Play Online Blackjack for Real Money or for Free

Play Online Blackjack for Fun 

Playing online Blackjack for free is the perfect way to get to know the game before you start considering parting with your hard-earned cash. While the game is a fairly simple one to learn, it can be presented in slightly different ways depending on where you're playing. There are also slight variations in the rules from one online casino to the next, while the various side bets could add to the confusion.

The best way to familiarise yourself with a new game and get better at it is to practise without any risk, and with online Blackjack, you have two options for doing so: demo mode and using sign-up bonuses. Here we'll look at each opportunity to see which is the most suitable for you. 

Free Blackjack Demo Mode

Most online casinos let you try out their slot games in demo mode, but did you know you can do the same with their online Blackjack games too? Demo mode, also referred to as free play mode or practice mode, gives you the ability to explore the game in detail, just as you would if you were playing for real the best online casinos. The only difference is that the funds you use to play with belong to the online casino: they're play chips, so to speak, and have no cash value.

The way this works is when you find an online Blackjack game you fancy trying, you click the option to play for free - this could be a button or link that says Try Free, Demo or something similar. The game will then open and you'll see a set amount in your balance. These funds can be used to place bets during your session so you can experience the game without risking your own money.

It's important to note that live dealer Blackjack isn't usually available to try for free, though it's not unheard of to have that option too.

Get Advantage of Blackjack Promos

Another way of playing online Blackjack for free is by taking advantage of a sign-up bonus. Sign-up bonuses are funds offered by online casinos just for registering a new account, so you don't need to deposit to claim one. It's pretty typical to find sign-up bonuses that are valid for use on most games, including online Blackjack, and this is a great way to have a shot at the game without risking your own money.

There are benefits to playing online Blackjack with a sign-up bonus beyond not risking your own money: if you win, you could find yourself with real money to cash out! However, remember that you rarely get something for nothing. Sign-up bonuses usually carry wagering requirements that involve playing through your winnings several times before you can make a withdrawal. Check the T&Cs before claiming to ensure you know what's involved. Here are some tips to play this game: 

Play Online Blackjack for Real Money

So once you've had a chance to explore the game of online Blackjack in demo mode and perhaps try it out with a sign-up bonus, what's next? While practising, you probably had a few wins that had you wishing they were real. Once you're used to the game, the next step is to start playing for real, but how do you do that?

The most obvious answer is to make your first deposit, but there are also plenty of bonuses that can boost your balance, giving you extra funds to play even longer. And the longer you play, the more chances you have of winning! Let's look at what's involved when you make a deposit and how bonuses can give you even more real money funds to play with.

Recommended Payment Providers for Blackjack Online Casinos

The most obvious way to play online Blackjack for real money is by making a real money deposit at your online casino of choice. Though it may seem a little daunting at first, depositing real money to an online casino is as secure and easy as doing some online shopping. Make sure you choose a trustworthy and reputable online casino, such as our thoroughly reviewed ones on this site.

The process for making a deposit is usually very simple. Once you've registered a new account, you'll often be prompted to make a deposit. If not, you can click on any Deposit buttons or choose the Cashier. You'll then be asked to select a payment method, enter the details, type in how much you want to deposit, and click deposit. Your deposited funds will then be displayed in your online casino balance, at which point you can start using them to play for real! Here are the methods we recommend using:

Payment Provider	Accepts Deposits	Accepts Withdrawals	Payout Speed	Fees	More Info
	Yes	Yes	Instant	None	Top GPay Online Casinos
	Yes	Yes	Instant	None	Top Apple Pay Online Casinos
	Yes	Yes	48 to 72 Hours	up to 3%	Top PayPal Online Casinos
	Yes	Yes	48 to 72 Hours	up to 7%	Top Skrill Online Casinos

*In many cases, the casino may waive fees associated with transacting with the casino. Ensure to clarify fees with the casino that you choose.

Bonuses Available For Online Blackjack

Who doesn't want extra funds to play with? Bonuses are great for giving you more time to play your favourite games without having to deposit more, and there are various types of bonuses you can take advantage of to play online Blackjack for that little bit longer.

Here we'll take you through a few different kinds of online Blackjack bonuses that you may find at online casinos and how you can use them to boost your gameplay and maybe even your chances of winning! Again, check the T&Cs before claiming so you know what's involved. 

Blackjack No-Deposit Bonuses

No-deposit bonuses are exactly what they sound like: a bonus that you can claim without making a deposit. Earlier, we mentioned sign-up bonuses, a type of no-deposit bonus, but you don't need to be a new member to enjoy a no-deposit bonus.

No-deposit bonuses for online Blackjack can also be sent directly to you via email, SMS text message, social media or the online casino's internal messaging system, often rewarding your loyalty or as a perk for reaching a certain level in their VIP programme. Sometimes these are sent out to certain members to try a new game variant, so be sure you're on the promotional mailing list in any case!

Welcome Bonuses to Play Blackjack

One of the most familiar of bonuses is the welcome bonus. Almost every online casino has one of these on offer to entice new members, and as a result, they tend to be very attractive. It's pretty standard to see welcome bonuses that offer 100% up to, say, €200 on your first deposit, but these offers will vary in size from one site to the next. You may also find some welcome bonuses that come with free spins and others for specific games, such as table games or live casino games, so watch out for those if online Blackjack is your game of choice.

Claiming a welcome bonus is as simple as making a qualifying deposit in most cases, though at some sites, you may need to enter a bonus code, while others may require you to select the bonus you want from a list when depositing.

Reload Bonuses for This Game

Reload bonuses are very similar to welcome bonuses in that it's an extra boost of funds on top of whatever you deposit. The only difference here is that it applies to deposits made after your first. Reload bonuses are often offered regularly, as is the case for weekly or monthly reloads. These are designed to encourage regular gameplay and are great for a guaranteed boost at set times.

You tend to find details of reload bonuses advertised on the online casino's promotions page or sent to you via email, so look out for those if you want a regular boost to your online Blackjack gameplay.

Cashback Offers

Another type of bonus, cashback, is a little different to the bonuses mentioned above in that it's usually credited after your gameplay. Cashback works to be offered a certain percentage of your losses (though sometimes your entire gameplay) on a certain game or game over a set period.

It's called cashback, but it's important to realise that this is a bit of a misnomer in that it's not your lost cash you're getting back; it's an equivalent amount as a bonus. That means it's subject to wagering requirements as with most bonuses, though sometimes you'll get cashback offers that have no wagering requirements attached.

Live Blackjack Bonuses

If you're interested in bonuses specifically for live dealer Blackjack, look out for live casino bonuses. Online casinos often have different bonuses for different players, with some specifically for slots, some for table games and others for live dealer games. These can be welcome bonuses or reloads, but they all specify in their T&Cs what games they can be used on.

If you will claim a live casino bonus to play live dealer Blackjack, make sure you're careful not to use it on non-live games, as that could result in your bets not contributing to the bonus wagering requirements.

Blackjack Tournaments

It's quite common to find various tournaments on offer that give players the chance to win extra funds just for playing their favourite games. Gameplay is often tallied using points per set amount played, and after a set period, the top players are rewarded with prizes, which are usually in the form of bonuses.

Blackjack tournaments are an opportunity for you to cash in on your skills, especially if you play a lot or consider yourself to be quite good, so look out for Blackjack or even just general table game tournaments to take part in.

Ready to Play the Blackjack Games?

Online Blackjack is a simple game to learn. Each card carries a value, with the numbers of 2 to 10 having their face value, J, Q and K moving a value of 10, and the Ace is 1 or 11.

After placing a bet, you and the dealer are dealt two cards, the dealer's face down. You aim to beat the dealer's card value by getting as close as possible to a total of 21 without exceeding it. You do this by choosing an action: stand, stick with the cards you have or hit, which means you are dealt an additional card. The best hand is called Blackjack, which consists of an Ace and a 10 point card, and beats any other 21 total.

Once you've made your moves, the dealer does the same. The cards are then revealed, and if you beat the dealer, you win for an evens (1:1) payout (3:2 for a Blackjack win). To learn more about the game, check out our pages which aim to guide you on how to play as well as give you tips on how to win at online Blackjack.

References

• History of blackjack (crescent)
• Online blackjack (Wikipedia)
• Basic blackjack strategies (Wikihow)