Best Live Blackjack Online

Why Play Live Blackjack Online?

Live blackjack is seen as a way of striking a balance between a real casino experience and playing from the comfort of your own home.

At a live blackjack casino, games are hosted by professional dealers to a high industry standard, slowing the pace of the game down to resemble an authentic casino event.

With high-definition streams, realistic ambient casino sounds, and friendly croupiers who are happy to interact while you play, live dealer blackjack brings you extremely close to the real thing.

There’s also a wide range of betting limits at live blackjack casinos, with high stakes tables available for high rollers.

How We Review Live Blackjack Sites

At TopRatedCasinos, we understand there are many different things that attract gamblers to an online casino.

Each individual is different, and will have different ideas on what constitutes a good online casino – that’s why our ranking system considers a variety of factors that influence a punter’s decision to sign up to a new site.

Here’s how we do it. 

Licensing

Casino licences ensure the protection of players’ sensitive data, as well as the appropriate functioning of fair and balanced games. All of our site recommendations are licenced by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), and you won’t find any unlicensed casinos in our recommendations for the best online casinos.

Game Collections

Players look for variety in online casinos’ games libraries. Not only does this include different casino games – such as roulette, baccarat and poker – but also a choice of variations within these games.

Site Design and User Experience

How does the site look, function, and feel? While this category might not be a deal-breaker for many, sites with noticeable bugs and average aesthetics will struggle to make it to the recommendations list. 

Banking Options

We’ll review whether the site is able to facilitate a range of payment options, including debit cards, e-wallets, pay by mobile services, and prepaid cards. Casinos that are able to offer its customers fast or even instant withdrawals are highly valued. 

Customer Service

If there are any issues with your casino account, you’ll want the comfort of excellent customer support to fall back on. Some sites are able to offer 24-hour support, and they rank highly in this category. 

Mobile

The best online casinos have dedicated apps available to download, as well as fully optimised websites for mobile devices. Casinos with downloadable apps on both Android and iOS devices are often highly valued.

How to Play Blackjack

Blackjack is the most popular of a series of casino games known collectively as Twenty-One. These games originated in 17th century Spain, but different variations started appearing in France and Great Britain soon after.

Blackjack is the popularised American version of the game and is played with two or more players, typically 2-7, with players pitting themselves against the dealer and the house as opposed to each other. 

In blackjack, a hand’s value is the sum of its cards’ value, and the aim is to gain a hand closest to 21 without exceeding 21. Players that exceed 21 are bust and take no further part in the round. Cards numbered 2-10 hold their face value, and picture cards (jacks, queens and kings) are each worth 10. Players can choose whether aces in their hand are worth one or 11. 

Each player is dealt a two-card hand; depending on the casino’s rules, these cards are either dealt face up (upcards) or face down (downcards). The dealer is then dealt either one or two cards (again depending on the casino), with at least one card face up. 

Details around the dealer’s hand are inconsequential, because no matter which blackjack rules the casino applies, the dealer’s hand plays out in front of all players at the end of the round.

After receiving their first two cards, players have four options:

• Hit: players receive an additional card from the dealer;
• Stick: players take no more cards – this is also known as ‘stand’;
• Double down: players increase their initial bet up to 100% in exchange for committing to a stick call after receiving one more card. Some casinos only permit double down calls on the condition that the bet must be increased by 100%;
• Split: if the first two cards are the same value, players can split them into two separate hands by placing a matched second bet behind the split hand. An additional card is then dealt to the two split hands and play out in turn. Typically, all cards of ten value qualify as splitting hands, i.e., players can split with a ten and a queen, for example;
• Some casinos allow for a fifth surrender option – players are able to surrender at their first decision, giving half of their stake to the dealer and keeping the other half.

Once all players at the table have completed their hands, it’s the dealer’s turn to play. The dealer will not play their hand if everyone has busted, or if everyone has received a blackjack – considered the best hand in the game, consisting of an ace and a ten-valued card. 

The player with the hand closest to 21 wins their bet. If a player has a blackjack and the dealer doesn’t, the player wins and usually receives a bonus. If a player goes bust, the player loses, even if the dealer is also bust. If player and dealer hands are equal, no one wins.

House Edge and Player Strategy

Blackjack has the kindest house edge of the table-based casino games, but this edge varies depending on how many 52-card decks are in play. With one 52-card deck, the house edge is 0.17%, reflected in the rule that the house wins if both dealer and player go bust. 

As a way of mitigating against card counting, casinos introduced multi-deck blackjack games of up to eight decks. Although card counting isn’t a concern for online casinos, multi-deck blackjack games are seen as a way of increasing the house edge at casino sites – with every additional deck in play, the chances of hitting a blackjack decrease, and so the house edge consequently increases.

Some casinos play with up to eight decks, which raises the house edge to 0.66%. 

No matter the size of the house edge, many players head to the blackjack table with a strategy in place, inspired by Ed Thorpe’s seminal 1963 book Beat the Dealer, which laid the foundation for all subsequent blackjack strategies. You can read more about how best to approach blackjack strategy in our guide.

How Does Live Blackjack Work?

There’s nothing complicated about playing online blackjack with a live dealer. Casinos stream live webcam footage in real time, using fully trained dealers and blackjack equipment to give you the most authentic blackjack experience.

While some live games are streamed from the casino floor, others are streamed from studios that are built especially for live dealer games. Your dealer can speak to you, just as they would in a real casino, though you’ll only be able to communicate with them via a live chat system.

Other Live Casino Games to Try

Live blackjack casinos aren’t limited to providing just one game type. As well as offering slots and random number generator-based (RNG) table games, they’ll also host a selection of other live casino games. Here are some of the options. 

Live Roulette

Alongside live dealer blackjack, live roulette is the most popular gaming category at a live casino. These two games have been enjoyed for centuries, and their adaptation to live gameplay has furthered their influence on the online gambling world. At the roulette wheel, players must make predictions on where the ball will land when the wheel stops spinning. 

If they’re feeling like playing it safe, players can make what are known as outside bets – wagers that have an even chance of coming through, but offer lower payouts as a result, such as odd or even, or red or black. Inside bets, by contrast, are those that carry more risk and offer larger payouts, such as wagers on a specific number, or row of numbers. 

The advent of live roulette takes the game to new extremes, introducing additional features to spice things up. Evolution’s Lightning Roulette is an excellent place to start, where multipliers worth up to 500x can be won on every spin.  

Live Baccarat

Baccarat is a card game that’s similar in style to blackjack. Through a series of betting calls, players attempt to obtain a hand closest to nine. Cards two through to nine hold their face value, the ten, jack and queen are all worth zero, and aces are valued at one. 

Evolution’s Golden Wealth Baccarat is a particular favourite of ours –– in exchange for a 20% fee on all wagers, players can receive a multiplier up to 8x on any winning hands. 

Game Shows

Since live casinos have a habit of introducing new trends to online gamblers, it’s not just classic table games that you’ll find at one of these sites. In recent years, developers started creating live dealer game shows, in which much-loved game shows were adapted from the TV screen for a live casino audience. 

This new era of live dealer games started in 2017 with Evolution’s Dream Catcher, a game centred on a spinning wheel with players betting on the outcome, bringing it somewhere into the atmosphere of roulette. Since then, Crazy Time, Mega Ball and Deal or No Deal have all won the hearts of live casino players across the world. 

Board Games

Board games have also provided much inspiration for live dealer developers. Monopoly Live, also created by Evolution, is the standout game in this category, using augmented reality technology to bring players into Mr Monopoly’s world. The original game’s Chance element is brought into focus here, and the 3D bonus game gives players the opportunity to collect additional prizes, multipliers, and more.

Payment Options

If you want to play live blackjack online, you can make deposits and withdrawals in a variety of different ways. Below are some of the most popular payment options for UK players, all of which come with their own unique benefits. We’ve indicated the expected deposit and withdrawal times for each of these methods, but bear in mind that this will be in addition to the individual casino’s own processing times, which can take up to 24 hours. 

e-Wallets

Deposit speed: Instant

Withdrawal speed: Instant

e-Wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller offer live casino players a range of perks. Deposits can be made quickly by simply using linked account information, as opposed to cumbersome bank numbers. 

Not only does this speed up the depositing process, but it also provides an extra layer of security – since there’s no exchange of financial information, hackers have fewer opportunities to seize this data. 

Withdrawals, too, are lightning fast, with most requests dealt with in an instant. One potential drawback is that bonus offers are less likely to be made available to those depositing into their casino account via an e-wallet. 

Pay by Phone Bill

Deposit speed: Instant

Withdrawal speed: N/A

With this payment method, users link up with their mobile network provider to pay for their casino deposits. Boku and Siru are leading operators in this space, simply requiring users to key in their numbers at the cashier page to pay for their bets. The network then steps in by initially picking up the tab, before charging the bill to the user’s monthly account, or subtracting the amount from their PAYG balance. 

This method is famed for its speed. However, there are no opportunities to withdraw funds and deposit limits are set at around £30 a day, meaning high rollers will probably need to look elsewhere. 

Prepaid Cards

Deposit speed: Instant

Withdrawal speed: N/A

Prepaid card users purchase vouchers either physically or online, before uploading them to their casino accounts. These methods, such as Paysafecard, are favoured by those looking to keep a close watch on their spending, since only preloaded funds can be spent. We’ve listed the withdrawal speed here as N/A, but on occasion an online casino will enable Paysafecard withdrawals.

It depends on a couple of things: first, whether the vouchers were bought online; and second, whether your casino of choice is able to process withdrawal requests for online vouchers. Most casinos can’t, so it’s better to think of this option as a deposit method only. 

Trustly

Deposit speed: Instant

Withdrawal speed: Instant

Trustly is a Swedish fintech company that allows users to make direct transfers from one bank account to another. It’s an end-to-end service, meaning that there’s no need to share your banking information with your casino site, much in a similar way to e-wallet payments. 

On the negative side, some online casinos may include a small fee for making Trustly transactions, and not every bank supports this method, so availability is not quite as strong as some of the other options listed here. 

Debit Cards

Deposit speed: Instant

Withdrawal speed: Slow, between 2-5 working days

Last but not least, it’s the humble debit card. If you don’t mind waiting around for your withdrawals, there’s no reason not to use your debit card at a casino site, just as you would elsewhere online. Every UK online casino accepts them, and what’s more, every casino bonus can be accessed via this method.

Play Live Blackjack on Your Mobile

Thanks to mobile-optimised sites and mobile apps, you can enjoy live blackjack online wherever you are – all you need is a good internet connection and a functioning smart device. Using HTML5 technology, casino software houses now develop live dealer games with mobile blackjack players specifically in mind, meaning you can enjoy HD graphics and seamless dealer interaction on the go.

Not only does mobile gameplay allow bets to be placed at whatever time suits you, but an app’s push notifications also offer the best way for punters to keep informed of all the latest bonuses and promotions. To find the best mobile blackjack apps, head over to Google’s Play Store if you have an Android device, or the app store if your device runs on iOS. 

Play High Stakes Live Blackjack

Live dealer blackjack tables offer some of the highest betting limits on the market, with certain tables allowing players to bet over £20,000 per hand. These high stakes blackjack games, combined with the professional dealer and authentic sights and sounds of live dealer casino games, will really make you feel as if you’re playing in a real casino.

Claim a Live Blackjack Casino Bonus

The best online casinos and top blackjack sites offer a range of different bonuses to entice new players and to keep existing players sweet. These bonuses come with various terms and conditions, so be sure to read them in order to get the most out of the bonus. Below are some of the most common bonus types you’ll come across. 

Matched Deposit Bonuses

Matched deposits see casino sites reward players with a percentage of their deposit as bonus cash up to a set limit. Percentages start at as little as 25% but can go as high as 200%, though offers as generous as these are usually reserved as part of a welcome bonus package. Matched deposit bonuses usually have a maximum limit, which varies across sites and offers.

No Deposit Bonuses

Exactly the same as matched deposits, but without the deposit! No deposit bonuses are highly valued, and offer players a chance to become familiar with new sites and games without committing their own cash. 

No Wagering Bonus

Casino bonuses often come with wagering requirements – a calculation that states how many times a player must wager a bonus bet in order to pick up any winnings from that bonus. Typical wagering requirements stand at between 25-35x your stake, but can change with each site and each bonus. 

No wagering bonuses are those without any wagering requirements shackled to them. You might also come across low wagering bonuses, which are set beneath the standard 25x. 

Play Live Blackjack at New Casinos

Live blackjack games aren’t exclusive to well-known, established casino brands- you’ll also find live games at a selection of the best new casino sites.

This means that, whether you want to take advantage of an innovative welcome bonus offer, or like the look of the latest casino’s fresh interface, you’ll be able to enjoy those perks as you play blackjack with a fully trained, professional dealer.

Best Live Blackjack Software Developers

Many casino software developers are getting on board with live casino games, but there are a few that stand out from the crowd, offering something a little more special.

Evolution Gaming

Founded in 2006, Evolution Gaming specialises in live casino games, boasting everything from live roulette to live poker. The live blackjack options are impressive, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you want to play classic blackjack with a live dealer, or fancy something a bit different— Party Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack might be for you— you can count on Evolution Gaming to get it right.

But you needn’t just take our word for it: Evolution has won numerous awards for its live dealer offerings, including the title of ‘Live Casino Supplier of the Year’ at the EGR B2B Awards for nine years running.

Evolution Gaming Live Free Bet Blackjack

NetEnt

NetEnt is a big name in pretty much every area of online casino software, and its live blackjack games certainly don’t disappoint, thanks to the NetEnt Live platform. With both low and high limit live blackjack games on offer, everyone can enjoy the innovation of NetEnt live blackjack.

You’ll have the luxury of on-screen statistics and the dealer’s last 10 hands, so you can really get a feel for what’s going on. Fancy something other than classic blackjack? NetEnt Live Common Draw Blackjack has an unlimited number of seats at each table, while NetEnt Perfect Blackjack gives players the option to pre-select their blackjack moves.

NetEnt Live Blackjack

Playtech

As the largest casino software supplier in Europe and Asia, it’s safe to say Playtech knows a thing or two about live online blackjack.

This software house is dedicated to providing players with the best in the business, streaming live blackjack (as well as other live casino games) from its 8,500sqm purpose-built studio; the biggest on the market.

Between both the classic live blackjack and Ultimate Blackjack variants, you can enjoy professional dealers and top-notch graphics.

Playtech Live Unlimited Blackjack

Live Blackjack vs RNG Blackjack Games

Wondering why you might choose to play live dealer blackjack games over RNG blackjack at online casinos? Here’s what set the two apart.

Speed

There’s a real dealer dealing out your cards, which means live dealer blackjack games tend to be a little slower than games powered by random number generators (RNG). This realistic pace of play makes for a more authentic blackjack experience.

Table Limits

While there’s sure to be a few high stakes options in most top casino’s RNG gaming catalogues, live blackjack games tend to have higher table limits than RNG titles, which makes them ideal for high rollers.

With some live blackjack games accepting stakes well into the tens of thousands, even the biggest of spenders will be satisfied. However, this doesn’t mean casual players can’t enjoy an authentic online blackjack experience- many live games have minimum stakes as low as £1.

Seat Availability

You play blackjack against the dealer, so seats are often limited – especially for more exclusive VIP tables. Some software houses have developed live blackjack tables with unlimited seats, but these aren’t available at all online casino sites.

Of course, there are plenty of blackjack dealers to go around, but you may need to wait if you have a specific dealer in mind. This doesn’t apply to standard online blackjack games, as both yours and the dealer’s cards are randomly selected by a computer.

Interaction

Playing against a real dealer means you’ll have the chance to interact with them, which makes for a more personal casino experience in comparison to RNG games. It’s usually just the dealer that can speak; players communicate their message via the chat facility.

While you can simply engage in general conversation with other players, this also gives you the chance to ask the dealer for guidance on anything you might not quite understand about the rules of that particular variation.