Play Online Blackjack in Canada - Top Sites & Guide

What Should I Look for in a Blackjack Site?

There are plenty of online blackjack sites, but which should you choose? We keep the following factors in mind when making our selection:

Safety and Reputation

You want to find a blackjack site that is reputable and safe, with appropriate gambling licenses like the UKGC, MGA or Kahnawake License.

This ensures that your money and data will stay secure and that you have a pleasant gambling experience.

Blackjack Variation

You want to find a casino that not only offers classic online blackjack, but also other types like Blackjack Switch, Spanish 21, and more. Live blackjack is a must in our books!

Fast Payouts

Why should you wait for your hard-earned cash? When we select a blackjack site, we expect it to have a fast payout process that does not exceed 3 days.

A Closer Look at Our Recommended Blackjack Sites

We’ve established what features good blackjack sites have. But which online casino is the best fit for you? Let’s take a look.

Unibet

Secure and well-loved throughout the gambling community, Unibet is one of the best places to play online blackjack.

Their collection features 144 blackjack games with a range of live tables available.

And, don’t forget about their exclusives – the Unibet Lightning Blackjack is an exciting game only available at this casino.

888Casino

With decades of experience in the market, 888Casino is one of the most well-known and renowned brands out there

Sign up to enjoy hundreds of virtual and live casino titles, including multiple blackjack games.

We’re especially partial to 888Casino’s live section, which operates 24/7 with professional croupiers, and feels just like a land-based casino.

Bet365

Bet365 is one of the best-known betting brands in the world, and with good reason. Its impeccable reputation is second to none.

You can enjoy over 20 blackjack games at Bet365, including some exclusive live dealer games!

Advantages of Playing Blackjack Online

Unsure whether you should play online or land-based blackjack? Check out these advantages when playing online!

Stay Comfortable

Why get dressed and venture to the nearest casino when you can do it from the comfort of your home?

There’s no dress code, you don’t need to pay an entrance fee, and there’s no need to drive. These are all pros in our book!

Play at Your Pace

You always have more pressure when you’re sitting across a dealer who’s waiting for your next move.

Benefit from Better Payouts

Brick-and-mortar casinos need to cover the expenses of running a building. This is why online blackjack tends to have better payouts than land-based blackjack.

How to Play Blackjack

You now know what to look out for when searching for blackjack sites, but how do you actually play the game?

The various blackjack terms might be confusing at first, but blackjack is actually one of the easiest casino games to understand.

To do so, you need to reach the highest hand value without exceeding 21 points (hence the name 21). If you go over 21, you bust the game.

The cards have different values:

• Aces are worth 1 or 11 points
• Numbers from 2 to 9 are worth their numerical value. The 4 card adds 4 points, the 3 adds 3 and so on
• The 10, Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10 points each.

As you would expect, some card combinations are better than others.

The strongest combination in this game is the Ace with a card worth 10 points. With this pair, you reach 21 points and win that round!

This card combination is the coveted ‘natural blackjack’ and is what gives the game its name.

If you are dealt a natural blackjack, you automatically WIN that round! You will also get a bigger payout, as we will see later on.

Now that we’ve got the basics over with, let’s see how a round of blackjack plays out:

A Step-by-Step Guide to Playing Online Blackjack

As soon as the round starts, you’ll be dealt two cards.

The dealer also gets two cards: one face up and one face down!

In case the card facing up is an Ace or a 10-point card, the dealer will take a look at the second card to check for blackjack.

At this point, if neither you nor the dealer have 21 points on the first set of cards (this would be an automatic win), it’s up to you to make the next move!

You will see a few options at the side of your screen:

Let’s see what each option covers:

Stand

After checking your cards, if you’re happy with your value, you can ‘stand’ and not ask for any more cards.

Hit

If you think your hand value is too far away from 21, you can draw another card.

This is an action you can repeat until you decide to ‘stand’ or bust. As explained before, a bust is when you’re left with more than 21 points in your hand.

Of course, knowing when to hit or stand is what makes the difference between a bad, good or excellent player.

Double

Another move you can make is to double your bet. This move means that if you’ve originally bet $10, and you’ve drawn your first two cards, you can decide to double the bet to $20.

Normally, the rules only allow you to double down when your score is 9, 10 or 11.

However, there are variants of online blackjack where you can always double down.

Do keep in mind that this move carries some risk.

Doubling the initial bet forces you to draw only ONE more card and confirm the stand.

If you end up with an unsatisfactory hand, you’ll also lose twice as much.

Surrender

This is an option that you won’t often see at online blackjack games. When it’s offered, this option allows you to give up your hand and keep half of your original bet.

Split

Did you get two identical cards with the same value?

You can ask for a ‘split’, which splits your hand in two. But, you’ll have to place a second identical bet on the second hand.

In other words, you split the game but double the bet!

So when should you ask for a ‘split’?

If you have two cards of equal value, don’t ask for another card if the total point value of the cards is higher than 12. The odds of getting a 10-point card are still high.

Having two Aces is a typical situation where players always ask for a ‘split’. If the two equal cards are Aces, the play will end after you ‘split’ the game and receive the second card for each hand.

Insurance

A notification might pop up, asking you if you want to take insurance.

With this type of side bet, you always guarantee half of the amount you’ve wagered. In other words, if you bet $10 and have the chance to take insurance, you’ll only lose $5 if you lose the bet.

So insurance is always a good option, right?

NO.

It might seem like the right choice because you’re minimizing your possible losses.

The truth is, mathematics proves gamblers lose more than they win with this insurance in the long run.

That’s how to play online blackjack in a nutshell! Let’s summarize what we’ve covered:

How do you beat the dealer?

1. By drawing a hand value that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand.
2. By the dealer drawing a hand value that goes over 21.
3. By drawing a hand value of 21 on your first two cards, when the dealer does not.

How do you lose to the dealer?

1. Your hand value exceeds 21.
2. The dealers hand has a greater value than yours at the end of the round.

What to Avoid?

1. Refrain from using the surrender action.
2. Never take insurance.

What’s the Difference between a Hard Hand and Soft Hand in Blackjack?

Another term you’ll frequently find for online blackjack games is a ‘hard hand’ or a ‘soft hand’.

If one of the two cards you have is an Ace, you have a ‘soft’ hand. This is because the Ace can either be a 1 or an 11, which gives you more flexibility.

On the other hand, a ‘hard’ hand is a hand that does not contain an ace and is rigid.

What are the Odds and Payouts of Blackjack?

Payouts for classic blackjack are easy to understand.

For a normal bet win, the payout is 1:1. That is, if you bet $20, you would get another $20.

When you get a natural blackjack, the payout is 3:2, that is, if you bet $10, your payout would be $15.

You will find blackjack game variations that pay lower payouts than 3:2 for natural blackjack.

What about the blackjack house edge?

If you use basic strategy, the house edge in blackjack is only around 0.5%, making it one of the best RTP percentages.

With no strategy, the house edge for the casino creeps up to 2%.

This is still a low house edge compared to most casino games like roulette and Hold ’em (but not as low as baccarat).

Blackjack Variations

Apart from classic blackjack, there are a number of popular blackjack variations that you can play for real money at Canadian casinos. Let’s have a look:

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack Switch has a lot of similarities to classic blackjack, with some important differences:

• You are dealt two hands instead of one.
• You can exchange the top two cards between hands, which can give you the possibility of improving your hands.
• Natural blackjacks are only paid 1:1 instead of 3:2.
• A dealer hard 22 pushes all player hands except a natural.

Progressive Blackjack

With progressive blackjack, you can place an additional $1 side bet contributing to a progressive jackpot.

You have the chance to win jackpots for special card combinations. These card combinations involve Ace combinations ranging from 2 to 4, and you get a differing payout depending on your combo.

Progressive blackjack games can increase both the game’s thrill and your bankroll!

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 has a few differences that set it apart from classic blackjack:

• The player’s 21 always beats the dealer’s 21.
• It does not contain any 10-points cards. This means that reaching 21 requires a lot more cards.
• There is the opportunity for additional payouts based on specific card combinations.

These combinations include:

Live Casino Blackjack

You can enjoy the thrill of a casino from the comfort of your home thanks to live casino blackjack.

During live casino blackjack, you play against a dealer who’s streaming live from a casino.

The rules will vary depending on which table and blackjack variation you choose.

Live Casino

LeoVegas has a comprehensive live blackjack section!

Play Live Blackjack

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Top Tips to Win at Blackjack

Whichever blackjack variety you choose, your aim should always be the same:

Have fun, play responsibly, but also keep the house edge as low as possible.

This ensures you’re getting the best value for money in the long run. We won’t delve into advanced blackjack strategy here, but these few tips can help you go a long way!

Follow Basic Strategy

We’ve already mentioned this, but using some basic blackjack strategy can definitely help reduce the house edge.

Before you play a game of blackjack, take some time to look up a chart which shows you which action to take based on the hand values you have. Make the effort to memorise it, or even use it during the game itself!

Do Not Stand on ‘Soft 17’

If you have a soft 17 (an ace + another card), your two options should be ‘hit’ or ‘double’. A soft 17 hand cannot bust when taking a hit.

Avoid Betting Systems like the Martingale

You might find blackjack guides encouraging to use betting strategies like the Martingale. This system requires you to double your previous stake for every losing bet you make.

Contrary to what these guides tell you, this system can be a dangerous one that quickly burns through your bankroll.

Ready to Play Online Blackjack?

In this guide, we’ve covered where to play blackjack in Canada, how to play, and how to make the most out of your blackjack experience.

Test your knowledge at one of our top blackjack sites today!

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