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

When it comes to online blackjack, there’s quite a bit of choice available to Irish players, with a number of alternative variations of the game available on top of the original, “classic” version. Blackjack sites can offer Irish gamblers:

• Multihand blackjack, where you can play with multiple hands simultaneously – ideal for seasoned online blackjack players who can multitask, playing it safer with some hands and going to the edge with others
• Atlantic City blackjack, a variation which allows the player to split their hand up to three times, and slightly alters the way a dealer can hit or stand, in a way that’s advantageous for the player
• Pontoon, which, like blackjack, is a descendant of the original, centuries-old card game Twenty-One, and uses slightly different rules and different terminology (for example, a “hit” is here called a “twist”)

It’s worth remembering that many of the best blackjack sites will also have their own house versions of blackjack for you to discover.

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.

Top Tips for Choosing an Online Blackjack Casino

Irish players choosing where to try their luck on online blackjack have a vast array of options open to them. TopRatedCasinos can help you sift through the noise and pinpoint blackjack sites which might be right for you. Some key points to consider are:

• The variations of online blackjack a site offers, and what the specific rules for these are. Are you confident trying your luck with more complex variations?
• The T&Cs attached to your bonus offer. Pay particular attention to the wagering requirements of blackjack sites, which will determine how much you’re obliged to bet before getting a pay out
• The credibility of the online casino. Is it a known, licensed and reputable brand with the correct security and safety measures in place?
• Whether the casino accepts your favoured method for depositing money

The software providers used by the casino. Big names like Evolution Gaming and NetEnt will practically guarantee a smooth and enjoyable experience for Irish players

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. 

High Stakes Blackjack

Any Irish players who reckon themselves to be high rollers should keep an eye out for online casinos offering high stakes games. You can check out these blackjack sites for virtual tables with higher minimum and maximum wager limits, so you can go for those big money wins.

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.

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.