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Blackjack Online

Online blackjack is one of the most delightful and exciting casino games in the world. Gamblers from all over have been choosing this famous card game for centuries. Filipino players can now also enjoy a few hands of blackjack at their chosen online casino.

Gambling laws in the Philippines state that land-based casinos may operate as long as they meet the licence and regulation requirements. These local providers are, however, prohibited from providing online services. Filipinos are still free to play blackjack or their favorite casino games online. The only requirement is that the off-shore providers comply with the relevant gaming commission regulations and hold sufficient licences.

In this guide, our team of experts has taken a closer look at the available variations of blackjack to find the best fit. We’ll also provide comprehensive details about a few of the top blackjack strategies to help you find the one that works for you.

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Best Casinos to Play Blackjack for Real Money

Though blackjack online is a fantastic way to learn the ropes, if you want to cash out your winnings, you need to play with real money. Before you create an account with a casino site, ensure that you’re familiar and satisfied with the payment options, transaction fees, and processing times. Check out the secure websites list for real money Blackjack here!

Online Blackjack Main Rules Explained

Blackjack is a card game where players play against the dealer. In online blackjack, you will play against the computer. In a live dealer game, you will be playing alongside other people as blackjack tables accommodate 5 to 12 people depending on table size, however, every player is playing against the dealer and not each other.

Blackjack is a quick game where you bet on beating the dealer by having a better hand than them. Whoever gets their card value closer to 21 without going over, will win.

  1. Place your bet and wait for the cards to be dealt
  2. The dealer gets 2 cards, one is face up, whereas you get 2 cards
  3. You can decide to hit (get a new card) or stand (not get an additional card)
  4. Split or double your card (depending on house rules and your cards)
  5. Option of insurance or double money (depending on house rules and your cards)
  6. After all the players completed their round the dealer reveals his second card
  7. Dealer has to hit until his card value reaches 17
  8. It is determined if you or the dealer won the game
  9. Place your next bet
Card Value

Card Value

Blackjack is played with traditional playing cards. In blackjack, you are counting points and therefore the suits of the cards are irrelevant. It is simple enough to count card values.

  • Cards 2 to 10 count as face value – 2 is worth 2, and 9 is worth 9 points
  • Jack, Queen, and King are worth 10 points
  • Ace is worth either 1 or 11 points (whichever is better for the player or the dealer)

Understanding Blackjack Main Features

Blackjack main featuresBlackjack is not a very complicated game, however, depending on what hand you draw and what the dealer’s face-up card is, you will have several options to choose from. You can hit or stand and with a certain hand value you can double, split, surrender, take insurance or place side bets. Some of these depend on the casino, so read the rules before starting the game.

Blackjack glossary
Blackjack term Definition
Hit getting more cards until you get close enough to 21 or you go bust
Stand when you are happy with your cards you will not ask for another
Double if you decide to hit one extra card you can double your bet
Split if you have two same value cards you can split them and play with two hands
Surrender if you don’t like your cards, you can return them and get back half your bet
Insurance if the dealer’s face-up card is Ace insurance is offered for half of your wager
Side Bets casinos can have side bet options that you can place with your wager

Best Bonuses for Online Blackjack Players

Blackjack is a game of skill and luck and if players play perfect strategy the house edge can be reduced to a very low figure. For this reason, often casinos won’t count your game of blackjack (or other low house edge games like video poker) towards your wagering of the bonus.

You might find some casinos where it counts as 10% or even 50% towards wagering but this is not guaranteed. If we spot good offers we will list them for you here.

  • decoration
    Jiliace casino logo
    Welcome bonus: 100% up to ₱500
  • decoration
    20Bet logo
    Welcome bonus: $120 + 120 Free Spins
  • decoration
    888Starz Casino Logo
    Welcome bonus: up to ₱87,720 + 150 Free Spins
  • decoration
    bet88-logo-105x105s
    Welcome bonus: ₱8,888
  • decoration
    Winz.io logotype
    Welcome bonus: up to $5,000 / 100mBTC or 800 Free Spins
  • decoration
    BC Game Logo
    Welcome bonus: up to 1,080% deposit match

Know Your Odds Against the Dealer

Since blackjack is played with a certain number of decks, it comes down to simple probability calculations to figure out what your chances are when you draw a new card. The lower your initial card value the less likely it is that you will bust if you get an extra card. We will now explain what those probability figures look like.

Probability to bust on an extra card

You want your card value to be as close to 21 as possible. Depending on your initial hand you can ask for one extra card at a time. The higher the initial value of your two cards, the more likely it is that you will bust with an extra card.

If your card value is 11 or lower then it is impossible to bust, however, if your hand value is 21 then it is 100% sure that you will bust. In the table below, you can check what probability you have to bust if you hit an extra card with the listed hand values.

Online BlackJack - probability to bust on an extra card
Hand Value Probability
11 or lower 0%
12 31%
13 39%
14 56%
15 58%
16 62%
17 69%
18 77%
19 85%
20 92%
21 100%

The dealer's probability to bust

The probability for the dealer to bust with an extra card depends on the rules of the game you are playing. In some casinos, the dealer has to stand on soft 17, while elsewhere he has to hit. The weakest hand the dealer can have is a 6, in which case his probability to bust would be 42 or 44%.

Online blackjack - dealers probability to bust
Dealer’s card Probability when standing on 17s Probability when hitting on 17s
Ace 17% 20%
2 35% 36%
3 37% 38%
4 40% 40%
5 42% 42%
6 42% 44%
7 26% 26%
8 24% 24%
9 23% 23%
10 23% 23%

Best Blackjack Strategies

  • Don't Split

    Don't Split a Pair of 5s or 10s

    It isn't a good move to split the 5s. It's smart to hold onto the tens and combine them to boost your winning possibilities.
  • Double Down

    Double Down on a Hard 11

    Participants will always win more if they double down on hard 11 against any dealer. This rule's only exception is the multi-deck game that requires the dealer to stand on soft 17.
  • Stand on Hard 16

    Stand on Hard 16 Against a Croupier’s 10 Upcard

    Although this technique is effective, players can improve their gaming effectiveness by considering whether their 16 is a 16 multi-card. In this case, the optimal approach is to stand against the croupier's 10 upcard.
  • Double Down on 8 Against Dealer

    Double Down on 8 Against Croupier’s 5 or 6 Upcard in Single Deck

    In a double-and multi-deck game, guidelines specify that players aren't allowed to double down with a two-card 8. This rule is different in a single deck game.
  • Split a Pair of 8s and Aces

    Split a Pair of 8s and Aces

    Always split a pair of 8 and aces regardless of what the croupier's upcard is. This can help you reduce your losses.
  • Hit a Hard 12

    Hit a Hard 12 Against the Croupier’s 2 or 3 Upcard

    Although this technique could be one of the riskiest, it's also a tactical one. If you hit in this situation, it will reward you in the long run.
  • Blackjack

    Hit Ace-7 (soft 18) When the Croupier's Upcard Is 9, 10, or Ace

    If a gamer holds A-7 against the dealer's upcard of Ace, 10, or 9, it makes you an underdog. Nevertheless, when you draw a small card (e.g., 2, 3, or Ace), you should have a hand higher than 18. This will increase your chances of winning.

Most Popular Types of Online Blackjack

You will come across many blackjack variants in online casinos. The rules slightly differ giving you better or worse odds. Here, we will explain the main types.

  • european blackjack

    European Blackjack

    European blackjack follows similar rules to the original game, however, it has a few of its own rules, such as:

    • If the dealer gets a blackjack it beats any other 21-value hand
    • Players can only split once
    • Players can only double down on hands with a value of 9, 10, or 11
    • Initially, the dealer only gets one card
  • progressive blackjack

    Progressive Blackjack

    Progressive blackjack games offer a jackpot to be won.

    • The jackpot is linked to a progressive network
    • Every player who plays that particular game contributes to the pot by placing a certain side bet
    • It depends on the game what the side bet is – e.g. a specific hand of 7s
  • american blackjack

    American Blackjack

    American blackjack is a more aggressive type of game in a way that it offers more options for placing higher bets. In this version,

    • Players can double down on any total
    • Players can also double down after splitting
    • The dealer gets two cards initially, and one is face down
  • live dealer blackjack

    Live Dealer Blackjack

    When you play at a live casino,

    • The dealer will deal you the cards instead of the computer
    • You can choose between several types of blackjack games such as European, American, or Progressive games
    • You can’t play live dealer blackjack for free
    • You will see the min and max limits, usually before you enter the room

Online Blackjack: RTP & House Edge

Blackjack offers some of the lowest house edge figures, however, there are slight variations with different types of the game.

Online blackjack rtp and house edge
Variant House Edge % Return to Player %
Classic Blackjack 0.13 99.87
Blackjack Switch 0.16 99.84
Vegas Strip Blackjack 0.35 99.65
Atlantic City Blackjack 0.36 99.64
Spanish Blackjack 0.38 99.62
Bonus Blackjack 0.39 99.61
Blackjack Surrender 0.39 99.61
European Blackjack 0.42 99.58
High Streak Blackjack 0.42 99.58
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How to start playing Blackjack for real money?

  1. Choose a casino from our list

    You should only play at reputable casinos that are licensed and feature fair games. Choose a casino from our list as we have already done the research for you.

  2. Choose a good welcome bonus

    If your objective is to play blackjack, make sure the bonus you take lets blackjack contribute to your wagering. Some casinos count blackjack as 10% or 50% towards wagering.

  3. Make a deposit

    If you want to play real money games, you will need to make a deposit. Some casinos accept cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets while others even welcome cryptocurrencies.

  4. Choose blackjack and wait until you will get your cards

    Now that you know about the different variants, choose a game you like, decide on your bet and start playing. Live dealer tables are limited so look for one that has a seat available.

  5. Take a win!

    It is not so difficult to win with blackjack if you play the perfect strategy. Play consistently, with bets you can afford, and wait for luck to smile at you.

A Few Tips for Blackjack Players

  • 5-1-learn-the-rules-100-100-50x50s

    Learn the Rules

    Blackjack players need to understand the basic concepts and rules of the game. You can go through the various aspects of blackjack on the site of your choice before playing.

  • 5-2-know-the-basic-strategy-100-100-50x50s

    Know the Basic Strategy

    Gambling expert John Marchall says that understanding the right way to stand, hit, double, and split your hand down is a priority. It'll trim the house edge from 1% to 2% down to 0.5%.

  • 5-3-bet-money-you-can-afford-100-100-50x50s

    Avoid the Insurance Wager

    The insurance wager is also known as the sucker bet. The reason not to play the sucker bet is that the bet payoff is relatively lower than the croupier's odds to get a blackjack.

  • 5-6-take-regular-breaks-to-stay-focuse-100-100-50x50s

    Learn to Split Your Pairs

    In blackjack, splitting pairs is a significant move. You should always divide a pair of eight and a pair of aces, but not a pair of 10s or 5s.

  • 5-4-play-only-at-licensed-reputable-casinos-100-100-50x50s

    Stick to Games That Pay 3:2 for Blackjack

    Players should center on tables where a blackjack offers 3-2.

  • 5-4-manage-your-bankroll-100-100-50x50s

    Manage Your Bankroll

    The most important tip of all is to manage your finances. Ensure you begin with minimum bets and later wager sparingly on more significant amounts.

Houston O’Keefe

Author: Houston O’Keefe
  • 44 articles
Expert in:
  • Casinos
  • Online slots

Houston is a manager of sales hailing from Cebu City in the Philippines. He is respectful and calm. He is always eager to help others – including strangers, friends, family, staff, and clients. Houston is a social person who loves to work with people from various backgrounds. His mission is to foster a peaceful, productive work environment and build bridges between him, his team, and clients.

FAQ

How do I find a genuine Filipino online casino?

You have to search for the appearance of the protection logo and a clear SSL certificate from PAGCOR.

What methods should I use to deposit funds?

The standard local payment methods used include GCash, Smart Money, JuanPay, PayEasy, PesoPay, WeePay, DragonPay, and MOLPay.

Is it possible to play blackjack for free?

Yes, of course. Players can play free blackjack online from the suggested casinos.

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