Online Blackjack for Real Money in Canada (2024)

Welcome to our guide to online blackjack for real money in Canada! Our experts put together everything about playing blackjack online, including tips and the best places to play.

Written by Steven Hubbard
Verified by BettingGuide team
Last updated 2024-02-07

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What is Online Blackjack?

european blackjack

Online Blackjack is one of the top-rated online casino games, also known as Pontoon or 21. This game pits you against the dealer in a thrilling race to reach 21 with the cards you’re dealt.

  • How Does It Work?

    The game begins with both you and the dealer receiving two cards. With the ace card’s value being either 1 or 11, you could hit a blackjack - a winning hand of 21 - right from the start! The face cards - king, queen, and jack - are all valued at 10 in blackjack.

    The game continues until either you or the dealer hits 21. You have the choice to ‘stick’ with your cards or ‘twist’ and risk another card. Usually, players ‘stick’ at 16 or 17, but if you’re feeling adventurous, ‘twisting’ might be your best bet!

  • Can I Play Blackjack Online for Real Money?

    Yes, you can play blackjack online for real money at online casinos in Canada. To play online blackjack with real money, you would need an account at an online casino of your choice and make a deposit via a payment method the casino offers to Canadian players.

A Complete Guide to Online Blackjack for Real Money in Canada 2024

Blackjack has long been one of the best games to play at a casino. But now, with the advent of online casinos in Canada, blackjack fans have an easier way to play their favourite game.

Anyone new to playing blackjack online, however, might be unsure of how to get started.

This is where we come in, with this ultimate guide to playing online blackjack in Canada. From tips for beginners to advanced blackjack strategies, we will cover it all right here, so read on. 

How to Play Online Blackjack - Beginners' Guide

For beginners, we provide a detailed guide to help you master the game.

In blackjack, you’re dealt two cards, and your goal is to exceed the dealer’s total without going over 21. You’re not competing against other players but against the dealer. If your hand exceeds 21, it’s a bust, and the dealer wins. But if the dealer busts, you win, regardless of your cards.

Even a good hand of 20 can lose, and a poor hand can win if the dealer busts. If both you and the dealer get 21, it’s a push, and your stake is returned. The odds for a blackjack depend on the game type and the online casino.

Card Values:

Traditional blackjack is played with one or more decks of 52 cards with the card values shown below.

Jack, Queen, King Count as 10
Ace 1 or 10
2 - 10 cards Face value

Typically, players are each dealt two cards, face up or down. The dealer also receives two cards, normally one up and one down, or only one card face up. The value of a hand is the sum of the card values.

Players can draw additional cards to improve their hands. Once all players have finished their hands, it’s the dealer’s turn.

However, if all players have blackjacks (21 with an Ace and a ten-value card) or have busted (exceeded 21), the dealer’s hand won’t be completed. The dealer then reveals their hidden card and must hit until their cards total 17 points. At 17 points or higher, the dealer must stay.

Outcomes:

  • If a player is dealt an Ace and a ten-value card (blackjack), and the dealer does not, the player wins and sometimes wins a blackjack bonus
  • If the player's sum exceeds 21, the player loses, even if the dealer also exceeds 21
  • If the dealer exceeds 21, the player wins (if they have not already busted)
  • If the player has a higher final sum than the dealer and does not bust, the player wins
  • If both the dealer and the player receive a blackjack or other hands with the same total, it is called a "push" and no one wins

Generally speaking, blackjack pays three to two, but it can also be six to five. So what are some of the best types of blackjack games to be looking out for at casinos?

Options in Online Blackjack

Online Blackjack also offers exciting bets like insurance, offered when the dealer starts with an ace. If you’re dealt a pair, like two 10s, you can choose to ‘split’, forming a new hand and doubling your initial stake.

  • Split: When you initially receive two cards of equal value, you can split them. This means you make another bet and play each card independently, asking for more cards or standing in two simultaneous games.
  • Double: Many online blackjack games allow you to double your bet after seeing the first two cards, provided you ask for one more card and only one.
  • Surrender: The blackjack surrender option allows you to withdraw from a bet, recovering 50% of what you wagered. It’s useful when you foresee that you are going to lose the bet.
  • Insurance: When the dealer’s first card is an Ace, some versions of the game allow you to take out insurance so that if the bank gets blackjack, you don’t lose anything. In insurance, you will have to bet half of your initial bet.

Types of Online Blackjack Games

Most of the online casinos in Canada have a lot of different blackjack games to try out.

These are some of the best blackjack games to look out for at your chosen online casino:

  • Blackjack Double Attack 
  • Progressive Blackjack 
  • Live Blackjack 
  • Multi-Hand Blackjack 
  • European Blackjack
  • Blackjack Double Attack

    Blackjack Double Attack pays just even money for blackjack, but players can maximise profits by taking the chance to double their initial wager after seeing the dealer's upcard.

  • Progressive Blackjack

    Players at online casinos in Canada who want big wins could choose Progressive Blackjack, where optional side bets are added to a collective pot that can deliver large profits.

  • Live Blackjack

    Different live casino games, including baccarat, blackjack and roulette, are gaining popularity in Canada. Live Blackjack offers a real-time gaming experience with a live stream and a human dealer, aiming for a more realistic and authentic feel.

    These games typically use human dealers and physical tables from a studio, complete with HD streams and chat functions. However, live blackjack often requires playing at the table’s pace and may have higher wager limits.

    The interactive nature of live blackjack games provides a more social experience. Players can chat with the dealer and other players at the virtual table. The rules of live blackjack are the same as other versions of the game on the site.

  • Multi-Hand Blackjack

    Not one for beginners, Multi-Hand Blackjack gives players the chance to play more than one hand at once. Naturally, this means the stakes are raised, but it offers more chances to win.

  • European Blackjack

    Players who opt for European Blackjack at their favourite Canadian online casino can only double down on hands with a value of 9, 10 or 11. But players can double down on split cards here.

House Edge in Online Blackjack Games

Online casinos maintain a house edge on their games to protect their profits. Blackjack is known for having a lower house edge compared to other casino games like online casino slots and jackpot slots that you play with real money.

However, the house edge can vary significantly among different types of blackjack games.

Typically, the house edge in blackjack is less than one per cent. Factors that influence the house edge include the number of decks of cards used in the game, with fewer decks resulting in a lower house edge. The dealer’s strategy, such as whether or not they hit on a soft 17, also affects the house edge.

The payout ratios in blackjack games also impact the house edge. While a 3:2 payout is standard for a blackjack, some games offer 5:6 or even 1:1 payouts, which increase the house edge. Therefore, to achieve the lowest house edge in online blackjack, it’s advisable to choose games that offer a 3:2 payout and use fewer decks of cards.

For online blackjack games, it's easy to calculate the overall house edge. You just need to deduct the Return To Player (RTP), the payout percentage of a game, from 100.

For example, the RTP of European Blackjack is 99.6%%. So, this game has a house edge of 0.40% (100 - 99.60).

💡 Did you know? Blackjack generally has a lower house edge compared to Roulette games. The house edge in Blackjack can be as low as 0.5% to 2%, depending on how well players use strategies. For Roulette, the house edge is higher: around 2.7% for European Roulette and 5.26% for American Roulette, because it's entirely based on chance. This means that, on average, casinos that include Blackjack in their game selection often offer a higher payout rate.

Basic Blackjack Tips and Strategy for Beginners

Understanding basic blackjack tips and strategies is crucial for beginners. Key concepts include:

  • Hard and Soft Hands: A hand can be “hard” or “soft” if it includes an ace, which can be worth either 1 or 11. For example, an ace and an 8 make a soft 19, a strong hand. An ace and a 4 make a soft 15, which can turn into a hard 15 if a face card worth 10 is hit.

  • Dealer’s Face Card: The dealer’s face card influences whether players should hit. If a player starts with 12, hitting is usually the best strategy unless the dealer’s face card is a 4, 5, or 6.

  • Deciding to Stick or Twist: If a player’s hand is worth less than 10, it’s advisable to take another card. If the hand is worth 20, players would rarely opt to take another card.

  • Doubling and Splitting: Doubling is recommended if a player has 10 or 11 from their first two cards. Splitting a pair of aces is also a good strategy due to the high chance of hitting a blackjack.

Advanced Blackjack Tips and Strategy for Experienced Players

For those serious about online blackjack in Canada, advanced tips and strategies are essential. The dealer’s face card significantly influences whether players should hit or not. If a player starts with 12, hitting is usually the best strategy unless the dealer’s face card is a 4, 5, or 6.

There are also named blackjack betting systems that some players find effective. The Martingale betting system is one such strategy where players double their stake after each loss. However, this system can lead to escalating stakes during a losing streak.

The Martingale system operates on the principle that a player will eventually win a hand, offsetting previous losses. However, many online casino experts believe this system is better suited for roulette.

An alternative is Oscar’s Grind, a progressive betting system. Players start with the minimum stake, maintaining the same stake after the first hand, regardless of the outcome. After the second hand, players double their stake if they win and keep it the same if they lose. This pattern continues until players make a profit equal to their initial stake, at which point the system restarts.

Opinions vary on the profitability of systems like Oscar’s Grind and Martingale for online casino games like blackjack. Trying these systems at small stakes can help determine their effectiveness.

Additionally, using a blackjack strategy chart can guide players on when to stick, twist, double, or split. These charts are freely available online and can be a valuable resource for online blackjack players in Canada.

Counting Cards in Blackjack

The most commonly used method to count cards in blackjack is to assign the following values to the cards:

  • 10 and Ace: -1
  • 7, 8, and 9: 0
  • From 2 to 6: +1
Counting cards in blackjack

The idea is that if the number given by the count is very low or negative, it means that many face cards are yet to come out. So, it’s best to stand and let the dealer bust.

Can I count cards in online blackjack?

No, you cannot. The difference between a physical casino and an online one is that in the physical casino, the same deck is used, so the cards are discounted. But in online blackjack, a complete deck is used for each new hand.

Side Bets in Online Blackjack

A side bet is an extra bet made before the start of an online blackjack hand. For example, you can bet ₹100 on your blackjack hand and ₹50 on the side bet, or vice versa, or the same on both.

When do I win the side bet?

It depends on the online blackjack game. Usually, side bets depend on the first two cards the player receives and the first or first two cards the dealer receives. For example, in Lucky Lucky Blackjack, if your first two cards and the dealer’s first card are three sevens of the same suit, they will pay the side bet at a rate of 200 to 1.

What is the 21+3 bet in blackjack? 

The 21+3 bet is a side bet that can be played in some online blackjack games. It is won when your two cards and the dealer’s face-up card make a three-card poker hand; that is, all have the same value.

This bet pays if any of the following combinations appear:

  • Flush: 5/1
  • Straight: 10/1
  • Three of a kind: 30/1
  • Straight flush: 40/1
  • Suited three of a kind: 100/1

Where Can I Play Blackjack Online for Real Money in Canada?

According to our casino experts, you can play blackjack online with real money at LeoVegas, Zodiac Casino and Casino Days Canada. These online casinos are reputable and used by many players from all over the world. In addition, they offer mobile apps to play online blackjack for real money on iOS and Android devices.

Frequently Asked Questions