Some credit the French in the 1700s. But that’s probably inaccurate. After all, Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, mentioned the game in one of his books – and he died in 1616.
Here’s what we DO know: blackjack, or twenty-one (21), is one of the most popular casino table games in the world. Every casino, from the Venetian in Macau China to the Bellagio in Las Vegas, devotes several tables to it. Moreover, there’s not a single online casino that doesn’t offer at least one version of the game (most offer several versions).
I’ve been monitoring the online casino industry for years. In that time, I’ve played at more than 100 sites. Here are my four favorite places to play online twenty-one:
- – Bovada Casino
- – Slots.lv
- – BetOnline
- – Mybookie
Online blackjack is popular with gamblers for several reasons:
– it’s easy to play
– you can win a large percentage of hands with a simple strategy
– it offers some of the best odds of all table games
– the basics can be learned in less than a minute
– you can play even if you lack a large bankroll
– it’s an exciting and addictive game
– you can receive online casino bonuses just by playing
That doesn’t mean you should play online blackjack at the first casino you come across.
You want to do so at sites that offer a fun experience and make it easy for you to access your money. Let’s get to it:
Bovada Casino
Playing online blackjack at Bovada is as close to a flawless experience as you’re likely to have. The casino software uses crisp graphics, engaging audio and an intuitive interface.
You can enjoy playing 21 on Bovada’s Instant Play platform or download their software and play it from your computer’s hard drive.
Here are the variants they offer:
– traditional blackjack
– single-deck blackjack
– double-deck blackjack
– Zappit blackjack
– European blackjack
When you sign up with Bovada, you’re invited to grab up to $3,000 in welcome bonuses.
Bovada also hosts a fun promotion called “Blackjack Weekends.”
You already get paid every time you play. Bovada awards you 1 Casino Point for every $10 you bet on blackjack. (You’ll receive 1 Casino Point for every $25 bet on single and double-hand blackjack.) You can then redeem those points for chips. One hundred Points equals $1.
On “Blackjack Weekends,” you’re given an opportunity to earn far more chips for the Points you accrue. Bovada will give you $10 (in chips) for every 200 points you earn between Friday and Sunday. There’s a $100 cap on the bonus chips each weekend.
If you haven’t already done so, get thee to Bovada and sign up for an account.
Betonline
Betonline offers live dealer blackjack and a host of other variants.
Betonline’s big attraction, along with their stellal reputation, is that they accept players from all 50 states. No matter which state you live in you can play blackjack online, for real money at a super legit online gambling destination like Betonline. There are a host of ongoing promotions that are constantly updated throughout the year at BOL. Current promos can be found at this link.
Slots.lv
The welcome bonus at Slots.lv is almost as big as the welcome bonus at Bovada. But the amount you can use to play online 21 is actually larger.
Here’s how it works:
– Your first deposit it matched at 100% up to $500 if you use the code “HELLOGAMES100.”
– Your next six (6) deposits are matched at 50% up to $250 each if you use the code “HELLOGAMES50.”
That totals $2,000. All of that bonus cash can be applied to blackjack if you choose.
As with any type of welcome bonus, the bonus at Slots.lv comes with a playthrough requirement (120 times bonus + deposit). Bets on single and double-hand blackjack don’t count toward that requirement.
That’s not unusual. Bovada has the same policy.
It’s also worth mentioning that Slots.lv has a slots-specific welcome bonus. If you’re a slots fan, you can receive up to $5,000 over 9 deposits.
Getting back to blackjack, Slots.lv offers the same 5 variants found at Bovada:
– traditional blackjack
– single-deck blackjack
– double-deck blackjack
– Zappit blackjack
– European blackjack
Sloto Cash
Sloto Cash is a longtime favorite of mine (and my wife). If you’re a blackjack fan, you’ll definitely want to take the site for a test drive. They offer more variants than most of the online casinos I’ve played at:
– traditional blackjack
– European blackjack
– Perfect Pairs blackjack
– Face Up 21
– Match Play 21
– Pontoon
– Suit ‘Em Up blackjack
– Super 21
Here’s another reason to give them a try…
Sloto Cash will give you a Welcome Bonus that has a cash-in value up to a jaw-dropping $7,777. Here’s how it works:
– Your first deposit is matched at 200% (yes, 200%!) up to $1,500
– Your second, third and fourth deposits are matched at 100% up to $1,500 (for each deposit)
– Your fifth deposit is matched at 177% (yes 177%!) up to $1,777
The 200% matching bonus comes with a 30X rollover (deposit + bonus). The 100% and 177% matching bonuses come with a 25X rollover (deposit + bonus). Bear in mind, any bets you make on blackjack won’t count toward meeting those requirements.
You CAN, however, claim 2 general casino bonuses, both of which are valid for blackjack, with a combined value up to $1,000. Sloto Cash will give you a 100% match up to $500 on your first deposit and a 50% match up to $500 on your second deposit.
Both come with a 25X rollover. Visit SlotoCash.im for details on how to claim those bonuses.
Here’s yet another reason to play online twenty-one at Sloto Cash…
They host a weekly promotion – it’s valid for blackjack – whereby you can earn a 60% or 50% match based on the amount of your deposits. Here’s how it works…
– if you fund your account with at least $35, you’ll receive a 60% match. It comes with a 17X rollover.
– if you deposit $25, you’ll receive a 50% match. It comes with a 15X rollover.
Here’s the bottom line on Sloto Cash: they offer several blackjack variants and put a range of bonuses at your fingertips. The different variants give you a chance to play games that aren’t available elsewhere. The bonuses give you an opportunity to leverage your money.
Keep in mind, each bonus comes with a rollover. Also, remember that blackjack wagers only count toward meeting the rollover requirements on SOME of the bonuses. So make sure you carefully read the terms and conditions.
How To Get Started Playing Online Blackjack Games
First, if you don’t know how to play 21, click here. I cover the basic rules and offer a few tips on maximizing your odds on every hand you play.
Second, a lot of online casinos offer side bets. Some of them seem like a good idea, but actually come with terrible odds. Visit my page on online blackjack side bets to get the full scoop.
With that said, here’s my recommendation…
Visit the 4 casinos listed on this page and create an account on each of them. Personally, I prefer playing blackjack at Bovada. But you might like playing at Slots.lv, MiamiClubCasino.com or SlotoCash.im.
As they say, different strokes for different folks.
Try out all 4 casinos. That’s the only way to figure out which ones best suit your style.
One last note: although blackjack carries some of the best odds among casino table games, you can lose money. So have fun, but don’t bet your mortgage.
More articles For You