Online Blackjack for Real Money

Casino and Game Betting Expert
Written by: Joe Falchetti , Expert in Online Casinos, Betting, and Poker

Online blackjack is the most popular casino game, where you win by getting close to 21 without going over or having the dealer bust. Playing blackjack for real money combines strategy, excitement, and better chances to win.

We cover the best online blackjack casinos, the different games you can play, and all of the helpful insights to help you win. It’s important to pick the right real money blackjack site, as you test your skills and luck.

Learn how to play, strategies to help you beat the dealer, discover top-rated online blackjack casinos, and start winning real cash today!

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Real Money Online Blackjack Benefits & Drawbacks

  • Play and win real money.
  • Access to multiple blackjack game variants.
  • House edge is one of the lowest among table games.
  • Wide range of betting limits, side bets, and features.
  • Basic strategy improves your odds of winning.
  • Can’t count cards with online blackjack games.
  • Constant card shuffling make predictions/counting impossible.
  • Blackjacks only pay 3:2 on most games.

Best Blackjack Online USA Casinos for Real Money

Our list of top-rated blackjack sites come with strong site security, trusted banking methods, quick payouts, plenty of blackjack game variants, and valuable bonuses. Explore the best real money blackjack casinos for US players and start playing!

Best for Amount of Blackjack Games: Red Dog Casino

Red Dog Casino Blackjack Games

Red Dog Casino offers a wide range of games, giving you plenty of different blackjack games to play for real money.

What makes them stand out? They give you 33 blackjack games to pick from — from classic versions to interesting variants and side bets. You can find and play titles like Single-Deck Blackjack, Vegas Strip, Super 7, European, and 21 Burn.

If you know the name of the game, use their search function to find it quickly. Or make your way to the blackjack section and choose from among their options.

One downside is that you are limited to using credit cards and 6 cryptos when make a deposit. No checks or bank wires are accepted. However, one big positive is that you can request a payout through your credit card; which most others sites we’ve played at do not offer.

Red Dog remains dedicated to delivering a friendly and reliable gaming experience for blackjack players.

Top Features

  • Blackjack contributes 20% toward bonus rollover.
  • 33 blackjack games.
  • Betting Limits: $1 – $5,000
  • Has live dealer blackjack tables.
  • Ongoing promotions and a free-to-join loyalty program.
Red Dog Casino
Red Dog Review
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Best for Blackjack Side Bets: Super Slots Casino

Super Slots Casino Blackjack Games

Super Slots Casino comes with 27 blackjack games, but what makes it stand out to us is the fact that most come with interesting side bets!

While we normally do not recommend betting on side bets, there is no problem if you want to have some fun. Some games you can test out are Lightning Jack and Perfect Pairs Blackjack.

Some of the games come with interesting gameplay mechanics without needing to place any side bets, like Double Up Blackjack and Blackjack Duel.

We recommend not claiming a bonus if you plan on only playing blackjack, as it only contributes 5% toward the rollover.

Look forward to great variants and side bets when you play blackjack for real money at Super Slots Casino.

A great alternate to Super Slots is Wild Casino, offering the same games and perks, with a slightly better reputation.

Top Features

  • Daily free roll blackjack tournaments with guaranteed prize pools.
  • Plenty of live dealer blackjack tables.
  • Betting Limits: $1 – $5,000.
  • 27 blackjack games to choose from.
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Editors Blackjack Site Pick: DuckyLuck Casino

DuckyLuck Casino Blackjack Games

DuckyLuck Casino is a top online casino licensed in Curaçao adding a layer of credibility. They have 8 blackjack games that are the most popular variations. Not as many as other sites, but they have a solid lineup.

You’ll find the popular versions like single deck, double deck, and multi-hand blackjack. These will keep you entertained and profitable. One downside is that the betting limits are lower than others, with $1 up to $500 per hand.

It is the perfect site for any blackjack player as they can deposit using multiple cryptos, credits cards, and other secure methods. Payout options are limited, and some of them come with fees.

This is one casino you can claim a bonus at, as playing blackjack contributes 10% towards clearing your bonuses. It is double what you can find at other sites.

Top Features

  • Betting Limits: $1 – $500.
  • The casino offers 5 different live dealer blackjack tables.
  • 8 different blackjack titles.
  • Blackjack contributes 10% toward wagering requirements.
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All About Real Money Blackjack

Jump to the section you want to know more about.

The Best Online Blackjack Games to Play for Real Money

Below are the most popular real money blackjack games that offer the best odds of winning. They come with great features, vivid graphics, and some of the highest payouts.

Blackjack Game RTP Game Provider Best for
RTP 99.5% Game Provider Nucleus Gaming Best for Best House Edge
RTP 99.5% Game Provider Woohoo Gaming Best for Most Players
RTP 97.21% Game Provider RivalGaming Best for Side Bets
RTP 99.63% Game Provider BGaming Best for Higher Profits
RTP 99.49% Game Provider Nucleus Gaming Best for Interesting Gameplay

Breakdown of Online Blackjack Games

You’ll find several variations of blackjack at online casinos, each with different rules and features to make it more exciting. Here are the most popular real money blackjack variants you’ll find.

Single Deck Blackjack

Avg. House Edge: 0.15% – 0.5%

Single deck blackjack is the best variation to play at any online casino. The reason is that the house edge is one of the best you can find among all blackjack games, as low as 0.15%!

With only a single deck, it is more likely to hit higher value cards than if there were multiple decks.

European Blackjack

Avg. House Edge: 0.4% – 0.6%

European blackjack is similar to regular blackjack, but the dealer stands on Soft 17. This makes the house edge slightly higher.

The gameplay is different as well, as the dealer won’t take a second card until after the player has made their decisions.

Perfect Pairs

Avg. House Edge: 0.5% – 6%

This is your standard blackjack game with 6 decks, with the added Perfect Pairs side bet. The game itself comes with a standard house edge, but the side bet has 12.54% house edge.

The draw is its payouts; around 6:1 up to 25:1.

We recommend staying away from this side bet unless you want to have fun or try your luck. Just understand you may lose more money than you win.

Multi-Hand Blackjack

Avg. House Edge: 0.2% – 0.7%

Just like the name implies, it allows a player to bet on multiple hands during the same game. Instead of playing one hand, you can play up to three different hands.

This can give you the chance to increase your winnings, but it can also lead to faster losses. Make sure to use proper bankroll management.

Spanish 21

Avg. House Edge: 0.4% – 1%

Spanish 21 is a unique variant that comes with a unique deck. All of the 10’s are removed. This lowers the number of 10-value cards from 16 to 12. This tips the edge in the houses favor.

Why would anyone play this game? The casino makes up for the worse odds by offering bonuses and side bets.

Zappit Blackjack

Avg. House Edge: 1% – 1.15%

You can find this unique variation at only a few online casinos. It lets you “ZAP” away a 15, 16, or 17 on your first two cards. An added dealer 22 push rule balances the game.

21 Burn Blackjack

Avg. House Edge: 0.64%

Have you ever wanted to change one of your cards in the chance to get a better hand? 21 Burn Blackjack does exactly this, it allows you to “burn” one of your cards and get a second-chance at a better hand.

While this can get you a better hand, it can also do the opposite with a worse hand.

Due to this unique rule, the game’s house edge is slightly higher than other blackjack games.

Low Stakes Blackjack

Avg. House Edge: 0,5% – 1.15%

Low-stakes blackjack allows players to enjoy real money games without breaking the bank.

That is why low-limit tables can be found at any brick-and-mortar or online casino, with most offering wagers as low as $1 per hand.

A big perk here is that low-limit players still have access to blackjack bonuses, which are a great way to boost your bankroll.

If you can play 100 hands at $1 per hand with $100, you can play twice as much with a $200 bankroll.

Party Casino Live Blackjack

Live Dealer Blackjack

Live Blackjack is an interactive variation played against a live dealer in real time.

The game is streamed live from a casino or studio, enabling you to chat with the dealer and other players.

This version offers the most immersive online blackjack experience, replicating the excitement of playing in a brick-and-mortar casino.

For popular live-streaming tables, visit our live dealer online blackjack page.

*The house edge can vary depending on the game’s specific rules, extra features, the software developer, and the casino’s rules.

Best Blackjack Variation to Win Real Money

Single Deck Blackjack is our recommendation if you want to win real money.

Due to its single deck, the game has one of the lowest house edges in gambling at 0.15%. For this reason, not many online casinos offer it. However, you will find this variant at all the sites we featured above.

How to Play Blackjack for Real Money

This step-by-step guide teaches you how to play Blackjack for real money. If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience it before or just need a quick refresher, here’s a description of how a hand goes.

  1. Place Your Initial Bet

    Each player places a bet on the table before the cards are dealt.

    This wager goes in a small circle in front of the chip stack called the betting area. Each table has a minimum and maximum bet size.
  2. The Dealer Deals The Cards

    After all the bets are on the table, the dealers give each player two cards and deal two cards to themself.

    Player cards are both dealt face up while the dealer cards are dealt one face up and one face down. The face-down card is called the hole card.
  3. Players Make Their Decisions

    At this point, each player decides what they want to do with their hand. This step is where you choose to stand, hit, split, double, surrender, or take insurance.
  4. The Dealer Plays Out Their Hand

    Once all players are done making decisions, the dealer plays their hand. They have no options and must follow the table rules. If their hand is less than 17, they must hit.

    Some casinos have different dealer rules for soft vs. hard 17.
  5. Winners & Losers Are Decided

    If the player beats the dealer, they get a 1 to 1 payout. If you win with a natural 21, the payout is 3 to 2. When a player busts, they lose. When a person doesn’t beat the dealer, they lose.

    If you and dealer have the same total, the hand is called a push or a tie. In the case of a push, no money is won or lost.

Blackjack Rules

Below, you can find a detailed description of the rules of Blackjack. This step-by-step guide covers the goal of the game, the card values, and what choices you must make during a hand.

The objective is to beat the dealer’s hand by scoring 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. When any hand goes over 21, that is called a bust.

The goal is to beat the dealer and not bust. You can do this in two ways:

  • Have a higher hand than the dealer.
  • Don’t go over 21 when the dealer does.

Blackjack Card Values

All of the face cards and 10s get a value of 10. Aces can be 1 or 11, depending on the situation.

Every other card is worth its face value. If you have a seven and a six, you have a total of 13. A Blackjack occurs when you have an Ace and any 10 valued card.

This combo is also known as a natural 21.

blackjack rules chart - card values
blackjack rules chart - card values

Common Blackjack Hands Explained

As you know, an ace can be either a 1 or 11. That one card defines the first type of hand in Blackjack, hard or soft.

Hard Hands

Blackjack Soft Hand

Most Blackjack hands are hard hands. If you don’t hold an ace, then it’s a hard hand.

If you’ve received a third card and the value is 12 or more, then the hand is hard. These hands have no room for error because they can bust on the next card. 

Soft Hands

Blackjack Soft Hand

A soft hand is one where the ace is worth one. For example, when you have an ace and a six, you have a “soft 17.”

The value of the soft hand is that it can’t bust.

If you receive a card that would make the hand worth more than 21, you can choose to make the ace worth 1 instead of 11. 


Notable Hands to Look Out For

Best Hand in Blackjack

Blackjack Best Hand Icon

The best Blackjack hand is a two-card 21, meaning an ace and a card with the value of 10. That means King, Queen, Jack, or Ten.

When you receive a two-card 21, it’s called a Blackjack or a “natural Blackjack.” This hand beats every other hand in the game. 

Worst Hand in Blackjack

Blackjack Worst Hand icon

The worst Blackjack hand is 16. If you stand, you face high odds that the dealer will have a stronger hand. If you hit, you face high odds that you’ll bust.

This is why you should always split 8s – not because of the strength of a hand worth 8, but because you avoid the worst hand.

Best Hands to Split

Always split aces and 8s in Blackjack. Roughly one-third of all cards in a deck have a value of 10. If you split aces, this means you have two excellent chances at a 21.

Also, since 16 is a lousy hand, you split the 8s to give yourself two opportunities to improve on 16. 18s aren’t perfect, but they win more hands than 16s will. 

Finally, while splitting other numbers depends on the dealer’s up-card, you should never split tens, fours, or fives.

Two tens are a good hand, two fives equal ten, and two fours equal eight, so these have better chances of winning than most other hands.

Best Hands to Split in Blackjack

Odds of Winning Real Money Blackjack

Before playing your first hand, understand that the house edge always gives the advantage to the dealer. The player’s odds of winning a hand of blackjack are 42.22%, while the dealer has a 49.1% chance to win.

The remaining 8.48% of hands will be a tie, also known as a push. These odds are based on a standard round and do not account for strategy or alternative pay structures, such as 6:5 payouts.

In the following sections, you’ll learn more about the probability of busting out and the odds of getting specific hands in a game.

Probability of Busting 

If you want to improve your odds of winning, you need to start by understanding the probability of busting a hand. The charts below break down the probabilities of the player and dealer busting based on what they are holding or showing.

Player’s Hand Busting

This table will help you understand the likelihood of busting when hitting with various hands.

You can use this in conjunction with the dealer’s table to help decide whether to hit or let the dealer take the chance.

Please note that when you make a 21, that is considered an automatic win, or a push if the dealer also has 21. You are not allowed to hit on a 21.

Hand ValueProbability The Player Busts
11 or Lower0%
1231%
1339%
1456%
1558%
1662%
1769%
1877%
1985%
2092%
21NA

Dealer Busting 

This table is helpful as it can help you make better decisions based on the dealer’s up-card. The probability of the dealer busting will differ from the player’s probability for multiple reasons.

First, the dealer’s odds are based on their upcard. Next, dealers have strict game rules they must adhere to. Lastly, the dealer acts after the player and can see the player’s result. 

Dealer’s CardStand On Soft 17Hit on Soft 17
Ace17%20%
235%36%
337%38%
440%40%
542%42%
642%44%
726%26%
824%24%
923%23%
1023%23%

Online Blackjack Payouts

The payout structure is important because it directly influences the house edge and the overall odds of winning.

The better the payout structure, the lower the overall house edge, assuming you’re playing with proper strategy and avoiding side bets. By picking favorable payout structures, you put yourself in the best position to win the game.

General Blackjack Payouts Table

OutcomePayoutExample BetExample WinningsTotal Return
Blackjack 3:2 (1.5x)$10$15$25
Standard Win1:1$10$10$20
Tie (Push)Bet Returned$10$0$10
Insurance2:1$10 + $5$5$10

Different Possible Payouts for Getting a Blackjack

3:2 Payout

This is the traditional payout structure, paying 3 to 2, or 1.5x your bet on a blackjack hand.

For example, if you bet $10, a blackjack will pay $25. The house edge in this game is between 0.5% and 1.5%.

6:5 Payout

This structure is becoming more popular at casinos as it has a higher house edge.

A blackjack pays 6 to 5, or 1.2x your bet. For example, if you bet $10 and hit Blackjack, you get $22. The house edge is between 2% and 3% on 6:5 games.

2:1 Payout

In some very rare instances, you may find a table paying 2:1 on a blackjack.

In this case, a $10 bet will return $30 on a blackjack. This actually puts the edge slightly in the player’s favor.

Basic Blackjack Strategy

At the basic level, blackjack is a game of math and statistics. A running formula can determine the best play for every turn.

A basic strategy chart is a visual guide that shows the optimal decision for every possible hand combination against the dealer’s up-card. This chart helps players minimize the house edge and make the best choices on hitting, standing, double down, or splitting.

Gamblers rely on these main actions to win against the dealer. Learn more about them to identify when to take any of them.

Hit or Stand

A hit is when you take another card to improve your hand. But if you like the cards you have, then you stand and don’t take any more cards.

Pro Tip: Always hit if your hand is 8 or lower, as you can’t bust. Stand if you have 17 or higher, as the risk of busting is too great.

Split

You can split if you receive two cards of the same rank. This divides the two cards into separate hands. You could also re-split, giving you three hands to play.

Pro Tip: Split pairs of Aces and 8s; Aces give you a chance for two strong hands while splitting 8s avoids a poor hand of 16.

Doubling

Your next choice may be to double down, which means you double your bet after the initial deal if you think you can win with the next card.

Pro Tip: Double down on a hard 11, as the odds of hitting 21 or close to it are high.

Surrender

Some tables offer this option after the initial deal. If you think you have little chance of winning, you can surrender your hand and keep half of your bet.

Pro Tip: Surrender when you have a hard 16 against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace, as the chances of winning are very low.

Blackjack Strategy Chart

Using this blackjack strategy chart will give you the correct play in any situation. So, before you practice your first hand, print or screenshot our free strategy table.

Blackjack Strategy Card

How to Read the Card

This blackjack strategy table has your starting hand in the left column and the dealer’s first card in the top row. You can find the best play for each hand in the spot where the two cross on the chart.

  • hit Hit means to take a single additional card.
  • double Double means to double down. This move doubles your wager.
  • stand Stand means take no more cards.
  • split Splitting creates two hands from a pair. This move also doubles your wager.
  • hard hand The H stands for a hard hand. So, H5 is a three and a two.
  • soft hand The S is a soft hand where an ace is 11. When the ace is a one, you have a hard hand.

How to Use the Chart as a Cheat Sheet

You can use this blackjack chart as a cheat sheet to play strategically. But, how does it work? Here’s an example: if you have a six and a seven, and the dealer shows a seven, you should do the following:

  1. 6 + 7 = 13, so you go down the chart’s left side and look for H13 (This hand is “hard” since no ace has an 11 value).

  2. Move across the row to where the dealer has a 7, and you see the correct play is to Hit. Notice that if the dealer had a 6 instead of a 7, the right choice is to stand.

Online Blackjack Strategy for Each Hand

Here are all the best blackjack strategies based on the statistics. If you follow these rules, you’ll reduce the house edge and have a better chance of winning real money as you play online blackjack.

Below are the hands you’ll see most often. Use this guide to determine when to hit, stand, split, and double.

When to Split Pairs

  • Pair of 2s, 3s, or 7s: Split against a dealer 7 or lower, and Hit against an 8 or higher.
  • Pair of 4s: Split against a dealer 5 or 6, and Hit against anything else.
  • Pair of 5s: Don’t Split. Instead, double against a 2-9, and Hit against a 10 or Ace.
  • Pair of 6s: Split against a dealer 6 or lower, and Hit against a 7 or higher.
  • Pair of 8s: Split against a dealer 9 or lower, and Hit against a 10 or Ace.
  • Pair of 9s: Stand against a dealer 7, 10, or Ace, and Split against all other cards.
  • Pair of 10s: Always stand with these hands regardless of the dealer’s cards.
  • Pair of Aces: Always split these hands regardless of the dealer’s cards.

If You Can’t Double After Splitting

  • Pair of 2s or 3s: Hit if the dealer shows a 2 or 3.
  • Pair of 4s: Hit if the dealer has a 5 or 6.
  • Pair of 6s: Hit if the dealer has a 2.

Hard Hand Decisions

  • Hard 5, 6, 7, or 8: Always hit these hands regardless of the dealer’s cards.
  • Hard 9: Double Down if the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6. Otherwise, you Hit.
  • Hard 10: Double Down unless the dealer shows a 10 or Ace, then you Hit.
  • Hard 11: Double Down unless the dealer has an Ace up, then you Hit.
  • Hard 12: Stand against a dealer’s 4, 5, or 6, and Hit against all other cards.
  • Hard 13, 14, 15, or 16: Stand against a dealer 2 through 6 and Hit against a 7 or higher.
  • Hard 17+: Always stand with these hands regardless of the dealer’s cards.

Soft Hand Plays

  • Soft 13 or 14: Double against a dealer 5 or 6 and Hit against all other cards.
  • Soft 15 or 16: Double against a dealer 4, 5, or 6, and Hit against all other cards.
  • Soft 17: Double against a dealer 3 through 6 and Hit against all other cards.
  • Soft 18: Stand against a 2, 7, or 8, Double against a 3-6, and Hit against a 9, 10, or Ace.
  • Soft 19 or 20: Always stand with these hands regardless of the dealer’s cards.

Hand Surrender Strategy

  • Hard 15: Surrender if the dealer shows a 10.
  • Hard 16: Surrender if the dealer shows a 9, 10, or Ace.

Advanced Blackjack Strategies (Proceed with Caution)

The following advanced blackjack strategies can help you play through streaks and better manage money. Remember, some of these advanced strategies won’t help when playing blackjack online; like counting cards.

Once you’re comfortable with basic strategy, consider learning advanced techniques like card counting. This can further improve your odds of winning.

Card Counting

Card counting assigns a value to each card in an attempt to predict the next card in line. We have an entire page dedicated to counting cards in blackjack.

Remember, without a basic strategy, counting cards is useless.

Most online casino software shuffles after each hand, making card counting impossible. These tactics should be reserved for live dealer online games or brick-and-mortar casinos.

Martingale Betting Strategy

This involves doubling your bet after losing and reverting to your original wager after winning.

For instance, if you lose $1 on your first hand, you bet $2 on your next. If you lose the second, bet $4 on the next hand, and so on. Then after you win, you return to your original $1 bet. If you play this system, be aware of the table betting limits and bring a lot of money to play in losing streaks.

Play at Tables With Fewer Decks 

Blackjack has one of the best odds of all casino games. With the right rules and proper gameplay, you can reduce the house edge to below 1%.

The house edge is a percentage of what players will lose over time. Tables with smaller decks and 3:2 blackjack payouts have a better player advantage. You have the best odds when you play with fewer decks in the shoe.

Ace Sequencing

Ace sequencing is related to shuffle tracking. This technique tries to determine when the aces will be dealt. The idea is to remember “key cards” that go on top of the ace in the discard rack, and after the shuffle when you see those key cards come out together you make a large bet hoping to catch the ace. 

If you start tracking the number of Aces played versus the number of cards left, you have a better idea of when one is coming up.

Online Blackjack Tips to Winning Real Money

Remember, the rules may vary from one blackjack table to another. Here are some tips you should take into account when playing for real money.

  1. Stick to Your Budget:

    Set a budget for each session and never exceed it. This helps manage your bankroll and prevents overspending.
  2. Use Basic Strategy:

    Always follow the basic strategy chart to make optimal decisions for each hand. This reduces the house’s edge and improves your chances of winning.
  3. Avoid Side Bets:

    Side bets usually have a high house edge. While they might be fun, they are not favorable in the long run.
  4. Take Breaks:

    Regular breaks help you stay focused and avoid fatigue, leading to better decision-making.
  5. Don’t Chase Losses:

    Avoid the temptation to increase your bets to recover losses. Stick to your strategy and betting limits.
  6. Stay Focused:

    Alcohol and distractions can impair your judgment. Stay focused to make the best decisions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Blackjack

  • Ignoring Basic Strategy: Not following the strategy chart increases the house’s edge and leads to poor decisions.
  • Overestimating Card Counting: Relying solely on card counting without mastering basic strategy can result in mistakes and losses.
  • Chasing Losses: Increasing bets to recover losses often leads to larger losses. Stick to your betting limits.
  • Taking Insurance: Generally, a bad bet that rarely pays off and increases the house’s edge.
  • Playing When Tired or Distracted: Fatigue and distractions lead to poor decisions. Stay focused and well-rested.
  • Not Managing Bankroll: Failing to set and stick to a budget can result in overspending and significant losses.
  • Misunderstanding Game Rules: Not fully understanding the rules can lead to costly mistakes. Learn the specific rules of the game you’re playing.

Casino Bonuses for Blackjack Players

Nearly every online casino has blackjack tables and bonuses you can claim, but that doesn’t mean they always work together. In fact, many offers only let you clear the rollover and wagering requirements with specific games.

Also, blackjack-exclusive bonuses are hard to find.

Still, there’s a diverse range of casino bonuses that include blackjack games, so picking the one that suits your needs is important.

One of the most popular types of bonuses is the deposit match bonus. Here you receive a percentage of your initial deposit back as bonus money that you can use on different games, including Blackjack.

Blackjack Bankroll Management

Always remember the first principle of bankroll management: only bet what you’re comfortable losing.

The second principle is to keep blackjack funds separate from your other expenses. This is the only way to track all your playing sessions, expenses, winnings, and losses in detail. If you can have it in a separate account, we recommend you do so.

From there, our casino specialists suggest splitting the money into a total bankroll, a session bankroll, and a bankroll in hand.

  • Total Bankroll: It is the entire budget you set aside for playing blackjack. The pros recommend at least 300 times your average wager.
  • Session Bankroll: A portion of your total budget for each playing session. Our team suggests it should be one-third of your Total Bankroll for a 3-hour session.
  • Bankroll in Hand: Generally, you should only bet around a maximum of 1% per hand of your starting session bankroll. So, if you have $200, you should wager around $1-$2 per hand.

This amount gives you a significant chip stack and helps prevent you from going broke on a random bad streak. So, the size of your blackjack bankroll ultimately depends on the size of bets you place and how long you want to play.

Many books and systems claim you can beat online blackjack using only money management. While it is a tool to help you play through downswings, bankroll management alone is not enough to win every time.

Calculate Your Blackjack Bankroll

The main goal of playing blackjack for real money is to have fun and walk away with some extra cash. If you just want to sit down and try to win a few hands, you don’t need a huge sum of money. However, if you are looking to play blackjack for longer, here are 3 simple ways to calculate the optimal budget for a session.

Based on Betting Units

A betting unit is an amount you plan to wager per hand. For example, if you play $5 hands, then 100 units would be $500.

The rule is that you should play with no less than 100 betting units over a 3-4 hour period. So, if you plan to be at the blackjack table and bet $5 a hand, you should have at least a $500 session bankroll.

Remember, that doesn’t mean you can play only 100 hands. There will be wins, losses, and additional wagers to make along the way.

Bet SizeMinimum Bankroll
$5$500
$10$1,000
$25$2,500
$50$5,000
$100$10,000

Based on Risk of Ruin

The risk of ruin is defined as your chance of losing your entire bankroll.

Think about it this way. If you start with $500 in your blackjack session, you can bet $1 all day, but if you start by betting $100, regardless of your luck, you could quickly run out of chips in just a few minutes.

The table rules, bet size, and your skills all affect this outcome.

Bet UnitsRisk of Ruin
100~60%
200~37%
300~23%
500~8%
1,000~1%

Calculating Per Day Bankroll

When you plan to play for a week or a trip to Vegas, you also need to split up your blackjack bankroll so you don’t run out of money on day one.

A good rule of thumb often suggested when traveling is to simply divide your total bankroll into daily sessions.

For example, if you have $1,000 for the week and want to sit at the table for five days, you should set aside $200 a day.

Based on a $200 daily bankroll, you should play at a table with $1-$2 wagers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most common questions readers ask about real money blackjack and how to play online from the US.

Is online Blackjack rigged?

No, online Blackjack is not rigged. Casino games and operators must follow laws and regulations that ensure legitimate random outcomes. Still, some skeptical players prefer live Blackjack since you can see the cards coming out of the shoe.

No matter the game, playing at licensed and trustworthy casinos ensures that your money and personal information are secure. Make sure you do enough research before playing. If you want to save time, check out our recommended casinos. All have an excellent reputation for reliable payouts and trustworthy titles among thousands of gamblers.

Can I count cards while playing real money Blackjack online?

It is tough to count cards when playing blackjack online. You can try at a live table, but measures are in place to prevent card counting. Most non-live casino games shuffle the cards after each hand.

Are online blackjack winnings taxable?

Yes, online blackjack winnings are taxable. Check your local gambling tax laws and talk with a professional accountant for more information.

Disclaimer: Online blackjack gambling should be fun and never represent a problem for you or your relationships. At OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos, we highly encourage our readers to gamble responsibly.

Set a gambling budget, be realistic, and set time limits. This way, you can easily enjoy casino games and have fun responsibly. 

Remember that online gambling laws often change and differ among countries and from state to state. Always be on top of your local gambling laws before playing for real money.

Also, this page contains affiliate links. This doesn’t affect the quality and honesty of our review and rating process. When you click on these links and make a purchase or sign up, our team may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The revenue generated through these links helps support the maintenance and operation of this website.

Joe Falchetti

Casino and Game Betting Expert

Joe Falchetti Expert in Online Casinos, Betting, and Poker

Joe Falchetti, aka Smokey Joe, is a former professional poker player who collaborates frequently with OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com He has been a part of the online casino and sports betting world for two decades. He's a full-time bettor and specialized writer featured in CBS Sports and Forbes.com and linked to by the New York Times.

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