Expert online blackjack players who employ optimum strategy get average returns of over 99.5%. With a little bit of luck they can end up winning most of the time. Australian online casinos offer both the standard land casino blackjack games and innovative variants. The list below names the top Australian online casinos for wagering on blackjack.
Microgaming casinos offer online blackjack games with exactly the same rules as prevalent in the land casinos of Las Vegas Strip and Europe. These classic blackjack games have slightly different rules and these are briefly described here.
In Microgaming Vegas Strip Blackjack the dealer is dealt his first card face up and second card face down. If the dealer's face up card has a value of 10, then before the player makes any move, the dealer peeks at his face down or hole card to check for blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack the player loses immediately. This is actually an advantage because the player is prevented from making additional wagers for split and double down bets.
Microgaming European Blackjack follows the no hole card rule. The dealer is dealt only his face up card and not the face down card. Therefore the dealer cannot check for blackjack upfront. After the player makes all his moves, the dealer is dealt his second card and should he happen to get a blackjack then the player loses all his bets, including the ones made for split and double down. Therefore Vegas Strip Blackjack offers a marginally higher return.
There are minor differences in the blackjack rules and casinos in Vegas Downtown and Atlantic City. Australian Microgaming online casinos also offer blackjack variants based on these rules. These mainly concern when and to what extent hands can be split and when the double down bet is eligible. They have practically insignificant effect on the average return.
Australian Microgaming online casinos also offer a series of blackjack games referred to as the Gold Series. These online blackjack games are set in a more elegant environment so as to give a feeling of playing in an exclusive casino. Also, a higher bet range is offered. The Microgaming Blackjack Gold Series offers the classic variants, but also some innovative online blackjack games. Some of the Gold Series games are offered in multi-hand and even in multi-player versions.
Pontoon is one of the most popular online blackjack games in the Microgaming Gold Series. Neither of the dealer’s cards is exposed and therefore the player’s task is more challenging. Pontoon (blackjack is referred as pontoon in this game) pays 2 to 1 as compensation. Double Exposure goes to the other extreme. Both the dealer’s cards are exposed and as a result blackjack pays only even money. Spanish Blackjack is another interesting game that is played with decks from which all tens have been removed.
Some of the online blackjack games in the Microgaming Gold Series offer higher paying side bets and other innovative features. A popular game is Perfect Pairs. It is played under European Blackjack rules. If the first two cards dealt to the player form a pair then the side bet results in payouts. A pair of the same suit pays 30 to 1. Blackjack Redeal is an interesting game that allows players to turn the clock back. The last card, the dealer’s hand and even the player’s hand can be dealt again at a cost.
Australian Playtech online casinos also offer a range of blackjack variants that include standard games and unique variants. Most Playtech online blackjack games offer the Seven Card Charlie rule. If the player draws to a total of seven cards and does not bust, he will automatically win the hand. Like the Microgaming software, Playtech offers customization options that include game speed and card sizes. Expert players can also turn off the warnings.
Blackjack Switch is an online blackjack variant available only at Playtech casinos. It is one of the most challenging variations of online blackjack. You start by playing two hands against the dealer. After you are dealt your to initial cards for each hand, you have the option of exchanging the last card dealt to each hand. This gives you the opportunity to strengthen both the hands. The strategy involves an evaluation of the hands as dealt and the hands after the possible switch. After you exercise the switch decision you play both hands in the normal manner.
Playtech gives its blackjack players an opportunity to win a progressive jackpot in its game titled Progressive Blackjack. You have to place a separate side bet in order to be eligible for the additional payouts. Then if the first four cards dealt to you are aces of the same colour you win the progressive jackpot payout. There are several fixed bonus payouts as well. All of them involve aces.
Playtech offers some online blackjack variants in its portfolio that combine elements of other casino games. One of these is 21 Duel Blackjack. This is a game that stud poker players will like. It has two cards dealt in the centre of the table as community cards. Both the player and the dealer can choose a card from these to complete their hands.
