How to play online blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular games played at online casinos in South Africa. Learn how to play online blackjack and discover the rules, terms and bets you need to know to beat the dealer to 21.
How does online blackjack work?
Blackjack is a classic table game that you play directly against the dealer or the computer if playing online. The objective is to create a hand equal to 21, or closer to 21 than the dealer, without going bust.
The key is knowing when to stand with the hand that you have or hit to receive additional cards. But don’t get carried away – if you go over 21, you bust and lose your bet. All picture cards (jacks, queens and kings) are valued at 10, while an ace can be valued at one or 11, depending on your hand.
How to play blackjack online for real money
You must create an account at a licensed online casino to play real-money blackjack. Follow these steps to get started:
- 1
Choose one of our recommended licensed and regulated online casinos.
- 2
Submit personal information (name, email, address, and date of birth) and create an account.
- 3
Make a real money deposit. If you’ve claimed the casino welcome bonus, you must make a qualifying deposit.
- 4
Head to the games lobby to browse online blackjack variants and decide which game to play.
- 5
Place your bets and beat the dealer to 21 to earn a payout.
Blackjack tables explained
Most blackjack tables use between four and eight decks of 52 cards. You’ll receive two cards face up, as will the dealer, although one of their cards is turned face down.
If you’re sitting with other players, each gets to play their hand in turn before the dealer plays out their hand. Some tables allow you to play multiple hands simultaneously, but to do this, you need to place bets for each hand.
Blackjack terms explained
It’s important to familiarise yourself with blackjack terminology to make your playing experience easier. Our table below defines many of the key terms you might hear at the blackjack table:
| Blackjack term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | A blackjack hand pays out 3:2 when you have a 10 + A or a picture card + A. |
| Bust | When you go over 21 and can no longer win. |
| Double down | You can double your bet in exchange for one more card. If you win, your payout doubles. |
| Hit | When you request an additional card. |
| Hard hand | A hand without an ace. |
| House edge | The in-built advantage of the casino into the game – the house edge of most blackjack games is between 1% and 2%. |
| Insurance | An optional side bet. You can place an insurance bet if the dealer’s upcard is an ace. If the dealer has a natural blackjack, insurance pays out 2:1. |
| Soft hand | A hand with an ace. |
| Split | When you have a pair, you can split your hand in two. You must place an additional bet for the extra hand and can play with two hands instead of one. |
| Stand | You can stand with your cards and watch the dealer play their hand. |
Basic rules for blackjack
The aim of blackjack is to create a hand of 21 or close to it. If you beat the dealer with a standard hand, you earn a payout of 1:1. If you beat the dealer with blackjack (10 + A or picture card + A), you will earn a payout of 3:2.
In most blackjack games, the dealer must stand on 17 and hit with any value below that. You can opt to hit or stand on any total. But if you exceed 21, you bust and cannot win.
Should you be dealt a pair, you can split the cards into two hands, but you must place an additional bet to do this. You can also double down on your hand, which sees you double your stake in exchange for one extra card. If you then beat the dealer, your payout will be doubled.
Popular online blackjack variants
You can enjoy lots of exciting variants of blackjack at real money online casinos, including the following:
European blackjack
Often referred to as classic blackjack, European blackjack is commonly found at South African online casinos. In this version, the dealer must stand on 17 and double down; split options are also available.
Free bet blackjack
In Free bet blackjack, you can double down for free on hands of nine, 10 or 11. You can also split for free on all pairs except 10-value cards. The catch is that if the dealer goes bust with a score of 22, the result is a push bet rather than a 1:1 payout, meaning nobody wins or loses.
Perfect pairs
In perfect pairs blackjack, you can place a side bet if the first two cards you’re dealt form a pair. A standard pair offers a 6:1 payout, but a perfect pair – when two cards of the same value, suit, and colour land – offers 25:1.
Blackjack Switch
In Blackjack Switch, you get two hands and can switch the second card of each to create a better hand. The trade-off here is that you must make two initial bets, and if the dealer goes bust with 22, the result is a push, meaning you and the dealer tie with your total cards.
Live blackjack
In live casino blackjack, you sit at a virtual table hosted by a real human dealer. The gameplay mimics that of a land-based casino, allowing you to enjoy a fully immersive blackjack experience from home.
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Types of blackjack side bets
To begin a blackjack round, you must make a qualifying bet. Then, if you win, you’re paid 1:1 for a standard hand and 3:2 for blackjack. To crank things up a notch, there are several side bets that you can try:
Five-card: You automatically win if you hold five cards in your hand without exceeding 21.
Lucky Ladies: This is a bet on whether the first two cards of your hand will equal a sum of 20. If the two cards are the queen of hearts (the ‘Lucky Ladies’), you’ll usually earn a payout of 200:1.
Perfect pairs: If you receive a suited pair, you can earn a payout of up to 25:1 with a perfect pairs side bet.
21+3: This side bet offers a payout if you can make a ranking poker hand with your two-hole cards and the dealer’s upcard.
Royal match: Suppose you draw a king and queen of the same suit; you could receive a payout of 10:1 in a single deck game or 25:1 in a multi-deck game.
Beginners tips on how to play blackjack
When you’re learning how to play online blackjack, consider the following tips to keep things simple and master the basics:
- 1
Play free online blackjack before placing real money bets to practise your game.
- 2
Keep things simple, and don’t worry about side bets when learning the ropes.
- 3
Remember that there are more 10-value cards than any other since jacks, queens and kings are valued at 10. This might help you better predict the next card.
- 4
Always check the house edge. The higher the RTP, the lower the house edge, meaning more favourable odds.
- 5
Remember to gamble responsibly when playing blackjack and always bet within your means.
Playing blackjack online vs. land-based casinos
Playing blackjack online is different to a land-based casino, as we explain with the following pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Play at any time from anywhere | ❌ Online blackjack is less immersive than land-based blackjack |
| ✅ Choose from multiple online games | ❌ Counting cards is more complex at online casinos |
| ✅ Use casino bonuses | ❌ You need to sign up for an online casino account to play |
| ✅ You don’t need to leave home to play | |
| ✅ Play on various devices, including your computer, tablet and smartphone |
Playing online blackjack on mobile
As most RNG blackjack games use HTML5 technology, you can play online blackjack on your smartphone or tablet. Make sure you have enough mobile data to play on the go to avoid disruption mid-game. For the best mobile experience, download your chosen casino’s native app for iOS or Android, if it has one.
Play responsibly
Your security is paramount, so check your casino is licensed and regulated by a gambling body like the Malta Gaming Authority. You should also check for eCOGRA certification and that the casino uses SSL encryption.
Then, set your limits and remember that blackjack should be fun. You should only gamble what you can afford to lose and never chase losses.
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How to play FAQs
To play blackjack and win, place a real money bet and beat the dealer in creating a hand closer to 21 without going bust.
Yes, you can win real money when playing online blackjack. To win cash, you must place a real cash bet at a licensed online casino in South Africa.
Yes, you can play blackjack at live casinos. Many live dealer blackjack games are available at online casinos in South Africa, such as Lightning Blackjack.
Blackjack is a game of luck. However, you can develop a strategy to help you, as it’s important to work out when to stand, hit, double down and split.
No, you shouldn’t always split pairs in blackjack. For instance, splitting 10s or nines in blackjack is never a good idea. Statistically, this reduces your chance of getting a hand just as good or better.
You can count cards in online blackjack, but you don’t need to. Moreover, many games use 4-8 decks and RNG software to shuffle the decks constantly, so counting cards is difficult.
You can employ several blackjack strategies, but knowing when to split and double down is a great way to increase the value of your wins.
