Online Blackjack in New Jersey

Much like at Atlantic City casinos, online blackjack is a favorite choice among table games at the many available New Jersey sites. Every site has multiple blackjack games available including plenty of live dealer blackjack options. Here’s a full rundown of how you can play online blackjack including recommendations of the best NJ blackjack sites and apps, information about different blackjack games, and some tips about rules and strategy.

Best online blackjack casinos

Best real money online blackjack

New Jersey players have no shortage of options when it comes to online blackjack. Unlike some casino games that are purely based on chance, you can reduce the house edge considerably when playing blackjack just by studying a little blackjack strategy. Indeed, if you take a look at the best and worst casino table game odds in New Jersey, you’ll find many online blackjack variants feature some of the best return to player (RTP) percentages of any of the games. But you have to make correct choices about when to stand, hit, double down, or split in order to improve your chances of winning.

As for the best online blackjack sites currently offering the best NJ online casino bonuses, here are our top five picks:

1. DraftKings Casino

DraftKings Casino is rightly known as the best online casino for blackjack. For years DraftKings has consistently offered a larger and more varied selection of blackjack titles than any other site. There are lots of live dealer blackjack options at DraftKings as well, with a nice range of stakes represented.

DraftKings has lots of specially-branded blackjack titles (e.g., DraftKings Touchdown Blackjack) plus unique games like DraftKings Four 20s Blackjack. In New Jersey, several blackjack titles are also linked to the DraftKings Progressive Jackpot network of games, meaning you can add a small amount to your bet to try to win an added (often large) jackpot.

• Number of blackjack games at DraftKings Casino: 43
  
• Live dealer blackjack games: 36
  
• Popular variants: DraftKings Blackjack, DraftKings Football Blackjack, Bingo Blackjack, Match the Dealer Blackjack, Double Deck Blackjack, DraftKings Four 20s Blackjack, Bet the Set 21, 6-in-1 Blackjack
  
• Range of stakes: $0.10 to $21,000 per hand

2. BetMGM Casino

BetMGM Casino is another great destination for online blackjack players with a nice variety of titles including a some exclusives and unique games not typically found elsewhere. There’s also a handful of live dealer blackjack games at BetMGM delivered over their high-performing live dealer platform.

In addition to standard blackjack and all of the usual variants, BetMGM Casino features titles like Blackjack Stud Poker Pro (blackjack with a stud poker side bet) and Double Up Blackjack Featuring Bonus 16 (offering extra chances to double up plus a Bonus 16 side bet). BetMGM’s New Jersey site also has some localized blackjack options such as New York Jets Blackjack.

• Number of blackjack games at BetMGM Casino: 28
  
• Live dealer blackjack games: 5
  
• Popular variants: BetMGM Blackjack Pro, Borgata Blackjack Xchange, New York Jets Blackjack, BetMGM Blackjack Player’s Choice, Premium Blackjack Pro, Double Up Blackjack Featuring Bonus 16, Platinium Blackjack Pro, Blackjack Fortune Spinner Pro
  
• Range of stakes: $0.10 to $2,500 per hand

3. Bally Casino

Bally Casino has an impressive menu of blackjack games as well that includes all of the standard variants as well as those featuring different side bets and added features. The site is great for live dealer blackjack, too, with several choices including the popular American Blackjack VIP tables.

You’ll find a few off-the-beaten-path blackjack games at Bally, including Blackjack Remastered which lets you split your hand up to three times. There are some exclusive blackjack games, too, including Atlantic City Blackjack (a classic version of the casino favorite) and Bally Blackjack (in which you can play three hands at once).

• Number of blackjack games at Bally Casino: 21
  
• Live dealer blackjack games: 9
  
• Popular variants: Bally Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, Blackjack Vegas Strip, High Stakes Atlantic City Blackjack, Blackjack Remastered, Blackjack Single Deck, Blackjack Poker & Pairs With Surrender, First Person Lightning Blackjack
  
• Range of stakes: $0.10 to $5,000 per hand

4. Caesars Palace Online Casino

Like most sites, blackjack is the featured game among the different table games at Caesars Palace Online Casino. There are plenty of options available among the regular table games, and in fact Caesars Palace has even more live dealer blackjack games you can play “Under the Dome.”

There are a couple of exclusive blackjack games at Caesars, including a classic Caesars Casino Blackjack game, Caesars NHL Blackjack, and Caesars Palace Blackjack Player’s Choice. Also, as is true of all the games at Caesars Palace, whenever you play blackjack you accumulate credits in the renowned Caesars Rewards program.

• Number of blackjack games at Caesars Palace Online Casino: 15
  
• Live dealer blackjack games: 19
  
• Popular variants: Blackjack, Multi-Hand Blackjack, Multi-Hand Blackjack Surrender, Blackjack Poker & Pairs, Blackjack Blazing 7’s, Blackjack 21+3 Perfect Pairs, Zappit Blackjack, Blackjack Xchange
  
• Range of stakes: $0.10 to $20,000 per hand

5. Hard Rock Bet Casino

Hard Rock Bet Casino is another site where there are plentiful live dealer options, particularly when it comes to blackjack. There are VIP tables with high stakes games as well as a number of others offering a range of stakes.

The regular blackjack titles in the table games section offer a lot of variety as well with both standard games and variations with side bets. There are “switch”-style games that allow you to switch cards between two hands, plus an exclusive Hard Rock Bet Cashback Blackjack game that allows you to cash in a hand early, if you wish.

• Number of blackjack games at Hard Rock Bet Casino: 17
  
• Live dealer blackjack games: 33
  
• Popular variants: Hard Rock Bet Cashback Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, Blackjack Xchange, Premium Blackjack Single Hand, Bonus Bet Blackjack, Power Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack
  
• Range of stakes: $0.10 to $15,000 per hand

Other top blackjack casinos

Playing blackjack on New Jersey casino apps

Each online casino in New Jersey has apps that allow you to play the games on iPhones, iPads, and Android smartphones and tablets. These NJ online casino apps closely resemble their website counterparts in terms of functionality and game selection.

Download links for the apps are generally available on each online casino’s site, either in the “mobile” section or the site’s footer. You need a compatible device and a stable internet connection for optimal performance. Per state regulations, you’ll also have to be located within New Jersey while playing online blackjack for real money.

You can always contact customer support if you ever have questions or issues about signing up or playing blackjack in New Jersey.

What variations of blackjack can I play?

Over its long history, blackjack has seen the development of many variants. If we consider the rule variations, side bets, and subtle differences in layouts of numerous live dealer games, we can safely assume there are dozens of versions or more available at New Jersey online casinos.

Depending on the rules and number of decks that a game uses, the house edge may vary significantly from variation to variation of online blackjack. For instance, single-deck blackjack has a house edge that is around 0.25% lower than multi-deck variants. Of course, you must know about basic blackjack strategy and be able to make correct decisions in order to minimize that house edge as much as possible.

Some blackjack variations come with certain side bets that add a little excitement to the gameplay and the potential to win bigger-than-usual payouts. Bear in mind that these side bets usually have much higher house edges than regular bets and that the basic blackjack strategy is to avoid them entirely. (See the bottom of this page for some general advice regarding blackjack strategy.)

Here are the top three most popular online blackjack side bets you’ll find in NJ casinos:

• 21+3 — Win a payout when your original two cards plus the dealer’s up card form a winning three-card poker hand. The stronger the hand, the bigger the payout. In some cases, you can hit a payout as big as 100x the stake.
• Blazing 7’s — The success of this side bet is contingent on hitting sevens. You can play it for $1 or $5 in most blackjack online casinos. The payout depends on how many sevens appear among your two cards and the dealer’s up card, as well as the suits of the sevens.
• Perfect Pairs — This side bet is available in numerous versions of online blackjack. The side wager pays if your first two cards are a pair or a suited pair.

Live dealer blackjack in New Jersey

Live dealer blackjack is gaining momentum among casino players, and it’s easy to see why. This gambling format combines the convenience of playing from your home with the authentic vibe that comes from playing blackjack in a casino. All of the online casinos recommended above feature blackjack prominently among their live dealer games.

To make the experience as realistic as possible, the action is filmed in specialized studios from different angles. Real dealers run the games, and sometimes there’s also the option of chatting with other players, all of which adds to the immersion factor.

Online vs. in-person real money blackjack

There are several distinct advantages to playing blackjack on a casino app or website rather than in a retail casino, the most notable being convenience, accessibility and flexibility. Playing blackjack in person is more expensive, as travel costs are included.

In addition, the number of players at tables can be limited, and some casinos aren’t open 24/7. On the other hand, online casinos are always “open” and ready for you to sit down and play, and you don’t have to venture outside your house to play.

Due to their higher operating costs and the fact that their competitors aren’t just a button-press away, brick-and-mortar casinos aren’t as generous with their bonuses or promotions as their online counterparts.

Online casino blackjack also offers lower betting limits, which makes it an excellent choice for casual players. Minimum bets in New Jersey retail casinos typically range from $10 to $15, whereas with certain variations of online blackjack, you can play for as low as $0.10 per hand.

How to play online blackjack

To win in blackjack, you must have a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer, without exceeding 21, aka going bust. Cards 2 through 10 have points equal to their face value. Face cards count as 10, and aces count as 11 or 1, depending on which value helps the hand the most. Here’s what a typical round of blackjack looks like, play by play:

1. Place a bet: Start by placing a bet in the designated area. There will be minimum and maximum bets you can place. For instance, when playing DraftKings Classic Blackjack, the minimum bet is $1 and the maximum is $5,000.
2. Receive your cards: After you’re done with betting, click on the deal button to receive the cards. In live dealer versions of the game, you’ll get two cards automatically once the predetermined period for placing bets expires.
3. Make a move: Both your cards will be face-up, while the dealer will receive one card face down and the other face up. Based on your cards, you need to decide whether to hit, stand, double down or split. In this phase, you may also place side bets, and sometimes you’ll also have an option to surrender. You’ll remain in the game as long as you don’t go bust. If you do go over 21, that ends the hand right there and you lose your bet.
4. Wait for the outcome: After you have decided you don’t want to go any further, the dealer will reveal the face-down card and depending on the dealer’s total will stand or hit (and keep hitting according to the game’s rules). Once the dealer has finished, if your hand’s total is higher than the dealer’s, you win. When both you and the dealer hit a blackjack, the hand results in a push. If the dealer goes bust, you win.

Here are the main actions you can take after receiving the initial two cards:

• Insurance — This is a side bet that becomes available only if the dealer’s up card is an ace. You place it for half of your original wager, and it pays 2-to-1 if the dealer hits a natural. Depending on the variation you’re playing, taking insurance can increase the house edge considerably.
• Stand — This means you want to hold your total and not take any additional cards.
• Hit — Draw another card. You can keep hitting as long as you don’t go bust.
• Double down — Double your bet. Once you’ve activated this option, you can receive only one more card.
• Split — This move allows you to split your single hand into two hands if you have been dealt a “pair” or two cards of equal rank. You get dealt a second card to go with each of the individual cards and then play the two new hands separately.
• Surrender — Fold your hand after receiving the first two cards. This way, you’ll get half of your original stake back. This option isn’t available in all blackjack games.

How to win at blackjack — best strategies

There are basic blackjack strategy charts readily available online that indicate what actions to take in specific situations. If you aren’t interested in memorizing those charts, but still want a few basic tips to follow, here are five do’s and don’ts you can keep in mind:

• Stand on 17 or more — Note that you should stand if you have a “hard” 17 (with no ace) or above. Sometimes with a “soft” 17 or 18 you can hit.
• Hit on 16 or less — As noted, you can also sometimes hit with a “soft” 17 or 18, but it depends on what the dealer’s up card is. (The blackjack charts indicate these exceptions.)
• Split aces and eights — Another common piece of blackjack advice.
• Don’t split tens, fives, or fours — You’re better off just playing these as a single hand (and of course, you’ll be standing on two 10s).
• Double down when you start with 10 or 11 — There are a couple of exceptions to this rule, such as when the dealer shows an ace (when you have 11) or a card worth 10 (when you have 10 or 11). But otherwise you should double down here.

Adding to those general recommendations, here are a three other general tips:

• Think twice about those side bets — As in many casino games, side bets can be fun and yield big payouts if you win them, but they are generally hard to hit and almost always increase the house edge by a lot.
• Taking insurance also increases the house edge — Taking insurance is usually good for the house and not so good for the player. As a basic rule of thumb, you probably should always avoid taking insurance.
• Surrendering is only rarely correct — In truth, there are only a few rare instances where basic blackjack strategy suggests you should surrender. As with those side bets and taking insurance, you are going to be fine simply avoiding surrendering as a basic rule.

Finally, here are three more points to keep in mind when choosing which online blackjack games to play:

• 3-to-2 blackjack is better than 6-to-5 — Some games will pay out 3-to-2 when you hit a natural blackjack (your first two cards equal 21), but others pay only 6-to-5. If you have a choice, play the 3-to-2 games.
• Dealer standing on soft 17 is better than dealer hitting soft 17 — Each game and/or casino will have a rule regarding when the dealer hits and when the dealer stands. It is better for you if the dealer stands on a soft 17 (i.e., the hand contains an ace) rather than hit.
• Fewer decks means a lower house edge — Most games use multiple decks (often six or eight), but you’ll see games listed as “single-deck” or “double-deck.” When there are fewer decks, the house edge goes down a little from what it is with more decks. Again, though, you must play correct strategy to keep that house edge as low as possible.

These general guidelines will get you started. Another great way to get better at blackjack is to play the free demo versions of the blackjack games available on many of the NJ online sites. In some cases, you don’t even have to have an account to check out those demo games where you can practice your strategy without having to spend any money.