Best Blackjack Sites in the UK
Blackjack is a popular card game that can be enjoyed at almost every land-based casino in the world. It is of course also possible to play blackjack online, thanks to video generated and live casino games. But how does online blackjack differ from real-life gambling? And how can you find the best blackjack sites to play at?
Look no further, as we are here to answer both those questions and more in this guide all about online blackjack!
Top Online Blackjack Sites UK
If you wish to play blackjack at an online casino, we recommend that you check out one of these top 10 favourites for British players:
- Nice theme and concept for UK players
- Always 10% cashback
- Fair wagering requirements
- Free spins with low wagering requirement
- Welcome bonus for casino, live casino and sport
- Sportsbook, bingo and scratch cards in game selection
- Great welcome package with up to £1,000
- Weekly promotions and competitions
- Large game selection: lots of online scratch cards
- Monster casino app for mobile play
- Lots of promotions and bonuses
- Sport, casino, live casino, poker and bingo
- Mobile apps available
- Extensive selection of sports and events to bet on
- Lots of promotions and offers
- Payments can be completed at Betfred shops
- Sports betting app available
- Lots of sports, events and leagues to bet on
- Sports promotions including large play boosts offered
- Casino, live casino and scratchcards available in the casino selection
- Large welcome package given across 5 deposits
- Game selection with 850+ games and detailed game descriptions
- Pay by mobile accepted
- New casino with sportsbook
- Lots of promotions offered
- Scratch cards available
- New and modern rebranding of BritainBet
- Casino and sportsbook in one
- Lots of promotions for active players
- Two welcome bonuses to choose from
- Good selection of sports and casino games
- Clear and extensive help centre
Introduction to Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game that has been around for centuries. It’s quite an easy game to learn, but a difficult one to really master.
While learning the ins and outs of the game, you might stumble on some blackjack terms and rules in the beginning. But after a short while, we promise it will feel like a breeze to play this fun and quick casino game.
In blackjack, it is you against the dealer. There might be other players sitting around a blackjack table, but your only opponent is the dealer – the casino itself. This makes it all the more exciting as if you play your cards right, you can lower the house edge and beat the casino.
All you have to do is to have the better hand out of the two of you.
How To Play Blackjack for Beginners
Let’s start with a quick introduction to how the game works. The aim of blackjack is simply to have a better hand than the dealer, and this all depends on the sum of your cards. The hand value is counted by adding up the cards you have at hand, based on the following blackjack card values:
- Number cards (2–10) are worth their numeric value
- Face cards (J, Q, K) are all worth 10
- Ace (A) can be worth 1 or 11, depending on what the player wants/needs
The card suit does not matter, only the number/letter. The best hand you can have is one with the value of 21 (a blackjack). But be aware that if you get anything more than 21, you “go bust” and lose. Therefore you want to be as close to 21 – without going over.
Starting the Game
- Both you and the dealer are dealt two cards.
- Your cards are dealt face up, so you can see their total value.
- The dealer has one card face up and the other face down (the “hole” card).
Your Objective
- Based on the sum of your cards, decide your next move to get closer to 21 without busting.
- The challenge is guessing whether the dealer’s hidden card gives them a stronger hand.
Your Options During the Game
Here’s what you can do once your cards are dealt:
- Hit: Ask for another card to increase your hand total.
- Stand: Keep your current hand and end your turn.
- Double Down: Double your bet and receive just one additional card.
- Split: If you have two cards of the same value, split them into two separate hands, each with its own bet.
- Surrender: In some games, you can fold your hand and lose half your bet instead of playing on.
The dealer must play by strict rules. They must draw cards until their hand totals 17 or higher. If their hand goes over 21, they bust, and you win automatically.
Confused by all the jargon? At the bottom of this article, we’ve written a little dictionary to help you get familiar with the terms.
Blackjack Strategies
What might look like an intricate game at first glance is actually quite easy to learn and understand. And thanks to various blackjack strategies, you can increase your winning chances!
Did you know that blackjack is actually one of the casino games with the lowest house edge? The house edge can actually be decreased if you play your cards right! If you don’t know where to start, check out our top blackjack strategies below.
The Martingale Strategy
One of the most common strategies for both blackjack and other casino games is the Martingale strategy. In its essence, the strategy is based on doubling your wager following a loss. This means that if you lose your hand to the dealer, you will play another round with a double wager, with the hope of winning back your money (and a prize).
As an example, this is how it will look if you start by betting £5 and losing four rounds before winning the fifth:
| Bet number | Wager | Result |
| 1 (loss) | £5 | -£5 |
| 2 (loss) | £10 | -£15 |
| 3 (loss) | £20 | -£35 |
| 4 (loss) | £40 | -£75 |
| 5 (win) | £80 | +£5 |
Always hit on Soft 18 and Hard 12
When seeing the two cards you have dealt, you will need to decide what to do next. And while there is no definitive answer, there are some hands you should always play a certain way. This is not only based on your own hand but also what the dealer’s face-up card is showing. If you have any of the following hands, you should always hit (ask for another card).
- Always hit on Soft 18 (Ace + 7) if the dealer’s card is 9, 10 or Ace
- Always hit on Hard 12 if the dealer’s card is 2 or 3
Always stand on 18 and 16
Sometimes it is best to stand in order to avoid going bust by drawing another card. How big of a risk you should take will also depend on the dealer’s face-up card. We suggest always standing on the following:
- Always stand on 18 (pair of 9s) if the dealer’s card is 7
- Always stand on hard 16 (multi-card) if the dealer’s card is 10
Always split 8 and Ace
Most blackjack games will allow you to split your hand if you get two of the same cards dealt. It might seem like a good idea to always do this, but remember that you will then be playing two hands. Based on that, we believe the following hands are the best to split:
- Always split a pair of 8s
- Always split a pair of Aces
It can also be smart to split the following:
- Always split a pair of 9s if the dealer’s card is 9 or less
- Always split a pair of 2s or 3s if the dealer’s card is 2 or 3
Advanced Blackjack Strategies
The essence of blackjack is knowing when to hit, stand, or split, which is also something you will learn by trying (and failing). But if you want to make use of some more advanced strategies, there are more options available. This includes the well-known card counting technique as well as cheat sheets that are created to help players know what to do.
Memorizing cheat sheets, tables and charts
If you are brand new to playing blackjack or just don’t know what to do next, a cheat sheet can be a helping hand. When playing at a landbased casino you won’t be able to bring a printed-out table or chart with you, so then you will need to have it memorized. But when playing online, you can very easily print out or open up a tab with a cheat sheet which you can refer to while playing.
Card counting
One of the first strategies many people think of when it comes to blackjack is counting cards. A common misconception is that this is illegal, but it actually isn’t. While it might be frowned upon and also a difficult strategy to complete with perfection, it is allowed to try it.
Card counting is all about counting which cards have already been played to try to understand what is hiding underneath the dealer’s face-down card. At most land-based casinos, blackjack is played with several decks so it might not be the easiest to keep track of. When playing online, you will not be able to make use of this strategy as easily. For live casino games, it can work.
Blackjack strategies that do NOT work
While blackjack strategies can be a great starting point and a helpful tool when playing the game, it is important to remember that they in no way guarantee a big win – and that not all strategies will work.
If you don’t know the rules of the game well enough or don’t follow the strategy thoroughly, this is of course not a good starting point. In addition to this, there are some strategies that we simply don’t recommend as they rarely work.
- Mimicking the dealer in order to decrease the house edge (actually you will increase it as the player goes first)
- Always standing and therefore never hitting bust
- Using strategies like Martingale or Reverse Martingale with a high first wager (which will quickly increase if you lose your bet)
How to Play Blackjack Online: Virtual or Live?
At land-based casinos, blackjack will be played at a table where cards are dealt and bets added. Apart from the lack of physical cards and tables, online blackjack works exactly the same way as described above. You will be playing against a dealer and the aim is to be tactical on how many cards to draw in order to get as close to – but not over – the sum of 21.
When playing at online casinos, you will have many more different game versions to choose from than tables available at a physical establishment. Two main categories you will meet when it comes to blackjack online are virtual vs. live games.
Virtual casino games are the traditional types of online casino games. Here you will see a video on your screen with virtual cards being dealt. This means you are playing against “a machine” rather than a real dealer as it is all in-game and virtually developed. The outcomes are all random and you use buttons to make your choices such as requesting another card or not.
With live blackjack, the technology of virtual games is combined with modern streaming technology to give the best of both worlds. Here you will still see a video on your screen, but the difference is that it will be live-streamed and real-life. A real person (dealer) will lead the game in a game studio somewhere and then the experience is streamed directly to you in the game. This allows you to see, interact with and play against a real person without having to travel to a casino as it is all online.
Which game type and version you would like to play is up to you. We recommend trying a few different games to find out what you prefer!
Make use of Online Blackjack Promotions
In addition to online blackjack and other casino games evolving quickly and offering unique versions, there are many perks of gambling online. One of them is that most online casinos offer many bonuses and promotions. And at the best blackjack sites, you can of course take part in unique blackjack promotions!
Blackjack promotions can be anything from blackjack bonuses such as money to spend on blackjack games exclusively to blackjack tournaments and more. There might for example be a tournament with a leaderboard and price pool. By finding and participating in these promotions, you can get more bang for your buck and win large prizes. So check the promotions page of your casino or check our casino news for the best deals of the week.
Where to Find the Best Online Blackjack Sites UK
In this guide, we have introduced you to the exciting game of blackjack – and specifically online blackjack. If you feel ready to start playing, you simply need to find an online casino that offers a good selection of blackjack games. And the good news is that this can be found at most casinos online!
Of course, the many sites available can make it difficult to choose. That is why we have listed some of the very best blackjack sites at the top of this page. Browse through our recommendations, read our in-depth casino reviews for more information about each brand and sign up at your favourite. Once your account is live, you can start playing blackjack – as well as other casino games – for real money whenever and wherever you want.
Enjoy and good luck!
Common Blackjack Terms & Their Meaning
Blackjack is a card game that is quite easy to get started with, but that requires a deeper understanding and strategy to truly get the best house edge and beat the dealer. In order to enjoy the game fully and win, it is important to understand all aspects of the game. There are many blackjack terms that are unique to this game and in this guide, we are uncovering them all.
No matter if you are new to blackjack or a seasoned player, we are sure you can learn something from the following overview of common blackjack terms from A to Z and what they all mean. Please note that additional rules, such as bonuses and insurance, might not be available in all games.
A
- Ace: The A card in a deck that can be valued at 1 or 11 in blackjack.
- Action: The amount of money that has been bet.
- Anchor/anchorman: The player that acts last on the table, before the dealer.
B
- Balanced count: Any counting system that has an exact balance between plus and minus cards.
- Bankroll: The funds you have available to gamble with.
- Bet sizing: A strategy where you adjust how much you wager.
- Bet spread: The difference between a player’s highest and lowest bet values.
- Blackjack: The name of the game, as well as the term for the perfect hand. A blackjack (hand) gives 21 exact from one ace and one card valued at 10 (10, J, Q or K).
- Black book: A term describing a list or database of banned players.
- Burn card: The first card of the deck which is thrown out (placed to the side, face down) by the dealer. This is to ensure that it is not possible to cheat by knowing what the first card is.
- Bust: If your hand totals more than 21, you are bust.
- Bust card: The card that gave a hand a sum of more than 21.
C
- Card counting: A system of various strategies where players count the cards that have been played and are in play to get an overview of which cards are left to be played.
- Chips: The (physical or virtual) chips you use to place bets on the blackjack table, with different colours to show their monetary worth.
- Cold deck: If the cards given are all cold and causing the players to lose, the deck is called cold.
- Colour up: The act of exchanging lots of low-value chips for fewer high-value ones.
- Cut card: A card used to cut the deck once it is shuffled.
- Cutting: The act of cutting the shuffled deck in two with a plastic card to minimize the chance of cheating.
D
- Dealer: The person dealing cards and your opponent.
- Deck: A set of 52 cards.
- Discards: All cards that have been dealt out in previous rounds are discarded until a new shoe is needed.
- Double down: The act of placing an additional bet (equal to the original bet) and drawing just one more card. This can be done if you see that your first two cards are a very good starting point and you believe one more card will give you a win.
E
- Early surrender: The act of abandoning your hand for half your bet back. This act can only be done as your first action, not after drawing more cards.
- Even money: A type of insurance where players can opt to get paid even money odds (1:1) right away if the dealer’s up card is an ace and the player has a blackjack.
F
- Face cards: One of many names used to describe the picture cards (J, Q and K) as they feature a face.
- First base: The first player to receive cards and make an action. The betting spot on the dealer’s left side.
- First-basing: Being able to see the dealer’s hole card from the first base position.
- Five card Charlie: A bonus when a player has a hand of five cards that has not gone bust.
- Flat betting: The act of betting the same amount consistently, hand after hand.
H
- Hand: The term for the cards you are holding.
- Hard hand: A hand that either does not have an Ace or that has an Ace but needs to use it for value 1 so as to not go bust.
- High roller: A player that spends a lot of money.
- Hit: The act of asking the dealer for another card.
- Hole card: A term for the dealer’s card that is face up. The dealer starts with two cards like all players, but one of them is down and not revealed until the players are done with their acts.
- Hole-carding: Being able to see the dealer’s hole card.
- House edge: The advantage of the house/casino over players. In blackjack, you can use strategy to lower the house edge as the game is not purely based on luck.
I
- Insurance: If the dealer shows an Ace on their up card, players can choose to place an additional side bet. This can be worth up to half the value of the original bet and if the dealer has blackjack, it pays 2:1.
L
- Live dealer: A dealer in live casino games – a real dealer that players can interact with, streaming from a live studio.
M
- Martingale: A popular betting strategy where you double your bet to win it back after a loss.
- Multi deck: Most blackjack games are played with more than one deck to make it difficult to count cards etc. Normally, six to eight decks are used, but anything more than one deck is known as multi deck.
N
- Natural: A natural blackjack is a blackjack made up of two cards only (Ace + 10, J, Q or K).
P
- Pair: A term for when the starting hand has two cards of the same value. This hand can sometimes be split into two hands.
- Penetration: The number of cards or decks that will be dealt before a shuffle, in contrast to the number of cards or decks in play. The number is expressed as a percentage or fraction.
- Pit: If you play blackjack in person, the pit is the name for the table area where you sit while playing.
- Push: The term for a tie in blackjack. When the dealer and a player have the same value (of less than 22) on their hands.
R
- Round: A round of blackjack starts before the first cards are dealt and bets are placed, until all actions are done and potential wins are paid out.
S
- Shoe: The device that holds the cards or decks and where cards are dealt from (one at a time).
- Shoe game: A blackjack game using a shoe to store and deal cards, typically used for games with multiple decks.
- Soft hand: A hand that includes an Ace valued at 11 (opposite of a hard hand).
- Split: The act of splitting your hand into two hands. This can only be done if you receive two cards of the same value and you will add the same wager to your second hand as for your first.
- Stand: The act of not taking any more cards from the dealer. When you are happy with your hand, stand.
- Stiff: The term for all hard hands where drawing another card comes with the risk of exceeding 21 (value 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16).
- Surrender: The act of abandoning your hand for half your bet back. This act can only be done as your first action, not after drawing more cards.
T
- Toke: Another term for tip. Especially for land-based gambling, it is quite common to tip the dealer if you stay for a long game or win a big amount. It is also possible to tip the dealers in some live casino games online.
- Third base: Another term for the position to the dealer’s right, the last player to act.
U
- Up card: A term for the dealer’s card that is face up. The dealer starts with two cards like all players, but only one of them is facing up for you to see.
W
- Wagering requirements: In online casino bonuses, there might be a requirement to wager your deposit and/or bonus funds x amount of times. Sometimes, blackjack does not contribute 100% towards the wagering requirement.
- Wash: A type of shuffling where the dealer mixes the cards, while face down, on a table in a way that creates sort of a washing motion.
- Whale: A term for a high-roller player.
#
- 21: An alternative name for the game of blackjack, as the aim is to get value 21.
- 86’d: When a player is removed from the casino due to suspected advantage gambling.
Basic Blackjack Terms You Have to Know
While all the terms listed above are used in Blackjack and can be good to know if you want to become a pro, it might feel a bit overwhelming – especially if you are a beginner in the game. Therefore, to conclude, we want to highlight what we believe are some of the most important blackjack terms that you need to understand:
- Up card: The dealer’s card that is face up and visible to you.
- Dealer: The person dealing out the cards and your opponent. In blackjack, you don’t play against the other players on the table but just the dealer.
- Hit: The act of asking the dealer for another card.
- Stand: The act of not taking any more cards from the dealer. When you are happy with your hand, stand.
- Natural: A natural blackjack is a blackjack made up of two cards only (Ace + 10, J, Q or K)
Online Blackjack FAQ
After reading our guide on blackjack, we hope that you have learned enough about the game to give it a try. To wrap it up, we’ve answered some common questions about blackjack.
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How does blackjack work?
Blackjack is a card game where you play against the dealer. The aim is to have a better hand than the dealer – as close to 21 points as possible, without going over this value.
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What is online blackjack?
Online blackjack is simply an online version of the classic card game blackjack. Most online casinos will offer many different blackjack games with both virtual and live versions.
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What is live dealer blackjack online?
Live casino games are a modern category of online casino games. With these types of games, a real dealer leads the game in a studio and the game is streamed live. This means that you are playing against a real dealer in real-time, and not just a virtual game “robot”.
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Is it possible to get an online blackjack bonus?
Yes, most online casinos offer different bonuses and some are specifically related to blackjack games. You might for example come across a blackjack promotion such as a competition with a leaderboard and prize pool.
The only question that remains is:
Are You Ready to Play Blackjack Online?
Head back up to the top of this guide for the 10 best blackjack sites at the moment. Pick your favourite, sign up and start playing!