Best UK Online Casinos for Blackjack – Bonuses & Game Variations

Blackjack is by far the most popular online casino table game, enjoyed by players and operators alike at UK online casinos. And there’s a good reason why this card game is embraced so warmly from all sides.

The online casino sites love blackjack because everyone seems to want to play it. Blackjack generates more revenue for online casinos than any other table game.

From the player’s point of view, Blackjack’s popularity stems from the fact that it is one of the few true games of skill available in the casino table game genre.

Why Is Blackjack So Popular?

Besides the feeling that they have some control over the outcome, another factor that increases the fondness for the game among blackjack players is the simple reality that the house holds only a 0.5% edge over players when basic strategy is used. Blackjack generally pays out at a 3:2 ratio on legal and regulated UK online casino sites, making it one of the most rewarding games to play.

In short, blackjack is popular for its high return-to-player (RTP) potential when played well, its simple rules, and the fact that it doesn’t require complex strategies or reading other players, like in poker. It’s an easy game to learn, making it ideal for beginners, whether at a live table or online. New UK Blackjack casinos are 7bet Casino, NeptunePlay, Magic Red, and Mr. Vegas Casino.

Best UK Online Casinos for Blackjack

Here are some of the top UK online casinos offering blackjack:

• Bet365: A leading platform with a variety of blackjack options, including live dealer games and exclusive tables.
• Betfred Casino: Known for its user-friendly interface and ongoing promotions tailored for blackjack players.
• Spin and Win: Offers a generous welcome bonus of £250 + 100 spins (code: AGSPIN) and features a range of Playtech and NetEnt blackjack games.
• The Vic: Enjoy live dealer blackjack with an extra £7 welcome bonus for new players.
• 10bet Casino: A great choice for mobile players, featuring smooth gameplay and exciting blackjack variations.

Blackjack Bonuses for UK Players

Many UK casinos offer bonuses tailored for blackjack players. These include deposit matches, cashback offers, and free spins:

• Spin and Win Casino: Get a 100% deposit match up to £250 and 100 free spins on slots.
• Betfred Casino: Offers up to 200 no-wager free spins for new players.
• 10bet Casino: New players can claim a £250 welcome bonus with no wagering free spins included. Promo code: CASINO.
• All British Casino: Known for its 10% cashback offer, a unique bonus for regular players.

Varieties Of Blackjack

British players have access to a wide range of blackjack variations at UKGC-regulated casinos, including:

• Classic Blackjack: The most traditional form of the game, perfect for beginners.
• European Blackjack: A popular variation in the UK, where the dealer’s second card isn’t revealed until the player has finished their hand.
• Live Blackjack: Available at Spin and Win, Bet365, and The Vic, live dealer blackjack replicates the real casino experience with professional dealers.
• Multihand Blackjack: Play multiple hands simultaneously for increased excitement.
• Blackjack Surrender: Found at Rainbow Riches Casino, this version allows players to reclaim half their stake if they feel the dealer has the upper hand.

Another advantage to playing blackjack is that the popularity of the games means that Blackjack Casinos tend to create more types of real money blackjack than any other table game. There are about 100 different styles of blackjack available across online casinos. This facet applies with both standard and live dealer studios. 

Often, the only difference in the blackjack game might be the design of the layout. But sometimes, different is good, even if it’s only a change in the aesthetics. 

In general, the objective of the game of blackjack never changes. The player is seeking to get 21, or closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over. There are rules that change depending on the type of blackjack you are playing. 

For instance, some games require the dealer to hit on a soft 17. Other games may prohibit players from doubling down on a split. Certain variations eliminate the option for the player to surrender. A surrender in blackjack takes place when a player opts to fold before drawing new cards. In a surrender, half of the player’s stake is returned to the player and half is retained by the house.

Some blackjack variants do provide more of an edge to the player. For instance, single deck blackjack utilizes just one deck of cards, making tracking of cards easier for the player.

How to Play Online Blackjack

Blackjack is the classic table game that’s been played over the world for centuries in one form or another. You can now play a variety of blackjack games online, some of which are exclusive to the casino that provides them.

Let’s start by explaining the classic version of blackjack. Here’s our step-by-step playing guide:

• Select your stake and choose whether you want to play the Insurance wager. Then, hit the ‘Deal’ button to receive two cards face up.
• You must receive extra cards (“hit”) or take no further cards (“stand”). You must make a total of 21, or as close as possible, without going over (“bust”).
• Once you have finished taking cards, it’s the dealer’s turn. The computer automatically draws cards until the dealer is forced to stop (normally on a 16 or 17).
• You win the hand if you beat the dealer’s total. If the hand is tied, it’s a “push”, and your stake is returned.

Blackjack Payouts

In online blackjack, face cards are worth their pip value. Picture cards are worth 10, aces 1 or 11. You can also pay for insurance if the dealer shows an ace in their hand. You win 2/1 if the dealer reveals a blackjack.

• Win: 1/1
• Natural Blackjack (an ace and a picture card): 3/2
• Insurance: 2/1
• Double Down: Place another bet equal to your first one, then receive one more card only.
• Split: Break a pair and continue betting on two new hands.

Types of Online Blackjack

The best online blackjack casinos in the UK on our list provide various games for demo play or real money. Let’s take a closer look at some of the great blackjack varieties you can play online or on your smartphone.

Classic Blackjack

This is the simplest version of online blackjack. You win even money by beating the dealer, plus you have the option of an insurance bet. This is the most common type of blackjack that you’ll find in land-based casinos around the United Kingdom.

Atlantic City Blackjack

You may recognise this form of blackjack if you’ve ever visited a New Jersey casino. Atlantic City Blackjack works like the regular game but offers one or two special rules. For example, you can split your hand up to three times if you get dealt a pair. Plus, the dealer will check for a blackjack when showing a 10 or ace.

Blackjack Surrender

In Blackjack Surrender, you have the option to dump your hand and get half your bet back if you feel the dealer is going to hit a blackjack. IGT’s Multihand Surrender goes one step further: you can personalize your gameplay with the turbo mode and beginners’ Safety Net.

Multihand Blackjack

Play up to 3, 4 or 5 hands at once with online multihand blackjack. This variant helps you increase your game variant and work off a casino bonus sooner.

Side Bet Blackjack

There are some great side-bet blackjack variants, including Poker & Pairs from IGT, and 21+3. The side bets are placed in addition to your regular stakes and offer additional payouts for making perfect pairs or three-of-a-kind. 

Some common side bets in Blackjack include “Lucky Lucky,” “Perfect pairs,” “Royal match,” “21+3” and “Lucky Ladies.” These side bets add more excitement to the game and offer potential for high payouts.

One of the best side bets for Blackjack comes with Blazing 7s Blackjack. It pays out if either of your first two cards is a 7, and the payout increases the more 7s appear in the draw. You can play up to three hands of Blazing 7s Blackjack at once, using your blackjack chart to judge the best action for the cards you’ve been dealt.

Live Casino Blackjack

Live blackjack allows you to take on a human croupier using real cards and a real table. Special coded cards are used in the game, which are scanned before they appear on the screen. You place bets on your mobile phone or PC in the usual way. In live dealer Blackjack, you join a live blackjack table on your device and play against a trained blackjack dealer dealing real cards.

What is a progressive jackpot in Blackjack and how to play?

A9: A progressive jackpot in Blackjack is a side bet that continues to grow as players contribute a fraction of their bet to the base jackpot amount. This continues until someone wins the jackpot, after which it reverts back to the base amount. The potential for big wins makes this variant of Blackjack very popular.

Progressive Blackjack is played similarly to the classic game, but with a side bet hoping that your two cards will combine with the dealer’s two cards to trigger a jackpot payout. There are several winning combinations, and the ultimate win is four aces of the same color, triggering the progressive jackpot. However, you can’t win the jackpot if you split the aces.

Are there specific rules in progressive Blackjack? Well, yes, in progressive Blackjack games, you can only double down when your hand scores 9, 10, or 11 and you cannot double down after a split. Additionally, if your first two cards are a pair, you can split them into two separate hands but this disqualifies you from winning the jackpot.

8 Tips to improve your online blackjack skills

1. Know the Differences Between Online and Live Blackjack: Although the base game remains the same, online and live blackjack have some differences. Counting cards, a strategy employed by some in live blackjack, is ineffective in online blackjack due to the automated nature of the hands dealing process.
2. Learn the Card Rankings: The rankings of cards in blackjack differ from poker. It’s crucial to remember these rankings for effective gameplay. Aces can be worth either 1 or 11, tens and the face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings) are all worth 10, and the rest (2-9) are worth their face value.
3. Be Careful When Choosing to Hit or Stand: The majority of outcomes in online blackjack are chance-based, so it’s critical to consider this when deciding your next move. Familiarize yourself with when it is typically appropriate to hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender based on your and the dealer’s hands.
4. Find Your Preferred Online Blackjack Game: There are several variations of online blackjack games. We recommend beginners familiarize themselves with the rules and try out different types to see which they are most comfortable with, such as Classic Blackjack, European Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, or Free Bet Blackjack.
5. Avoid Insurance Bets: The insurance bet, which is based on the dealer having blackjack, is often seen as having a high house edge and therefore is typically not a profitable strategy in the long run.
6. Use the Basic Blackjack Strategy: A blackjack strategy card can be a useful tool for beginners. It provides an outline of all possible outcomes and scenarios in the game, helping you make informed decisions and potentially improving your results. This basic strategy is a mathematically-proven approach that aims to reduce the house edge.
7. Consider Hitting on a Soft 17: Unless the dealer is showing a bust card, hitting on a soft 17 (a hand that includes an Ace valued as 11) can often be a smart play. This offers you a certain level of flexibility and potentially two chances to improve your hand.
8. Set Betting Limits: Irrespective of whether you’re a novice or a seasoned player, setting daily wagering limits is a critical strategy. It’s important to play responsibly and within your budget to ensure long-term success in the game.