Live Blackjack

Complete Guide on Live Dealer Blackjack in 2024

Live Dealer Blackjack

Ever since they became available several years ago, live dealer games have enjoyed massive popularity among online gamblers. Live casinos give you the ability to play your favorite games in a casino-like setting with professional dealers running the game. Of course, realism and atmosphere are the main advantages that live dealer games have over RNG-based games, but there’s a lot more to them.

Among all live dealer games, we can freely say that blackjack is the most popular one. In this article, we are going to tell you everything about live dealer blackjack, including instructions on how to play it, where to play it, how it works, which variations of the game exist, and more. Read on!

Playing Live Dealer Blackjack Online

As we already mentioned in our intro, live dealer blackjack has many advantages over RNG blackjack games. No matter how realistic the graphics get in RNG blackjack, nothing can replace a high-quality video stream where you can see professional dealers and a real-life table with all of the elements in place. You can also change camera angles and experience the game from different viewpoints.

Of course, many players still prefer to play the game in land-based casinos and feel the chips and cards under their fingertips, while also having the ability to communicate with the dealer and other players.

However, one thing that land-based casinos are not that great for is anonymity. If you truly value your privacy and safety, it is best that you stick to playing the game online. This way nobody will know who you are, and you can even use tactics that are not allowed in land-based casinos.

Also, live dealer games are much cheaper than those played in brick-and-mortar casinos. You don’t need to travel to a casino, so you will be saving both time and money on transportation.

These are only some of the reasons why people love dealer’s game of blackjack online. Also, the social element is not completely eradicated. You can still use the live chat option that many live dealer blackjack USA games have. The table limits vary from game to game, but most casinos have enough different games to cater to both low-risk players and high-rollers.

Where to Play

Over the years, many different software developers have made their own live blackjack studios. It often happens that a casino site has several dealer live tables coming from different providers. Almost every well-known casino operator these days has a live dealer section, and while your choices are vast, you should not pick a live blackjack casino randomly.

So, how to pick a live dealer blackjack site? Well, there are several things that you need to consider before making your choice. First, you need to think about all the different blackjack games that you want to play. If you like switching from one blackjack game to another, it’s best if you find a website with more than one blackjack variant.

Base your selection on your playstyle and bankroll. Some casino sites have higher-than-usual betting limits, which might not suit you if you’re a beginner player who likes to bet small.

In order to extend your bankroll, you should search for casinos with rewarding bonuses. While most casinos have welcome bonuses and other promotions, not all of them are compatible with live dealer games, so be careful when choosing a website based on bonus offers, and always make sure to check the terms and conditions.

How It Works

A live dealer blackjack game is played through a live stream. A dealer is recorded with multiple cameras in a casino-like studio made by the software provider. Apart from seeing the video, you will also have a digital interface through which you will be able to make bets and calls. Once you decide on your move, you will click on the corresponding button, the dealer will get a signal and act accordingly.

Since you will be paid digitally, there’s no need for the dealers to use chips, but sometimes you will see chips on the table, purely for aesthetic purposes.

In many ways, live dealer blackjack is the same as RNG-based blackjack, the major difference being that instead of a computer, the game is run by a real professional dealer.

It is also worth mentioning that live dealer games are sometimes run from a real land-based casino, rather than a studio. These are also called dual-play games, and they allow you to play alongside real players sitting at a land-based blackjack table.

How to Play

If you’ve never played live dealer games before, you might have a few questions on how to start. Don’t worry, as we are here to provide you with an easy-to-follow guide on how to start playing live dealer blackjack in minutes.

Just follow these steps and you’ll be all set:

  1. Pick a live dealer casino
    You should start by picking a casino that has plenty of live dealer games. However, you should also look at other aspects of the casino before making your choice. These aspects include things like casino bonuses, accepted payment methods, quality of software provided, mobile compatibility, customer support, and more. Only once you consider all of these factors can you be sure that you’re making an informed decision.
  2. Sign up
    Once you have made your choice, you should sign up for that casino site. The sign-up process is rather simple, and it will only take several minutes. You will provide the operator with some of your personal details, along with a username and password that you will use in the future for logging in. After you complete the registration, the operator will send you a confirmation link or an SMS code through which you will activate your newly created account.
  3. Deposit money
    The next thing you need to do before you start playing is to deposit some money into your account. Go to the casino site’s cashier page and start the deposit process by choosing one of the available payment options (credit card, e-wallet, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, etc.) and inputting the amount you wish to deposit. Most live blackjack online USA sites accept deposits as low as $10, but check every website’s minimum deposit rules just to be sure. In most cases, the deposits will go through almost immediately.
  4. Claim a bonus
    If you want to start with something extra in your account, you will look for casinos that offer live dealer bonuses. These bonuses usually match your initial deposit and allow you to use the extra money on select games. To claim a deposit, simply follow the rules of a given casino site. Make sure to place enough money into your account (minimum deposit), use the bonus code if necessary, and understand the various terms and conditions that come with the bonus, like wagering requirements, time limitations, winning caps, and more.
  5. Start playing
    Now that you have money in your account and your bonus is ready to be used, the only thing left for you to do is navigate to the casino’s live dealer section and find a live blackjack table. Wait for the game to load and start betting. Good luck!

Mobile Live Dealer Blackjack

All modern online casinos have mobile-friendly websites that allow you to play live dealer blackjack on the go. By logging in to your casino account through a mobile browser, you can access all of the same live dealer games just like you would on your desktop computer. The only true limitation that mobile games have over their desktop counterparts is that you will have less screen real-estate to work with. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be a problem if the mobile website is well optimized for smaller screens. For example, BetOnline live blackjack is designed to fit perfectly on your screen, regardless of which device you’re using.

Mobile sites use HTML5 technology that lets you play the games directly through your mobile browser, eliminating the need to download any software. However, some casino operators do have downloadable apps for iOS and Android. Apps are, in many ways, better than mobile websites, simply because they provide better navigation and a more pleasant overall user experience.

Online Live Dealer Bonuses

Not all online casino bonuses can be used on live dealer blackjack. As a matter of fact, most casino promotions are not compatible with live games and instead focus on RNG-based table games and video slots.

However, some casinos offer a wide variety of live dealer tables and include a few offers that specifically relate to live games. These bonuses come in several forms:

Welcome bonuses

These promotions reward all first-time customers. The casino will often match your initial deposit, so if you decide to deposit $100, for example, you will get another $100 in the form of bonus money.

Reload bonuses

These are similar to welcome offers, but they are designed for players who have already made deposits in the past.

No deposit bonuses

Some casinos will reward you for merely making an account, and they won’t ask you to place a deposit before giving you extra funds.

Live blackjack tournaments

One way to tell that you’ve landed on a great casino site is if you find that that site offers live blackjack tournaments. These tournaments come in the form of leaderboards that are run on a weekly or monthly basis. If you happen to take one of the leading positions on the leaderboard, you will be in for a reward.

Loyalty points

Certain casino operators have loyalty programs through which you can win loyalty points and progress through levels. The more you bet, the more points you acquire, which helps you progress through the levels. With every new level you reach, you will earn bigger and better bonuses, alongside other perks, like gaining access to VIP rooms, having a personal account manager, getting hither limits for deposits and withdrawals, and more.

Variety of Live Dealer Blackjack Games

There are several blackjack variants that you can play in the live dealer format. Of course, there’s classic blackjack with its familiar rules and gameplay. Unsurprisingly this is the most common live blackjack variant.

But there are also games like Live Blackjack Party where online blackjack live dealers are more communicative and talk about various topics while dealing the cards. One interesting form of live dealer blackjack is Infinite Blackjack, which uses a universal hand so that there can be an unlimited number of players.

Payouts, Table Rules, and Side Bets

The rules of live blackjack games do not differ from RNG-based games and blackjack games played in land-based casinos. Natural blackjack pays 3:2, although some tables have a 6:5 payout (try to avoid these tables). The dealer always hits on soft 17.

All the typical side bets are available, like insurance and even money, but some blackjack variants include additional side bets. For example, blackjack 21+3 has side bets for flush, straight, three of a kind, straight flush, and suited three of a kind.

As we mentioned earlier, the biggest advantage of live dealer blackjack and any other internet-based blackjack is that you can use various strategies without getting caught. Many pros who are playing blackjack for a living choose live games because they are easier to beat.

FAQ About Live Dealer Blackjack

Below are some of the questions players frequently ask about live dealer blackjack.

You can legally play live dealer blackjack as long as your state’s laws allow it. Unfortunately, some US states consider online gambling illegal and don’t allow any casino sites to operate within their borders, but there’s a way to circumvent this rule.

Plenty of trusted offshore casino sites accept US players, so you can try your luck there. The authorities rarely punish players who play on these sites and instead focus on the operators, so you shouldn’t worry too much about getting caught.

If you want to enjoy high-quality blackjack games from the US, we recommend that you try Bet Online live casino. This operator has plenty of great live dealer games, including several live blackjack tables with HD streams.