Best Irish Blackjack Sites

How to Play Blackjack Online

Playing online blackjack is no different to playing any other casino games. First up, Irish players should have a browse of the best blackjack sites around, comparing bonus offers and the kinds of online blackjack available at each one. Some will be long-established sites, others will be new casinos making their mark in a very competitive field.

Then, sign up for an account, place your initial deposit —unless you’ve claimed a no deposit bonus, of course— and you’ll be all set to take your virtual seat and get playing online blackjack.

Blackjack Variations for Irish Players

Irish players have the pick of the bunch when it comes to different blackjack games, with each one offering its own special features.

• Multihand Blackjack – With Multihand, players can play up to four hands at the same time. This makes it a great option for experienced players looking to up the ante. Some casinos host Multihand Blackjack games with six decks of cards, while others use eight. Either way, it’s an exciting variation that offers greater flexibility, giving you the option to play it safe with some hands and be more aggressive with others.
• Atlantic City Blackjack – Atlantic City Blackjack offers several player-friendly features that reduce the house edge. For example, the dealer must stand on a soft 17, while they also peek to see if they have blackjack on ten-value cards and aces. If the dealer does have blackjack, revealing it earlier saves the player money as they only lose their initial bet and don’t push on with splits and double downs. There are also more options to split throughout the game, such as with different ten-value cards like K-J and Q-10.
• Pontoon – Pontoon and classic blackjack both share a common ancestor in the centuries-old card game Twenty-One. In Pontoon, the best hand is 21 points from two cards — a move known eponymously as Pontoon. This is followed by a Five Card Trick — if players receive five cards that don’t reach 21, they win regardless. Another difference in Pontoon is that both of the dealer’s cards are face down instead of just one, making it harder to adapt your play to what the dealer has.
• Blackjack Switch – In Blackjack Switch, players are dealt two hands to each of their playing positions and have the option to switch the top two cards of each hand. The catch is that rather than natural blackjacks paying 3:2, they instead pay 1:1. Additionally, instead of busting, a hard 22 for the dealer pushes all players’ hands except a natural blackjack.

Blackjack Rules

• In blackjack, Irish players are up against the dealer only, and the aim is to get the highest scoring hand without exceeding 21 (which would be a “bust”). Number cards carry their own face value, face cards (jack, queen and king) are each worth 10, while aces can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on which is more advantageous.
• After placing their bet, the player is dealt two cards. If these consist of an ace and a 10-point card, that’s blackjack and the player immediately wins. Otherwise, the player can choose to “hit” (receive another card), “stand” (not take another card), “split” (separate the cards into two separate hands, if they happen to be a matching pair) or “double down” (double the bet and take one more card only).
• After this, it’s the dealer’s turn to draw cards until their hand either busts or achieves a value of 17 or above (after which they have to stop). If the dealer doesn’t bust, the winner is whoever has the highest scoring hand. 

These are the basic rules, though different online blackjack sites may have their own subtle variations on things like how many cards the dealer is obliged to draw, and what additional bets or “side bets” are available.

Blackjack Strategy

Part of blackjack’s appeal is that it isn’t all about luck, since every hand you’re dealt requires make-or-break decisions on your part. Therefore, it’s absolutely vital that you have a good understanding of basic blackjack strategy, especially if you’re going to play real money blackjack online. 

It’s important to note that using blackjack strategy doesn’t guarantee you’ll win, but it can enhance your chances in the short term. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to be aware of.

Surrender 

Don’t like to risk it all? Surrendering might be the strategy for you. If a wager looks like it’ll perform badly, players can surrender their hand and receive half their stake back before losing it all. You can choose to surrender early or late, with the latter being the most popular variation.

Here, the dealer checks for blackjack before the player surrenders, meaning their wager is still at risk. With early surrender, players can bail out before the dealer checks. Bear in mind, surrender isn’t an option in all blackjack games online.

Split

In the event you’re dealt two cards with the same value, you can split them to make two hands. Since you’ll have more cards, and therefore more numbers to play with, it ups your chances of making 21. The rule of thumb is you should always split Aces and eights, and you should never split fives and 10s.

Hit or Stand

The question at the heart of blackjack is whether to hit or stand. It’s useful to look up basic blackjack strategy to get a good grounding — some of the common rules include always hitting on a hard 11 or less, always standing on a hard 17 or higher, and always hitting on a soft 17 or lower. One of the advantages of playing online blackjack games, compared to playing in a casino, is you can have the basic strategy guidelines open on a separate screen to consult as you play.

Betting Systems

Many bettors like to adhere to blackjack betting systems, where you adjust your bets depending on whether you’ve been winning or losing hands. A famous example is the Martingale system, where the stake is doubled per hand until you finally win, at which point you’ll recoup your losses and make a profit.

Of course, this is risky as your bankroll may run out before your losing streak ends, and table limits may prevent you from seeing the system through. Ultimately, betting systems can never guarantee you’ll win at blackjack, but they can be a useful way to strategize your play and manage your budget.

How We Choose Top Blackjack Sites 

Here at TopRatedCasinos IE, our expert team considers several key points when reviewing online blackjack sites — only once we’re satisfied a blackjack casino meets certain criteria will we recommend it to our readers. Check out some of the main features we look out for below.

Variations of Blackjack Games

As blackjack is a centuries-old game, many variations have popped up in different places over the years. The best online blackjack sites offer a good range of blackjack game types, ensuring players always have something new to try. Whether you’re keen on the Five Card Trick element of Pontoon, or more modern features such as the multipliers in Lightning Blackjack, the best casinos offer plenty to choose from.

We also look carefully at the number of single-player and live dealer blackjack games available at the casino. Different players have varying preferences when it comes to playing blackjack, such as whether they prefer to play socially or by themselves, as well as at the pace at which they feel comfortable playing. The best online blackjack casinos cater to all of these different preferences.

Player-friendly Terms and Conditions

Players want to be able to enjoy the full value of a promotion without dealing with restrictive terms and conditions. So even if an online casino may offer lots of high-value bonuses, it may not be worth your while if there are confining wagering requirements in place, for example.

Although most casino offers are catered towards slot games, many deposit bonuses allow players to spend their credit on table games such as blackjack. While it’s normal for these bonuses to come with win limits and wagering requirements, sites that keep these stipulations to reasonable levels are the best places to play. It’s good to see promotions primarily as a means to try out new blackjack games, but if you have the chance to withdraw any winnings, that’s an added bonus.

The Safety of the Online Casino

Above all else, our role at TRC IE is to ensure players are able to play at safe and trustworthy casino sites. All the blackjack sites we recommend are licensed by reputable bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority. Licensed casinos that act improperly may face financial penalties and could be shut down by the regulator, so it’s important to only play at licensed sites.

Credible casinos also offer high levels of security via SSL encryption or equivalent, to ensure players’ personal data is secure at all times. Well-known brands that have been around for a long time come with a level of reputability, but we can also ensure newer sites are safe for players by reviewing their licenses and security mechanisms.

Range of Banking Options Available

Players have different preferences when it comes to banking methods, so we favour blackjack sites that offer players a range of options to choose from. Many players are happy with traditional banking options such as Visa and Mastercard debit cards, which offer high levels of security.

Other players may want to use an e-wallet such as PayPal or Skrill. Casinos that support a wide range of these options are, therefore, ideal as they allow players to use an e-wallet that suits their needs rather than choosing an option that won’t work for them.

Here at TopRatedCasinos, we always look for the best software providers, whether experienced or new, amongst a casino’s games library. While it’s often positive to see a variety of providers contributing different blackjack games, a blackjack catalogue can still impress if it is exclusively supplied by a top developer such as Evolution Gaming or NetEnt.

Best Bonus Offers for Irish Blackjack Players

Irish gamblers can look forward to a big, shiny selection of exciting bonus offers from blackjack sites. Using TopRatedCasinos, you can compare the best incentives available, so let’s have a look at some of the most popular available to players today.

Matched Deposit

Matched deposit offers are a big deal in the world of online gambling sites, but how do they work? Simply put, the casino site will match your deposit by a certain percentage. If, for example, that percentage is 50% and you deposit €100 into your casino account, you’ll get €50 cashback in bonus funds. These offers are always capped at a certain amount, which will be clearly stated in the terms and conditions. 

No Deposit

No deposit bonuses are an eye-catching perk, because — unlike most casino bonuses — they don’t require you to deposit any cash into your account. While their value is usually quite small, they give Irish players the chance to try a website without any risk or commitment. That said, you will probably have to fulfil wagering requirements before you can draw any winnings.

Low Wagering

Most welcome bonuses have wagering requirements, which means you’ll have to make a set number of bets before you can unlock bonus winnings as real money. Low wagering bonuses allow you to withdraw your winnings without having to meet these requirements, which is a big draw for new players.

Free Spins

Often bundled with other bonuses, free spins are certainly something you’ll want to look out for if you enjoy slots. With free spins, you can hit the reels of a specified game (or games) with no risk to your own cash. Wagering requirements may be attached to anything you win, so check the T&Cs first. 

Live Dealer Blackjack

One of the most exciting innovations in the world of online casinos is the rise of live dealer games. This brings the authentic casino experience straight to Irish computers or Irish mobile devices. Instead of playing against random number generators and software algorithms, you’re up against a real human being at a real blackjack table, with the play beamed to you via webcam.

You can even chat to them while you play, adding to the casino-like vibe.

A lot of the best blackjack sites offer these live dealer games, filmed in sleek studio sets and actual bricks-and-mortar casinos, so Irish players can immerse themselves in “real” blackjack without leaving the comfort of their home.

Understanding Blackjack House Edge 

The house edge refers to the advantage the casino has over players in any given game. There will always be a degree of house edge in operation in real money table games — after all, the casino is operating as a business. The house edge is typically expressed as a percentage. For example, a 5% house edge would mean that for every €100 wagered, the casino keeps 5% on average.

Blackjack often has one of the lowest house edges around, meaning players have a decent chance of winning. The house edge differs across blackjack games, but players can usually reduce the house edge by using effective strategy — this differs from games such as slots where the Return to Player percentage is fixed, or roulette where there is no control over the outcome.

So, what is the house edge in blackjack? At PlayOJO, it’s usually 0.43%, which is equivalent to 99.57% RTP. Meanwhile, Paddy Power states that its standard six-deck blackjack games have a house edge of around 0.5%, which can be reduced to 0.4% if you hit, stand, split and double down at the right times.

Mobile Blackjack

The beauty of online blackjack is that Irish betters can play it anywhere they have a good Internet connection. While you can access blackjack sites through the web browser on your iOS or Android device, you might prefer to download the casino’s app.

The main question is whether casino apps are better than mobile-optimised web pages. We think they usually are, and here’s why:

• They’re faster: Apps store the data they need on your mobile device, which means you can enjoy faster load times.
• They’re more convenient: You’re able to access blackjack and other casino games directly through the app, rather than via your web browser.
• They provide push notification: Betting apps can give you automatic alerts on the latest blackjack bonuses and deposit offers, so you’re never out of the loop.

Top Blackjack Software Developers

We think these blackjack software developers are top-notch. Here’s why they’ve got a place on our list.

NetEnt

A developer best known for its trailblazing games, NetEnt understands what makes a good game of blackjack. One of its offerings is live dealer Perfect Blackjack, where cards are dealt according to perfect strategy, providing a low house edge of 0.5% and an RTP of 99.5%. Over on the Random Number Generator (RNG) side of things, NetEnt has produced classic games like Double Exposure Blackjack and online Pontoon.

Evolution 

If live dealer blackjack is your bag, then Evolution is another developer you’ll want to check out. It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest names in live dealer casino gaming, beaming the action from an array of blackjack tables. These include glittering VIP tables offering some of the highest bet limits you’ll find for online blackjack games.

A more casual experience can be had with Blackjack Party, with its low stakes and bubbly dealers. You can even wager on other people’s hands using the Bet Behind feature.

Playtech

Playtech knows a thing or two when it comes to producing fun and unique RNG games. Among their creations is Buster Blackjack, in which players can get a 2:1 payout if the dealer goes bust with three or four cards. Then there’s Lucky Lucky Blackjack, where you can place side bets that provide payouts if, say, the first three cards are sevens. Live dealer blackjack more your style? Playtech ticks those boxes too, streaming blackjack from its set in Latvia.

Microgaming

The self-proclaimed developers of the first-ever online casino game, way back in 1994, Microgaming certainly isn’t short on games today. The company offers up some of the top RNG blackjack games online, including European Blackjack and Atlantic City Blackjack, which has an appealingly low average house edge of 0.35%.

Another popular title is Vegas Strip Blackjack, in which the player can put down an insurance wager if the dealer draws an ace for their first card.

Blackjack Banking Methods 

The best online blackjack casinos offer a range of banking methods for players to choose from. As blackjack players have different needs and preferences such as fast withdrawal times and low minimum deposits, it’s important they can opt for a payment method that suits them.

We can group the available banking methods into three broad categories to assess their respective positives and negatives for blackjack players:

Debit Cards

Debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are some of the most widely used payment methods at online blackjack sites. As virtually everyone already holds one of these cards, they become the obvious go-to option for many players looking to deposit and withdraw funds.

Pros

Cons 

E-wallets

E-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are common at blackjack casinos and offer a range of benefits. Customers can keep money in their e-wallet balance ready to use online, or use the e-wallet simply as an intermediary to process payments to their bank.

Pros

Cons 

Alternative Payment Methods

Outside the most common debit card and e-wallet banking options, there are a range of alternatives available. Prepaid cards such as paysafecard are popular as they allow players to top-up using a 16-digit code, removing the need to share your bank details. Virtual prepaid cards such as AstroPay are also becoming increasingly popular thanks to sponsorships with Premier League football teams such as Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Banking intermediaries like Trustly also come with many benefits for blackjack players. With Trustly, players can deposit and withdraw funds without a card, app or even an account. Instead, you’ll just need to log in to your bank via Trustly to complete the transaction.