Online Blackjack Casino: Compare the best blackjack casinos in the UK 2025
Online blackjack is a very popular game in the UK. We know of no UK online casino that doesn't offer at least one version of the classic card game.
This article will explore the best online casinos for playing online blackjack games. We'll also go over all the significant variations of online blackjack you'll find in the UK. Let's begin…
Best casinos with online blackjack in the UK 2025
Special Information | Casino | Capabilities | Bonus Information | Let's Play! | More Information |
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Terms and conditions18+. New players only. Min deposit £10. 22 Bonus Spins valid on Starburst. Bonus funds are 100% up to £100. ... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Neteller Paysafecard Maestro Mastercard Visa Game developers Betsoft Elk Studios NYX Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickspin +87 | ||||
Terms and conditions18+ new players only. Minimum deposit: £20. Maximum £100 bonus. Max bet with an active bonus: £2. Wagering r... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Skrill Neteller Paypal Paysafecard Mastercard Trustly Visa Bank Transfer +3Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickspin Red Tiger Pragmatic Play Yggdrasil +7 | ||||
Terms and conditionsNew players, £10+ deposit, no e-wallets/prepaid cards, up to 500 Free Spins, 40x wagering on Free Spins winn... Read more Use bonus code NBWELCOME500 | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Paypal Paysafecard Payz Mastercard Trustly Visa Google Pay +1Game developers Elk Studios iSoftBet Playtech Evolution Gaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickspin Red Tiger +41 | ||||
Terms and conditions18+ New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Skrill Neteller Paysafecard Maestro Mastercard Trustly Visa Bank Transfer +1Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Red Tiger Thunderkick Nolimit City +75 | ||||
Terms and conditions18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must b... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Neteller Paysafecard Mastercard Trustly Visa Bank Transfer Neosurf Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming Voltent Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Red Tiger Thunderkick +76 | ||||
Terms and conditions18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must b... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Skrill Neteller Paysafecard Trustly Visa Bank Transfer Neosurf Game developers Elk Studios Voltent Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Red Tiger Thunderkick +74 | ||||
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Payment providers Skrill Neteller Mastercard Trustly Visa Paypal Jeton Wallet Flexepin Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Thunderkick Pragmatic Play Play'n Go Red Tiger +10 | ||||
Terms and conditionsTerms & Conditions
+18. Terms and Conditions Apply. Min. Deposit $10. | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Mastercard Visa Skrill Paypal Paysafecard Trustly MuchBetter Apple Pay Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickspin Thunderkick NextGen Gaming +20 | ||||
Terms and conditionsNew Players Only. Wager from real balance first, contribution varies per game, selected games only. Wager ca... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Skrill Paypal Paysafecard Payz Mastercard Visa Bank Transfer Pay via Phone +1Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Red Tiger Thunderkick Nolimit City +50 | ||||
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Payment providers Skrill Paypal Mastercard Trustly Visa Apple Pay Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickspin Red Tiger Thunderkick +85 | ||||
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Payment providers Skrill Neteller Paypal Paysafecard Payz Mastercard Visa Neosurf +2Game developers Elk Studios Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickspin Red Tiger Thunderkick +46 | ||||
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Payment providers Paypal Mastercard Visa Bank Transfer Apple Pay Game developers Betsoft Elk Studios Playtech Evolution Gaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickfire Quickspin +35 | ||||
Terms and conditions1st deposit only | min deposit £10 | max bet £2 | max bonus £50 | 40x wagering | Bonuses playable on Casino ... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Skrill Neteller Paypal Paysafecard Mastercard Visa Google Pay Neosurf +1Game developers iSoftBet Evolution Gaming NetEnt Play'n Go Red Tiger Nolimit City Pragmatic Play Tom Horn Gaming +7 | ||||
Terms and conditionsTerms and conditions apply. Play responsibly | 18+ | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Paypal Mastercard Visa Trustly Bank Transfer Game developers Elk Studios iSoftBet NYX Playtech Evolution Gaming NetEnt Play'n Go Quickspin +55 | ||||
Terms and conditionsNew cust only. Opt in & deposit £10 in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any casino game (excluding live casino... Read more | Bonus structure
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Payment providers Paypal Mastercard Visa Google Pay Apple Pay Game developers iSoftBet Playtech Evolution Gaming Microgaming NetEnt Red Tiger Elk Studios Play'n Go +32 |
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Online casino features are constantly changing. For example, a new bonus may be better or worse. Based on this, the positions on our casino list change to reflect any significant improvements and failings at each casino. Also, when our users sign up and deposit at a casino on our list, we see that as very positive and boost that casino's rating accordingly.
Key takeaways
- Legal and Popular: Online blackjack is legal and widely available in the UK, with every casino offering at least one version.
- Understanding the Game: The goal is to beat the dealer's hand without exceeding 21. Players can win by having a higher hand than the dealer, the dealer busting, or getting a natural blackjack.
- Basic Strategy: Knowing when to hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender is crucial for success.
- Card Values: Cards 2-10 are worth their face value, face cards are worth 10, and Aces can be 1 or 11.
- Payouts: Natural blackjack typically pays 3:2, while other wins pay 1:1.
- House Edge: With optimal play, the house edge in blackjack can be as low as 0.5%.
- Insurance Bet: Offered when the dealer's upcard is an Ace, paying 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack.
- Deck Variations: Single-deck games offer a lower house edge but are less common online.
- Live vs. RNG Blackjack: Live dealer games provide a more authentic experience, while RNG games offer convenience and speed.
Is it legal to play Online Blackjack in the UK?
It's perfectly legal to play online blackjack games in the UK. So, as long as you are over the age of 18 and can make a deposit, you're good to go. That being said, we only recommend playing at sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC ensures that the best online casinos are run by the book and have good responsible gambling practices in place.
Rules and Strategy for Online Blackjack 📕
If you want to know how to win at online blackjack, you'll need a grasp of the rules and basic blackjack strategy. Here, we will cover all of that and much more. We'll also go over the card values, insurance bets and the pros and cons of single-deck and multi-deck blackjack games.
The objectives of Blackjack
The aim of the game is to score more than the dealer's hand without going bust. The maximum permissible score before going bust is 21 – otherwise known as blackjack!
The 3 ways in which you can beat the Dealer
- Outscoring the dealer's cards without going bust
- When the dealer scores more than 21 and goes bust
- Drawing 21 with your first hand (when the dealer doesn't) – known as a natural blackjack
The 2 ways in which you can lose to the Dealer
- You score more than 21 – i.e., you go bust before the dealer
- The dealer scores more than you at the end of a game round
The conditions for a draw or standoff in Blackjack
All bets are returned if you and the dealer have the same score or both score 21. This draw is known as a standoff. The game round is reset as if it never happened in the first place.
Blackjack Card Values
All cards in blackjack games are assigned a value. This enables both the player and the dealer to calculate the value of their hand. Here, we cover the available cards and their values:
- The 2 through 10 cards score the value on their face – i.e., 2 scores two, 5 scores five, etc.
- The 10 and the face cards depicting royalty (the Jack, Queen and King) each score 10
- An Ace will score either 1 or 11 – depending on which value helps the hand the most
To score a perfect or natural blackjack, then, a player or dealer must receive an Ace (valued at 11 in this instance) and either a 10, Jack, Queen or King. This gives a combined score of 21.
Blackjack Rules Explained
Firstly, you are only ever playing against the dealer. Any of the other players at the table are also only playing against the dealer. Therefore, players are never competing against each other. So, you can ignore the other hands for the large part. Let's look at each element of the game…
Place your bet
The first thing you do at the start of each round is to place your initial bet. Just note the minimum and maximum bets for each particular table. In online blackjack, these should be displayed somewhere within the interface. Let's say you place a £5 bet this time.
Your £5 is your wager for that game round only. So, if you win, you will get your initial stake back and whatever winnings are coming your way. But, if you lose the game round, then you have your initial bet removed from the table by the dealer. The casino keeps your bet.
The First deal
After each player has made an initial bet, the cards are dealt. This is done clockwise, with each player receiving a face-up card. The (always last in the chain) receive a face-down card. Then a second card is dealt to everyone – these, including the dealer, are all face up.
This way, you can calculate your score (the card values are listed above). However, you can't tell what the dealer has at this stage. This is what makes blackjack games exciting. We'll cover more on this, what moves you could (or should) make and the basic blackjack strategy below.
It should be noted that if you have an Ace and a 10-scoring card immediately, you (usually) win! That's because you've scored 21 – blackjack! This pays out at 3:2 at most tables – i.e., 1.5x your initial bet. We say "usually" because if the dealer also scores 21, it's a draw (see above).
Hit or Stand?
If neither you nor the dealer wins the round with the first two cards, you can decide if you want to hit or stand. For the dealer, this is usually predetermined by the game's rules. But for the player, it's entirely up to you. Choosing to hit or stand depends on the cards in play.
If the dealer's face-up card is a good one, scoring 10 or even when the dealer has an ace, you might want to hit. However, it depends on what you have too. So, if your score is, say, 20, then choosing to stand is the obvious option. It's a judgment call if your score is around 16 or 17.
Most forms of online blackjack games enable players to make five different decisions at this point. So, you can choose to hit, stand, double down, split a pair or surrender. Let's review each one before moving on to the blackjack card values and the best tactics…
Classic Blackjack moves
- Hit – Get another card to improve your hand – you can do this as often as you like until you decide to stand or go bust. The more you hit, the more likely you'll bust.
- Stand – Stick with the hand you currently have on the table and wait to see how it compares to the dealer's hand. If the dealer has a lower score or the dealer busts, you win!
- Double down – If you're confident in your hand but need one extra card, you can choose to hit and double your bet simultaneously. You cannot receive more than one card.
- Split – When two cards of the same rank/value are dealt, you can split them into two hands. You'll need to place another wager equal to your first to make this happen.
- Surrender – If you don't like the look of your first two cards, you can surrender your hand. This means instantly leaving the round but only losing half your original bet.
When it comes to the dealer's moves, they are predetermined. So, they will automatically stand if the dealer scores 17 or more (without going bust). However, if the dealer scores 16 or fewer with their initial hand, they will automatically hit even if it's more likely they will bust.
Another thing you might hear is that surrender is called late surrender. This is technically true and shows how long a blackjack player has been around. There used to be an early surrender, too – however, this was removed from casinos decades ago because it aided card counters.
Online Blackjack Payouts
Players get payouts on three different outcomes. Each one depends on the player remaining in the game – i.e., not going bust. So, here's what happens when you beat the dealer:
- 3:2 – You're paid 1.5x your bet when you get a natural blackjack, and the dealer does not
- 1:1 – You're paid 1x your bet when the dealer goes bust while you're still in the game
- 1:1 – You're paid 1x your bet if your hand beats the dealer's hand between 17 and 20
Basic Blackjack Strategy
Let's discuss how to win at online blackjack. First of all, temper your expectations. Don't expect to always win – there's a house edge in every round (see below). Plus, don't just think about what cards you have been dealt. The dealer's face-up card is very important, too.
Should I Surrender?
This is the first question to ask yourself each round. You can only surrender after being dealt your first two cards, never after hitting. If you cannot surrender under the game rules or feel that you shouldn't surrender with your current hand, move on…
Can I Split?
If you have a pair, you can split and play with two hands (so long as you pony up another wager equal to your first). The same is true if you have two cards with the same value, like a Jack and a King. If a split is not on or you don't feel like splitting a pair, move on…
Should I Double down?
Consider doubling down if you're confident in your hand versus what the dealer might end up with. Some blackjack games do not allow doubling down on certain hands – be sure to check this. But if it's possible and you have a reasonably strong hand, go for it. Otherwise…
Hit or Stand?
In simple terms, you should follow what the dealer has to do – this is based on the probability of what's likely to come up next. So, if you score 16 or fewer, you should probably choose to hit, mathematically speaking. But if you have 17 or more, you should probably stand.
Blackjack House Edge
When played optimally, the blackjack house edge is 0.5%. That is incredibly low! However, the house (AKA the casino) always has the advantage of going after the player. For example, the player will always bust first, even if the dealer eventually busts. And when that happens, the player loses their money, even though it's technically a draw. This explains the house edge.
What is an Insurance Bet?
One last thing that we didn't cover above. Insurance bets are built into the majority of blackjack games. So, when playing blackjack online, you'll see an area for insurance bets in the window. The most basic form of blackjack insurance is when the dealer has an Ace…
After your first two cards have been dealt and you've seen the dealer's face-up card, you'll be offered insurance. You can put down an amount equal to up to half your bet. Therefore, this side bet is not recommended for beginners still learning.
Essentially, you get the chance to buy insurance against the dealer having a 10-value hole card. Insurance bets are, therefore, made before hitting or standing. This pays out 2:1 if the dealer scores a natural blackjack once the hole card is revealed.
Single-deck Blackjack or Multi-deck games?
You will most likely use a shoe containing six to eight decks when playing blackjack games in London, Las Vegas or Monte Carlo. That's because counting cards is much easier if only one deck is in play. Blackjack tournaments will also use six to eight decks.
While single-deck blackjack is increasingly hard to find in traditional casinos, certain game providers offer it online. And best of all, it can lower the house edge to an astonishingly low 0.15%. However, other rules are tweaked to lessen a player's advantage.
Online Blackjack vs. Live Dealer Blackjack games
While plenty of blackjack variants are available online, none are quite as distinct as video blackjack versus live blackjack. So, while video versions of blackjack games are more akin to computer games, live dealer blackjack games offer a real casino experience.
In live casino blackjack, HD cameras show you all the action in exquisite detail. There is often more than one angle, too, zooming in on the key moments of a game round. Plus, players can interact with the dealer via live chat and hear calls over headphones or speakers.
Live casino games from Evolution and others offer nearly enough of the same casino experience as in Las Vegas. Plus, there are plenty of blackjack variants. For example, check out Speed Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, and Blackjack Switch.
How to Improve Your Blackjack Strategy
While starting, playing free blackjack games is the way to go. You won't be able to play live blackjack in such a manner – there's only enough room for those making wagers. But it's not too hard to find a video blackjack game or an app playing with zero-value or free chips.
Play as many rounds as possible once you've found a free blackjack game. This way, you can build your confidence and see how various situations play out. You can refer to our guidelines above to help with tricky situations.
From there, you can download a blackjack chart that shows you the optimal move each time. The house edge drops to its lowest possible amount when played like this. Then, once you're up to speed, you can play an online blackjack game for real money. We wish you good luck!
Can I play Blackjack Online as a beginner?
Of all the card games available at the casino, classic blackjack is one of the easiest to pick up. Learning to play online baccarat is also fairly straightforward, but the house edge isn't as good as blackjack. And compared to poker and other casino games, the basic blackjack strategy is a relative walk in the park.
You can follow our guidelines above to learn how to play blackjack online. We've also provided plenty of online blackjack tips that you can try in an online blackjack simulator or free app. This way, you lucky ladies and gents can get a leg up with the online blackjack game.
Also, if you're unsure about how to get started, concentrate on hit or stand. Play blackjack online for free to get your bearings and choose stand or hit each time. You'll soon see how your choices affect you. You'll bust a few times, but you'll also win some.
New Casinos with Blackjack 2025
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Card Counting and the Blackjack House Edge
In many ways, blackjack is one of the most famous card games because players try to take down the house. So much so, that blackjack is almost synonymous with card counting nowadays for many people. But, while it's technically not cheating, it will get you kicked out.
Some form of card counting shows up in many guides. From basic strategy to elite multi-player battle plans to game blackjack at the casino. And it's not all that difficult to understand – but implementing it in the heat of the moment takes practice. So, let's explore the topic…
Famous Blackjack card counters, cheats and swindlers
The most famous card counters were the MIT Blackjack Team. Run mainly by Harvard student Bill Kaplan over many, many years, the team trained players to use a system to game blackjack casinos. The team then sent three players to casinos in Nevada, Atlantic City, and other places.
One player was a spotter who kept a running count. A second player placed small bets and wasted money while verifying the spotter's count. When the deck went positive, the controller signalled the big player, who bet big and won more often than not.
The team's exploits were captured in Ben Mezrich's book Bringing Down the House. The subtitle says it all: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions. The book was also the main story behind the 2008 movie 21.
How does card counting work?
While counting cards seems complicated, the basic premise is easy to learn. Players do not memorise every card that goes through the shoe. Instead, they assign a value to each one and keep a running count. This determines when the cards in the shoe are positive or negative.
So, whenever a 2-6 appears, a player adds one to the running count. For 7-9, he does nothing – the value is zero. And when a 10-Ace appears, he takes away one. If the running count increases, the deck favours the player. When negative, it favours the house or casino.
This is all well and good with single-deck games. But with multiple decks, the running count only starts to tell nearer the end of the shoe. Therefore, to get an accurate count, a player will divide the running count by the number of decks remaining. And that's largely the gist of it!
Does card counting lower the House Edge?
Counting cards does give professional and elite gamblers an advantage. So, even though it's not considered illegal, casinos will not let the behaviour go on. That's why players will be removed from the premises – or kicked off when card counters play blackjack online.
Card counters can turn the house edge on its head when they play blackjack in Vegas or Atlantic City. In this way, the player has the edge. It's usually not much, but enough to turn the tables. That's why blackjack is the card game for professional counters.
How do Casinos prevent players from counting cards?
Many wonder, "How do online casinos protect themselves from blackjack card counting?" The answer is simple: sophisticated algorithms analyse player moves over each round. Thanks to AI and the analysis of thousands of games, there are some clear patterns.
If something gets flagged in a traditional casino, the pitboss will come over to keep an eye. An attractive bartender may be sent over to distract the player, too. Or there may be an early reshuffle that will ruin the count. If it continues, the player will be removed and banned.
Using some of the tactics above is a little more challenging online. However, players suspected of card counting in live dealer games will be warned. They will be suspended and kicked from the site if they continue to employ counting tactics.
Do Online Casinos cheat in Blackjack?
In the Wild West, casinos employed numerous rouses and scams. However, cheating the player was unnecessary. The house always had the edge without card counting, and gaming regulators were very hot on cheating casinos anyway.
We only recommend playing at blackjack sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC ensures that independent testing organizations like eCOGRA independently test all blackjack games. The regulator also ensures responsible gaming to protect vulnerable UK players.
Playing Blackjack at Live Dealer Casinos
As mentioned above, live dealer blackjack is both exciting and engaging. There are tables to suit all budgets too. There's something for everyone, from classic blackjack to Salon Privé and VIP tables. Most live casino blackjack games use the same rules, making them easy to pick up.
Some variations include additional side bets, making the action slightly more intense. However, it should be noted that many of these side bets increase the casino's advantage over the player. So, be sure to do your research about the implications here.
As far as recommended live blackjack companies go, there are almost too many to mention. But check out the blackjack rosters of Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, NetEnt Live, Playtech and Authentic Gaming. In short, you'll never be short of live blackjack options.
What Blackjack Bonuses can I get at UK Online Casinos?
While casino bonuses specifically for blackjack are few are far between, most sites will enable players to use their bonus funds on blackjack games. This includes the top welcome bonuses recommended by GamblingAuthority. However, free spins are strictly locked to slot games.
Then, the live casino games bonuses can be used on live dealer blackjack titles. Just note that wagering contributions for blackjack are often much lower than those for slots. We're talking around 5% instead of the usual 100% contribution of slots.
Playing online Blackjack on your Mobile or Tablet
Playing blackjack online via a phone or tablet is possible and often preferable. All modern casino games are built or optimised for iOS and Android touchscreen devices. Tapping, dragging, and other touchscreen gestures translate well to blackjack moves.
You may be tempted to download one of the many blackjack apps on the App Store and Play Store. However, these can be poorly made and don't often enable you to play blackjack for real money. Therefore, playing blackjack at a mobile online casino or via its dedicated app is always best.
A Brief History of Blackjack and Vingt-et-un
Blackjack used to be known as Black Jack or Vingt-et-Un (French for twenty-one). The game we now know as blackjack is thought to have originated in Spain. Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes references characters cheating at veintiuna (Spanish for twenty-one).
The first recorded blackjack game in Britain was in the 1770s-80s. Rules for a game called Vignt-Un began appearing in 1800. The game is thought to have spread from Europe to America just after that, and a reprint of the English rules appeared sometime in 1825.
A French card historian named Thierry Depaulis claims to have proved that unknown American gold prospectors renamed the Vignt-Un game to blackjack in the late 19th Century. Since then, the card game has spread worldwide—and the rest, as they say, is history.
Conclusion
Online blackjack is an incredibly easy card game to pick up. But there's plenty of depth for professional gamblers, too. This makes it a casino game suited to many different players. We hope you've gained valuable insights into playing the game of blackjack to a high level.
References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27519748
Online Blackjack FAQ
With an education from the University of Cambridge and while working with iGaming for the last 6 years, Stephen has obtained a lot of knowledge about the industry. He usually writes about the different types of online casinos, casino bonuses and various gambling strategies.
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