the dealer draws to 16 and stands on 17+.
  If you double down – you can double your bet and take just one extra card for a bigger payout – but with a higher risk of losing your bet.
• Step Four: If your hand is higher than the dealer’s up to 21, or the dealer goes bust, you win. If your hand is the same value as the dealer’s (known as a ‘push’), your bet is returned. If you go bust or fall short of the dealer’s hand total, your bet loses.

Other rules and things to know

Standard games often feature the following options, and useful terms.

• Splitting pairs – if your first two cards are the same value, you can double your bet and split the cards into two hands.
• Insurance – if the dealer has an ace showing, you can add insurance for 2-1 odds if the dealer lands a blackjack (card value of 10 plus an ace).
• Surrender – not feeling lucky on your first draw? You can forfeit half your bet and end the game.
• Hard hand – this is when your hand doesn’t feature any aces.
• Soft hand – your hand contains an ace currently valued at 11.

That said, each different type of game has a unique set of rules. For example, in classic blackjack, you have a minimal number of decks in play. This means it’s much easier to calculate the odds of winning.

For more information on the rules, check out our guide on how to play blackjack.

Real Money Blackjack Games*

At 888 Casino, we have all your favorite types of blackjack – ready and waiting for you to pull up a virtual seat and play. Spectacular entertainment and the potential for monster-sized payouts await.

Classic Blackjack

Our classic variant plays by the iconic, much-loved rules:

• Six decks of cards are in play (52 cards per deck).
• Numbered cards have their face value.
• Jacks, Queens, and Kings have a value of 10.
• Aces can be one or 11, depending on the value of the hand.
• The dealer draws to 16 and stands on 17 and above.

Payouts:

• Payout for a blackjack (Ace + 10-value card) is 3:2.
• Insurance bets pay 2:1.

American Blackjack

Here, you have a choice to play one, three or five hands at a time. Different rules also apply, including:

• Ace value is the player’s choice (one or 11).
• ‘Perfect pairs’ side bets are in play. This means you can bet on the likelihood of the first two cards drawn being a pair.
• 21+3 side bets are in play. This mixes classic draw poker with blackjack to bet whether your first two cards and the dealer’s visible card combine to make a three-hand poker combo.
• Payouts for a blackjack are 3:2 – and winning hands pay even money.

Live Blackjack

For all the excitement and anticipation of going head-to-head against the dealer on a real-life casino floor, our live blackjack tables offer the perfect online experience.

• Log in from the comfort of your couch and join a live lobby to watch our glamorous, professional and super-slick dealers work their magic in real time, streamed directly to your device.
• Say hello to true glitz with our fancy studio, featuring HD cameras that follow the action – and allow you to keep track of everything, using extra-exciting visuals as you play.
• Eight decks of cards are in play, and the player to the dealer’s left always goes first.

You won’t need to dress up for a night at the casino (unless you want to, that is!) – as the dealer and other players can’t see you. Instead, use the handy chat box for any questions you want to ask our dazzling dealers.

*(YOU MAY DEPOSIT FROM ANYWHERE IN THE US, BUT CAN ONLY PLAY FOR REAL MONEY WHEN IN NEW JERSEY)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you beat the dealer in blackjack?

To beat the dealer, you simply need to put together a stronger hand than theirs, without going higher than 21. You’ll be dealt two cards faced up. You can then choose your action:

• Hit
• Split
• Double
• Stand
• Surrender
• Insurance

If you make the right choices and get a higher hand than the dealer without going ‘bust’ – congratulations, you’ve won!

Should I play the insurance bet in blackjack?

An insurance bet becomes an option when the dealer’s face up card is an ace, and is there to protect you if the dealer lands a blackjack. However, the odds of them having a 10-value card alongside their ace is only 30.77%. You can factor that in against the 2:1 payout, as you may end up losing more than you would win.

What’s the difference between 6:5 blackjack and 3:2 blackjack?

Over the years, many blackjack games have changed from 3:2 payouts to 6:5 payouts. This means if you bet $10 on a 3:2 game and win, you’ll get $15. But in 6:5 blackjack, a $10 winning bet only equals $12. In other words, you get better payouts at a 3:2 blackjack table.

Do I need to count cards in blackjack?

Card counting is where players keep a ‘running count’ of the number of high and low cards in the deck. Values of 1 and -1 are assigned to specific ranges of cards. If there is a negative count, it means that more high cards have been dealt and few remain in the deck. If the count is positive, this means more low-value cards have been dealt – and more high value cards remain in the deck.

However, card counting is ineffective when multiple decks are used, and when continuous shuffling is employed, such as in the majority of online blackjack games.

What is a blackjack strategy chart and how do I use it?

Blackjack charts present players with statistical information that helps provide advice on what action to take.

To use the chart, players simply match their hand total with the dealer’s visible card until the ‘intersection’ point. Abbreviations are used for actions the player might want to take, based on the stats:

• D = Double
• S = Split
• DS = Double or Stand
• H = Hit

You can find blackjack charts for games that use four, six and eight decks of cards.

Is blackjack a game of skill or luck?

Blackjack is a game of skill and strategy, with a dash of luck. Calculating odds and using blackjack charts means you can work out the likelihood of certain things happening at the blackjack table, and increase your chances of getting a winning hand. However, the cards you start with and those that the dealer starts with do bring an element of luck. You can’t predict 100% what will be dealt next either – which is what makes things so exciting.

Should you hit on a 16 in blackjack?

16 is often considered the worst hand total, as it’s not strong enough to stand on – but the likelihood of going bust is also high. Many experts will advise you to stand on a hard 16 (no aces), if the dealer’s upturned card is below six (not including aces). If the dealer is showing a high card, however, they often recommend going for the hit.

Is playing blackjack online for real money worth it?

When you play at a trusted operator, you’ll benefit from a secure and safe platform, as well as the convenience of playing anytime, anywhere. Many sites – such as 888 Casino – also offer exciting bonuses and jackpots, so you can get even more bang for your buck. Sign up today to find out what all the fun is about.