Online Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of those games that is a member of gambling royalty. Some games gain a large following, others that fade into obscurity but then there are the superstars, and Online Blackjack is a proud member of that group. If you have somehow managed to never play Blackjack, the goal is quite simple, get the value of your hand as close as possible to 21 without going over. Online Blackjack has proven itself to be extremely popular around the world, and players in New Zealand have also grown attached to the game.
With the increased popularity of New Zealand casino sites, many Kiwis now have the opportunity to enjoy Blackjack online whenever they want. These days, many online casinos will also allow Kiwi players to play Live Dealer Blackjack, which combines the convenience of Online Blackjack with some of the social aspects of playing in a land-based casino.
If you’re trying to look for the very best online Blackjack game, New Zealand players want to keep an eye out for something with amazing visuals and sound, but also a great user interface that is easy to understand and use. Finally, you’ll also want to check out the security and fairness of the game, which can be done by looking at third-party sites like the e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance Agency (eCOGRA).
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Online Blackjack, what is it?
Well, the simple answer is that Online Blackjack is the digital sibling of the game you’ve no doubt played at a New Zealand land-based casino. It simply takes this beloved game and transports it into the digital world. Instead of actual playing cards being used to determine the results, a Random Number Generator is used in its place. This is designed to generate completely random numbers, eliminating the possibility of the Kiwi players being able to detect patterns, or the casino using it to its advantage.
If the game is exactly the same online as it is in a land-based casino, we’re sure some of you are now wondering why you should play it online? In truth, there are several excellent and compelling reasons why you should play Blackjack online. For starters, it is a lot more convenient, as you won’t have to travel anywhere to play. This is especially good news for New Zealand players who might not live close to any casinos. On top of this, the gameplay is faster, betting limits are generally lower, and you have complete control over your environment. Being able to control your environment makes a huge difference when it comes to your concentration levels.
Guide to Playing Blackjack Online
When getting into playing online Blackjack, we highly recommend you make sure you are enjoying it in a safe way. You don’t want to take any chances with an online casino that seems a little off. We recommend you make sure the casino is properly licenced with organisations such as the UK Gambling Commission. It’s also good to find an online casino that is regulated, audited and tested by the likes of eCOGRA. This organisation will regularly test online casino games for fairness and randomness, which will give you the confidence to have fun.
We’d also recommend sticking to online casinos that use trusted casino software developers. Some of the names we think you should look out for include MicrogamingTM, NetEnt, Playtech, Yggdrasil, and Evolution Gaming. This isn’t a complete list of all reliable suppliers, but it’s a good place to start. We also ask all Kiwi players to gamble responsibly at all times and ensure they gamble within their means. Never chase your losses and realise that sometimes, it’s ok to walk away from the game.
We’d actually go as far as to recommend that if you want to learn how to play Blackjack, start by learning online. The online casino software will often provide new players with detailed instructions and information, as well as providing lower betting amounts. Another option when learning to play Online Blackjack is the free play mode, which can be found at all the online casino sites listed on New Zealand Casinos. This will definitely help your bankroll last longer. Finally, the peace and quiet will go a long way to making it easier for new players to learn the game. Read more about how to play Blackjack on our step-by-step guide.
Tips and Tricks for Online Blackjack
- When doing any sort of gambling, we highly recommend you avoid drinking any alcoholic beverages. Alcohol has a nasty habit of impairing your judgment, which could lead you to make poor decisions and incorrect bets.
- It is always advisable that players set themselves a monetary budget before they start playing. Decide how much money you are willing to lose and then stick to your budget. Whatever you do, don’t chase your losses.
- As well as setting yourself a money limit, we also recommend setting yourself a time limit to make sure you don’t spend too much time gambling.
- If you get a hand with a value of 17 or higher, we recommend you stand.
- If you get two 10s, do not split them! You’re almost guaranteed a win, unless the dealer gets really lucky.
- However, if you get two 8s, splitting is a sound move. If you don’t, you’ll have a hand with a value of 16, which is widely regarded as the worse possible hand to have.
- With two 5s, splitting is not a good idea as well. In this situation, we’d probably suggest you double down and request another card.
Additional rules in Blackjack
- A regular win will pay the player 1:1.
- If you get Blackjack, the game pays out 3:2.
- Generally speaking, in most versions of Blackjack, the dealer will be required to hit on a soft 16 or lower.
- No matter what the value of their hand is, players can always decide to hit, stand or double down. This is different to a similar game, Baccarat, where the rules will decide for the player.
Online Blackjack Glossary
You can’t become an Online Blackjack Pro if you don’t know the lingo. We’ve compiled a list of the most important terms we think you need to know for Online Blackjack.
Counting Cards
The act of keeping track of which cards have already been dealt. The idea is if you know what has been dealt, you also know what cards remain in the deck. This should, in theory, allow you to predict the result with greater accuracy.
Burn Card
This is the first card that is drawn from the deck. It is immediately discarded. This is done to try and disrupt anyone who is trying to cheat.
Face Cards
These are cards with a face on them, namely the King, Queen, and Jack. In Blackjack, they have a value of 10.
Bust
When a hand in Blackjack exceeds the value of 21. This hand is automatically disqualified and will lose to the other hands, regardless of value. A bust is always considered to be the player’s fault, because your starting two cards cannot have a value greater than 21. Therefore, a bust is a result of hitting, when you should have stood.
Double Down
When a player decides to double their original bet, under the condition that they accept another card. Players are not able to Double Down if they already have more than two cards in their hand.
Hard Hand
This is a hand that can only have one value. In other words, it is a hand that has no Aces, or a value that is high enough that the Ace has a value of 1.
Heads Up
When there is just a single player at a Blackjack table, it’s called ‘heads up.’ When playing Online, you will almost always be playing Heads Up against the dealer.
Hit
A move in Blackjack when a player asks for another card to win the round.
Natural
This is the best possible hand in Blackjack and will require no further action from the player. A Natural is when the first two cards dealt equal 21. This hand automatically wins the round.
Soft Hand
A hand that contains an Ace, or possibly more than one is considered ‘soft.’ Aces have a value of 11 or 1, so this means that the hand’s value isn’t fixed and gives the player some protection if they decide they want to receive another card.
The Creation of Blackjack
With Blackjack being one of the most popular casino games around today, you’d think that we’d know all we can about its history. Unfortunately, as is often the case with casino games, the history wasn’t properly recorded. This often leaves us unsure of the exact origins of a particular game, and Blackjack is no different.
There are several theories about how the game came to be, but the most popular is that it originated in France in the 1700s. Back then it went by the name Vingt-et-Un, which quite literally means 21. Most historians share the opinion that the game was created by combining elements of other popular French games at the time, such as Chemin de fer and French Ferme. While this is perhaps the most accepted theory, it is by no means the only one.
There are others out there who point to a similar game from a similar time period. This game came from Spain and when translated into English; the name meant One and Thirty.
The object was to get to 31 with just three cards, and it certainly sounds like this may have influenced Blackjack. Finally, there is a theory about its origins being in Rome, where Romans apparently played the game with wooden blocks of different values. While it is true that the Romans loved to gamble, no evidence has been found that can directly confirm or deny this theory. For the time being, it looks like we are going to have to thank the French for the casino game of Blackjack.
Why is it called ‘Blackjack ‘?
As for the name itself, it became known as Blackjack due to a rule that is no longer in place. When Blackjack made the jump across the Atlantic to America, it was commonly referred to as 21. However, a new rule was introduced in an effort to attract new NZ players this rule, called Blackjack, would pay out 10:1 on their bets. In order to get Blackjack, you needed to land a Jack of Clubs or Spades, as well as the Ace of Spades. This rule became extremely popular and helped the game to explode in popularity amongst the Americans.