Variations: Most online live blackjack games stick to the same rules, whereas there are more variations available in RNG format, such as Double Exposure Blackjack and Blackjack Switch. Availability: Many top live dealer blackjack sites host scalable games which cater to unlimited players, but other tables have limited seat capacity, meaning you. The best part is that the live blackjack casino options are set to increase as more US states legalize online gambling in 2020 and beyond. Another one of the great US friendly live blackjack sites is Caesars Casino available in New Jersey.

Live dealer blackjack is a favorite of many blackjack aficionados, especially now that much of the world is shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But what is live dealer blackjack, and how do you play it at home? To answer those questions, we set up this website so that you’ll have all the answers at your fingertips.

Live dealer blackjack is blackjack with a live dealer, that you can see, done over the internet. It’s meant to simulate the type of play you would find in a casino, and add a personal touch to a sometimes impersonal game when played over the internet. For example, without a live dealer, you end up playing against computer-based AI, which can be fun for a while and very fast-paced, but a bit alienating and weird. When you add a live dealer to the mix, you can have a fun experience that is generally highly regarded among the online blackjack community.

Is Live Dealer Blackjack Legal?

Live dealer blackjack at many online sites is absolutely legal. Here’s how it works. Many states have criminalized the act of running an online gambling website, but they have not criminalized the act of using an online gambling website for an individual customer. This means that the online gambling websites we tend to recommend are located offshore. Their offshore locations provide them a few advantages, but the biggest one is that they are not susceptible to the regulations of the United States of America. They are still accessible by individual bettors in a given state, but they are not banned by these laws because they are not located inside the state.

There are a lot of excellent online blackjack websites, and they range from the well known to the less well known. After this section, you’ll find short reviews of each of them, discussing some pros and cons, and some interesting facts about each of the websites in question. Let’s jump right into some quick hit reviews.

Bovada: Live Dealer Blackjack Games

Bovada is perhaps the most well known online casino and is one of the absolute best in the industry. Bovada places a lot of focus on the customer experience, and this really shows in two major ways. First, it shows in the website design, which is perhaps the cleanest and most easily understandable of all of the major online casinos. This is a big bonus when it comes to Bovada - ease of use matters. The second way they focus on the customer experience is with their customer service options. If anything goes wrong while you are gambling at Bovada (actually something going wrong, not you losing money), you can contact their customer service team at all hours of the day to get a response and action. Their team can be contacted in multiple ways: live internet chat, email, and phone. Overall, Bovada is a great online casino that places the customer first.

Ignition: Live Dealer Blackjack Bonuses

Ignition is an excellent online casino and is one that boasts a lot of different variants of blackjack to be played, as well as live dealer blackjack. Ignition’s live dealer section is robust, with many games happening simultaneously, and a large array of dealers to choose from, so you can find the lucky table for you. In addition to their live dealer tables, they have automated tables that have a lot of different types of blackjack, so you can find the specific type of blackjack you want to play. If you can, look for a table with a 3:2 payout ratio instead of a 6:5 - it’s not the biggest deal if you can’t find it, but it will help you make money and stay in the black when playing blackjack.

Slots.lv: Live Dealer Blackjack

Now, you might look at the name Slots.lv and assume that this website is built around the idea of playing slot machines. You wouldn’t expect to see blackjack, would you? Well, you should. Slots.lv is a fully functional online casino, with an entire section devoted to live dealer games, the vast majority of which are blackjack. Slots.lv offers an excellent selection of blackjack variants and a robust live dealer section that has a lot of different dealers at all hours of the day. No matter what time it is, no matter where you live, you can find a table full of real people to play blackjack with if that’s what you want, or you can find a lone dealer to play one on one. However you want to play, Slots.lv has you covered.

How Does Live Dealer Blackjack Work

Well, it works the same way as normal, in-person blackjack. The only difference is that instead of being at an actual table with the dealer, you are being dealt cards over the internet. You can see them and everything, though - the casinos understand that it is important that you trust the live dealers, so they make sure everything is on the up and up. There are no real major differences between live action blackjack and online blackjack with live dealers other than the obvious online part, so have fun - you already know what to do!

How To Play Live Dealer Blackjack Online

The way we look at it, it's not hard to get playing online blackjack. Sites are easy to find, tables are abundant, and the live dealer minimum and maximums are well posted. There are about six steps to playing online blackjack. Here’s how it normally goes:

  • Step 1: Sign up at the online casino of your choice.
  • Step 2: Use whatever deposit method you would like to deposit funds into your casino account.
  • Step 3: Find a table that you would like to play at, using whatever criteria you value for table selection.
  • Step 4: Pick a username for that table, so that they will know what to call you.
  • Step 5: Start playing blackjack!
  • Step 6: Withdraw your winnings via whatever method you would like, or reinvest them into playing more!

Live Dealer Blackjack For Real Money

Of course you can play online blackjack for real money! That’s why we’re here, and that’s why you’re here. Live dealer blackjack at all of the casinos we’ve discussed so far will be played with real money, and that means you have to manage your bankroll properly. Managing your bankroll is a skill that is necessary for real money live dealer blackjack - you don’t want to go broke immediately, you want to play smart and play hard.

Live Dealer Blackjack For Free

Sometimes casinos will offer games for free, as practice. This doesn’t happen often, but it can happen. When they do this, there will be no prize support - you just enter and play as practice, and nothing else. Generally these games do not have live dealers, however - those are employees, and their attention is needed on paying customers. If you do find one, it can be a useful tool for learning the game, however.

Live Blackjack Online Usa

Mobile Live Dealer Blackjack Apps

Most of the offshore casino websites do not have apps, for multiple reasons. First, they don’t necessarily want you downloading anything - and that’s good for you. Second, they would have to go through US based companies to get their apps on the App Store, and that’s a legal headache. Instead, what they do is they design their websites to work well on mobile devices. This means that when you visit an online casino on a mobile device, you’ll see a mobile optimized version of that website, that retains full functionality, but works on touchscreen interfaces. It’s a win-win!

Types Of Live Dealer Online Blackjack

Generally, there are two major types of online blackjack: Classic Blackjack and Early Payout Blackjack. Classic blackjack is the typical game that you know and love. You play to 21, hit or stand, the whole thing. Look, you’re on a blackjack website, you probably know what classic blackjack is. Early payout blackjack adds a little bit of a wrinkle to the game. You can ask for an early payout at any time during the hand, so if you’re in trouble, you can dip out of it. The house edge for early payout blackjack is fairly low, and that makes it an excellent choice for online blackjack players.

So, some states have live casinos that you can physically go to if you want to play legal blackjack with a live dealer. Here is a list of states that have active casinos

States With Blackjack In Casinos

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

For those whose state is not on the list, you have a few options. First, you could travel to one of the casinos located in one of those states if you are fairly near to it. Second, you could use the online casinos discussed previously in this article. There are a lot of online casinos on the internet, so take your time and find the one that fits you the best.

Is Live Dealer Blackjack Rigged?

Not at all. Blackjack is one of the fairest games that you can find in any casino, online or otherwise. The payout ratio for blackjack tends to be above 98%, which means that the casino rake on the game is generally below 2%. Compare this to slot machines, which have a payout ratio in the low 80%’s, and you start to see that blackjack looks like a very profitable option as far as fairness goes in a casino. Every game in a casino is meant to beat you - the house always wins. Of those games that are meant to beat you, blackjack stands alone as perhaps the one in which the biggest edges against the house can be achieved.

Up until a few years ago, online blackjack was always played with automated dealers and graphical representations of playing cards. That form of blackjack is still around, but now we have live dealer blackjack available at many casino sites.

What makes live dealer blackjack different is that it uses human dealers and real playing cards combined with live webcams to bring a more authentic casino experience to your computer. Instead of playing with a robotic dealer and pictures of cards, you play with a real person who handles real cards on video in front of you.

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It all works with the help of live, streaming webcams. In live dealer games, the casino sets up an actual casino with tables, dealers, cards and webcams. Meanwhile, you use your mouse to send commands to the dealer. So if you decide to hit, the dealer will see that and give you another card.

Some people feel more comfortable with live dealer blackjack because it has more of a physical aspect. You can see the cards and watch how the dealer handles those cards. This makes for a more realistic experience when compared to watching digital cards on a digital table.

The Live Dealer Blackjack Experience

The first time you play live dealer blackjack, you’ll see that it’s quite a bit different than the online blackjack you’re used to. The first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a real dealer in front of you. It feels a little funny at first if you’re used to playing at automated tables without dealers.

The next thing you’ll notice is the noise. There’s a lot going on at a live dealer table. Not only will you hear the dealer talking to players and wishing them good luck, but you’ll also hear the cards sliding across the table, the shuffle machine in action and sometimes even the sounds of other games being played.

There’s a little background noise because other games are usually being played. At a minimum, most casino sites have live dealer blackjack, roulette and baccarat. They put those games all in the same room just like a regular casino. I never found the background noise to be intrusive or annoying, but consider this a heads up so you know what to expect.

Interacting with the dealer is pretty simple. You don’t need to type out commands or speak into a microphone or anything like that. You can just use your mouse to click the “hit” and “stay” buttons like you would in other forms of online blackjack. The difference here is that the human dealer will see those commands and then handle the cards accordingly.

I have even seen some live dealer casinos that have a muted television behind the dealer showing the news. This is done to show you that the games are indeed live and legit. However, I don’t think it’s a big deal because it’s pretty obvious that the dealers are real people complying with your betting commands.

All in all, live dealer blackjack is closer to playing in person at a real casino than it is to playing at a regular online casino. The ambiance, smiling dealers and cards all make it feel like you’re peeking into a real casino and relaying commands to someone on the inside. It’s a cool experience and it’s worth checking out if you have a chance.

Here’s a picture of what it looks like in action:

Pros and Cons of Live Blackjack

One downside to live dealer blackjack is that it moves at a significantly slower pace. Because it uses real dealers, you have to wait for the dealer to shuffle and hand out the cards to each player. Regular online blackjack moves quicker because the computer shuffles and handles the cards at superhuman speed.

A second “con” is that you have a time limit in which to make decisions. Live dealer tables are shared with other players and they expect you to help keep the game moving just like it would be if you played at a real casino in Vegas. Regular internet blackjack is played with just you and the computer, so you can take as long as you want to make each decision.

Best Live Blackjack Sites

The advantages of live dealer blackjack are numerous. For one, it’s a much more realistic experience. Being able to watch the dealer, send her commands and watch her deal the cards feels just like playing at a casino.

It can also be nice sharing the table with other players. Yes, that does make the game run slower, but it also adds a social element to the game. Regular online blackjack is a solitary experience. When you play and chat with other people, it doesn’t feel so darn lonely.

And finally, some people find it easier to trust live dealer blackjack. I personally don’t have any issues with regular online blackjack, but I know some people have a hard time trusting the software to deal a fair game. That’s understandable and the live aspect goes a long ways in building trust between you and the casino.

Card Counting at Live Dealer Blackjack

So, one of the big questions regarding live dealer blackjack is whether or not card counting is possible. After all, you’re playing with real cards and the deck isn’t constantly shuffled like it is at regular online blackjack tables. Could you actually count cards and turn the edge in your favor?

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The answer is mostly no. I say “mostly” because I haven’t studied every live dealer game on the internet and cannot say with 100% confidence that it’s impossible everywhere. However, the casinos at which I’ve played live dealer blackjack take certain precautions that make it impossible to gain an advantage.

For one, online blackjack sites are well aware of the risk presented by card counters. Their dealers are instructed to shuffle the deck before half the cards have been dealt. In other words, “deck penetration” is too low to achieve a reliable count. You simply won’t see enough cards to gain any real advantage over the casino.

Second, online casinos aren’t bound by the same laws that govern casinos in the real world. Many gambling sites explain in their terms and conditions that card counting is not permitted. Anyone caught card counting is subject to being banned and having their account balances confiscated. In the real world, casinos may ask you to leave but they cannot just confiscate your cash when they suspect you of counting.

Gambling sites can easily detect a single person counting cards. If you suddenly increase your wagers when the count is favorable, the software will alert someone who will then watch your play. If they believe you are counting cards, they can shut you down and leave you with no recourse.

Low penetration, a slow pace of play and the risk of being caught all make it very difficult to gain any worthwhile advantage over the casino. Now, it’s possible you do you find a good game somewhere, but I haven’t found it yet. It’s best to save your card counting skill for the real world.