Category Archives: General

General

Silver Oak Casino Offers Up To $10,000 In Bonuses

Silver Oak Casino is one of the best casinos when it comes to the quality of their welcome bonuses. The platform is focused on online slots, but there are also plenty of games for blackjack lovers and those who like other table and card games. Therefore, if you like playing USA online blackjack, make sure to check out this site and enhance your casino experience by receiving up to $10,000 in bonuses as a new player.

The bonus is divided into 10 deposits. These deposits all provide 100 percent match bonuses, meaning that you will receive 100 percent of the amount you deposit. For example, if you deposit $100, you will receive an additional $100 for playing games on the site.

The upper limit is $1,000 per deposit, so in order to receive that amount, you must deposit the same amount of money. In other words, to receive a total of $10,000, you also must deposit $10,000.

We know what you might be thinking — whoa, $10,000? Isn’t that a bit too much? How can any casino offer that much money and still create profit? Well, the thing about welcome bonuses is that they don’t give you real money, but something called bonus money.

Requirements

The bonus money is only available for withdrawal when you meet wagering requirements. These are usually set very high, so the only thing you can do with the money you receive is place bets. On the other hand, if you are very lucky, you might be able to meet the wagering requirements.

The wagering requirements are usually stated in the terms and conditions of a bonus, so make sure to read them in order to find out more about them.

If you want to explore more bonuses, feel free to navigate to the promotions section of the Silver Oak Casino as it offers a lot of hefty promos for existing players. In other words, once your welcome bonus is no longer active, you can try some other bonuses instead.

These are not only bonuses for blackjack games, but also for many other popular titles that are available on the site.

There are many great USA-facing casinos out there, offering lucrative blackjack bonuses. So, if you don’t like what the Silver Oak Casino has to offer, feel free to explore these bonuses. Casinos such as Lucky Red, BetOnline, Wild Casino and others have a fantastic offer of bonuses that you can explore.

General

What Equipment Do You Need to Play Online Blackjack?

If you like playing blackjack, and you consider switching to online blackjack, you probably wondered whether you will be able to play this game. The truth is that all USA online blackjack games are actually very “light.” In other words, they should work fine on most of the PCs and laptops — even the ones that are up to 10 years old.

The thing with online casino games is that they are not really using graphics that would eat away your RAM and of graphic card memory. Most of them are played online, so you don’t need a lot of hard disk space. If you opt to play on a client that requires you to download software, you should know that these programs rarely take up more than a couple of hundred megabytes.

Slots are the only type of casino games that can actually require newer computers, as online slot providers often include great animations and graphics that can take up a big chunk of your RAM and place a burden on your graphic card or processor. But even slots cannot be compared to the system requirements of the newest console and PC games, so you don’t need the latest rig in order to run them.

Quality Internet

The only thing that needs to be relatively good in order to play online blackjack is your Internet connection. First of all, you need to make sure that it is stable. If your Internet often breaks down, that could really affect your online casino experience, especially if you are on a winning streak. The best possible scenario is to be connected to the web by a cable, but a stable WiFi will do as well.

If you play live dealer blackjack, you will have to pay more attention to your bandwidth as it features live video streaming. In other words, ordinary online blackjack just requires some Internet and that it is stable, but live blackjack requires a better speed. Most online casinos use software that automatically adjusts video quality to your bandwidth, so in order to get the best possible experience, you should consider getting good bandwidth.

As you can see, it is not that difficult to play online blackjack on your computer. However, nowadays you can play this, as well as all other casino games, on your mobile device. Therefore, stay tuned as we are going to cover some of the basics of mobile blackjack and the type of phones that can support this casino game.

General

Does Card Counting Really Work in Blackjack and Is It Legal?

Card counting is a popular technique used by some blackjack players who want to minimize the luck factor and lower the house edge as much as possible. In fact, card counters claim that this technique could even give players an edge over the casinos. While this is theoretically possible, there are many things that need to be taken into account for it to work.

First of all, according to American law, card counting is not illegal. In other words, nobody can prosecute you if you use the card-counting technique when playing a game of blackjack. However, casinos simply do not like the practice and can ask you to stop playing the game if they notice that you are counting cards. In fact, USA online blackjack platforms can ban you from playing the game for a while if they notice that you are counting cards.

It is very easy to spot a card counter, especially if they are new. They often take time to make bets, and cannot focus on the game itself, as they do the math and count cards all the time. The more experienced ones will definitely hide the fact that they are counting cards, but even they can be busted if casinos notice that they apply some of the betting patterns that are typical for card counters.

Card counting can pay off in the long run. Playing short blackjack sessions will not give you an advantage over the casino. It takes a lot of effort and can sometimes even take all the fun out of the game.

Are There Alternatives to Card Counting?

Card counting is not the only blackjack strategy that can help you increase your chances of winning in this game. In fact, there are many other strategies that are not frowned upon by casinos. Make sure to check out a blackjack strategy chart in order to find out more about this technique that is both profitable and entertaining!

To sum up, you can either learn how to count cards by devoting a lot of time to this technique, or you can learn some other techniques that are accepted by casinos. If you want to go with card counting, you will risk being banned from a casino and will take all the fun out of the game. On the other hand, if you apply other blackjack strategies, you are in for a great ride!

Naturally, card counting will give you a better edge compared to other techniques, but it will take time before you master it!

General

Betting Strategies Used for Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games out there. It is an engaging, exciting game that has some of the best odds around along with one of the lowest house edges. These are only a few of the reasons that make blackjack the game to play if your goal is to make more money in the long run. This is, of course, is easier said than done. If your wish is to be a good blackjack player, then you must be very familiar with the rules, know what the odds are, and be able to make or use blackjack strategies. The same as any other game of chance, you need to keep an eye on your bankroll, otherwise, you’ll run out of chips before you hit any kind of streak.

There are many strategies for playing USA online blackjack. These are a few that have been proven to better your odds, make your chips last, and increase your playtime. Here is a run-down of three popular strategies. This guide is to help you understand how they work and if they work.

Most of the betting strategies for this game are progressive betting systems. These kinds of systems involve increasing or decreasing your bet (depending on your last hand). Betting systems are utilized to avoid rash betting decisions.

Oscar’s System
This system was proposed by Dr. Allan Wilson, a mathematician, during the 1960s. It aims to win one unit per round. You start your round by placing a bet of one unit. If you win, add a unit, and if it’s a losing hand, your next bet must stay the same. Believe it or not, that’s it for this one – straightforward enough.

2-1-2 (Manhattan) Strategy
Important to know with this strategy is that there is no mathematical basis for streaks (hot or cold) at blackjack. Mathematicians themselves believe in no such thing as a streak, whereas a player will swear otherwise.

This unit is very similar to Oscar’s system; however, instead of maintaining the same bet if you lose a series, the 2-1-2 strategy says to go back to your original bet (not the previous series, but the very beginning). This strategy is best used when one experiences a dip in their “streak” as the aim here is to avoid big losses. This is capitalizing on a good run of cards. This strategy is low risk, low reward (unless you are on a winning streak).

Multiple Spots
This category is the popular myth that playing many hands increases your chances of winning. This is certainly exciting gameplay; however, it does not improve your win rate. There is no harm in forming your own strategy and doing what works for you but remember the core responsibility principles of managing your bets, time, and basic strategy.

You cannot hope to win at blackjack if you do not know the rules or have no fundamental goal or strategy in place. In the end, betting strategies and systems help you to manage your bankroll better, as well as keep you focused.

General

Types of Blackjack

Blackjack is a very popular table game that every respectable casino (online and offline) has on offer. The popularity of the game has led to the many variations that have popped up over the years. Some have withstood the test of time while others have faded into disuse, and then some have become games in their own right. This is a list of the most popular blackjack variations that are played today. The fundamentals of blackjack are unchanging but there are enough differences to make these variations to set them apart.

Offline casinos in the US may not offer more than one variation of blackjack. However, if you are an online player then you are guaranteed to come across variations of the game and even choose a favorite. USA online blackjack offers all these variations depending on the casino you choose to frequent, as well as, blackjack bonuses, live dealer blackjack, and more. For instance, BetOnline Casino offers live dealer blackjack and Silver Oak Casino has a $10 000 blackjack bonus. These are only two of the online platforms that offer great blackjack gameplay.

Blackjack
Also known as “21”, this is the classic game that everyone knows and loves- the most popular type of blackjack throughout the world. The goal is to get close to 21 without going over with the value of the cards you’re holding.

Progressive Blackjack
This variation is the same as classic blackjack with the added bonus of standing a chance to win the increasing jackpot. With this bonus comes a price of a $1 bet, which has to be placed to win the progressive jackpot. The other rules of gameplay are the same besides a slight variance when it comes to doubling and splitting.

European Blackjack
This type of blackjack is usually played with two decks. This game includes some player-friendly rules like a small number of decks and the dealer standing on soft 17. Making up for this, the casino takes out the typical “dealer doesn’t check for blackjack” rule – you play your hand first. This means that you could lose more cash if you split or double the hand.

Face Up 21
This is when both the dealer’s cards are dealt facing upwards. This is a great player advantage when it comes to your strategy. The casino makes up for this by having a higher house edge of 0.69% (blackjack games typically have an edge of 0.5%).

General

What Are Perfect Pairs Side Bets in Online Blackjack?

“Perfect pairs” is a side bet that you can make in some of the online blackjack games and it is very popular among some of the blackjack lovers. It usually comes as a part of European Blackjack which is played mostly with two decks. All rules are pretty much the same in Perfect Pairs, except that you get to place an additional bet which will be triggered only if you get a pair in the first two dealt cards.

Therefore, it is a great way to earn additional money and the odds are not that bad because only two decks are used. For example, Perfect Pairs in American blackjack would be more difficult to hit as it is usually played with six to eight decks. Therefore, if you find an American blackjack with Perfect Pairs side bet feature, you’ll be making a brave move to bet on them, but you will also be rewarded with a lot of money if you have a pair. Nevertheless, let’s stick to the European version because it is also available to players who are looking for USA online blackjack.

How Perfect Pairs Side Bets Pay?
If you get a mixed pair, such as a jack of hearts and a jack of spades, you will get paid 7/1, However, if you match the color as well, and get, say, a jack of hearts and a jack of diamonds, you will receive 15/1. The most difficult thing to get is the so-called perfect pair. Since the game is played with two decks, it is only natural that all cards appear twice in the game. Therefore, if you manage to get, say, two jack of hearts as your first two cards, you will be properly rewarded and get 30/1 pay.

However, you need to understand that Perfect Pairs is still a side bet, and many professional blackjack players don’t like placing side bets as they are not that connected to the game itself. But if you like to play this game for fun, you can always test your luck and make a small side bet, hoping for the best. If you manage to win some money by placing a Perfect Pairs bet, good for you! If you don’t — it’s a game of chance after all! Therefore, make sure to find a USA friendly blackjack site and look for this type of blackjack to test your luck.

General

What Are the Best Alternatives to Blackjack?

One could never have enough of online blackjack and live dealer blackjack as it is one of the most exciting ways to play this card game. Players who love blackjack are often not too eager to test other casino games, as they want to focus only on mastering this game in particular. However, every once in a while, we need to take a break from this game, especially when we are on a losing streak. Every professional blackjack player knows that there must be a period when you need to stop playing the game and seek entertainment elsewhere.

Let’s take a look at some of the other casino games that may be interesting to you if you decide to take a break from playing blackjack.

Online Slots
If you really want to rest from all the casino games that require focus and concentration, you need to choose online slots as the majority of them do not really require you to think too much. All you have to do is place your bet and spin the reels, hoping for the best. If you are lucky, you might even end up winning some of the jackpots and progressive jackpots that many online video slots offer.

Online Roulette
Online roulette and live dealer roulette are very popular among casino lovers on the web. If you know how to play this type of casino games, you will easily get accustomed to all online variants — and there are quite a few, with each of them bringing something new to the table, such as special bets, multipliers, customizable board and wheel, and more.

Baccarat
Baccarat is perhaps the game that mostly resembles blackjack as it is played using cards and a dealer which you could also choose to be live if the online casino of your choice has a live casino section. Baccarat is much simpler than blackjack and does not require a strategy in order to be successful, so it is a great alternative to playing blackjack.

Video Poker
Video poker is a set of poker games that you can play at online casinos against the machine. Unlike online poker which is played against other players, video poker mostly resembles the old poker machines that were once popular in land-based casinos. They are not as complicated as playing poker against other people, meaning they can help you relax after playing blackjack.

Once you try all these games and your head is clear, you can return to playing USA online blackjack and start a new session.

General

What to Pay Attention to When Choosing a Live Blackjack Casino

If you like playing blackjack on the web, you probably know that there is a way to play that game against live dealers. This is done using state-of-the-art technology which combines the live stream feature with a special type of software that makes it all possible. In fact, live dealer blackjack games can be pretty exciting if you know how to choose the right rooms. Take a look at the things you should pay attention to before you make a choice.

Stream Quality
Many people who like playing blackjack often thing about stream quality in one way – the better quality = the better experience. However, that is definitely a wrong way to do it, as you don’t always your video quality to be great. In fact, many USA online blackjack platforms that offer this type of casino games with live dealers make streaming quality adjustable or auto-adjustable. What does that actually mean?

It means that the quality of your video and audio would change in relation to your Internet connection. If your connection is weak, or your broadband is slow, the quality of the video and audio would deteriorate. However, the game would still be conducted in real time, which is much more important than having great quality.

In other words, if online blackjack platforms make their videos have HD videos and high-quality audio all the time, your picture will freeze as soon as you don’t have a stable Internet connection. Therefore, playing live blackjack on the go by using your mobile device would be very difficult and would not bring you any pleasure.

Dealers
The next thing you should look after is dealers. Now, the majority of dealers in live blackjack rooms are pure professionals, and they will never make a mistake or do something to offend you. However, they are people after all, and you might bond with some better than others. Dealers play an important role in the social aspect of the game, and it is up to you to choose which type of dealer you want to have on the other side of the screen. Therefore, don’t just settle for the first casino and for the first room that you come across, but try to explore them a bit more.

Bonuses
Finally, there are a lot of blackjack bonuses that you can use to play this game, so make sure to explore casinos and try to boost your online gaming experience. The thing with bonuses is that they are often not applicable to live casinos, but some platforms offer live bonuses as well.

General

Useful Tips for Playing Live Blackjack at Online Casinos

Live blackjack has been the favorite way to play this popular card game for many blackjack lovers all over the world. If you want to play USA online blackjack with live dealers, make sure to choose casinos that have this feature and select a room with a dealer that suits your tastes. This article will not discuss how to choose the best possible live blackjack room (perhaps it is a topic for another article?), but it is going to focus on improving your play and maximizing the potential to win while playing against live dealers. Read on!

Discipline!
Whenever you play live blackjack, make sure not to cross the amount you dedicated for playing the session as it is pretty easy to get carried away when playing such an exciting game with a live dealer. Therefore, the most important piece of advice is to always look after your budget, plan it for every session, and try not to spend more than you had intended in the first place. This is actually the only way to always remain a winner in the game.

One Hand at a Time
Some casinos will allow you to enter several rooms at the same time and play multiple tables all at once. No matter how experienced you are, this strategy is always risky with blackjack as players usually cannot devote the same amount of attention to all tables, thus making wrong decisions and losing all games at all tables. Therefore, when playing live dealer blackjack, it is very important to focus on one table and think about each hand as much as possible in order to get the most out of it.

Find Blackjack Charts
There are dozens of blackjack charts on the web that show every possible strategy for this game and all the possible variations that these can include. Make sure to find one such chart and study it before you begin playing live blackjack games. These charts can tell you what to do in particular situations. Also, choose a chart that gives you strategies according to a number of decks that a particular room uses when playing the game.

Avoid Insurance Bets
Many professionals would agree that placing insurance bets is never a good idea, especially when playing live dealer blackjack. According to some statistics, the odds for winning this are 9:4 which means that for every $4 that you win, you will lose approximately $9,

General

5 Best Blackjack Players of All Time

The five players presented below really made a difference when playing blackjack. It was their primary passion in life, and they devoted tens of thousands of hours to this game so that they could be at the top of their game and earn valuable cash prizes. They really made an impact back then, and they would probably do even better if they had an option to play USA online blackjack.

Don Johnson
One of the biggest achievements in Johnson’s life was winning $15 million when playing blackjack in three casinos in Atlantic City. He managed to do that in just six months, which is an insanely short period for that amount of money. His streak began when he placed a bet of $100,000 and won $800,000 in one hand, outsmarting the dealer with a wise decision and a little bit of luck. Naturally, they thought he was counting cards, but could not prove it!

Russ Hamilton
After moving to Vegas, Hamilton broke up with his old love called poker and fell in love with another card game called blackjack. He did not need blackjack bonuses to prove his skills, which were already established by playing poker. After showing what he was made of, he switched back to poker, only to return to blackjack once again. However, this time he was accused of cheating and lost respect in the gaming community.

Arnold Snyder
Snyder is a real gambling rockstar as he has written a couple of books on this topic, including one regarding blackjack. He would start off with small bets and learn more about a game that way, only to gradually increase and become proficient. He did not use card counting, per se, but combined it with a shuffling style in order to gain an advantage. His book is called The Blackjack Formula, so make sure to read it when you can!

Edward O. Thorp
Edward O. Thorp was popular because he basically invented the card counting technique and wrote a book about it called Beat the Dealer, which was the center of attention among casino lovers for a long time. The book significantly increased the popularity of blackjack in casinos. Apart from being a phenomenal blackjack player, Thorp was also a mathematics professor and a hedge fund manager.

Bryce Carlson
Carlson is a synonym for blackjack, as he has spent a lot of time not only researching and learning how to master the game, but also determining all of its rules and putting them down into a book he called Blackjack for Blood, which is the most comprehensive guide of this game ever written.