Blackjack Casinos in Ireland

Blackjack is one of the main attractions in a traditional casino. As such, it was one of the first casino games to get its online version. So, you don't have to travel across the country to enjoy the 21-game. It is just a click or tap away, available on your nearest desktop or mobile device.

Online Blackjack Rules and Gameplay

In online blackjack, you always play against the dealer. That's the biggest difference between the land-based and online versions of the game. The game's objective is to create a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's without going over.

If your total exceeds 21, you bust, which is the term for losing in blackjack. The same goes for your hands with a total lower than the dealer's unless they bust.

To make decisions, you must first understand how cards are valued in blackjack. Cards from 2 to 10 have their face value, while Js, Qs, and Ks are all worth 10 points. An Ace can be worth 1 or 11 points. Hands completed with an Ace are called soft when it is valued at 11 and hard when it counts as 1.

Best Casinos to Play Blackjack in Ireland

To play online blackjack in a safe and fair environment, sign up with a trusted online casino. Don't mise along the sampling of the whole web alone. Rather, see the list of online blackjack casinos that I have established for you and figure out which one is your perfect match.

Guide to Online Blackjack

Blackjack is a skill-based casino game, so learning the ropes and honing your skills can do miracles for your performance. Jokes aside, understanding blackjack basics is not enough for success at this game. If you want to play blackjack smartly and get all the benefits out of it, then you definitely need to allocate time for learning the game.

Without further ado, we can analyze the rules and the flow of blackjack and figure out how to play it in online casinos in Ireland.

How to Play Online Blackjack

Blackjack table gameNow, let's see how a round of blackjack works in practice. After choosing a trusted Irish casino site, creating an account with it and depositing the desired amount, head to the casino lobby and find a blackjack game you like. After that, go through with these steps:

Adjust a bet size and place a bet: Generally, Blackjack tables allow bets from very low to very high. Therefore, don't forget to place a bet that will neither be too cheap nor too expensive for you.

The dealer deals cards: Both you and the dealer receive two cards each. Your cards are face-up, whereas the dealer's one card is face-down and the other is face-up.

Make decisions: After looking at your cards and the dealer's face-up card, you are to decide whether to stand or hit. Also, in the case of cards you have, you might be allowed to double down or split as well.

The dealer reveals their face-down card: After you have taken your moves and the dealer has revealed their face-down card, the winner is decided based on the values mentioned above.

It looks like you have come across some terms that you do not know. Here is what they signify - beginning with the decisions you can make.

Hit: By hitting, you will get a new card from the dealer. In blackjack, this is one of the most decisive moments as it can either bring you a winning hand or bust.

Stand: If you are content with your cards and are confident that your hand is better than the dealer's, then you stand. This indicates that you will not draw any more cards.

Double down: This option lets you double your original bet and receive another card. Doubling down is something that you should do only when you think that your hand is unbeatable.

Split: If the first two cards that you were dealt have the same value, then the split option is available to you. It gives you the possibility to separate your cards and get two different hands. There are a few variants in which you can also double down after receiving the second card for each hand.

The winnings that you get may be different for various blackjack variants. The ones that you are most likely to win while playing online blackjack are as follows:

Blackjack or natural: The moment when your first two cards make 21 (for example, an A and a K), you get a blackjack, which is also called a natural. It is the one that pays 3:2 in most games. There are some casinos that offer blackjack variants paying 6:5 for natural, but you better stay away from these games.

A winning hand: If you beat the dealer with a hand closer to 21, regardless of its score, you win 1:1.

Push: If you and the dealer have the same total, the round ends in a push, and you get your original stake back.

Understanding Blackjack Odds

Blackjack House Edge

Each blackjack variant has its own house edge, which depends on different game rules and elements. At the same time, the house advantage may vary based on players' decisions. Before we get into details, you should know that blackjack variants have a lower house edge than most casino games.

While the average RTP in online pokies is 96%, blackjack variants available at Irish casinos have an RTP of up to 99.6%. This means that the house edge can be as low as 0.40%. However, this applies only when the game is played with the perfect strategy. Because of that, learning the strategy for each variant you want to play is essential.

The rules and other elements that can affect the house edge in blackjack include the number of card decks, whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17s, whether doubling down after splitting is allowed and so on. Always choose blackjack variants with a lower house edge for the best odds of winning.

Insurance in Blackjack

Just like you can double down when you have a strong hand, you can also use insurance when you believe the dealer has a blackjack. Insurance is a side bet that becomes available when the dealer's side-up card is an Ace. It lets you wager half of your original stake and win if the dealer gets natural.

Although it pays 2:1, meaning that you can recoup a share of wagered money, it is not a good option in the long run, and I don't recommend getting insurance. After all, you don't want to place a bet to predict that you will lose.

Online Blackjack Side Bets

Online blackjack offers various side bets that can add more excitement to the gameplay. These are additional bets you can play for a chance to win a bigger payout. Higher returns mean playing at higher risk, so you should approach these optional bets carefully. Besides insurance, some of the most common side bets I've seen in online blackjack games include: Perfect Pairs: As its name suggests, this bet lets you win if your first two cards make a pair. You get paid depending on whether a pair is mixed (red/black), of the same colour, or perfect (of the same suit and rank). The Perfect Pair outcome earns you the top payout of 25:1.

21+3: With this bet, you predict that your two first cards and the dealer's first card will create a 3-card poker hand. The bet can pay in five different ways based on the strength of your hands, with a suited three of a kind paying 100:1.

Bet Behind: While it is not a typical blackjack side bet you can place next to your ante, the Bet Behind option is standard at live casino blackjack tables that accommodate a limited number of players. When all the seats are taken, you can bet behind one of the players and win if they win. You will score the same payouts as the player.

Blackjack Variants at Irish Online Casinos

Now that you are familiar with online blackjack basics, let me tell you more about some of the most popular variants you can play. At the best casinos online, you can enjoy the following blackjack games:

Suit' Em Up Blackjack – RTG

The title of the RTG blackjack game comes from its side bets, which let you bet on different card combinations of the same suit. The main game is standard, with a blackjack paying 3:2 and the dealer hitting on soft 17. As for the side bet, if you get lucky, you can win from 2:1 on any suited cards to 60:1 on suited Aces.

Single Deck Blackjack Professional Series – NetEnt

As its title suggests, Single Deck Blackjack uses only one deck of cards. The game is available on mobile devices only, so if you choose any of the best mobile casinos in Ireland with NetEnt games, you can enjoy it wherever you are. A 3:2 payout on a natural blackjack and a house edge of 0.41% make this game highly popular among blackjack newbies and seasoned players.

American Blackjack – Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play has come up with a game that is a perfect fit for experienced blackjack players. It lets you play up to 3 hands per round. When played according to the perfect strategy, American Blackjack has a house edge of 0.40%.

Infinite Blackjack – Evolution

This is the first live blackjack variant with unlimited seats. So, if you want to play Infinite Blackjack, you can do it immediately at Evolution casinos. With a house edge of 0.53%, the game offers several side bets, including Bust It, which pays up to 250:1 when the dealer busts. The Six Card Charlie rule applies, letting you beat the dealer with up to 6 cards per hand.

Lightning Blackjack Live – Evolution

The most exciting blackjack variant in this list comes from the Evolution creative kitchen. Like other Lightning games, this one is all about multipliers. You must place a side bet to qualify for these, though. Multipliers are added to cards and can go up to 25:1 if you win with a blackjack. Like Infinite Blackjack, Evolution has also made Lightning Blackjack to accommodate unlimited players.