But there’s one thing that some players missed. The interaction and camaraderie with a real live dealer that many players enjoy in real world casinos just wasn’t there online.
Until now that is. In 2023 many casinos are offering live dealer blackjack games. These can be played online and on mobile, and let you interact with a real person, exactly the same as you would in a brick and mortar casino.
The only difference is you don’t need to wear a shirt and tie.
Today I’ll show you exactly how it works. You’ll learn how to play live blackjack online, and the reasons why you might want to. I’ll also reveal the best casinos that offer live dealer games, and what strategy you need to use to slash the house edge to almost zero.
Best Casinos For Live Blackjack
Trada Casino
100% Bonus Up to £50 + 150 Free Spins
18+ | New Players Only | Bonus spread over 1st 4 deposits | Spins applied in batches of 50 on 2nd & 3rd & 4th deposits | 1st: 100%. Min deposit £10 max bonus £50 | 2nd, 3rd & 4th: Min deposit £20 | 35x wagering on bonus & spins | Spins are credited on Starburst & expire after 24 hrs | T&C’s Apply
CasinoLuck
100% Welcome Bonus up to £50 + 50 Free Spins on Starburst
Terms & Conditions apply. 18+ New Players Only. Min deposit £20. Wagering requirement apply 35x Offer valid for 72h.
WildSlots
100% up to £50 / $100 + 50 spins on Book of Dead
T&Cs apply. New players only. 18+. Minimum deposit 20£. Wagering Requirement 35x. Offer valid for 72h.
The best live dealer blackjack casinos listed above all offer a range of different live blackjack tables, and accept players from countries all around the world. What’s more, they’ve all been tested, rated and approved by our panel of independent experts, so you know you’ll be getting great service and that payouts will be honoured.
For convenience, we’ve included details of the casinos’ welcome bonuses, and a link where you can sign up for an account if you’re interested in playing there.
How Live Dealer Blackjack Works
In traditional online blackjack games, you play against the computer. The cards are dealt by casino software, using a random number generator. There’s no issue with this whatsoever: providing the casino is licensed, tested and approved, you can be sure that the games are fair. But they do lack the personal touch that some players crave.
When you play live dealer blackjack, you are interacting with a real person via a live stream.
You’ll take your virtual seat at a real table and be greeted by the dealer. There will also be other real players at your table. The dealer won’t see you, but you can see them and everything they do.
There is also the opportunity to chat with the dealer, ask any questions, or just say hello. They’re actual people (even wearing masks during lockdown) and they do often appreciate a quick chat, so don’t be shy if you have any comments to make.
The chips you place on the table will be virtual, but the cards you’re dealt are real. When it’s your turn, you can tap or click the buttons on your screen to hit, stand, double or split. The dealer will act on your instructions and the software tells you whether you’ve won at the end of the round.
How To Play Live Blackjack Online or On Mobile
When you’ve chosen a casino to play at (we listed the best live blackjack casinos at the top of the page) you can log in, deposit some funds and then navigate to the live casino section of their website.
Choose A Table
Here you’ll be presented with a selection of the live dealer blackjack tables available. Keep in mind that each one will have different minimum and maximum table limits, ranging from small stakes players to high rollers. They might also be playing different rules or blackjack variations. Take a few minutes to check through and make sure you’re playing at the table you want.
When you’re happy, select a table and then choose one or more positions, depending on how many concurrent hands you want to play. It’s best to start with playing just one hand at a time, until you get the hang of things.
Place Your Bet
Keep in mind that when you join a table, there may already be a hand in progress. This is live after all! If so, you’ll need to wait a short time until the previous hand finishes before you can place your chips on the table.
When the dealer says “place your bets” you can click or tap on the chips you want to bet and place them on your chosen table position. Unlike the digital online blackjack games, in live dealer games you only get a limited time to place your chips. So it’s best if you decide how much you want to bet in advance. Anything equal to or above the table min bet is fine.
Play Your Hand
After all bets are placed, the dealer will deal out the initial cards to all players and to him/herself. The players will then play their hands in order, moving clockwise from right to left. Depending on which table position you chose, it may take a while until your turn, as you have to wait for other players to finish their actions first.
When it comes to your turn, if you don’t already have 21 (a blackjack) then you will have the choice of whether you wan to Stand, Hit, Double or Split. You’ll see buttons on your screen for each action, so tap or click as appropriate.
Dealer Completes The Hand
When all players have finished their hands, the dealer will flip his/her hole card and complete the hand according to the table rules. Either the game or the live dealer in person will tell you if you won, lost or pushed. If you won, your winnings will be added to your balance, and the process begins again for the next hand.
Live Blackjack Strategy
When you play any type of casino blackjack, the choices you make will directly affect the outcome of the game. That means you can adopt and follow a strategy that can reduce the house edge and give you a better chance of winning.
Each blackjack variation has its own strategy, depending on the subtle differences to the rules and gameplay.
Playing live blackjack isn’t a variation in itself. It’s just a different way of playing, using a real blackjack dealer instead of a computer. So there isn’t any such thing as a Live Blackjack Strategy. Instead, you need to look at the game version being played on your chosen blackjack table.
If in doubt, you can just follow the rules for blackjack basic strategy and you won’t go far wrong.
Who Should Play Live Dealer Blackjack?
Live blackjack games, or any other live dealer casino games, are the ideal solution for players who want the convenience and flexibility of playing online, but without sacrificing the real casino experience.
Pros And Cons of Live Blackjack
The fact that more and more online casinos are offering live dealer blackjack gives an indication about just how popular it’s becoming with players. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone. That’s a decision you need to make for yourself.
Pros
- More realistic casino experience
- Looks and feels like a land based casino
- Interact with real people
- Range of tables to suit everyone from low stakes to high rollers.
Cons
- Much slower gameplay than other types of online blackjack
- No free play options, real money only
- Needs more bandwidth
If you’re the sort of blackjack player who likes the action fast and furious, then you’ll probably get frustrated with playing live dealer blackjack online. It’s noticeably slower than digital games, not only because the dealer takes longer to physically deal the cards, but also because you have to wait for other players to take their turn.
You also need to keep an eye on your internet connection, especially if you’re not using wi-fi. Remember the game uses live streaming pictures, which require more data and can be slower. If you’re playing on your phone and you’re in a remote area, then you may have issues.
But if those things don’t bother you or aren’t an issue, then you’re probably going to love live dealer blackjack. Many players do (myself included).
The only way to know for sure is to give it a try.
Check out one of the live dealer blackjack casinos I recommended above. You’ll find a range of tables, some with low limits of as little as $1. So you can sign up and try a few hands to see what all the fuss it about.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Live Dealer Blackjack?
Live dealer blackjack is a real money online blackjack game in which you play against a real dealer instead of against the computer.
The game connects you to a real blackjack table in a studio or actual land based casino, via live streaming. Buttons on your phone, tablet or PC are used to give instructions to the dealer, and you can also interact with them via live chat as you play.
Is Live Dealer Blackjack Rigged?
No, as long as you play at one of the casinos listed above, you can be confident their live casino games are not rigged. There may well be some dodgy casino sites out there, but our job is to help you avoid them. That’s why you’re here – to get recommendations from a team that has tested and approved the casino.
Also, remember that all these operators are licensed and regulated, and also many of them voluntarily submit themselves to fairness checks from independent auditors.
Are There Any Live Blackjack Apps
Yes, some online casinos offer Android and iOS apps, and you are free to download these and use them to play live blackjack if you wish.
Alternatively, you can do what most players do these days and just log into the casino through your mobile browser. That way there’s nothing to download. All online casinos offer this option.
Can I Count Cards In Live Dealer Blackjack Games?
Technically speaking, yes you can count cards when you play live dealer blackjack. It’s not illegal and it won’t get you thrown out. But it’s not likely to do you very much good either.
The problem is that the deck is shuffled regularly, so you don’t get enough deck penetration [1] for the card counting strategy to really benefit you. You’ll also find that, because of the slow pace of the game, you wouldn’t get through enough hands to make the hourly income worthwhile.
So it’s a nice idea, but not really workable in practice.
What Strategy Should I Use For Live Blackjack?
Live dealer blackjack is played in just the same way as any other blackjack games. To reduce the house edge and give yourself the best chance to win, you need to use the appropriate strategy for the blackjack game version you’re playing. Many tables use Classic, Atlantic City or Vegas Strip rules.
If you’re not sure, just use basic strategy as normal.
Is Live Dealer Blackjack Legal?
Yes, playing live dealer blackjack online is perfectly legal. You will find online casinos that accept players from countries all around the world, including the USA.
To find a live casino, just scroll up and check the list at the top of this page. The flags indicate the main countries that each casino site accepts players from. Just find one to match your location and click the button to open an account.
- 50+ Common Blackjack Terms Explained - February 6, 2023
- Can Live Blackjack Dealers Hear You? (Your Privacy Matters!) - January 29, 2023
- Why do Blackjack Dealers Swipe the Table? - January 27, 2023
Last Updated on September 29, 2022
