Blackjack is one of the simplest and most popular card games in the world, and playing blackjack online is becoming increasingly popular in Australia. Our guide will teach you where and how to play blackjack online, tips & strategies for winning big, and the different variations of blackjack.
These are our favourite sites for Australian players, updated daily:
Want to know how to dominate online blackjack? Watch our expert, Tommy Green, break it down for you.
The game is played on a standard 52 card deck. The suit of the cards you are given does not matter.
Aces can be worth either 11 or 1 (whichever is best for your hand), face cards (King, Queen, and Jack) are worth 10, and all other cards are worth their number.
Put simply, the goal in blackjack is to attain a card hand that totals closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.
While online blackjack can seem a bit intimidating, the game is actually much simpler than it seems. Put simply, the goal in blackjack is to attain cards that total closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.
The first action to take place when you sit down at an online blackjack table is to make a bet. Depending on the amount you have in your bankroll and the table you choose, you can bet anywhere from 50 cents to hundreds of dollars on any given hand. While playing blackjack online, you simply click on the denomination you want to bet and then put it in the middle of the table.
Here’s an example hand of blackjack in five simple steps:
This bears repeating for all types of online gambling – have a bankroll strategy and stick to it. In blackjack, we recommend ensuring that each individual bet represents – at most, 5% of your total bankroll. For example, if you have $100 to play with, we recommend playing $5 hands at most.
Blackjack in particular is a game of math. If you play wisely and follow sound strategy, you will gain the edge over the long term. Do not play recklessly and emotionally, and never abandon your blackjack strategy to win back anything you’ve lost.
Use splitting and doubling down to maximize your wager amount on good hands. In online blackjack, being aggressive is required at times. If one more ten would give you a winning hand, take a calculated risk and double down.
Blackjack is both the name of the game, and the name of a winning hand.
If any player – you or the dealer – receives an Ace and a ten-value card (i.e. a ten or a face card) as your initial two cards, this is called blackjack. In this instance, the player dealt the blackjack automatically wins this hand.
You’ll note that we keep mentioning not to go over 21. If your cards add up to more than 21, this is called a ‘bust’, and means you lose that hand and your bet.
If, once you and the dealer are done taking cards, you have a higher hand than the dealer and you didn’t go over 21, you win! Typically, you earn back your original wager, plus that same amount again. For example, if you wager $10 and win, you’ll be paid $20.
If, once you and the dealer are done taking cards, you end up with the same total, this is called a “push”. This is essentially a tie, and your original wager will be returned to you.
Learning the difference between soft and hard hands in blackjack and make or break your strategy.
When you have a soft hand in blackjack, that means you have an Ace in your hand. The Ace can either count for one or 11 in your hand. However, you can adjust how much an Ace is worth throughout the hand. So, for example, if you have an Ace and a four in your hand, you can make that hand count for five or 15. If you choose to make it 15, and you receive a card that would make you go bust, for example, an nine, you can make your Ace a value of one. Therefore, instead of having 24, which would be a bust, you can make it 14 and then continue on with your hand. The ability to change the value of the Ace can come in handy much of the time.
A hard hand means that you don’t have an Ace in your hand, therefore, the card values are what they are for the entirety of the hand. That means you will have fewer options throughout your hand because you’re stuck with what you have. Of course, you can always split a pair if you have two of the same hands (two 9s, for example). But not being able to change the value of the Ace by not having it will definitely affect your strategy.
When you decide to play blackjack online, you have a host of options when it comes to the different variations of the game. Here are a few of the most popular options for US players, but rest assured, there are plenty of other games that follow the objective of blackjack.
This variation of real money online blackjack allows players late surrenders, doubling after a split, re-splitting aces, players 21 always wins, players blackjack beats dealer blackjack, a player may double down on any number of cards. There are also different payouts when a player hits 21. Whether it’s 5,6,7 card 21’s or three suited 7’s.
In this popular Blackjack variation, players can enjoy a traditional casino experience while playing online as there is a live dealer in real-time dealing the cards. Live blackjack is a great option for players that want the live casino experience with the convenience of playing from their laptop or mobile device.
European blackjack is a popular variation with minor differences from traditional real money blackjack. One central difference is it only played with two decks of cards, where others use six to eight decks. There’s no hole card in the European variation of the game and the dealer doesn’t receive a second card until the player has completed their hand. Doubling down is also limited. In European blackjack, players can only double down if they have a hand of 9 through 11.
This version of blackjack is only played with one deck. For years, single deck was the standard, but casinos began to mix in multiple decks to make card counting more difficult.
| Australian Online Casino | Welcome Bonus | Withdrawal Time | Minimum Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wild Card City | $5,000 + 75 free spins | 3-5 business days | $10 |
| 2. King Johnnie | $6,000 + 200 free spins | 3-5 business days | $10 |
| 3. FairGo | $5,000 | 48-72 hours | $10 |
| 4. Uptown Pokies | $8,888 + 350 free spins | Up to 3 days | $10 |
| 5. CasinoChan | $1,500 + 120 free spins | 1-5 days | $10 |
The best way to begin playing blackjack is to find free online blackjack games and practice using the online platform. There is a detailed blackjack overview on this page and a great strategy sheet that will help even the most novice player learn the basic strategies.
No, plenty of casinos make their games available to play free online blackjack. This is a great way for new players to get introduced to gambling and the online platform. For experienced online blackjack players, this allows players to experiment with betting strategies and playing techniques without risking any real money.
This depends on the online casino a user chooses to play with. Most online casinos don’t require any software to be downloaded to play on their site. Some will require players to download their mobile casino to play if the player wants to use a tablet or mobile smartphone.
No, you cannot count cards playing blackjack online because online casinos use a random number generator to deal cards. This system means every hand is being played with a new deck. A user could count cards, but there would be no value in doing so.
The best way to win at blackjack online is to follow a betting chart. The odds are always going to favor the online casino, but by playing with a sound strategy, you can lower that limit less than one percent.
Not at any of the online casinos we recommend at Gamble Online. Blackjack (as with all casino games) has a mathematical percentage that favors the house, although the payout percentage varies by the skill level of the blackjack participant. Blackjack games at online casinos use random number generators (RNGs) to ensure games are fair.
