Ireland's Top Live Blackjack Sites

How Do Live Blackjack Sites Work?

Live blackjack sites bring the casino experience to you, whether you’re lounging on the sofa or whiling away a lunch hour at the office. Each game features a live dealer at their blackjack table, playing in front of a webcam so you’ll feel like you’re sat right there in front of them.

Chat windows even let you speak to the dealer in between hands, as well as other players in some games, which means a bit of friendly banter can also be on the cards.

Using live blackjack sites is as simple as the casino game itself. You simply sign up or log on, browse the various tables that are online, pick one and settle in. You can expect to be greeted by the live dealer, just as you would if you were to sit down at a table in a casino, and thanks to the smooth interface and high-definition camerawork, you’ll get an experience on a whole different level to standard online gambling.

How We Review the Best Live Blackjack Casinos in Ireland

The experts here at TopRatedCasinos consider many different factors when reviewing live blackjack sites. Read on to find out about our review process.

Licensing

We only list sites that are licenced and legal to play in Ireland. This means that we’ll only consider online casinos that are regulated by reputable licensing authorities — prominent examples being the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

Games Collection

A wide selection of games will keep you interested and allow you to find a variation of blackjack that suits your style. That’s why we earmark sites that have a range of live blackjack tables available. We also like to see a general breadth of options, including plenty of other live games such as craps and hold’em poker, as well as RNG games and online slots.

Bonus Offers

We always pay close attention to the bonus offers available at each casino to assess the difference they can make to your bankroll. From welcome offers such as matched deposit bonuses, to regular promos featuring free spins and cashback deals, there are usually a variety of bonuses around. We do the research to make it easy for you to compare what’s on offer.

Payment Options

Being able to choose from a range of payment options — not just for deposits, but also for withdrawals — is a key consideration for many players. We always prefer to see as many trusted and reliable banking methods as possible.

Customer Support

When we compare casino sites, we also look at what customer support is on offer. A choice of customer support methods is best — for example, live chat, e-mail, and phone lines. It’s ideal if the customer support staff are on call right around the clock via multiple mediums.

Design and Usability

When you’re playing online casino games, it’s important that the site is well-designed and easy to use. After all, a casino that runs smoothly will give you a more seamless live blackjack experience, ensuring you don’t miss out on the action. We look for a clear interface and appealing visuals, and we also check to see how easy it is to navigate between games.

Live Blackjack Software Providers

Most live dealer blackjack games are provided and operated by specialist casino software companies, rather than actual casinos themselves. These companies develop and run the games, doing everything from programming the interface and creating the casino sets to filming each live dealer as they do their thing.

The respective online casinos then host the blackjack games on their sites, acting as the middlemen between players and the studios. That said, some top casinos have invested in designated tables, which means certain blackjack tables will display the casino logo, while the live dealer may wear the casino brand’s colours.

The top live dealer blackjack software developers are Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, and Playtech. Each of these providers offers a range of different blackjack games with betting limits to suit all budgets. When you play games from these developers, you’re guaranteed high-quality streams, truly immersive casino settings, and excellent mobile casino gaming compatibility.

Depositing at a Live Blackjack Online Casino

You can’t use live blackjack sites without laying down some real money, so you’ll be glad to know it’s very easy to deposit your cash. Some widely accepted methods are:

•       Paying with debit cards from Visa and Mastercard;
•       Transferring money using PayPal, Neteller, Skrill and other e-wallets;
•       Sending directly from your account via bank transfer.

It’s important to remember that the accepted payment methods, as well as deposit limits, vary at different live blackjack sites. This is why you should read up on the bank methods and associated terms before signing up to a casino.

High Stakes Live Dealer Blackjack

If you consider yourself something of a high roller, then get ready to go big, because many of the best live blackjack sites have tables set aside just for all you whales out there. These lavishly laid-out VIP sections have high minimum bet levels set, often well in the thousands, ensuring only those looking to play for the highest stakes can gain access. Some of these tables are completely private, just like VIP tables in real casinos.

How to Play Blackjack

The Basics

Blackjack pits the player against the dealer, with the objective being to get as close to 21 as possible without going over that number. In blackjack games, aces can be worth 1 or 11, while kings, queens, and jacks are worth 10, and number cards are simply worth their face value.

Blackjack Moves

There are a number of moves that you can make in blackjack. The most common ones are hit and stand. Ask the dealer to hit, and they deal you one more card. When you stand, your hand stays as it is. 

A split is another option. If you get two cards of the same value, you can make this move. Your two cards are split into separate hands, and you put down a second wager equal to your first. Playing two hands can mean double the winnings, but, obviously, doubles the risk, too.

It’s also possible to double down. This means you double your bet, and the dealer gives you one more card before you stand. Keep in mind, some versions of blackjack don’t allow you to double down after you’ve already split. 

Some variations of blackjack also allow you to surrender. This basically means quitting the round and getting half your stake back.

How a Round of Blackjack is Played

Here’s a guide to how a round of classic blackjack is played online, and some of the basic blackjack rules to get you started. 

1. The live dealer will deal you two cards, face up, and then deal themselves two cards: one face up and one face down. The dealer’s face down card is called the hole card, while the face up card is known as the up card.
2. If anyone gets a blackjack in the first draw — for example, an ace and a face card — then they win instantly, and that’s the end of the round. If the dealer also has a blackjack, that’s called a push and no money is won or lost.
3. If nobody has a blackjack, you can choose to hit, stand, split, or double down. Exceeding 21 is a bust, meaning the player loses.
4. Once your turn is complete, the dealer makes their play by drawing cards. Generally, the dealer must hit on 16 or less, and stand on 17 or more.
5. The player wins if they get closer to 21 than the dealer, or if the dealer busts (goes over 21).

Live online casino games are run by real dealers, so it’s just like sitting at casino tables in real life. However, there is one difference for those who use systems such as card counting, which is that the deck tends to be far more frequently shuffled, with lower deck penetration than brick-and-mortar casinos. This makes card counting far less viable as a strategy.

Side Bets

Once you’ve learned to play blackjack, there are a number of side bets you can add on too, to mix things up.

A perfect pairs bet is a bet that your first two cards will be a pair. 23+1 is a bet that your two initial cards, plus the hole card, will make three of a kind, a flush, or a straight. 

Some games also allow for insurance. If the hole card is an ace, you can add insurance, which is half the amount of your initial bet. If the dealer has blackjack, you then get the amount of your initial wager back.

Bet behind is another option that’s sometimes available. It simply refers to betting on other players’ hands during live games.

Additional Rules

The details laid out above cover the basics of any blackjack game. At a live blackjack casino, however, the sheer volume of available games means you’re likely to come across minor modifications to the rules at each different table. Below is a brief introduction to blackjack’s additional rules and side betting options, some of which are unique to live dealer casinos. 

Hard/Soft 17

In blackjack, a hard 17 is a hand that contains a one-valued ace, and a soft 17 is one that contains an 11-valued ace. You’ll find that many live blackjack casino games declare that players and dealers must hit if their hand is a soft 17 and that there may be other rules surrounding these situations. 

Bet Behind

Bet behinds allow players to place wagers on someone else’s hand while they wait for a seat at the table. With some live dealer blackjack games, players can make an unlimited number of bet behinds. 

Side Bets

To spice things up, many live blackjack tables introduce a series of side bets. These will be aimed at a specific outcome; for example, side bets targeted at pairs being dealt is a common inclusion. 

Hit Split Aces

Aces are incredibly valuable in blackjack — not only because they can hold both the highest and lowest value, but they also give flexibility to a player’s hand. As a result, the majority of live blackjack dealers will only be able to hit a split pair of aces one time.     

Re-split

The re-split rule allows players to split their hand again if they’re dealt another pair following a split hand. This gives players a total of four different hands to play in one round of betting, although they’ll be required to match their initial bets behind each hand. 

Six-Card Charlie

Rewarding brave play, the six-card Charlie rule gives players with any hand that contains six cards and hasn’t gone bust a payout. How much players with six cards stand to win depends on the casino and the game, but they often trump all hands of equal value. Some live casinos also deploy a ten-card Charlie rule with much larger payout potential.

Live Blackjack Variations

All blackjack games — whether played as an RNG game, in a live dealer format, or at a real casino — will adhere to the rules of one of the two foremost variants: American or European. But within this framework, variants can be split by many different factors, some of which we’ve detailed above. Below are some of the most popular live blackjack variants and what you can expect to come across when you deal yourself in. 

Free Bet Blackjack

Live dealer masters Evolution Gaming are the developers behind Free Bet Blackjack — a variant played with eight decks with a return to player (RTP) rate of 98.5%. Free Bet Blackjack allows players to make use of four side bets, including the popular any pair and 21+3 options. The dealer must stand on all 17s, and the six-card Charlie rule is also in play. Wagers on this game start at €1 and can rise to €2,500 per hand, making it suitable for casino players of all budgets. 

Live Cashback Blackjack

This variant, created by Playtech, also involves eight decks and centres around a cashback calling option. With the cashback rule, players can cash out their bet at any time during the round. You won’t receive the full wager back, but if you’ve got a bad feeling about a hand, this rule offers the chance to recoup a portion of your bet. Crucially, aces in this game are worth either one or ten, meaning that they can be split with other ten-value cards. There are six different side bets available, some of which mix elements of poker into the game, such as the Top 3 call, which rewards three of a kinds and straight flushes. Live Cashback Blackjack has a huge RTP of 99.6% and bets range from €1 to €100. 

Live Blitz Blackjack

As the name suggests, NetEnt’s Live Blitz Blackjack is all about speed. This game draws on the previous success of Common Draw Blackjack, but NetEnt has scaled Blitz so that an unlimited number of players can join the action. All of the players involved are dealt the same hand, which is where the game derives its speed — since everyone is dealing with the same cards, betting calls are made at a faster pace. Perfect pairs and 21+3 are the available side bets, and this game is also served by eight decks. Bets range from €1 to €100, and this variant has another high RTP rate at 99.5%.    

Play High Stakes Live Dealer Blackjack

When you’re surveying the blackjack live dealer tables at your online casino, you’ll notice that the betting ranges are given in the game’s thumbnail. This gives a good indication as to whether the table will suit your gambling budget, with bets on most tables starting at €1, and rising all the way to €20,000 on the most expansive games. If you can afford to take a seat, these high stakes blackjack games really match the authenticity of a physical casino. Take a look at our game recommendations for the highest rollers.

Salon Privé

Evolution’s suite of blackjack tables found in its Salon Privé suite will satisfy any casino player with a large account balance. These are exclusive games: no other players can join the table once you’ve started, or even watch from the sidelines. If you’re interested in taking a seat, you’ll need to have €6,000 in your casino account and be willing to make starting bets of €1,500. In most games, maximum bets are limited to €10,000. 

Soirée Blackjack

Released in 2018, Playtech’s Soirée Blackjack has a much more accommodating starting point than Evolution’s Salon Privé. Minimum bets begin at €50, but reach €10,000 at the other end of the spectrum. Playing Soirée affords gamblers a couple of added features: players are able to request a dealer change or an extension of the current dealer’s session, and they’re also able to request a reshuffle. 

Blackjack Betting Strategies

Blackjack requires skill as well as good fortune, and using blackjack strategy can decrease the house edge and improve your chances of landing a win. Blackjack strategy essentially boils down to knowing which move is best to make depending on the strength of your hand, such as always hitting on a hard 11 or standing on a hard 17.

You can use blackjack strategy charts available online to tell you which move to make for any given hand.

As well as in-game blackjack strategy, there are also several classic betting strategies that some players adhere to. These betting strategies don’t affect the house edge, but are used as a way of structuring your betting. One traditional system is the Martingale, which is known as a “negative progression” system, which means you double your bet with each loss.

Simply put, if you lose a hand, you bet double on the next one, and carry on until your losing streak ends. At which point, you’ll have recouped your losses and then return to the original bet value.

A contrasting strategy favoured by many players on live blackjack sites is called Oscar’s Grind, which is a “positive progression” system where you bet one unit more with each win but bet the same as the last hand when you have a loss, with the aim of coming out with just one unit profit in any series of bets.

It’s important to bear in mind that these betting systems are not foolproof in any way and can’t guarantee you’ll win more often.

How to Play Live Casino Games

If you’re interested in playing blackjack at a live dealer casino, follow these steps and you’ll be twisting your way to 21 in no time:

1. Consult our expert guide on the best live blackjack casinos in the UK.
2. Read our reviews, compare welcome bonus offers and game libraries, before using our links to click through to the site you like the look of.
3. Sign-up to the casino by entering your personal info. The casino will be required to carry out some identification checks at this point, which may take a bit of time
4. Once these checks are complete, you’ll be able to make your first deposit. Head to the cashier page, select your preferred banking option, and enter in the amount
5. Enjoy the selection of live dealer casino games. As well as table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, casino sites also host live dealer game shows and other exciting innovations

Blackjack Variations

There are a number of variations of blackjack you’ll come across when you play live blackjack online. Multi-deck blackjack uses more than one deck of cards, which can add an interesting dimension to gameplay but does also increase the house edge as, with more decks in play, your chances of landing a blackjack are diminished.

Blackjack Switch gives the players two separate hands, with the option of switching their second cards around. European blackjack is also popular — with this variation, the dealer doesn’t get a hole card until the player has decided what to do with their hand.

Best Bonus Offers for Live Dealer Blackjack

Online casinos are big business, with millions upon millions of players worldwide — so it’s little wonder the different companies lay on some highly enticing bonus offers to edge out the competition. Using TopRatedCasinos you can quickly compare the best offers and select the live blackjack sites you like the look of.

Matched deposit sign-up bonuses are very common. This is where the casino will match your initial deposit up to a certain percentage — very often 100%. So, if you deposit €50, the casino will match that with another €50 and you’ll have €100 to play with.

No deposit bonuses are rare but player-friendly offers, and these reward you with bonus funds simply for creating an account. Just remember that wagering requirements are usually in place unless you claim a no wagering bonus. Wagering requirements simply mean that you have to bet a number of times before you’re allowed to take any bonus money or related winnings out of your casino account.

Always carefully read the terms and conditions so you know exactly what you’re signing up for when you claim a casino bonus.

Live Blackjack Apps

Playing blackjack against a live dealer isn’t restricted to casino websites. You can also opt to play using live blackjack casino apps, which are widely available across most mobile devices such as iPhones and Androids. These are designed to be as smooth and user-friendly as possible, making them a top choice if you prefer to play on the go.

Other Live Casino Games to Try

If you enjoy live blackjack, here are some other live games that you might enjoy trying out at the best casino sites.

Live Roulette

Place your bets and see every spin of the wheel in real-time with live roulette. Play this popular casino game at home, and you’ll be able to choose between different variations including Lightning Roulette, with its gleaming Art Deco studio and payout multipliers, and super-fast Speed Roulette, where bets are placed even as the ball tumbles.

Live Baccarat

It’s easy to learn to play live baccarat, but with so many different variations and side bets available, there’s certainly a lot to explore at Irish casino sites. High rollers can check out the various VIP games run by professional dealers, while Multi-Camera Baccarat uses up-close angles to really evoke that casino atmosphere.

Game Shows and Board Games

Looking for something a little different? Live video technology has allowed casino sites to go beyond the classics to offer game show experiences and interactive board games. You can enjoy the likes of Monopoly Live and Deal or No Deal Live, which utilise cutting edge technology to breathe new life into familiar formats.