A step by step guide to blackjack
Blackjack is one of the easiest online casino games to play, but it is still worth taking a bit of time to explain exactly how the game works. There are variations in gameplay (more on that later), but generally speaking, here’s what you need to do:
Aim of the game
The aim of blackjack is to have a hand valued as close to 21 as possible, but without exceeding 21. All cards are worth their face value, with the exception of royal cards, which are all valued at ten, and aces, which you can value at one or 11. To win a blackjack game, you need your hand to be closer to 21 than the dealer’s.
How the game works
You start by placing your bet for the hand. The dealer then gives you two cards and himself two cards. After looking at your cards, you need to decide whether to stick with the value in your hand (stand) or ask for another card (hit). This carries on until you want to stick with the value of your hand.
The dealer then performs the same task. If your score is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, you win. If you exceed 21, or the dealer is closer to 21, you lose. If you have the same score as the dealer (known as a push), your stake is returned.
Blackjack variations
The version of blackjack outlined above is the most popular free live blackjack game online and is commonly known as American Blackjack at
live sweepstakes casinos. But it is far from the only way to play the game. Here are three of the most common game variations you will find:
- European Blackjack
- This has a few subtle differences from American blackjack. The most significant is that the dealer cannot request another card if he/she has a score of 17 or more.
- Perfect Pairs Blackjack
- This version allows you to place a side bet on whether your first two cards will be equal in value. If your side bet is successful you receive six times your bet. If the two cards are the same color, the returns are doubled.
- Multihand Blackjack
- As the name suggests, this involves you receiving multiple hands from the same deck. This allows you to play at a faster rate and marginally increases your chances of success.
Pros and cons of live sweepstakes blackjack
- Easy to play
- Low house edge
- Low house edge
- Fast gameplay
- Exciting game variations
- Low variance makes it hard to land big wins
Top tips for playing live sweepstakes blackjack
Before you begin playing, formulate a very clear idea of what you will do in certain situations. When will you stand and when will you hit? To help you out, you can use a blackjack strategy sheet that tells you the optimum option for every possible game scenario. These sheets can easily be found via a Google search.
Free live blackjack games come thick and fast, which can make it hard to stay focussed. Try to remove any distractions when you are playing, Keep a clear mind so you can make the correct decisions based on your hand.
Whether you are playing live sweepstakes roulette, blackjack or any other casino game, you need to stick to your budget and strategy. Losing streaks are inevitable, but don’t chase your losses by increasing your stake sizes or placing additional side bets. Trust your game plan, because sooner or later the losing streak will end.
Reviewing live sweepstakes blackjack sites: Key criteria
Now that you know how to play live sweepstakes blackjack, let’s take a look at the key criteria to assess when reviewing sites that offer the game:
- Blackjack games -
How many live tables are available? What are the game variations? Also, check out if there are any regular tournaments provided by the site.
- Performance
- High quality, smooth running graphics are an essential part of a great live blackjack free play experience. In addition, professional dealers and useful statistics can enhance your gameplay. Ultimately, you want your online blackjack experience to closely replicate a real life casino.
- Promotions
- Most social casinos hand out bonuses on a daily basis. You can also expect to receive a generous welcome bonus, and usually an enhanced first coin package. Look at all the promotions provided by a brand, including how you can use the offers and any limits attached to them.
- Customer support
- When you encounter problems using online casinos, what is your preferred contact method? You can usually find email support at sweeps casinos, but other options like live chat and telephone support can be harder to find. Also, check out the FAQ section on the brand’s website. Does it provide comprehensive answers to common issues?
- Mobile
Availability
- If you want to play live dealer blackjack free on your mobile device, you need the brand to have a high quality mobile app and/or a mobile site that offers the same features and quality as the full desktop site. Make sure the mobile options are fully compatible with your devices.
- Payment options
- Simply put, does the brand although you to purchase coin packages via a banking method you use? In addition, you also want fast, easy and free payments, especially if you have a prize to redeem.
Four of the best sweepstakes sites
Whilst you need to decide for yourself which live sweepstakes blackjack casinos to join, there are a few brands that stand out from the crowd in terms of quality. Here are two of the very best sites for live blackjack, plus two other fantastic social casinos to join:
| Site | Key facts | Live Sweepstakes blackjack |
| Stake.us |
- Live casino
- Over 500 games
- Accepts crypto payments
| Yes |
| High5 Casino |
- Live blackjack tables
- More than 800 slot games
- Slick website
| Yes |
| WOW Vegas |
- Superb welcome offer
- Generous daily bonus
- Exceptional customer support
| No |
| Global Poker |
- Four poker game variations
- Regular poker tournaments
- Great welcome offer
| No |
Stake.us - World class gameplay
Pros & Cons
- 15+ exclusive games
- Superb slot collection
- Low house edge on live blackjack game
If you’ve ever read a
Stake.us review, you will know that this is one of the best overall social casinos on the market. The live sweepstakes blackjack game is also exceptionally enjoyable and has a house edge of just 0.60%. The presentation is professional, the graphics are superb and everything runs extremely smoothly. That quality also extends to the live sweeps roulette and baccarat on the site
As well as an exceptional live casino, Stake.us also has a popular slot collection that contains more than 500 games. The highlights of this collection are the exclusive Stake Original games. These titles (including Dice, Hi Lo and Crash) provide a fun alternative to standard casino gaming. When you also factor in a comprehensive Help section and the fact that you can use cryptocurrency for your gameplay, it is clear to see why Stake.us is a leading name in the social casino world.
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Stake.us Highlights
- EXCLUSIVE welcome bonus code
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High5 Casino - Exceptional live blackjack
Pros & Cons
- Excellent game variety
- Five live blackjack tables
- Over 800 slot games
If you’ve read my
High5 Casino review, you’ll already know there is an awful lot to like about the live sweeps blackjack available here. The games are presented in a realistic way that ensures an immersive live casino session. This is especially true of the live sweepstakes blackjack games, which are just about the best you will find. There are five different live blackjack tables, including a Limitless Blackjack table which allows an unlimited number of players, making it quite a unique experience during busy periods.
Away from the live casino, you can enjoy around 800 slot games, including many classic titles. If you prefer a change from standard slot play, High5 Casino has your back. They are Megaways, jackpot slots, cluster games and many other slot variations. If you have a favorite style of slot game, you are pretty much guaranteed to find it at High5 Casino.
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High5Casino Highlights
- 1200+ Games, Slots & Live Dealer Games!
- FREE Daily Rewards
- Authentic brand, made in the USA
WOW Vegas - Wow by name, and by nature
Pros & Cons
- Fantastic daily bonus
- Easy site navigation
- Generous welcome offer
Securing a steady supply of free coins goes a long way towards optimizing your social casino play. There’s a generous WOW Vegas welcome bonus, plus other offers galore, whether you are new to the site or an existing player. The signup bonus gives you a huge number of coins to use on video sweepstakes blackjack games, such as American Blackjack and Single Deck Blackjack. Whilst the daily log in bonus ensures you can play for free every single day.
Unfortunately, you cannot play live sweepstakes blackjack at WOW Vegas, but whilst there is no live casino available, WOW Vegas does have an excellent slot library and a range of high quality video table games. As I mentioned in my
WOW Vegas review, All aspects of the site are delivered to a very high standard, helping to make this a hugely enjoyable sweepstakes casino.
up to 1.75M WC +
35 FREE SC
Wow Vegas Highlights
- Easy to claim registration bonus
- Simple coin system
- Games from top providers
Global Poker - Unique gameplay
Pros & Cons
- Live poker games
- Great welcome offer
- High quality graphics
This is a bit of a wild card pick on my part, but Global Poker is just about the only site that truly specializes in
free live poker online, so I couldn’t help but include it here. You can choose from live Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, Omaha Hi Lo or Crazy Pineapple contests, with each game having a variety of limits. There are also regular tournaments that give you the chance to land huge coin prizes. If you want to leave the poker tables, there is a small slot collection at Global Poker, but don’t expect to find anything as vast as the other slot collections on this list.
Unfortunately, there are no live sweepstakes blackjack games to play, however the site does boast Classic and Premium Blackjack video games, both of which come with excellent graphics and slick gameplay.
Summing up: Enjoy live sweepstakes blackjack
Live sweepstakes blackjack games can be incredibly good fun. Just make sure you play the games sensibly and (as much as possible) treat your virtual currency in the same way as real money. If you adopt a solid budgeting strategy and use a blackjack cheat sheet, you will have an excellent chance of growing your coin balance.
The other key consideration you need to make is deciding which sites to join. Weigh up the criteria outlined in this article and decide what is of the most importance to you. Is it the live sweepstakes blackjack games? The welcome offer provided by the site? Or something else entirely? Then read my expert guides, as this will reveal which brands best meet your needs. Good luck!
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Live sweepstakes blackjack: FAQs
♣ ️
Where can I play live sweepstakes blackjack?
Several social casinos offer free live sweepstakes blackjack. All of these sites have their relative merits, so you need to assess each option and decide which sites are best for you. Check out my expert reviews for the full lowdown on the best live sweeps blackjack sites on the market.
♥ ️
How should I play live sweepstakes blackjack games?
By using a blackjack cheat sheet. This is a strategy guide that tells you the optimum decision making process based on the cards you have in your hand. If you use this guide when playing live sweepstakes blackjack, the game has a house edge of less than 0.50%.
♦️
Are live sweepstakes blackjacks legal?
Yes. And because you do not use real money at sweeps casinos, you can play in lots of locations that do not allow traditional online gambling.
