Best Blackjack Sites

If you prefer to play with skill rather than relying entirely on luck, then online blackjack could be your thing. Starting with 2 cards and aiming for a total as close to 21 as possible, online blackjack is available on a range of casino sites in Ireland. With so many blackjack sites available, it may not always be easy to know which to sign up to and which are the best.

How we rate and review the best blackjack sites

With so many places to play online blackjack, we want to make sure that we bring you the best blackjack sites out there. When we are reviewing blackjack sites, these are some of the things we consider:

• Availability of bonuses
• Range of games
• User-friendly website
• Great mobile experience
• Easy deposit and withdrawal methods

With a range of bonuses available when playing online blackjack, we check these out and make sure that they are all they appear to be. Offers for new and existing customers, fair wagering requirements, and VIP perks are just some of the factors we consider.

The best blackjack sites allow you to play a range of blackjack variants on a great looking easy to use website, supported by a great mobile app or mobile optimised website.

Online blackjack requires you to make a deposit and, more importantly, you need a method to withdraw your winnings. The best sites will offer a range of methods making this as easy as possible.

Blackjack software

The casino experience at blackjack sites is, in no small part, down to the software providers that are used. The top software providers for online blackjack include:

Microgaming

This software provider is thought to be behind the games at the very first online casino in 1994. What you get when playing at Microgaming blackjack sites are games which are fast, colourful and great to look at. You’ll also find Microgaming blackjack casinos offer some great payouts. Microgaming has numerous variants of blackjack, which include Atlantic City, Bonus Blackjack and Double Exposure Blackjack.

NetEnt

Established in 1996, NetEnt is well-known for producing some of the best online casino games. Expect to come across at least five different variants of the game at NetEnt online blackjack sites. These are Blackjack, Blackjack Pro, Classic Blackjack, Double Exposure Blackjack and Pontoon. The best NetEnt blackjack casinos feature games which are suitable for those with a conservative budget as well as high rollers. 

Evolution Gaming

The best live blackjack casinos are powered by Evolution Gaming. Evolution Gaming only make live games, meaning they truly excel in this area. Games are streamed from purpose-built studios and the HD quality leads to a great blackjack experience.

Playtech

This is another provider which has been around for some time. Established in 1999, Playtech is another one of the top blackjack software providers. In fact, Playtech is behind some of the best blackjack casinos in Ireland thanks to the low house edges. Its best game, Blackjack Switch, comes with a house edge of only 0.14%. As well as this variant of the game, you can also expect to find Progressive Blackjack, Double Attack Blackjack and Blackjack Pro.

Blackjack game variations

There are numerous versions of online blackjack for you to try at the best blackjack sites. Whether you’re looking for low limit games or high stakes, here are some of the most popular:

Blackjack surrender – Players get the option to forfeit their hand after being dealt the first two cards and only lose half their wager. 

Blackjack switch – Players are dealt two hands rather than one and have the choice of switching the second cards dealt to create the best possible hands.

Double exposure blackjack – Both the dealer’s cards are dealt face up making players’ decisions slightly easier, although casinos compensate by offering lower payouts with the dealer winning on ties unless you hit a natural blackjack.

Perfect pairs blackjack – Side bet where you win if your first two cards are a pair, with the payout depending on the strength of the pairing.

21+3 blackjack – Another side bet which pays out if your first two cards and the dealer’s hole card from a flush, straight, three of a kind, straight flush or suited three of a kind. 

Pontoon – Both the dealer’s cards are dealt face down making it harder for players, but to compensate, a natural blackjack payout is 2:1 rather than the normal 3:2.

Single deck blackjack – Just one deck is used with some sites offering a house edge as low as 0.1%.

Super fun blackjack – Several twists on traditional rules, with the main difference seeing a player’s hand consist of six cards or more and beating the dealer when totalling 20 or less even if they have 21.

Progressive blackjack – Uses traditional rules but players can also aim at a progressive jackpot in side bets.

Multi-hand blackjack – Maintains classic blackjack gameplay but lets players play several hands simultaneously, with some sites offering up to five at once.

Using bonus funds while playing at blackjack sites

Like many casino games, with online blackjack, there is an array of bonuses and special offers for you to take advantage of. The 2 main bonuses that you are likely to be able to take advantage of at blackjack sites are:

No deposit bonus

Ireland’s best online blackjack sites offer a variety of bonuses – and no deposit bonuses are one of the top ones you’ll see. As the name suggests, there is no need to deposit to claim this bonus. Instead, all you need to do is create an account. As soon as you’ve done this, your account will be credited with a bonus and you can start to play. Something which is really great about no deposit bonuses is that as well as receiving credit to play blackjack, you can (at times) also be rewarded with free spins to use on some of the best online slots.

Matched deposits 

Blackjack casinos will also feature bonuses which are known as matched deposits. These are often advertised as part of a welcome bonus which encourages new players to sign up. Apart from this, this blackjack bonus is also used as a way to reward loyal players. Much like no deposit bonuses, the name of this one gives away what it is. When you make a deposit, the blackjack casinos will match this. You will see sites which offer 100% match up to €100. So, by depositing €100, you then have €200 to play with. Some of the best blackjack casinos in Ireland will even treble your first deposit. 

Cashback

Blackjack sites offering cashback as a bonus are a great addition for players in Ireland. These casinos offer to give you back some of the money you have wagered each week. Some online casinos will offer to give you cashback against your losses, while others will do against everything that you have wagered. This is a great way of increasing your bankroll so that you can play a little bit longer. 

Wagering requirements

When you receive bonuses at blackjack casinos, you will probably find they are subjected to wagering requirements. These are sometimes referred to as playthrough requirements. Simply put, they are a multiplier of the number of times you need to play through your bonus before you can withdraw any winnings. As an example, you may receive a blackjack bonus worth €100 which comes with 20x wagering. This means you need to play through €2,000 before you can withdraw any winnings. 

When you look at different online blackjack sites, you will see there are different wagering requirements at each. Blackjack mobile casinos may also differ, as there are sometimes bonuses which are exclusive to mobile players. The best blackjack casinos in Ireland come with bonuses which have either low or no wagering requirements. Anything which offers wagering above 40x is getting on the high side, so we would suggest looking for another bonus to claim.

Live blackjack

Playing at an online blackjack casino can be a source of great entertainment, but what adds to the fun is playing live blackjack. When you play at casinos with live dealer versions of the game, you get to experience the thrill of a land-based casino. You can feel the atmosphere and get drawn into the game. 

The best live blackjack casinos stream the gameplay with HD quality. The action takes place in purpose-built studios and the numerous camera angles mean players never miss any of the action. Playing live blackjack, players actually have the chance to interact with the dealer. They can post comments and then the dealer will speak back to them, live through the screen. The best mobile blackjack casinos also allow players to enjoy the live experience.

When it comes to choosing the best live blackjack casinos, you will find the games are provided by Evolution Gaming. This software provider specialises in live dealer games and can not be beaten in terms of the quality of gameplay.

Blackjack on mobile

With mobile apps and mobile optimised websites, you now have the freedom to play online blackjack without being chained to your desktop or laptop. With the boom in mobile phone usage for online blackjack, software providers don’t just tag on apps as an afterthought; these are planned for from the start, and the quality gets better and better.

Free play blackjack

Perhaps you’re keen to play online blackjack, but you’re not sure how to start. Maybe you’ve been visiting blackjack sites for years, but now you want to try out a different variant of the game. In both of these circumstances, you may be a little hesitant and concerned about potential losses. This is where the best blackjack sites have you covered. With online blackjack available for free in demo mode, this provides the perfect opportunity to dip your toe in the water before you commit your cash.

Quick how to play guide & rules

Online blackjack is a relatively simple game, with the aim of getting cards as close to the value of 21 as you can. If you go over 21, you’re bust and out of the game. Online blackjack differs from the likes of roulette and slots in that there is a degree of skill involved, although a little luck is always a help.

Here’s a brief overview of how it all works:

• The aim to beat the dealer’s hand, but not to exceed 21.
• Picture cards are worth 10
• Aces are worth 1 or 11. The choice is yours and what works best for your hand
• Numerical cards 1-9 are worth the same as their face value
• Each player starts with 2 cards. One of the dealer’s cards is hidden
• You can ‘Hit’ which is asking for another card
• You can ‘Stand’ which is to hold what you have
• If you go over 21, you are bust and the dealer wins
• If you are dealt 21 at the start this is a blackjack

There are three ways you can win at online blackjack:

• • Your cards total 21
  • At the end, your hand is higher than the dealers’
  • The dealer goes bust

Blackjack banking methods 

Players like to see a selection of banking methods being offered. They want methods which can see them receiving their winnings fast, but they also need to be secure. The most popular banking methods at Irish blackjack casinos are:

PayPal

PayPal is probably the best well known payment method. Blackjack sites which offer this payment method are showing they take your security seriously. Using PayPal means you don’t need to share your details with the casino, as it acts as an intermediary. This means you can withdraw money quickly and securely.

Trustly 

Trustly has been available at blackjack casinos since 2008. It has become so popular because of how easy it is to use. You can make deposits and withdrawals quickly and you also are safe in the knowledge your funds are safe and secure.