The Best Blackjack Bonus Sites

Blackjack is an enduring component of the casino experience. It’s a game built on strategy, luck and courage, and has endeared itself to casino players of all standards throughout its long and fascinating history.

Looking to take your seat at one of thousands of online blackjack games taking place around the clock at the best UK blackjack casinos? Read our expert reviews, compare welcome bonuses, and twist your way to 21 at a top blackjack site.

Why Play Blackjack Online?

Blackjack has been the most popular card game at physical and online casinos for centuries. Its appeal is wide-ranging, with a simple central aim: to achieve a hand as close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21. It also has the highest return to player (RTP) rate of all casino games. Beyond these factors, here are some other reasons why you should consider playing at a top UK blackjack site.

Excellent Sign-Up Offers

If you’re looking to play at a blackjack casino for the first time, you’ll usually be able to claim a welcome bonus when you sign up. These are likely to arrive in the form of matched deposit bonuses and no deposit bonuses, perhaps alongside free spins bonuses which can be used on the site’s selection of slot games.

Range of Games

You’ll find a broad range of games available at the best blackjack sites, covering both random number generated (RNG) and live dealer formats. For the latter, you’ll be able to participate at real blackjack tables from the comfort of your own home, thanks to crisp livestreams. UK blackjack casinos will host all kinds of interesting variants, as well as having tables that suit players of all budgets.

Play for Free or for Real Money

When you play blackjack online, you’ll have a choice of two options: free-to-play and real money versions. Making use of free-to-play demo versions of casino games is a good idea, as it will let you get to grips with the gameplay before you commit real money to wagers. Once you’re all clued up on the rules, the format, and the betting process, you’ll be ready to start placing real money blackjack wagers.

Blackjack Overview – How to play?

The first thing you’ll need to do when you join a blackjack table is put forward a stake for the upcoming hand. For RNG blackjack, this might be as low as 10p, but you should expect slightly higher minimum bets at a live casino, typically somewhere between 50p and £1. Once you and other players at the table have placed their bets, the round will begin, as follows:

• Each player will be dealt two upcards. Depending on the variant being played, the dealer will also deal two upcards to themselves, or one upcard and one card face down. We’ll cover this in more detail later on
• Cards 2–9 hold their face value, while jacks, queens and kings are all worth 10. Aces are worth either 1 or 11
• Players then take it in turns to play out their hands. In most blackjack games, players have the choice of four betting options:
  • Hit: the player asks for another card
  • Stick: the player is happy with their hand and receives no more cards. This is also known as stand
  • Double down: the player doubles their initial bet in exchange for exactly one more card
  • Split: if the player’s first two cards are of the same value, they can split their hands. In this scenario, the player must match their initial bet on the split hand. Both hands then play out in order

• In some blackjack variants, players have a fifth betting option, called surrender: the player forfeits half of their stake and ends their hand immediately
• Once all players at the table have completed their hands, it’s over to the dealer to play
• The closest hand to 21 will win the round. There are no limits to how many times a player can hit in a round, but as soon as their hand exceeds 21, they are bust and lose their stake
• If the player outscores the dealer, they’ll win at odds of even money. If the player lands a blackjack — that is, when the first two cards dealt consist of an ace and a picture card — they’ll automatically win the hand at an increased payout, usually 3:2

Rules

Due to the sheer popularity of blackjack, there are now multiple variations of the rules. Each variation has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you will need to determine which rules you prefer.

Doubling Down

In the vast majority of versions, the Blackjack Casino Deal Croupier gives the player the chance to double down. This is where the player can decide to double their original bet, based on the opening two cards that at dealt. However, this is on the proviso that only one more card is dealt.

In some versions, such as American Blackjack, the play can double down on any hand combination. However, in the European variation, the Blackjack Casino Deal Croupier will only permit a double down when the player’s opening hand amounts to 9, 10 or 11.

Splitting

When the player gets an opening hand with cards of identical value, the player has the option to split. This splits the two individual cards so that the Blackjack Casino Deal Croupier can deal two further cards, subsequently creating two separate hands. In order to do this, the player needs to match their original stake.

Certain Blackjack variations allow you to split on un-like 10-value cards. For example, in the American segment, you have the option of splitting a Jack and a King. However, in other versions, you can only split when the cards are identical (such as two Queens).

Surrender

In a nutshell, the surrender option allows the player to exit the hand, based on their opening cards. Moreover, the surrender option is also useful when the Blackjack Casino Deal Croupier has a strong opening card, such as an Ace. In doing so, the player exits the hand with 50% of their stake returned. The surrender option is available in American Blackjack, but not in the European version.

Decks

There is also a variation in the amount of card decks used in blackjack UK. In effect, the lower the decks, the greater the chance that the player can calculate what cards are left. These days, it is most common for blackjack dealers to utilise either 6 or 8 decks. Whilst Single Deck Blackjack UK does exist online, it generally offers a lower payout for hitting blackjack.

How we Review Blackjack Sites

Before we point our users in the direction of any casino, we undertake a thorough reviewing process to determine whether it’s worth your notice. This process focuses on a number of key areas – here are some of the most important.

Licensing

No online gambling site will ever make it onto GamblingDeals without proof that it holds a valid licence from a respected governing body, such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. Licenses from these regulators ensure casino best practices, protecting customers from manipulated games and potential data hackers. These licenses aren’t a guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong at your online casino, but you should certainly never place a bet at an unlicensed site.

Bonuses

Blackjack fans expect to receive a consistent, generous, and accessible string of blackjack bonuses at UK sites. We’re under no illusions about this, and spend time looking not only at the frequency of bonuses, but also at their associated terms and conditions to uncover their true value.

Selection of Games

Naturally, we want to see as many blackjack variants as possible here, but we also know that online casino players value a wider variety across the site. This means that away from the blackjack arena, we also expect to see a decent range of other table games, as well as an impressive slots catalogue for when the mood changes.

Mobile and App Options

Mobile blackjack isn’t for everyone, but casinos must ensure their mobile capabilities are up to scratch. We’ll take a look at how well the casino is optimised for mobile performance, and if a dedicated app is on offer, we’ll carry out its own detailed review. Top marks for the blackjack casinos that perform well in both areas here. 

Software Providers

Having a mix of the world’s best software developers represented in a site’s games library is an indication that it’s offering a good service to its members. A range of software providers means players will have access to lots of blackjack variants, including those available in both an RNG and live dealer context.

Payment Methods

The best online blackjack sites will provide their customers with many different ways to pay, including debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, bank transfers, and pay by mobile services. We like to see as many of these options as possible – not only because they offer members greater convenience, but also because newer banking technologies are better able to facilitate faster withdrawals.

User Experience

User experience may not be consciously high up on your list of priorities, but when you’re at the table, the last thing you want are bugs, glitches, or slow loading times. The casino should also organise all of its features in an intuitive and creative way if it wants to perform well in this part of our review.

Customer Service

There are lots of reasons why you might need to get in touch with your blackjack casino. We favour sites that offer multiple customer service channels, including live chat, phone, email support, a helpful FAQs page, and the use of social media accounts.

Types of Blackjack Games

The general consensus is that games resembling blackjack have been played for almost 500 years. With this pedigree, it’s no wonder there are now many different variants, all with their own quirks and modifications to the rules. Here are some of the most well-known versions of the game.

American Blackjack

American blackjack is considered one of the more player-friendly versions of the game due to its relaxed rules around betting options. Players are allowed to double down on any hand, for example, and the surrender option – where players forfeit 50% of their stake after receiving their first two cards – is also in play here. American blackjack also allows players to split their hands up to three times, and permits the splitting of any ten-value cards. These liberal betting rules are balanced by the fact American blackjack games contain either six or eight decks. Each deck added to a blackjack game increases the casino’s house edge.

European Blackjack

European and American versions are considered opposites at blackjack sites. In the European variant, there are only two decks in play – giving it one of the highest RTP rates of all casino games – but players’ betting options are much more limited. For instance, there is no opportunity to surrender your hand in European blackjack, and players are only permitted to double down when their hand equals a total of nine, ten or eleven. Players can also only split their hands once, and any split on a ten-valued card must be of the same denomination.

Vegas Strip Blackjack

To play Vegas Strip blackjack, you’ll need to know about hard and soft 17s – a rule that refers to aces in blackjack. Since aces can be worth both one and eleven, a hand containing a one-valued ace is known as a hard hand, and a hand containing an eleven-valued ace is known as a soft one. Vegas Strip blackjack requires the dealer to always stand on a soft 17.

Beyond this, Vegas Strip blackjack games are played with four decks and include an entertaining side bet option. This involves players insuring their wager when the dealer’s upcard is an ace, which makes it possible for the dealer to obtain a natural blackjack and win the hand outright. If players successfully insure their wager in the side bet, they’ll be paid out at a rate of two to one. There’s no surrender option here, but players can split any ten-valued cards up to three times.

Blackjack Switch

When Geoff Hall was left cursing his luck at a blackjack casino back in 2000, he channelled his frustration into the creation of a new variant. With Blackjack Switch, players are dealt two hands instead of one, and their first betting call is to decide whether they’d like to switch the top two cards. These two hands must have the same wager behind them, but will then play out independently and according to the rules of the casino.

Blackjack Switch contains two other unique rules. The first is that gamblers can take part in a side bet called the super match, in which players receive a payout for having a pair, three of a kind, two pairs, or four of a kind. The second is the push on 22 rule, where dealers tie with any remaining players in the round – except those who have a natural blackjack – if their hand totals 22.

Blackjack Perfect Pairs

Initially introduced to the blackjack world as an interesting side bet, Blackjack perfect pairs proved so popular that it quickly spawned a variant in its own right. Players of this game look to participate in a side bet before their cards have been dealt, rewarding those whose hands contain pairs. The payout rates, which differ according to the quality of the pair, are as follows:

• Mixed pairs – same value, different suit and colour
• Coloured pairs – same value and colour, different suit
• Perfect pairs – everything is identical

Once all side bets have been resolved, the game will play out according to the rules of the casino, so make sure you know all the peculiarities of the betting options and how many decks are in play.

Live Blackjack

Looking for the most authentic casino blackjack experience from the comfort of your couch? Give live blackjack a try. Unlike RNG blackjack, this immersive category of games harnesses the power of technology to put you in the hot seat at a real blackjack table. How? Well, top software developers like Evolution and Pragmatic Play host live blackjack games from purpose-built studios and stream them to your device using HD cameras. You can then place bets through the interactive interface. Rather than relying on software simulations, the outcome of the hand is decided by a real deck of cards and authentic casino equipment. 

There are plenty of variants to try out:

• ONE Blackjack by Pragmatic Play features a range of blackjack side bets including Perfect Pairs and 21+3, plus the Six Card Charlie rule.
• Ultimate Blackjack by Playtech has space for an infinite number of players at the table — no waiting to be seated!
• Lightning Blackjack from Evolution puts an exciting twist on classic blackjack, with RNG multipliers that can supercharge your wins up to 25x.

Blackjack Bonus Options

Online blackjack bonuses can come in many different forms. Before you take a look at some of the offers you might be able to use at the table, remember that terms and conditions will apply. To take full advantage of the bonus, you’ll need to read these in full first. 

Matched Deposit Bonuses

With this bonus, the casino will equal your deposit up to a certain threshold. Matched deposits are regularly used as part of a welcome bonus, so you might see an offer of 100% up to £100 on your first deposit — this would double any deposit up to £100 with bonus funds. The main drawback on most matched deposit bonuses is the high wagering requirements, but these do vary from site to site.

No Deposit Bonuses

If you fancy using a blackjack bonus without staking any of your own money, you’ll want to search for no deposit offers. This is exactly as it sounds: bonus credit given entirely at the expense of the casino. No deposit bonuses are great for trying out new casinos, but values will be smaller than matched deposits and may also come with harsh wagering requirements.

Bet x, Get y

The bet x, get y formula is simple: place a minimum bet on an eligible game in exchange for bonus funds. These offers are usually in the region of bet £10, get £30, but you may find offers higher than this at the best blackjack casinos.

Cashback

Available to new and existing blackjack players alike, cashback is one of the most valuable promotions around. With this blackjack bonus, you’ll receive a portion of your net deposits, bets, or losses back. Say a casino offers 10% cashback on all losses each week. If you lose £100 within that period, you’ll be able to claim £10 back. It may not seem huge, but it certainly adds up if you’re a regular player and it’ll help your bankroll stretch further.

Cashback is paid either as real money that you can withdraw straight away, or as bonus credit. With the latter, it may be subject to restrictions around the games it can be used on, or locked behind wagering requirements before it can be cashed out. Some blackjack casinos only allow you to claim cashback if your account balance is below a certain threshold, commonly £10. There may also be a maximum amount you can claim within a certain period, for example £100 a week.

Promo Codes

While the majority of blackjack bonus offers can be claimed without doing so, sometimes you’ll need to input a promo code in order to qualify. This bonus code is usually made clear in the promotional marketing or can be found in the T&Cs. 

Promo codes can also be used to reward existing players with a blackjack bonus. They’re sometimes sent out via email newsletters or the casino’s social media accounts. If you fancy picking up something extra, keeping an eye on your inbox can occasionally pay off. 

Sign Up Bonuses

A rather broad category, any offer extended to new customers upon registering an account can be considered a sign up bonus. Unless you’re claiming a no deposit bonus, you’ll also have to top up your new account with some funds. What’s up for grabs? Matched deposits are common, as are free spins — and some offers even combine the two. If you’re specifically looking for a blackjack bonus, a matched deposit is usually your best bet.

How to Claim a Blackjack Bonus

Looking for the best online blackjack bonuses? We’ve made the process as simple as possible — just use this step-by-step guide to find the right deal for you.

1. Compare our recommended list of blackjack sites
   We’ve already handpicked the very best blackjack bonuses on the market so that you don’t have to scour the web to find one. Simply use our recommended list to compare casinos, welcome offers and games libraries, before using our links to click through to a site you like.
2. Sign-up and verify your account
   At the casino’s registration page, you’ll be asked to fill in your personal details. It’s a straightforward process — just follow the prompts on screen. In line with UKGC requirements, the casino will then need to verify your identity, which will involve submitting some documents, such as a passport or driver’s licence, and a recent proof of address.  
3. Claim your welcome bonus
   When this process is complete, you’ll be ready to make your first deposit. Remember to opt-in to the blackjack welcome bonus; if you don’t specify that you want access to the bonus on your first deposit, you won’t be able to claim it at a later date. 
4. Browse through the casino’s blackjack games and join the table
   You’re all set! Take a look at the various blackjack games available — in both a virtual and live dealer context — and find the one that suits your budget and pace of play. Then when you’re ready, you’ll be able to place your first blackjack wager.

Blackjack Bonus Terms and Conditions

Wagering Requirements

Also known as playthrough requirements, wagering requirements are a particular term that must be met before you can withdraw your blackjack bonus and any resulting winnings. How does it work? Say you claim a deposit match worth £50 and the wagering requirements are 30x. You’ll need to bet a total of £1,500 (30 x £50) before any winnings resulting from the blackjack bonus can be withdrawn. This amount will be beyond the budget of many players, and as such wagering requirements often render any potential bonus winnings as unclaimable. Some wagering requirements are calculated based on both the deposit and bonus amount, placing the bar even further out of reach.

Before you claim any online casinos offer, you should check the wagering requirements. After all, even the biggest blackjack bonus may not be worthwhile if there’s no chance you’ll meet the wagering requirements. That said, even offers with high playthrough will let you get in some free hands and sharpen up your strategy. We usually consider wagering requirements under 20x low and above 40x high. 

Game Weighting

Game weighting is a term that further complicates wagering requirements. What it boils down to is this — not all games contribute towards the requirements equally. While most slots contribute 100%, many table games only contribute 5% or 10%, or even nothing at all. So if you bet £100 on a game with 10% weighting, only £10 will count towards the playthrough requirements.

This is particularly pertinent for blackjack players. As the game has such a low house edge, it often finds itself at the bottom end of the game weighting. If you’re trying to hit the wagering requirements of a blackjack bonus, check the T&Cs and consider sticking to games with a higher weighting.

Blackjack Bonus Terms and Conditions

Before you claim your blackjack bonus, you’ll need to know about the following terms and conditions.

Time Limits

All bonuses are set in a race against the clock, where players must either use the bonus funds or satisfy the wagering requirements within the allotted time. This might be days, weeks or months, but if the clock strikes zero, you’ll lose any remaining bonus money.

Game Restrictions

You might find that some of the casino’s games are ineligible to play with bonus funds, in a condition known as game restrictions. Make sure there are at least a couple of your favourite titles included before committing to the bonus.

Winning Caps

Players may find that they can only win a restricted amount with a casino bonus due to the site’s winning caps. The leniency of the cap depends on the generosity of each casino, so this is another key factor to look out for when checking the small print.

Payment Method Restrictions

Although you’ll be offered plenty of ways to fund your casino account, not all of these methods will be eligible to pick up blackjack bonuses. Your safest bet here is to go with debit cards, which are always eligible for bonuses. The e-wallets Skrill and Neteller tend to be the most regularly excluded, but check the T&Cs for a full breakdown of the restrictions. 

Blackjack Payment Methods

Here are the most popular payment methods at UK blackjack casinos.

Debit Cards

We all know how debit cards work, and this familiarity is one of the main perks of using them at online casinos. As such, every UK site will accept debit cards, and deposits made with this method will always be eligible for bonuses. On the downside, you’ll need to wait a little while to receive any withdrawals. 

PayPal

PayPal is one of the most widely used e-wallets in the world. Once you’ve signed up for a free PayPal account, you’ll get access to a slew of benefits. First off, you can store all your different payment cards within the account. When you’re ready to make a payment, just log in with your registered username and password — no need to share any banking info. You can also store a balance within your PayPal account, so it’s a fantastic way to keep track of your gambling funds. Withdrawals via the service are usually fast, arriving within 24 hours of request. 

Despite PayPal’s global popularity, this doesn’t always translate to its availability at casinos so you won’t find it at every site. It’s also commonly disqualified from claiming a bonus.

Skrill

At blackjack sites where there’s no sign of PayPal, the gap is often filled by rival service Skrill. It’s broadly similar in its offering, with advantages including instant deposits, quick withdrawals, and a strong level of both convenience and security. Skrill also includes additional benefits like a prepaid Mastercard, but — like PayPal — is often excluded from blackjack bonuses. While Skrill transactions themselves are free, there are potential fees when withdrawing your Skrill balance to a bank account or debit card.

Neteller

You can consider Neteller the last name in the ‘big three’ e-wallets in the online casino sphere. Along with Skrill, Neteller is owned and operated by the Paysafe Group. Like its brethren, quick and easy payments are what Neteller does best. There’s also the Net+ Prepaid Mastercard. Like Skrill, there are some fees associated with Neteller and the service is often not permitted for blackjack bonuses.

AstroPay

One newer option for payments at blackjack sites is AstroPay. This service combines the functionality of an e-wallet — such as storage of money and payment details — with the benefits of prepaid cards. However, unlike a physical voucher such as Paysafecard, AstroPay’s prepaid cards are entirely virtual. Customers can generate a card on the fly that’s loaded up with a chosen amount, and use it for online transactions — all while keeping their own bank details private. 

It’s free to sign up for AstroPay, and the service also features support for cryptocurrencies. Although you won’t find it at many blackjack sites just yet, that number is growing with time. As it’s generally considered an e-wallet, AstroPay is usually disqualified when claiming a blackjack bonus. 

Prepaid Cards

Services like Paysafecard use prepaid vouchers as currency at online casinos. Again, there’s no need to exchange bank information, but deposit limits are strict here, and there are very few opportunities to make a withdrawal. Nevertheless, prepaid cards are handy for those who want to stick to tight budgets, since only preloaded funds can be spent. 

Trustly

Direct bank transfer systems like Trustly run on the same networks as banks and connect with casinos via open banking technology. This means there’s no need to create a Trustly account and withdrawals are usually fast, though they can take 48 hours in some cases. Watch out for fees with this service — your casino won’t charge you, but your bank might.

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Summary

Our blackjack guide has illustrated that although the basics remain constant, there are a range of variations to the rules. Whether it’s the double down, surrender or split option, you need to make sure that you understand the implication of a change in rules. Moreover, you also need to check how many decks of cards are being used, as this will affect the house-edge.

Ultimately, the sheer choice of blackjack variations means that you can play the one that best suits your needs. Virtually every single version is now available to play online in the comfort of your own home, either in the form of software or live dealers!