Live Dealer Blackjack: Play Blackjack Online With Live Dealers
11 minutes
Last Updated: March 10, 2024
Live dealer blackjack is one of the most popular games you’ll come across at modern online casinos. Featuring human dealers and real cards, it takes the gaming experience to a whole new level compared to electronic versions of the game.
Live online blackjack comes in all shapes, sizes, and formats. You’ll find tables featuring super-low minimum bets as well as those where you can bet thousands of dollars per hand – and anything in between.
On this page, we bring you all there is to know about live dealer blackjack. You’ll learn how the game is played, what different formats are available, and discover some tips to help you more often and enjoy your time at the tables.
Live Dealer Blackjack in a Nutshell: How It Works
Live blackjack games at online casinos are similar to those you’ll come across in a physical casino. There is a blackjack table, a dealer, and a shoe containing a certain number of decks (usually between six and eight).
The dealer will draw cards from the shoe to deal the hands and lay them in front of the players occupying virtual seats. These cards are larger than the ones used in regular casinos to make them easier to read on the screen.
All this is streamed in real-time using high-definition cameras, so players get to see every action the dealer takes. They can also interact with the dealer using the live chat feature.
Once the initial cards are dealt, an interactive interface allows you to choose your option when it’s your turn to act: stand, hit, split, double, etc. When you make your choice, the dealer receives a notification and acts accordingly.
The live dealer blackjack experience is very similar to the one in a brick-and-mortar casino. The biggest difference is that you aren’t using physical chips to place the bets.
Most Popular Live Dealer Blackjack Variations
The term live dealer blackjack encompasses a great number of variations you’ll find online. From classical, over single-deck blackjack to different variations with side bets and special rules, there are many options to choose from.
| Variation | Description | Developer |
| Classic Blackjack | Traditional blackjack game, without any gimmicks. It plays exactly the same as games in brick-and-mortar casinos. | Evolution Gaming |
| Speed Blackjack | Players get the next card in order they choose the action. This version plays much quicker than most live blackjack variants. | Evolution Gaming |
| Infinite Blackjack | Live dealer blackjack with infinite number of players. Everyone plays the same hand but makes decisions for themselves. | Evolution Gaming |
| Lightning Blackjack | Played with classic rules, but adds a win multiplier of up to 25x for your next hand. | Evolution Gaming |
| Quantum Blackjack | Multipliers are attached to random cards at a start of a round. If you are dealt cards with multipliers, your win is multiplied by up to 10x. | Playtech |
| Cashback Blackjack | All standard rules apply, but players can use the cashback option in every round | Playtech |
| Freebet Blackjack | Players get to place some bets for free, without risking their own money, but the dealer bust on 22 results in a push. | Evolution Gaming |
The above table shows some of the most popular live dealer blackjack variants you’ll encounter, but there are more. Casinos and game providers constantly try to add more variety and make the gaming experience as engaging and as exciting as possible.
While having this variety is great, it also underscores the importance of reading rules for the particular variation before you start.
Even if you’re a blackjack veteran, some of these variants are available exclusively at online casinos, and it’s essential to understand all the mechanics of the game before you put any money on the line.
How to Play Live Dealer Blackjack
Although there are many different live blackjack variants online, they are usually played in a similar fashion. If you’d like to try your hand at one of these games, follow these simple steps:
- Visit the live dealer casino lobby
- Select the blackjack tab
- Pick the blackjack table you’d like to join and click on it
- Click on a seat at the table to join the game
- You can usually join multiple seats, provided they are free
- Wait for the next hand to start
- Place your wager using the betting menu that pops up in the middle of the screen
- When you receive your cards, you’ll use the same menu to make your decisions (hit, stand, split, insurance, etc.)
If you’re new to live dealer blackjack, this may feel a bit intimidating and rushed at first, but you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. You can always start with a few smaller bets to get a feel for the game and then move to whatever stakes you’re used to.
Keep in mind that you can always ask questions to a dealer using the chat function as long as you’re actively playing the game. Usually, they’ll take a few moments to explain whatever might be confusing you, especially since other players might have similar questions, so it helps make everyone’s experience better.
Live Dealer Blackjack & Card Counting: Does It Work?
Experienced gamblers know that counting cards is the only way to overcome the house edge and beat the casino. In brick-and-mortar venues, it can be done to some degree, but it is becoming increasingly difficult due to the improved security measures these venues have in place.
But what about live blackjack online? Can card counting work, and will you get in trouble for it?
Although the internet is full of misleading information on this particular topic, the answer is very simple and probably not what you want to hear. Counting cards at live dealer blackjack will get you nowhere.
Online casinos will not try to stop you from counting cards, but it simply doesn’t work because decks are reshuffled far too often for it to be effective. It never happens that the shoe is dealt so far out that the information you gathered by counting becomes actually useful.
There is certainly no harm in doing it, and it can be a great way to practice for real casino play, but it won’t help you beat the house edge.
That said, knowing the basic blackjack strategy is still essential. Every decision you make matters, and if you aren’t familiar with the basic strategy, the house edge can increase from a measly 0.5% to 4% or 5%, which is a huge difference.
Live Dealer vs. Electronic Blackjack: Which Is Better?
Those who have been around online casinos for a while know that blackjack games have been available for almost as long as online gambling itself.
Original blackjack games were played in a digital format, of course, and live dealer tables have only been introduced relatively recently. If we compare the two, which one is a better pick for the player?
Electronic blackjack is governed by the random number generator, and the outcome of every hand is generated by the computer. Live dealer blackjack gives you the ability to see the physical cards as they come out of the shoe, and there is no mystery.
Both of these games are fair and random, but some players prefer the ability to see what’s going on, and if you’re one of them, then live dealer games are for you.
Live dealer blackjack tables feature multiple players and limited betting times. Other players can influence the flow of the game by taking too long to act or not really knowing what they’re doing. Although this doesn’t matter for your results, in the long run, it can be quite annoying.
If these types of things ruin your gaming experience, electronic blackjack may be a better option. You get full control of the speed of the game and don’t have to worry about other players. It’s just you against the (virtual) dealer.
So, to answer the question, neither variation is better per se. You should play whatever you enjoy more at a given moment. As long as you stick to reputable casinos, you can be sure that the electronic and live blackjack games you play will be fair and random, and that’s the most important thing.
Live Dealer Blackjack Tips
Although card counting doesn’t work in live dealer blackjack, and you can’t beat the house, there are still some things you can do to ensure the most pleasant experience every time you play. Below, we share a few useful tips to achieve that goal every time you play.
Pick Your Live Dealer Blackjack Table Carefully
When you enter the live dealer casino lobby of a large gambling site, you’ll be overwhelmed by options. There are so many different variations to choose from that it’s all too easy to get confused.
Take your time when scrolling through these different options, and make sure you’re joining the table you want to play. While all variations bring their own flavor and excitement, it’s important to stick to the ones you understand and know how to play.
Read the Rules
Tying in with the previous advice, you always want to take a couple of minutes to read the rules of blackjack variation that you haven’t played before. Don’t just assume they’re all the same because they aren’t.
Some of these games offer different side bets; others may have special win multipliers. There are also variations where you get to place free bets in certain situations. You don’t want to miss opportunities to win big simply because you weren’t aware of everything the game had to offer.
Don’t Take Too Much Time
The last thing you want to do when playing live dealer blackjack is make a hasty decision in a hand that ends up costing you money. Take the time you need to make the right play.
That said, you’re usually not the only player at the table, so it’s a nice gesture not to take more time than you need. If you know what the right play is, click it and let the action move on to the next player.
Online blackjack games have timers, so you’re entitled to use the full amount of time allotted to you but don’t do it just because you can. Be mindful of other players and try to do your part to make their gaming experience enjoyable because that’s what you want the other players to do as well.
Don’t Play Too Many Boxes
Playing four or five boxes may seem like a good idea as you’re increasing the number of hands you get to play, but we’d advise against it. Since you’re playing a game where the house has an edge, the more hands you play, the more you’ll be losing in the long run.
One or two boxes should be more than enough and allow you to get a good value for your gambling bankroll. Plus, you’re also allowing other people to join the game, which is a polite thing to do. Even online, finding a seat at live tables can be a difficult task during rush hours.
Stay Focused on the Game
Things can get a bit slow at live dealer blackjack tables when all seats are filled, especially if there are one or two less experienced players. During these times, you’ll get the urge to do something else on the side while waiting for your turn.
It’s easy to give in to this temptation, but if you lose the focus of the game, you might miss opportunities to double or split or make a wrong call. Try to avoid this, and if the game really feels too slow, simply stop and come back later.
Live Dealer Blackjack Summary: Is This Game for You?
In many ways, live blackjack online games offer the best of both worlds. You get the excitement of live casino action while playing from the comfort of your home without spending any additional time or money traveling to an actual brick-and-mortar venue.
These games also provide a certain level of social interaction with the dealer and other players, and that’s something that you can’t put a number of. For many people, these are the main factors to visit a casino in the first place.
Live dealer blackjack has its downsides, too, as it can be a bit slow at times or require you to make your decisions super quickly (at speed tables). So, there are two sides to this coin.
All in all, most people who enjoy playing blackjack at their local casino will love the live tables offered at online casinos as well. If you belong to this group or are looking for something new and exciting, definitely give it a try before you make up your mind!
