Online blackjack NZ – Best real money casinos with blackjack
Blackjack online casinos combine skill and luck in one thrilling game, making them a favourite with NZ players.
This guide reveals which casinos with blackjack let you play for free, the rules of the game, why some of the variants can lead to bigger payouts and also a couple of tricks for those who want to know how to win.
Let’s kick off with our experts’ list of best sites with real money online blackjack in NZ.
Best blackjack sites in September 2023
Play free online blackjack games now
Even if you’re into playing real money blackjack, practicing for free is always a good idea and luckily most online casinos offer it. Click on one of the tiles below to start honing your basic blackjack strategy with no deposit or registration needed.
Best online blackjack games – trending titles
There are a lot of game types to choose from when it comes to online blackjack NZ. Below, you’ll find some of the most popular variants to try at blackjack online casinos.
Classic blackjack
Dealer and player are dealt 2 cards, the goal being to score as close to 21 as possible without going over.
European blackjack
This blackjack variant uses two decks of cards and you can only double down if you have a hand with 9, 10 or 11. There’s no hole card served.
More about European blackjack online
Single deck blackjack
Also known as one card blackjack, your objective is to score a higher number than the dealer without exceeding 11.
Blackjack Switch
In this version you play two hands at the same time and, after four cards, you can choose to switch the top cards from each hand to improve the odds. This variant includes the Super Match side bet, which yields a win if the player is dealt a pair, two pairs or three of a kind when the first four cards are dealt.
More about Blackjack Switch online
Atlantic City blackjack
Named for the city where it originated, this variant lets the players split cards up to 3 times. It also allows the dealer to stand on 17 and to look to see if they have a blackjack.
More about Atlantic City blackjack online
Double Exposure blackjack
When the first cards are being dealt, the dealer receives theirs face up, offering the player valuable information about the hand.
Live dealer blackjack games
These fully immersive variants bring all the excitement of live casino blackjack with professional dealers and real time gameplay.
Features of top blackjack online casinos in New Zealand
What features should your expect to find at the best blackjack online casinos? The table below brings you our experts’ findings.
🃏 No. of blackjack variants | 8 - 10 |
❤️ Popular titles | European Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack |
🎁 Blackjack casino bonuses | Cashbacks, match deposits |
📱 Blackjack apps | Compatible devices |
⚙️ Software providers | 2+ |
⭐️ Top NZ blackjack site | Jackpot City Casino |
How we rate the best blackjack sites
Our experts follow a data-driven set of criteria when scoring the best blackjack sites. These criteria are always the same so as to ensure a level playing field, and include all elements that determine whether blackjack players will have a positive experience. Let’s take a detailed look at them below.
Range & quality of online blackjack games
Sourcing the best blackjack games requires a close look at the quantity and quality of games on offer. To determine which are the top online blackjack casinos, our experts rate the availability of a reasonable number of variants.
We also ensure that there is a sufficiently wide bet range to appeal to all styles of players, including low and high rollers.
Wildz casino, for examples, caters for a variety of bankrolls with 120+ online blackjack game variants. There are tables with buy-ins of NZ$0.20, medium level ones like High Streak Blackjack’s bet range of NZ$1 to NZ$500, and VIP tables with NZ$10,000 bets.
Software providers
In the world of online blackjack in NZ, some names lead the way. The best blackjack software providers include Evolution, Pragmatic Play Live, Swintt and MicroGaming, and our experts expect to see at least a couple of these at our favourite blackjack online casinos.
If a site offers more than two renowned providers, it definitely scores brownie points. TonyBet casino, for example, exceeds expectations by offering real money blackjack games from Evolution, Pragmatic Play Live, Playtech, Ezugi and Atmosfera.
Blackjack casino bonuses & tournaments
The best blackjack sites offer bonuses and promotions that are specific to the game. Although they’re not very common at NZ online casinos, we keep our highest scores for those sites that offer bonuses specifically for live blackjack, like Quickwin’s cashback offer.
Quickwin scores higher than other sites even in terms of blackjack tournaments, with a Drops & Wins prize pool of NZ$500,000 on live blackjack games by Pragmatic Play.
Something else we take note of is the game contribution of real money blackjack casino games towards wagering requirements. In this case, the previously mentioned Wildz is our highest blackjack bonus scorer as you’ll be contributing 50% towards playthrough when using your bonus cash to play blackjack games.
Blackjack casino apps
Mobile blackjack games continue to increase in popularity at NZ online casinos, so our scoring criteria includes testing how these games perform across different mobile devices.
Ideally, our best sites offer a dedicated blackjack casino app that can be downloaded to iOS and Android like the one at JackpotCity. If there’s no mobile casino app, but the site is fully mobile responsive, with the games adapting automatically to your screen size, we’ll still give the real money blackjack casino our thumbs up.
Safety & game fairness
A safe environment at the best casinos with blackjack is a must, and this is why all our recommendations are licensed by a reputable gambling regulator, such as the Malta Gaming Authority. This is only a minimum requirement, and when we’re playing online blackjack in NZ we want to be guaranteed that the game will deliver a fair win that’s randomly generated.
This is why we look for the logos of independent auditors when rating real money blackjack casinos. JackpotCity casino, for example has the eCOGRA logo on the homepage, which denotes an extra layer of security.
Game lobby experience
We love a welcoming games lobby, and the best online blackjack sites will provide it as they know that first impressions go a long way. When looking to play blackjack online, players will want to find their favourite games fast, so we look for a dedicated blackjack hub and for sites that have a clearly visible blackjack menu.
At a minimum we expect an efficient search bar to direct us to the titles we want. Bonus points if players can filter using game titles and software providers, like at Quickwin.
Overall casino rating
Our best online casino reviews are kept for those sites that offer a full package to players, no matter which games they’re looking for. Before awarding a high score, our experts check to see that there’s also a good range of online pokies available, as well as other games popular with NZ players, such as online roulette. A casino like TonyBet scores highly with us because the 5,000+ library includes a bit of everything.
We also look for convenient payment options that are popular in New Zealand, and fast and speedy transactions. Finally, we also expect a 24/7 live chat service, detailed FAQs and an e-mail address for those who want to get in touch with the casino.
Online blackjack casino offers to claim now
The best online blackjack sites offer a range of offers and promotions to appeal to lovers of the game. There are several NZ online casinos with welcome bonuses and loyalty promos that can be used on blackjack games. Below, you can find the most common types of offers.
Welcome bonus
These can take the form of sign up offers that are created specifically for live casino or table games, like the match deposit bonus for live casino at Winawin. However, it can also be a generic welcome offer that lets you use the bonus cash on blackjack games with a wagering contribution of anything between 5% and 50%. This is the case at Wildz and Quickwin.
Cashback bonus
This is when players are given back a portion of the losses they make while playing real money blackjack online. Percentages usually range between 5% and 20%, depending on how much you spend. Winawin currently has a weekly cashback offer on all live casino games, including blackjack.
Blackjack tournaments
Some of the best online blackjack experiences are to be had during special tournaments that come with huge cash prizes and offers. Quickwin’s Drops & Wins on live casino is one such example.
Popular software for real money blackjack online
Look out for the best software providers that offer online blackjack in NZ, as these usually have the biggest number of variants, extremely versatile stake limits to adapt to your bankroll, and the most high-quality graphics and overall experience.
The below are three of the best providers of real money blackjack online.
Free vs Real money blackjack
Many players who are only just starting to dip their toes in the world of online blackjack in NZ can benefit from practicing on the free demo versions first. The majority of our recommended casinos with blackjack allow players to test RNG blackjack games for free. Let’s take a look at whether playing free online blackjack is for you.
| Free blackjack | You start playing immediately, no deposit or registration needed | You will not lose any of your money | You can experiment with unfamiliar variants with zero risk | You can’t try live blackjack for free | You won’t be able to cash out your winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real money blackjack | The thrill of a real money wager is stronger than when playing for nothing | There’s the potential to win real money and to land huge tournament prizes | You can play live dealer blackjack and enjoy a truly immersive experience | You will need to fund your bankroll | You can end up losing money |
| Free blackjack | Real money blackjack |
|---|---|
| You start playing immediately, no deposit or registration needed | The thrill of a real money wager is stronger than when playing for nothing |
| You will not lose any of your money | There’s the potential to win real money and to land huge tournament prizes |
| You can experiment with unfamiliar variants with zero risk | You can play live dealer blackjack and enjoy a truly immersive experience |
| You can’t try live blackjack for free | You will need to fund your bankroll |
| You won’t be able to cash out your winnings | You can end up losing money |
How to play blackjack online – the rules
Unlike, say, jackpot games, playing blackjack does require a measure of skill. You’ll need to figure out whether you should go for a simple bet, or perhaps split or double. Not to mention the mathematical element. If you’re a newcomer to the game, it’s good to learn some basic blackjack rules.
- 1
Join a blackjack table
As soon as all players are in, you’ll be dealt two cards face up. The dealer also gets two cards, but only one of them is face up.
- 2
Decide whether to hit or stand
This is where the maths comes in as you’ll need to figure out whether it’s worth adding another card and risk going over 21. If you stand, the dealer moves to the next player and the cards are revealed at the end of the round.
- 3
If you hit, check your new hand value
Are you close to a blackjack? If your new hand went over 21 you’re out of the game, but don’t forget that aces can count as 1 or 11.
- 4
The dealer reveals their hand
This is when you get to see the face down card.
- 5
The winner is revealed
If you scored higher than the dealer and managed to stay under 21, you win the round.
- 6
The next round is called
The process starts all over again with fresh cards being dealt.
Blackjack odds and payouts
While the house edge is very low compared to pokies, different blackjack variants have different payout rates. As a general rule online blackjack is considered a top paying online casino game.
The below table gives an indication of the approximate house edge for each game type, however this varies according to the type of bet made.
| Blackjack variant | House edge |
|---|---|
Classic blackjack | 0.5% to 2% |
European blackjack | 0.39% |
Multi Hand blackjack | 0.63% |
Single Deck blackjack | 0.58% |
Blackjack Switch | 0.17% |
Atlantic City blackjack | 0.35% |
Double Exposure blackjack | 0.69% |
Pontoon blackjack | 0.39% |
Can you win real money playing blackjack online – expert tips
Playing at blackjack online casinos involves a good measure of skill, and some luck, and you can certainly win real money if all the stars align. You can help your luck along by following our tried and tested blackjack tips that help you understand the game and which bets work best for you.
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Learn about blackjack strategies
While these can never guarantee a win, there is a lot of logic to them. Figuring out when to split, when to stand, whether you should take out insurance, and practicing the rules can help you maximise your chances of beating the dealer. Read more about online blackjack strategies in our separate guide.
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Understand how the house edge works
Although the basic house edge around 2%, you can bring it down to 0.5% once you learn how to manipulate the bets you can change it to your advantage and lower it further.
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Try card counting
This one’s technically outlawed at brick and mortar casinos, and online it’s even more difficult due to RNG. But if you’re playing a live game and you play enough rounds, it can be done. Follow our detailed guide on blackjack card counting for further information.
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Don’t take insurance, unless you’re a pro
Casual players will find it difficult to figure out which cards are left in the deck, so it’s very much of a stab in the dark. Pros, on the other hand, can very well benefit from insurance.
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Don’t split the face cards
Statistically, you’re more likely to land a win with one hand and when you split you’re simply doubling your chances of losing, rather than winning.
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Do split Aces and 8s
No-one wants to be stuck on 16, so always split to 8s. Likewise, Aces give you either a super low value of 2 or leave you hanging on 12, so it’s always good to split.
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Don’t exceed your bankroll
If things aren’t going as planned, don’t make the mistake of chasing losses. It never leads to anything good.
Should you play online blackjack for real money?
If you’re interested in trying out a game of real money blackjack online, but aren’t sure if this is the game for you, the following list of pros and cons can help clear up any questions you may have.
Pros
- The rules of basic blackjack are very simple to learn. You just need to make sure your hand doesn’t exceed 21.
- You will find many live blackjack tournaments with juicy cash prizes at our recommended sites.
- You can practice the free blackjack games before committing your bankroll to the game.
- The best casinos with blackjack offer a very flexible betting range, with low buy-ins for low-rollers.
- Blackjack comes with a house edge of between 0.2% and 0.4% in its basic version, which are very good odds.
- Learning all about the different strategies can take your gameplay to a different level.
Cons
- Being a game of skill, you’ll need to learn some betting rules if you want to give it your best shot.
- While the House Edge is low, you have to understand which bet types and variants can increase it.
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Real money blackjack FAQs
Do casinos have blackjack?
Yes, most online gambling sites offer blackjack in RNG and live dealer format. This guide rounds up the best online blackjack NZ casinos you can find, as scored by our team of experts. Each of our recommended casinos offers a number of variants from the most reputable software providers.
What is the best online blackjack for real money?
We always advise new players to start off with classic blackjack, so as to familiarise yourself with the rules. Once you’ve had some practice, there are several real money blackjack variants to choose from, such as European, Atlantic City and Blackjack Swap. Which one is the best for you depends on what you’re looking for in House Edge and betting options.
Can you win real money on online blackjack?
Yes, you can win real money on online blackjack, although a win depends both on your skill and on a certain element of luck. In this guide, our experts have compiled a series of blackjack tips to help you maximise your chances of winning.
Is it worth playing blackjack at online casinos?
Yes, it’s worth playing blackjack at online casinos if you enjoy games of skill. If you have any questions or would like more information about the advantages and disadvantages of playing this casino game for real money, check our section about blackjack pros and cons.
Which online blackjack has the best odds?
Single-deck Blackjack offers the best odds of any online casino game in the US. The house edge stands at just 0.13%. Using just one deck instead of six or eight makes the biggest difference. Read more about blackjack payouts earlier in this guide.
Written by Ramona Depares
Ramona Depares is an award-winning journalist focused on cultural and entertainment related content. Based in the Mediterranean gaming hub of Malta, she has taken a deep interest in gambling related news since the earliest days and has seen the global landscape evolve. Ramona specialises in the legal and regulatory aspects of gaming across multiple jurisdictions, with specific interest in NZ and US markets. She is also a best-selling author of fiction and non-fiction books.
