Playing live Blackjack at an online casino combines the gameplay of traditional in-person Blackjack with the convenience of playing from anywhere you have a strong and reliable internet connection on your chosen device.
Seeing as live casino Blackjack is ever-growing in popularity, here’s what you need to know about how to play live Blackjack online, and any rule variations from standard online Blackjack.
How to play live Blackjack online
- Select a casino and live Blackjack game
First, choose an online casino that offers live dealer Blackjack. These games are usually found in the ‘live casino’ section of the site. Select a live Blackjack table of your choice. Keep in mind that different tables may have varying betting limits, rules and themes.
- Join the live table
Once you join a table, you will see a real dealer dealing cards in real time via a live video stream. You’ll have a virtual seat at the table, and other players may also be participating at the same table.
- Place your bets
Before each round, you’ll have a limited time to place your bet using the online interface. Chips of varying denominations will be available to click and place your stake in the betting area on the screen.
- Play your hand
After betting, the dealer deals two cards to you and the other players. The dealer will also take two cards, one of which will be visible. You will then decide to:
- Hit: Take another card.
- Stand: Keep your current hand.
- Double down: Double your bet and take one additional card.
- Split: If you’re dealt a pair, you can split your hand into two separate hands.
The dealer will then play their hand according to the house rules (e.g. hitting until reaching 17 or more).
- Real-time interaction
A unique aspect of live Blackjack is the ability to interact with the dealer via a chat function. While you won’t see other players, their actions will be visible on the screen, and the dealer will respond to messages.
- Winning or losing
At the end of each round, if your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's without exceeding 21, you win. If the dealer exceeds 21, they "bust", and all players who haven’t busted win.
Do the rules differ between online and live Blackjack?
For the most part, the rules of live Blackjack are identical to those of both traditional in-person and standard online Blackjack. However, slight variations may vary depending on the online casino you’re playing at. Here are a few key points:
- Card dealing
- In live Blackjack, the dealer uses physical cards, while in standard online Blackjack, the outcome is generated using Random Number Generator (RNG) software.
- Some live Blackjack games use multiple decks of cards, and they are shuffled periodically, as they would be in a physical casino.
- Number of players
- Just like in a physical casino, live Blackjack allows multiple players to sit at the same virtual table.
- In standard online Blackjack, you often play against the computer, and there is no competition with other players.
- Side bets
- Many live Blackjack games offer side bets, such as “Perfect Pairs” or “21+3,” which are optional bets with unique payout structures. Depending on the platform, these may or may not be available in standard online Blackjack games.
- Betting time limits
- In live Blackjack, you must place bets within a set time frame before each round starts. In regular online Blackjack, you can take as long as you want to decide.
- House rules
- Check the specific rules for each live table. Some might offer variations such as the dealer hitting or standing on soft 17, the number of decks used, and whether surrender options are available.
- Standard online Blackjack may have slightly different rules depending on the casino’s software, but the core mechanics remain the same.
