What to Consider When Choosing a Live Blackjack Casino Site

When you play live blackjack online, you want to find a casino that delivers a safe and secure environment to gamble. With so many casino sites available online, separating the best online casinos from the bad can be confusing. There are some important considerations you need to make when selecting the best live dealer blackjack sites.

Our team of experts at Gambling.com makes it easier to find the top live casino blackjack games. We use a multi-step review process that ensures casinos pass strict criteria before we recommend them to you. We'll never recommend a casino site that does not meet the following considerations, and we advise you to judge by the same criteria when choosing a site to play at blackjack live dealer tables.

• Licensing: All casinos we recommend on Gambling.com are fully licensed by a recognised regulator such as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
• Auditing: All the best live dealer blackjack games should be independently audited by organisations like eCOGRA to ensure they are fair. They use random number generator (RNG) software to give players a fair chance of winning games.
• Security: Protecting your confidential information is fundamental to a solid online casino experience, including cybersecurity features like 128-bit SSL encryption, as well as implementing strict data protection and privacy policies.
• Support: While we recommend only the best live casino blackjack sites, sometimes problems happen, and you may need assistance. We look for casinos that deliver stellar customer support services to customers.
• Bonuses: Casino promotions can give you some extra funds for your live blackjack sessions, so we look for sites with the best bonus offers.
• Mobile Compatibility: Smartphones and tablets are the devices of choice for many gamblers these days, so we like to see online casinos that function just as well on mobile as they do on PC.
• Game Selection: You’re here for the live blackjack online, so it makes sense the casino you choose should have a broad selection of live blackjack games. It should also have an extensive catalogue of slots, poker, roulette, and other casino games

The Advantages of Online Blackjack

Blackjack has been a gambling favourite for hundreds of years. The first written reference dates back to the beginning of the 17th century when Miguel de Cervantes – author of Don Quixote and a noted gambler – spun a tale of two blackjack cheats chancing their arms in the streets of Seville.

Nowadays, blackjack is one of the most widely played casino games in the world, and its enduring simplicity and inherent excitement have seen it stay relevant. In contrast, other card games have fallen by the wayside. This simplicity and excitement make blackjack a natural fit for the online gaming scene – live blackjack is one of the most popular card games on the internet.

No longer restricted to the limitations of a brick and mortar casino, online live blackjack gives a new and exciting way to enjoy an old favourite, where veteran and novice players alike can battle it out with the dealer in the ancient game of chance and nerve.

That’s not to say online live blackjack requires any less skill or discipline than the real thing or that the game lacks any of the tension of a physical deal: blackjack is blackjack, no matter how you play it. But how is this new blackjack medium different from the old classic? What are the advantages of playing at the top online blackjack sites, and how can blackjack players from traditional, land-based casinos get involved in this thriving online scene?

How Does Live Blackjack Work?

Live online blackjack brings the excitement of the real thing into your home, and the best live blackjack sites maintain much of the realism and excitement of a land-based casino experience. Unlike standard online blackjack games, live blackjack games allow you to join a table staffed by a human dealer while the game is streamed to your computer or mobile device in real-time. You can make betting decisions as the game unfolds and communicate via live chat with the dealer and fellow players.

Is Live Blackjack Fair?

Many players have one concern when starting out in the online casino scene: the reliability and fairness of hands dealt. All decent online sites are licensed and regulated by noted gaming authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission and undergo frequent audits to ensure fairness and unpredictability of game outcomes. So newcomers need not worry that the cards are stacked against them.

To ensure this realistic and fair level of randomness, every online blackjack game has a built-in Random Number Generator (RNG) engine that ensures games are never rigged, and all outcomes are always fair and random.

In the case of live online blackjack, the hands of the deal are converted to communicable data via optical character recognition (OCR) technology and transferred to the player via a live link. This enables the player to interact with the game in much the same way as they would with a virtual casino game like online live roulette. It also lends the entire experience a greater level of immersion and realism. If online roulette sounds like fun to you, you can find a list of the leading roulette casinos below.

Online Blackjack vs Land-Based Casino Blackjack

Naturally, live online blackjack brings with it all the benefits of the Internet: convenience, accessibility and speed. Whereas before, if you wanted to play a card game, you needed to travel to a physical casino, today you can play the casino games from anywhere, at any time.

This shift made blackjack available to an entirely new generation of casino players, with newcomers able to quickly dip their toes in the online version without feeling like they've been thrown in the deep end. The online experience is often more cost-effective than its real-world precursor, with more customisation over wager amounts and a less pressure-filled environment.

Another distinct advantage of online live blackjack is the ability to find and enter a game quickly. In a real casino, gamblers would have to wait for a slot at an appropriate table to open up. The Internet version has no such limitations, and players can drop in and out almost immediately.

Moreover, live online blackjack also caters for casual gamers who don't want to put their money on the line. Unlike a real casino, players can try their hand at blackjack simply for the love of the game, with play-money stakes and no concerns about breaking the bank.

How Can I Start Playing?

Live online blackjack is undergoing a real boom in popularity at the moment, and players are spoilt for choice by the sheer number and quality of platforms out there. Almost all top online casino operators offer some variation of the live game, with many casino sites boasting a wide selection of live blackjack tables offering different game variations and betting limits.

Why Play Live Blackjack Online?

In the early days of online gambling, blackjack lovers had to choose between the buzz of the blackjack table on the casino floor and the quick, convenient world of online blackjack. But the arrival of live blackjack games to online casinos has changed all that.

Blending a live video stream of a blackjack dealer with an online console that allows quick bets, delivers a statistical overview and even has a chat window, live blackjack gives gamblers the best of both worlds.

Exploring Blackjack Game/Rule Variations

There is a range of variations to blackjack rules and gameplay, and each one can change a player's return – for better or worse.

• Dealer Rules | According to standard US blackjack rules, the dealer will stand on a soft 17 (i.e. including an ace); in some games, they won't. If the dealer's allowed to hit, a player's average returns fall by 0.22%.
• Surrender | Gives players the option to surrender and forfeit half of their bet. Played correctly, this can cut down the house edge, so it's a great option to have.
• Double Limitations | Look for as much opportunity to double as possible. Being limited to hands of 9-11 or worse can strangle a good strategy.
• Split Aces | Usually, you won't be able to hit after you split aces, but if you can, your chances of winning are increased.
• 10-Card Charlie | Or, better still, six-card Charlie, beats anything except blackjack. Find a game where this hand's in play, and your average win percentage is increased by up to 0.16%.
• Blackjack Payouts | When you hit blackjack, the dealer should pay out on 3/2. Any less, and you need to question why you're at that table.
• Side Bets | Are additional stakes on alternative outcomes. For example, Playtech live blackjack, available at Betfred, Betfair or bet365, offers a Perfect Pairs side bet, which lets you bet on getting a pair, with a higher payout for the same colour and/or suit.
• Insurance | Like a side bet, the insurance bet allows you to claw back cash by betting on the dealer having blackjack when they're dealt an ace.

Tools to Perfect Your Blackjack Strategy

As well as investigating the rule variations on offer, there are plenty of extras that the best live blackjack providers build into their gaming interface. Finding the ones that bolster your approach to the game can make a big difference to your margins and enjoyment.

• Bet Behind | Tired of waiting for seats? Find a table with this feature that lets players "bet behind". You can't make the call on the cards, but you can back any player at the table while you wait your turn.
• Multi-Seat | If you're a pro and can play several hands at once, look for a live blackjack table that has a multi-seat option.
• Autoplay/Rebet | Is a button on the console that lets you repeat your stake or set it for a fixed number of hands – great for speed and consistency.
• History and Stats | Players who believe in hot/cold dealers and patterns in the cards, should choose a table that tracks dealer and table history. It can also be helpful for assessing what kind of people frequent a table.
• Timer | Vital for calculating your winnings/losses per hour and ensuring you stick to your limits or hit your targets.

More Features to Enhance Your Live Blackjack Experience

As live casino sites improve and become ever more competitive, players are given a more comprehensive range of customisable options, including:

• Camera angles
• Chat windows
• Music, sound and volume
• Statistical displays
• Betting and rebet options
• Auto logouts to ensure players don't lose track of time

Any and all of these can have a surprising effect on how much enjoyment you get from your live blackjack experience and how well you can deploy your blackjack strategy at the best live card game casinos!

High Roller Online Casino Table Games

Some of the best online casinos offer the high roller experience across blackjack, roulette and other table games and even a high roller slots section. If this is what you are looking for, check out our selected few casinos below that fit the bill.

Live Blackjack Bonus

Casino bonuses are a great way to get some extra funds for your gaming sessions at online casinos. Of course, they are also used by casinos to entice new players and keep existing customers happy. Think of the casino bonus as something that serves both players and casinos alike. Our Gambling.com review team hunt for the best casino bonuses at the most reputable live blackjack casinos, including:

• Welcome Bonuses: All online casinos in Canada have a welcome package, which is a lucrative bonus that encourages new players to sign up for the casino. Most welcome bonuses are deposit matches, sometimes with free spins on online slots games included.
• No Deposit Bonuses: Most players love no deposit bonuses because, as you can probably guess, you get bonus cash without making a deposit. While not common – and often without big bonus money – you can find no deposit bonuses at some of our recommended live blackjack online casinos.

In addition to these options, many online live blackjack casinos we recommend at Gambling.com also offer VIP programs that include for example participation in the Casino Rewards program, rewarding players on different casinos participating to the program. You can also find other common casino bonuses such as cashback, bonus spins, prize draws, and deposit reloads. It's important to note that casino bonuses typically have wagering requirements, which determine how many times you need to wager the bonus value before you can withdraw it

Free Live Blackjack vs Real Money Live Blackjack

When browsing online casinos, you may have seen the option to play your favourite games for free. However, you need to make many considerations before deciding whether to play for free or not, especially if you are looking for live dealer blackjack games.

While free play is available for many games at online casinos, it is exceedingly rare to find it for any live casino game, including live blackjack. Due to the added costs associated with using a studio, human dealers, and streaming the games to users, it is not cost-effective to allow customers to play for free. Some live casino game developers are making changes to allow free play, but it remains a rarity at Canadian casinos. For more common online games, such as online slots, free play is an option you will see for most games.

Note that due to UKGC regulations, you must first register to the casino and verify your account before accessing free games.

Pros and Cons of Free Live Blackjack Online

Live Blackjack Dealers

Probably the biggest reason why live blackjack excels at replicating the land-based casino version is the human dealer. The best live casino games use professionally trained dealers who would not look out of place on a brick and mortar casino floor. When you play live casino blackjack, the role of the dealer is to make your experience as exciting as possible.

That is why casino sites encourage customers to use the chat system and speak to dealers. You can talk with croupiers and even try some fun banter. Casinos or game developers use the highest quality broadcasting equipment to ensure you get high definition visuals that allow the most intricate details of games to be seen.

Live Blackjack Casino Software

There are dozens of developers that make live blackjack games for online casinos. However, some software companies stand out above others because of the quality of their games, choice of variants, and player fairness. We feel it is essential to highlight the best places to play live dealer blackjack, which includes finding sites that provide games from major developers, including:

• Evolution Gaming: No company is as synonymous with live dealer casino games as Evolution Gaming. The biggest software provider of casino table and card games, Evolution boasts 12 live blackjack games across several variations, including VIP blackjack and Blackjack Party.
• NetEnt: NetEnt has built a reputation for creating casino games and slots that offer the highest quality graphics. This flair for visuals extends to the company’s live casino games, including excellent live blackjack games.
• Playtech: Also one of the oldest online casino software developers, Isle of Man-based Playtech gained decades of recognition for developing some of the market's leading online casino games, including great live blackjack variations.
• Pragmatic Play: A relative newcomer to the live casino market, Gibraltar-based Pragmatic Play started its journey as a slot provider and quickly captured casino players' attention with innovative live blackjack and other live dealer table games.

Live Blackjack Casino Security

When you sign up for an online casino, you share your personal and financial information with the site's operator. Considering that, we think security is essential and finding a casino that protects your data is paramount. That is why our Gambling.com review team spends more time checking the security credentials of a live blackjack casino than probably any other factor.

To make sure you are safe and secure, we only list on Gambling.com casino sites that are fully licenced by the UKGC or other respective jurisdictions. Our goal is only to recommend casino sites that are 100% reputable in terms of licensing, security, and financial safety.

New Live Blackjack Casinos in Canada

You never have to wait long for a new online casino to launch in Canada, as it is one of the fastest-moving gambling markets in the world, with new sites popping up all the time. As you might expect, not all of those new casinos are worth checking out, while many will not offer live dealer blackjack. We can help you sort the “must see” from the “should avoid” and choose only the best new blackjack live casino venues.

Our team of casino reviewers at Gambling.com constantly scours the internet looking for new casino sites, and we take the time to review each one. We are casino fans first and foremost. So we will sign up and play live blackjack online, deposit and withdraw money, contact support, and check security. If a new casino site passes our strict tests, we will recommend it to you right on this page.

That is why it is essential to frequently check our new online casino list to avoid missing out on the hot new sites you can enjoy right now. For example, with laws in certain provinces changing new casinos are beginning to become available over time. In Ontario online casinos are now legally available so be sure to check our list of the best online casinos in Ontario.

Live Blackjack on Mobile

Mobile casinos add another layer of convenience, allowing you to play the best live blackjack online games anywhere and at any time. As most online casinos are built with HTML5 technology, they are responsive and customised for mobile devices. So you can play live blackjack on Android, iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Windows Phone devices by heading to your favourite online casinos from your mobile browser.

If you are looking for a more immersive mobile casino experience, many online casinos offer native mobile apps that you can download and install on your iOS or Android device. Apps provide better connectivity, a fully-optimised user experience and one-tap access instead of having to open a browser and navigate to the blackjack site every time you want to play. You can also set up app notifications, so you are always up to date on new blackjack promotions and new games.

Live Blackjack Casino Deposits and Withdrawals

Casino punters like flexibility when they deposit funds or cash out winnings. Top online casinos provide a selection of payment methods to reflect the needs of different customers. Whether you are depositing or withdrawing, our team at Gambling.com recommends live blackjack casino sites that have a wide selection of payment methods.

Maybe you prefer to take a traditional route and opt for a bank transfer or debit card. You can also use a prepaid card like PaySafeCard, or pay with your mobile phone through Apple Pay and Google Pay. Some customers prefer to choose a digital solution such as PayPal, MuchBetter and other e-wallets. What about heading to the future and cryptocurrencies? Online casinos in 2021 have it all, so check our list to find the casinos with the payment methods you would like to use.

Live Blackjack House Edge and RTP

You do not need to be a casino enthusiast to know that the house always wins. In real terms, this means the casino has a slight advantage built into games so that players will lose some of their wagers over time. If you think about it, it makes sense, as this is how a casino can turn a profit. This statistical advantage is known as the house edge, which is the percentage of money players are expected to lose over time out of total money wagered. The average house edge for online slot machines, for example, is 4%. So for every $100 wagered on slot machines, an online casino will make a $4 profit in the long run. It is only seen over a far wider sample but make no mistake. The house edge is always there. The remaining $96, which is paid back to players in winnings in our case, is known as the RTP (Return to Player).

Blackjack is popular – aside from being an exciting game – because of its low house edge, which essentially gives players more chance to win. Live dealer blackjack as the same house edge and RTP as standard online versions. Exact data depends entirely on what live blackjack variant you choose and which bets you make. As an example, the house edge on standard blackjack is an enticing 0.5%

Related Articles

• Live Casino
• Live Roulette
• Live Baccarat

References

1. Gambling.com Responsible Gambling
2. ECogra Approved Casino Testing
3. UK Gambling Commission
4. BeGambleAware
5. Gordon Moody Association
6. The Alderney Gambling Control Commission
7. gamblingcommission.gov.uk
8. Gamblers Anonymous