Online Blackjack is an online casino table game that is offered to all of New Zealand players. It is the best way to enjoy the most popular games at some of the top online casinos for Kiwi players and still win some massive real money prizes.
Online Blackjack comes in many forms and variants, the most popular being traditional online Blackjack, and live dealer Blackjack.
Blackjack is a staple of any land-based or online casino around the world, and especially so in New Zealand. Kiwi players love online Blackjack as it is quick and easy to play and has massive jackpots on offer.
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Popular Blackjack Variations
There is a veritable cornucopia of different online Blackjack versions available at online casinos across the world. There are too many to list, but in this section, we will take a look at some of the more popular ones usually found at online casinos in New Zealand.
Atlantic City Blackjack
Atlantic City Blackjack is one of the most attractive options available to players, as it has one of the lowest house edges of any game of Blackjack.
This version is played with eight decks of cards. In Atlantic City Blackjack, the dealer is given two cards at the start of each round. This means if the dealer has Blackjack, the round is over before the player is even given the chance to double. If the dealer has a soft 17 or higher, they stand.
Bonus Blackjack
Bonus Blackjack is just like normal European Blackjack but gives New Zealand players the chance to place an extra wager on what their hand of Blackjack will be made up of.
Like European Blackjack, Bonus Blackjack is only played with two decks, so the house edge isn’t all that high, but is significantly increased if players make the bonus bet.
The bonus bet is simple: Players can wager an extra amount, according to the table minimum, that their hand of Blackjack will consist of a Jack and an Ace. This pays out at a staggering 25:1 odds. If the hand is made up of a Jack and an Ace of Spades, players can expect a gargantuan 50:1 return on their wager.
Classic Blackjack
Classic Blackjack is the version most often played at online and land-based casinos around the world. This traditional version is played with five decks, and players can split their hands on the first two cards they are dealt and continue so as long as they are given cards. Classic Blackjack is fast-paced and perfect for the player just looking to play a few quick hands at online casinos like G’Day Casino, Golden Riviera, Novomatic Casinos and much more.
European Blackjack
European Blackjack is a deviation of Classic Blackjack. This version is, however, only played with two decks of cards instead of five.
In European Blackjack, players can request to be dealt (hit), up to nine additional cards after their first. All wins in European Blackjack are paid out at 3 to 2 odds.
Vegas Strip Blackjack
Not to be confused with the more raunchy strip poker, Vegas Strip Poker doesn’t require players to take off their clothes at all. Its name is just a reference to the Las Vegas gambling strip.
Vegas Strip Blackjack has a low house edge and is played with four decks of cards.
In Vegas Strip Blackjack, if a player splits an Ace hand, and they get a card with a face value of 10 for their next card, they hand to which it is dealt is not considered Blackjack, but rather just as 21. This means that if the dealer gets Blackjack, they win the round.
Live Dealer Blackjack
The online casino game can be any one of the versions of Blackjack in the world. More so, it is played at an online casino, where players interact with a real dealer over a video chat.
Blackjack combines all the thrills of playing Blackjack at a land-based casino, with the comfort and security of playing online. This version is usually available on both computers and mobile devices, which means that player can enjoy a game of lived-dealer Blackjack wherever they are, at home, on the train, or in the queue at the DMV.
Many players who have just picked up their phone for a quick live dealer game have won massive cash prizes.
The Evolution of Online Blackjack in New Zealand
Gambling, and by default Blackjack, has had a contentious history in New Zealand. Gambling was first introduced by European settlers. By 1830, gambling became massively popular across the country and a large part of life in New Zealand. However, in 1908, the Gambling Act prohibited all forms of gambling except horse racing betting, which could only legally be made at a racetrack. In reality, the ban didn’t do much to stop gambling, and only fueled many forms of illegal gambling. The ban didn’t last all too long, and by 1933, charitable lotteries were run all across the country.
The first Pokie machines, surprisingly, didn’t make an appearance until 1991. They too were operated by charitable foundations, as were found in pubs and clubs around the country, as there weren’t any casinos to be found back then. This meant that casino games were only played for fun between friends and family, or at shady illegal gambling dens. However, this all changed in 1994, when the country’s first casino was opened in Christchurch.
Today, there are six fully licensed land-based casinos operating in New Zealand, and more will surely follow. However, at the same time the first land-based casino in New Zealand opened, the first online casino, then operated by Microgaming, first came online. This meant that gambling in New Zealand has taken a different growth trajectory than most countries.
New Zealand players have been fortunate enough to be able to choose between both land-based and online casinos, as both developed in the country at the same time. Online casino players in New Zealand love the diverse range of games on offer, like online pokies and online casino games, including, of course, online Blackjack.
How to Play Blackjack?
Blackjack is an online casino game in New Zealand that is also known as the 21 card game. It forms part of the widely played online casino games globally, especially in New Zealand. The casino game is played by comparing cards between players and dealers. This means that players do not compete against other players but the dealer. To add on, the game is played using one or more decks of 52 cards. Hence the aim or the objective of the game is to make sure that the players beat the dealer in any of the following ways:
- Getting 21 points on their first two cards, commonly known as a natural or blackjack.
- Reaching a final score that is higher than the dealer’s, without surpassing 21.
- Lastly by allowing the dealer to draw more or additional cards.
New to Blackjack? Not to worry, we are here to guide you every step on how you can gradually become a pro in online Blackjack. Read on and learn about the upcoming steps.
Step 1
First, before anything else, New Zealand players must learn the value of cards. In this game, every card has a value that is constant all the way through the entire game. As we previously mentioned, the aim is to beat the dealer, and at the same time trying not to come up with a value that is more than 22. Here are the values of cards in Blackjack:
- Face cards – 10 is the value of face cards.
- Number cards – The number on the card will be the value of the card.
- Ace – It’s either 11 or 1. However, it is mostly counted as an 11. Therefore an Ace and a ten will make 21, resulting in a Natural / Blackjack win.
Step 2
After knowing the value of cards, Kiwi players need to learn and master their choices. A player has two choices when their turn comes. They can either Hit or Stand. Hit is when the player gets another card so that they can hit until they are over 21. Stand is when a casino player chooses not to do anything and keep the cards they currently have. This means that the player doesn’t receive more cards.
Here are a couple of more possibilities that a player can use for specific hands:
- Surrender – In some of the online casinos, players have a choice to choose if they want to give up half of their own bet without even playing. This is when players opt out part of their bets right before the casino dealer looks for a Blackjack. However, surrender is mostly convenient when a dealer has 9A, and the casino player has 5-7 or even a 6-12.
- Taking Insurance – This is relevant when the dealer has shown an Ace. New Zealand players make a bet that pays at 2-1 in the event that the dealer has a blackjack. The player will lose the bet but will also win insurance, thereby resulting in a tie.
- Split – This is when the player makes two hands from one, that’s if the cards are of the same value. Kings, Queens, 10s and Jacks are normally counted as 10. If the two hands win, the player or the dealer will also receive double the amount. A break even will occur if only one of the hands win. If both of the hands lose, it means the dealer or the player will also lose double the amount of the money. We advise that you split or separate the cards, then place a duplicate bet.
- Double Down – This is when you double up your bet, and they receive only one extra card. This is mostly used when the player’s first two cards are equal to 8-11.
Step 3
After all, has been said and done, on this stage, the player must start winning the game. For the New Zealand players to win, they have at least closer to 21 as compared to the dealer. If the player is above 21, they will be ‘busted’ meaning they will lose. In the event that it’s a draw or a tie, it will be referred to as a push, meaning that the neither wins, the house nor the player. It’s important to know that a Blackjack is when the player has a 10, Ace and a face card as their starting cards.
Online Blackjack FAQs
Does every online casino offer the same types of Blackjack?
No. Each and every online casino whooshes the games they wish to offer to players. This means that the list of available games will differ between online casinos. Players need to choose the online casino that offers the games they want before signing up.
Which should I choose – Live dealer or online Blackjack?
Neither is better than the other, so it all comes down to players’ preferences, needs, and financial abilities. As some live dealer casinos may have some minimum betting amounts, they may deter some players who might only want to wager small amounts at a time. Therefore, players need to determine exactly how much they are able and willing to spend and choose which one works best for them.
Does every game of Blackjack have the same odds?
No. The odds can differ depending on the rules of each game. This means that players should choose which version would best suit their playing style and financial abilities before choosing one version to play at. Most online casinos allow players to test out their games, excluding live dealer games, for free, in order to learn the rules and determine which version they like the best.
Does online, live dealer, and live (land-based) Blackjack have the same odds?
Yes, the odds for each different game stays the same, no matter where it is being played. New Zealand players can, therefore, rest assured knowing that no matter where they choose to play, they are always facing the same odds.
Can I count cards online, and should I?
Yes, and definitely no. Counting cards is a highly discouraged practice, and should never be attempted by any new Zealand players, whether they are playing at an online or land-based casino. Counting cards isn’t illegal, though casinos that suspect a player might be counting cards has the full right to ban the player for life and inform other casinos of what they were doing. So don’t ever try it.
