Playing Online Blackjack
Playing online blackjack has become the more popular option over doing it offline at a land-based casino. This is a curious detail to note as, at the core of it all, the game of blackjack is basically the same no matter where or how you play it. The main deciding factor for Canadian players choosing to play blackjack comes down to the experience of doing it and there are a lot of benefits. Convenience is by far the biggest and most important one for players; instead of you having to take time out of your schedule to go to a casino venue, online casinos are always waiting and ready to play whenever you are.
Types of Online Blackjack
Even though all blackjack games more or less play the same whether you play online or offline, blackjack actually has more than one gameplay variation available that most people might not even notice. Online blackjack casinos do ensure that this is visible so you know exactly what you’re playing when you hop into a game. These variations are:
- American Blackjack is the blackjack that most Canadian players are likely already aware of. The dealer and players each get two cards and, over the course of a few terms, players try to get closer than the dealer to 21 without going over to win.
- European Blackjack is the alternative ruleset of blackjack that, as the name suggests, is more often found in European casinos but there are online casinos with European blackjack equal measure. The key difference here lies in the dealer’s cards; instead of the dealer checking for a blackjack when their faceup card is an ace, the dealer does not reveal the rest of their hand until all players are finished. This subtle change actually has a significant effect on the game’s basic strategy.
- Live Blackjack is not really a change in ruleset, but a change in format. Instead of the standard online blackjack game that has you playing against a computer dealer, casinos with live blackjack are handled by a real human croupier at a real table that is live streamed to players that interact through the game interface shown on their devices.
As you have probably noticed, there is a lot more that needs to be explained about these blackjack games and their differences. If you want to learn more about them and the gameplay strategies used to play blackjack optimally, you can check out our dedicated guide on how to play blackjack.
How to Find a Blackjack Casino
1. Choose a recommended blackjack casino.
As more and more online blackjack casinos come into the market each year, lists of already trusted casino sites can make your search a lot faster and easier.
2. Register an account at the casino site.
Once you’ve picked out a blackjack casino that has caught your attention, it only takes a couple minutes to fill out the details needed to register an account for yourself.
3. Deposit and claim bonuses.
Some of the best blackjack sites in Canada offer bonuses to players to add more value to their gameplay. These bonuses are often only unlocked if you make a deposit, so be sure to claim them once you shell out the money.
4. Start playing!
It should only take a few minutes to get your deposit into your casino account; once that’s done, you are free to jump into your favourite blackjack game and start playing.
How We Find the Best Blackjack Casinos
As a team with years of experience both reviewing and playing casino sites, we know that there is actually not easy way to find the best blackjack casino. The fact of the matter is that, if you want to test an casino site, you will need to do it yourself with your own money. And that is exactly what we did. Each of our casino website reviews are done the hard way, with first-hand testing and real money deposits straight from our own pockets. This way, we can get the true experience of using the casino site as an actual player. The result is a very accurate impression of playing at the blackjack casino that you can read and decide on before you even sign up for an account.
Blackjack Casino Bonuses
Even though these are typically reserved for slots and other casino games, you can actually find some blackjack casino bonuses available. The way they work is also quite similar to any other online casino bonus; the only difference being that you can use the bonus to wager on blackjack games. Of these, you will encounter two types of blackjack bonuses in Canada:
- Deposit match bonuses are the bread and butter of casino welcome bonuses, and are incredibly simple in their operation. Simply put a real money deposit in and get extra bonus money to wager with. Jackpot City Casino has one of the more compelling deposit match bonus deals we’ve seen in Canada, offering new players up to C$1600 worth of bonus money to wager on blackjack and other games.
- Live dealer bonuses are a more specific kind of deposit bonus that, as the name suggests, target players who mainly play live dealer games of blackjack. Nomini casino is one notable example that has a live casino bonus for Canadian players, giving 15% cashback up to a value of C$385 which can also be done on live games.
Our Best Blackjack Casino Pick: King Billy Casino
Of the many blackjack casinos we have reviewed over the years, King Billy Casino stands out as our top pick. The main draw of this online casino is found in how well polished the site is. Whether you are playing on desktop or mobile, King Billy Casino runs as smooth as butter and their customer support is always ready to help if you run into issues. The sheer variety of games available is another of King Billy Casino’s strong suits. From classic video blackjack games to sophisticated live dealer rooms, there is no shortage of blackjack game variants that you can hop into and play. You can also find our list of blackjack casinos above, to see more options.
Alternatives to Online Blackjack
No matter how much fun blackjack is, it’s important to remember that blackjack casinos have all manner of other games you can try if you ever get bored. Check out some of the links below to be taken to come casinos sites in Canada that feature other popular table games:
- Online casinos with baccarat
- Online casinos with craps
- Online casinos with poker
- Online casinos with roulette
Final Thoughts on Blackjack Casinos
As one of the most popular casino games in general, it should be no surprise that blackjack casinos would find their way online. For the most part, online blackjack has only enhanced the experience for most Canadian players.
Blackjack Casino FAQs
Is it legal to play online blackjack in Canada?
It is perfectly legal to play online blackjack in Canada, and Canadian law even lets you keep all of your winnings with no tax attached. However, in most cases you will be responsible for your own safety as an online casino player as many blackjack casinos are based offshore and do not operate under Canadian laws.
Can I play blackjack casinos online with Canadian dollars?
Yes, you can play blackjack casinos online with Canadian dollars. However, not all blackjack casinos do this, so it is always a good idea to check which casino payment methods are accepted first or read reviews prior to making your first deposit.
Are blackjack casinos safe?
Blackjack casinos are generally safe to play on; however, there have been and will be some bad actor casino sites that aim to cheat you out of your hard-earned money or worse. Sticking to reputable blackjack casinos that are recommended by reviewers and other players will help make sure you are out of harm's way.
Can I play blackjack online for free?
You can play some forms of blackjack online for free, but not all of them. Video blackjack games, that is, the ones that you play by yourself with a computer dealer, can be played for free. However, games with a live dealer cannot.
