Category Archives: Games

Games

Live Dealer Verses Standard Online Blackjack

When choosing an online casino, whether you plan on playing live dealer blackjack or standard online blackjack should influence your decision. While we recommend and review both live dealer casinos and standard online casinos, depending on what you plan on playing we have different USA online casinos recommended for each.

If you plan on playing both live dealer blackjack and standard online blackjack we recommend the BetOnline Casino as your best choice. If you plan on playing strictly standard online blackjack then we recommend the Lucky Red Casino as the best choice. Both USA online casinos offer a great experience and are highly reputable and trustworthy and you can always rest easy your money is safe and you will receive withdraws quickly.

About the BetOnline Casino

The BetOnline Casino is actually our all around best USA blackjack casino with easy deposits, fast withdraws and a great variety of online blackjack games. BetOnline accepts just about every type of USA credit card and does an excellent job getting all credit cards approved. BetOnline also accepts Bitcoin deposits and cash transfers if you do not want to deposit with a credit card.

BetOnline offers both live dealer blackjack and standard USA online blackjack as well as some great blackjack variations like Spanish 21, Super 21 and Pontoon. BetOnline also offers a wide variety of other casino table games as well as slots and video poker machines. The offerings do not stop there however. BetOnline also offers a full service and online sportsbook as well as an online poker room and you can use the casino, sportsbook and poker room all from the same account. Make just a single deposit and use everything BetOnline offers.

For more information see our BetOnline Casino review and then use any link to be taken to BetOnline where you can sign up as a new player. The software at BetOnline is completely flash based so there is not even software you need to download. Also being in business since 2001 speaks to the stability of BetOnline. They have no intentions on leaving the USA market and will be here for many years to come.

About the Lucky Red Casino

The Lucky Red Casino is another great USA online casino which offers a great online blackjack experience. If you do not plan on playing live dealer blackjack then Lucky Red may be your best choice. Offering a great selection of standard online blackjack games and blackjack variations, Lucky Red has become a very popular destination for USA casino players.

The Lucky Red Casino has been in business since 2009 and also has a solid reputation for fair play, easy deposits and fast withdraws. One area where Lucky Red outdoes BetOnline is the area of bonuses. Lucky Red a great blackjack bonus where new players signing up from our website can receive a 100% match bonus up to $1000. What is great about the Lucky Red bonus is there is not any maximum cash out restrictions associated with the bonus. Claim your bonus to play blackjack and regardless how much you win you are eligible to withdraw every penny. Many online casinos will limit the amount you can win using a bonus but not at Lucky Red.

Make a deposit at Lucky Red using your USA credit card or by Bitcoin and be playing USA online blackjack in just minutes. Lucky Red offers both an instant play and download casino and regardless which you choose to use you can expect a great online experience. Withdraws at Lucky Red are offered by ACH, check or Bitcoin and are processed and sent out quickly. In business for almost a decade also speaks to the credibility of Lucky Red and their commitment to their players and fair games.

See our Lucky Red Casino review for more details and to visit Lucky Red and sign up as a new player. Be sure too sue one of our links to visit the casino to be sure you are eligible for the best bonuses being offered. If Lucky Red offered live dealer blackjack they could easily be our best and top recommended USA blackjack casino, but if you are not planning on playing live dealer blackjack we highly recommend you give them a try.

Get Started

Get started playing USA online blackjack at one of our two best online casinos. See our reviews for either casino and then use any link to visit the casino and sign up as a new player. Both BetOnline and Lucky Red offer a great selection of blackjack games and we think you will enjoy playing online at either casino. For more choices see our full listing of USA blackjack reviews for the best USA online casinos and the best casino to play USA online blackjack.

Games

Bet $10,000 Per Hand for Blackjack

If you like high limit blackjack we have some good news. Now you can bet up to $10,000 per hand for blackjack in the BetOnline live casino. BetOnline has always been one of our top USA online blackjack casinos and is highly reputable and trustworthy. If you want to bet $10,000 per hand you can be confident your money is safe at BetOnline.

To get started playing high limit blackjack simply visit BetOnline and sign up as a new player. Then fund your account and open the live dealer casino. Choose the live blackjack table which offers betting limits from $100 a hand all the way up to $10,000 per hand. You can also find other limits for live dealer blackjack and you can actually bet as little as $10 per hand.

BetOnline also offers a great standard online blackjack experience. Find just about any type of online blackjack imaginable at BetOnline including hard to find variations like Pontoon, Super 21 and Spanish 21. If you are looking for a particular variation of blackjack, chances are BetOnline has it.

One great advantage for USA players at BetOnline is their banking options. BetOnline has great deposit and withdraw options for USA residents. BetOnline accepts USA Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards and does a great job getting all of them approved. You can also deposit by cash transfer and Bitcoin. If you have had trouble in the past getting a deposit approved you will not have that problem at BetOnline.

When it is time to cashout your winnings, do so by ACH, bank wire, Bitcoin or cash transfer. We like the ACH option as the funds are put directly into your personal bank account and the funds are available immediately. If you need your withdraw quickly, choose Bitcoin and/or a cash transfer and have your funds in as little as 24 hours.

For more information  on BetOnline see our complete BetOnline Casino review and use any ink to be taken directly to the BetOnline Casino. Then sign up and start playing USA online blackjack, including live dealer blackjack, and bet up to $10,000 per hand.

Games

Play Blackjack with the Best Odds

Blackjack Strategy ChartWhen you decide to play blackjack, online or otherwise, be sure to always play with the best odds. Blackjack is one of the few casino games when played optimally can almost erase any casino advantage. There has been a lot of research on blackjack, and mathematicians especially have taken the time to research how to best play the game.

Luckily all the hard work has already been done and players can simply use the research that has already been completed to play blackjack with the best odds. You can see our blackjack strategy chart which easily lays out different hand scenarios and recommends whether you should hit, stand, split or double. As a player all you need to do is reference the chart and you can play both online blackjack and standard blackjack using the optimal strategy.

When playing USA online blackjack you can have the chart right in front of you or pulled up on your computer on another screen. If your playing at a brick and mortar casino, you can use the chart as we have a printable version of the chart which is more pocket sized and easily referenced discreetly. While the dealer and pit bosses at brick and mortar casinos do not necessarily mind if you reference a strategy chart it is best to be a little discreet about it.

If you do want to play real money online blackjack, use any of our recommended USA online casinos which offer a great online experience. All online casinos accept USA players and also do a great job getting USA deposits approved. Also by using one of our links to visit the casino and sign up you will receive a bonus which is good for blackjack play. Combine the free money you receive via the bonus, and the optimal play provided by our blackjack strategy chart, and you can just about eliminate any casino advantage. Get even a small run of good luck and you can watch your chip stack grow quickly.

Get started playing online blackjack using our strategy chart and play with the best odds possible in your favor. Again all the online casinos we list and recommend accept USA players and all also do a great job getting USA deposits approved including credit cards. All casinos also have years of experience in the online gaming business and have solid track records for fair games and paying players quickly. BetOnline (our top online blackjack casino) for example has been in business since 2001. With over 15 years offering online casino games you can be confident they offer a great experience and treat their players well. Other wise they could not survive for so long in such a competitive industry.

Good luck at the tables, even though you will need a lot less luck by playing with the best odds and using the optimal strategy.

Games

New Live Dealer Casino

Wild CasinoWe ourselves love to play live dealer blackjack (and all live dealer games for that matter) so when a USA online casino opens a new live dealer casino we are always excited. The reason for our excitement this time is the Wild Casino. The Wild Casino is not only a new live dealer casino but a new USA online casino all together. While we usually do not recommend new online casinos, we have made the exception with the Wild Casino because of its owners. The Wild Casino is owned and managed by the commision.bz group which is the same owners as other reputable online casinos such as BetOnline.

Play live dealer blackjack at the Wild Casino as well as live dealer baccarat, roulette and super 6. You will also find a full selection of standard online casino games, slots and video poker machines. Standard online blackjack variations include American Blackjack, European Blackjack, Single Hand, Multi Hand, Single Deck, Pontoon, Red Dog, Pirate 21, 21 Burn and Super 7. So as you can see there are plenty of USA online blackjack games available beside live dealer blackjack.

One feature we like at the Wild Casino is the fact it is 100% flash based. this means there is no software to download to load up your machine and you can play with a PC or Mac. To get started all you need to do is visit the Wild Casino, make a deposit and start playing. There isn’t any time needed to download any software and that also means you can play from any computer you have access to and can connect to the Internet with.

USA residents will also be impressed with the banking options at the Wild Casino. USA credit card deposits get approved easily and you can use your USA Visa, MasterCard or American Express. If you want to use a cryptocurrency to deposit, do so with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dash and Ethereum. While other online casino mainly only accept Bitcoin, the Wild Casino gives you many more choices.

Get started playing some of the best USA online blackjack at the Wild Casino including live dealer blackjack. And while the Wild Casino is new, you do not need to have any worries about whether the games are fair or your money is safe because they are. The Wild Casino is owned by one of the most respected online gaming giants available. For more information see our complete Wild Casino review where you will find a banking review, other games offered, bonus review, customer information and more.

For other options on where to play USA online blackjack, see our USA blackjack reviews for the best USA online casinos. For more information on playing at a live dealer casino, see our sister website LiveCasinoUSA which is dedicated to USA live dealer casino play. If you have any questions regarding live dealer blackjack or live dealer play in general you will the information you are looking for there.

Games

Staking Plans for Blackjack

Whether you play blackjack at your local casino, twice a year on holiday at Vegas or anywhere else, or every day of the week at any of the USA online blackjack sites we feature here, using a staking plan is highly advisable. Here we explain what a staking plan is and take a look at some of the main types of systems, also suggesting the one we feel is best for playing real money online blackjack.

First of all, let’s answer the obvious question: what is a staking plan? Many occasional blackjack players rock up to the table, online or in the real world, and simply bet as they like, changing their stake on each hand as the mood takes them or simply sticking with one bet regardless of the ongoing situation and without any thought having gone into the initial stake level.

A staking plan is a more deliberate and considered approach to deciding what to bet on any given hand and whilst it can’t guarantee delivering a profit, it can help you achieve your goals more efficiently when things do go your way.

In essence there are three main types of staking plan, ones that increase your stake after a loss, and/or as your bankroll decreases, ones that increase your stake after a win and/or as your bank grows and ones that essentially remain flat.

For many players the latter system is probably the best and a so-called level-stakes staking plan is a good way to keep things fun. As with all casino games, blackjack favors the house and so, theoretically, eventually the casino wins and the player loses. A level stakes plan, however, ensures that you can make your bank last for the period of time you are wanting it to, based on a reasonable worst case scenario. How much you stake on a given hand depends on your total bank, the average speed of the game and how long you want to play for.

In our opinion thee worst form of staking plan increases stake when you lose. Negative progression systems, the most notorious of which is the Martingale system, mean you are risking the most cash when you can least afford it and, moreover, when results suggest that maybe luck, the deck or your own emotions and thinking are against you.

The opposite system, increasing stakes when you win, can be a good option, essentially for all the opposite reasons listed above.

Ultimately we recommend you try a few variations of level stakes and positive progression plans but, however you stake be sure to check out our blackjack bonuses and promotions. Then head over to the best USA online blackjack sites and get started playing online for a chance to win some cold hard cash.

Games

What is the difference between pontoon and blackjack?

Most of the best USA online blackjack sites will offer a number of different blackjack variants and included among these may well be pontoon and other similar games, for example Spanish 21. Here we take a look at the major differences between pontoon and blackjack so read on if you’ve never tried pontoon or aren’t sure what it is.

What actually confuses the matter somewhat is that different names are used for the same games in different places, whilst the same name can mean something slightly different in another country or region. For the sake of clarity, here we are talking about pontoon as it features at a number of excellent real money US casinos, especially those that use Realtime Gaming (RTG) software for their games. Elsewhere around the world, for example Australia and certain parts of Asia, pontoon is actually much more like Spanish 21 and, of course, to confuse matters further, all of these games are in many ways very similar and almost certainly share a common ancestor.

Anyway, sticking with RTG pontoon, it is a game where the object is to beat the dealer, ideally by recording 21. In general it uses eight decks and the best hand is “pontoon”, which is an ace with any 10 value card (even after splitting). Next, and as with pontoon paying out at 2/1, comes a five card trick, which is simply a non-busted hand containing five cards, irrespective of the overall total, followed by a non-pontoon 21 made with four cards or less. Hands then are simply ranked in descending numerical order, with a hand of 22 or more, bust in other words, being the worst hand.

There are lots of small rule differences that separate pontoon from blackjack and these are too many to detail here, however perhaps the most important thing to note is that pontoon offers a very low house edge. Subject to rule variants the house edge at pontoon is an impressive 0.38%, meaning that for every $1,000 staked you can expect, on average, to lose just $3.80. Note that unlike blackjack, where fewer decks are used in pontoon the house edge increases but even so, it’s clear that pontoon offers the player a great chance to profit with just the slightest swing in luck.

Perhaps the biggest difference between pontoon and blackjack not already covered is that the dealer receives two face down cards, only revealing these after all players have completed their turn. In addition the player can only stand on hands of 15 or more (or five card tricks). The final major difference is that tied hands lose.

Whilst that latter point may seem harsh, the fact remains that pontoon offers a hugely competitive house edge, as well as a new game to try. What are you waiting for? Use the USA online blackjack casinos we recommend to also play online pontoon.

Games

Using Blackjack to Clear Casino Bonuses

Just about every online casino and USA online blackjack site around offers a welcome bonus in order to attract new customers and persuade players to give them a try. In the olden days – which is probably pre-2005 when it comes to online casinos – it was very easy to use these bonuses to pretty much guarantee a profit, or at the very least one could say the offers had a positive expected value.

However, because some clever (or dishonorable, depending on your point of view) blackjack fans took advantage of these offers the casinos quickly got wise and introduced increasingly strict wagering requirements that had to be completed prior to making a withdrawal.

These bonus rollover terms were essentially designed to make sure that the bonuses were being used fairly by recreational players, as opposed to being exploited by professional and semi-professional gangs and individuals.

Nowadays the best US-friendly casinos and online blackjack sites have the balance just right, with bonuses that are difficult to guarantee a profit from but that also offer the player a decent chance of success and enough incentive to play.

Many casino players automatically assume that they should play slots in order to try and complete the bonus rollover requirements but this isn’t always the case and blackjack is still a valuable tool, especially, of course, if you love playing online blackjack.

The reason that slots are so often favored is because they almost always contribute at 100% towards any rollover conditions. By that, we mean that if you play $10 on slots, $10 comes off the remaining wagering requirement. In contrast blackjack very rarely, if ever, counts at such a high percentage. At many casinos, even the first class blackjack-focused sites we feature here at USABlackjackCasinos, it’s not uncommon to see blackjack count at as little as 5%, although 10%, 25% or even 50% are available at our favorite sites.

If blackjack only counts at 10%, that means that one $10 hand will only knock $1 off the remaining bonus wagering. That’s often enough for many players to automatically discount blackjack when trying to clear a bonus but they’d be wrong to do so because the low house edge of the game means it can still land you a nice profit.

The house edge (casino advantage) on blackjack can be less than 0.5% if you find favorable rules, although 0.7% is perhaps a more realistic figure. That means that for every $10,000 of blackjack you play you “should” only lose $70 (and obviously with just a little luck that figure could easily be smaller or even a profit).

As such, for those that love blackjack, this great game can be well worth playing if you’re looking to clear a bonus, although of course you should always check the exact terms before you accept such a bonus.

Games

Our Blackjack Wishes for 2016

We love playing blackjack online and if you stick to the top US online blackjack sites we recommend then playing should be a fun, slick and safe experience. However, some sites are not so honest or professional, whilst even the best of the best could get, well, a little better! Here’s what we’re wishing for in 2016 when it comes to the world of online blackjack …

House Edge

The house edge in blackjack is the casino’s advantage over the player expressed in percentage terms. It isn’t a secret and we’d like online casinos to become a little more open about it. Some of the best blackjack sites offer a range of blackjack variants and we’d like to see the house edge clearly marked for each, allowing comparison between different sites and within the same site between different rule-sets.

In addition, we’d like to see casinos lower the house edge in general. Things like short paying blackjack (some unscrupulous sites pay at 6/5, not 3/2) are just unacceptable, whilst more favorable rules generally, at least on some tables, would be a nice little gift for 2016.

Blackjack Bonuses

When it comes to casino bonuses, blackjack players are treated a little like second class citizens. Slots fans get all the love, with 300% or even 400% bonuses whilst we have to settle for 100% or maybe 200% at best. We understand why that is but what really irks us is that as well as the lower bonus percentage, we then also see blackjack not counted at 100% in the rollover terms!

Not only does this make things very complicated, with blackjack sometimes counting as little as 5% of your stake, it’s also very unfair. In 2016 we’d like to see blackjack treated more fairly compared to slots, at least when it comes to the wagering percentages.

Better Mobile Options

Mobile casinos have been around for some time and in the last few years they’ve really improved a lot. However, when it comes to blackjack, most mobile casinos still offer very little, with just standard blackjack offered at most. In 2016 would it be too much to ask for a few different blackjack variants and maybe even some live dealer blackjack?

Games

House Edge at Blackjack

If you’ve ever played USA online blackjack then you should probably be aware that online blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game. In simple terms, the house edge is the advantage the casino has over the player and indicates how much the player can expect to lose during an average session. Here we take a look at the house edge in blackjack and what factors impact it, which should help you choose the game with the lowest house edge.

What is the House Edge?

The house edge is a little like the profit margin the casino builds into games. It is expressed as a percentage and a totally “fair” game, such as flipping a coin with odds of evens for either outcome, has a house edge of 0%. Blackjack typically has a house edge of around 1%, which means that on average, if you played 100 hands at $10 a time you would expect to be just $10 down in total. In roulette the house edge is 2.70% for a single zero game and 5.26% for double zero, whilst slots can be as high as 20%!

Use Basic Strategy

In roulette and slots, your decisions do not alter the house edge, however in blackjack, like video poker, they do. In order to achieve the “advertised” house edge, the lowest possible within any given ruleset, you must follow basic strategy as any deviation will increase the casino’s advantage and, ultimately, decrease your bankroll.

What Affects The House Edge

Different casinos offer slightly different rules and game variants when it comes to blackjack and various factors have an impact on the house edge. In order to pick the most profitable game of blackjack it pays to know a few basic factors that either help or hinder your chances and here are five of the biggest.

  1. Decks – the fewer the better, ideally one, certainly fewer than eight
  2. Blackjack Full Pay – NEVER play blackjack if a “natural” is paid at odds lower than 3/2
  3. Soft 17 – look for a game where the dealer stands on soft 17
  4. Double – if you can double on any cards great, if not doubling on 9-11 is better than just 10 or 11
  5. Split Aces – the ability to split aces reduces the house edge significantly
Games

Splitting at Blackjack

Splitting is one of the key decisions in blackjack and knowing when to split a pair into two hands (and when not to) will help you maximize your chances of success. Splitting at the right time will keep the house edge – the casino’s advantage over the player – as low as possible and that means you need only the smallest amount of luck in order to clear that casino bonus or make a nice profit from your session at the table.

When playing at your favorite USA online blackjack site it’s easy to refer to basic strategy and unless you have memorized every call then we would recommend using a basic strategy chart to help you. However, if you don’t want to keep checking a sheet, or happen to be playing blackjack in a real-world casino, then knowing the essentials of when to split will help you play more quickly, more profitably and enjoy your entire blackjack experience that little bit more.

The following information is based on standard blackjack rules, assuming four to eight decks, doubling after splitting is not allowed and the dealer stands on soft 17. The easiest splits to remember are aces and eights, which should always, always be split. Even when the dealer is holding an ace himself and you think you might be better off trying to limit your losses, with a pair of eights, for example, splitting is ALWAYS the right choice.

The next simple one is a pair of fours, which should never be split and always hit, even to a dealer showing a six. The same applies with a pair of fives and a pair of 10s – these should never be split, even if you like the idea of taking two hands with a 10 against a five or a six. Basic strategy, math, science, call it what you will, is never wrong, so don’t play with your gut or instinct, make the call that is proven to deliver long-term profit.

The other splits are slightly more complex but:

  • Split nines unless the dealer has a seven, 10 or ace
  • Split sevens unless the dealer has a higher card
  • Split sixes unless the dealer has higher card or a two
  • Split twos and threes only to a dealer four to seven inclusive