Best Real Money Online Blackjack Sites in Canada
When playing blackjack online, there are a few things that you need to take into consideration. Firstly, you have the casinos, which must be operators of repute and to have the appropriate gaming licences. Second, but equally as important, are the blackjack games, which come in all shapes and sizes. Here is what this review will be about:
- Valuable tips to help you win at blackjack
- The most interesting games with the highest payout rates
- How the MIT blackjack card-counting team won millions
- The benefits of online blackjack compared to land-based casinos
Furthermore, we have covered some of the most popular blackjack games in Canada, along with the best casino to play them at. Also, at the bottom of the page you can find our answers to some really interesting questions regarding the strategies and rules of playing blackjack online.
Great Blackjack Casinos in CA for New and Seasoned Players
As opposed to the case with slots, not all online casinos offer huge blackjack selections. If you want to have a really solid collection of online blackjack games to choose from, then we recommend you try a casino that’s powered by Microgaming. The best such blackjack casino is, undoubtedly Betway, where you can choose from over 80 RNG and blackjack tables. Other great choices for online blackjack casinos can be found in our top 10. The operators there oftentimes offer special promotions for new and existing players.
Online Casino | Welcome Bonus | Highlights | Rating Score | Secure Link | T&C |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Betsafe Casino | $500 | 20+ Live Blackjack Variants, Top-Rated Blackjack App, Download and Instant Play | Play Here! | ||
Casoola Casino | C$1500 | Great Live Blackjack Casino, Good Table Limits, Choice Live Casino Games | Play Here! | ||
Voodoo Dreams Casino | $100 | Microgaming Casino, Great Live Blackjack Versions, Top-Rated Mobile Blackjack | Play Here! | ||
Party Casino | $500 | 20+ Blackjack VariationsCasino , Mobile Live Casino, Accepts Canadian Players | Play Here! | ||
JackpotCity Casino | C$1600 | 75+ Mobile Blackjack Variants, NetEnt Blackjack Casino, Sizeable Welcome Bonus | Play Here! | ||
GoWild Casino | $333 | 35+ Live Blackjack Variants, Accepts Interac, Mobile Blackjack Casino | Play Here! | ||
Frank and Fred Casino | $1000 | NetEnt Live Blackjack, 20 Live Blackjack Games, Mobile-Friendly Web App | Play Here! | ||
Spin Casino | C$1000 | Massive Welcome Bonus, Accepts Canadian Players, 24/7 Live Support | Play Here! | ||
Betway Casino | C$1750 | Exotic Live Blackjack, Regular Promotions for Canadians, Reputable Blackjack Casino | Play Here! | ||
Qeen Vegas Casino | C$150 | Wide Array of Blackjacks, 45+ Mobile Blackjacks, Live Blackjack Gallore | Play Here! |
Tips to Help You Play Online Blackjack in Canada
Whether you are playing on your phone, tablet or computer, the successful path to winning at blackjack casinos in CA doesn’t change. In other words, you will need a strategy and you will need to stay consistent. Here are a few tips that could help you win.
TIP1 Take a pass on insurance and other side bets: All side bets, including the insurance, raise the house edge up to 10%, so they are very bad for your wallet. As tempting, fun and cheap as they may seem, in the long run, it will be like donating your money to the casino.
TIP2 Never play blackjack without the appropriate strategy chart: The various games that can be played at the online blackjack sites in Canada have the lowest house edge among all games – between 0.3% and 1.2%. However, this only applies if you make the best mathematical decision. You can find some really good strategy charts for each of the most popular variations, which will definitely pay off at the end of the day.
TIP3 Card counting doesn’t work when playing online: Blackjack movies have shown us how profitable card counting is, or at least used to be. This, unfortunately, is not applicable when playing online, due to big number of decks used in one shoe. However, there is nothing wrong with wanting to train counting.
What Are the Odds of the Different Blackjack Variations?
As we have already mentioned this is the game of chance that has the lowest house edge. When you play Classic Blackjack, the house only has an advantage of 0.48%. This value changes for other variations, due to the different rules. The table below contains some of the most popular variations the Canadian blackjack casinos offer, along with their distinctive features and the profit expectancy (RTP – return to player).
Blackjack Variantion | Blackjack Payout | Double Down | Split | Push/Tie | Dealer Status | Special Fetures | Profit Expectancy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Classic | 3:2 | yes | 1x | Stake returned | Stands on Soft 17 | Basic Rules | 99,52% |
Pontoon | 2:1 | Draw cards after double | 1x | Dealer wins | Stands on Soft 17 | Players can stand on 15 | 99.64% |
21 Duel | Counts as 21, 1:1 | no | no | Stake returned | Stands on Soft 17 | Must use one of the two community cards | 98.38% |
Switch | 1:1 | yes | 1x | Dealer wins | Hit on Soft 17 | Dealer can draw until 22 | 99.87% |
Double Exposure | 1:1 | Only Hard 9, 10, 11 or to Split | 1x | Delaer wins, except for Blackjack | Stands on Soft 17 | Both dealer cards are revealed from the beginning | 99,34% |
Superfun 21 | Player wins immediately 1: 1, Diamonds 2: 1 | At any time | 4x | Dealer wins | Hit on Soft 17 | 20 or less from 5 card pays 1: 1 | 98,84% |
Blackjack UK | 2 : 1 | Only on 9, 10, 11 | 4x | Stake returned | Hit on Soft 17 | Multihand | 99.47% |
Double Attack Blackjack | 1 : 1 | At any time | 4x | Stake returned | Stands on Soft 17 | Surrender after split, BustIt | 99.53% |
Perfect Blackjack | 3 : 2 | At any time | 4x | Dealer wins | Stand on Soft 17 | Perfect Pairs Sidebet | 98,84% |
Progressive Blackjack | 3 : 2 | At any time | 4x | Dealer wins | Hit on Soft 17 | 20 or less from 5 card pays 1: 1 | 98,84% |
>Blackjack Peek | 3 : 2 | At any time | 4x | Stake returned | Stands on Soft 17 | Peek at Dealer’s Card | 99.42% |
Blackjack Pro | 3 : 2 | Only on 10 and 11 | 4x | Stake returned | Hit on Soft 17 | Customisable tables | 99.53% |
Blackjack Surrender | 3 : 2 | Anytime | 4x | Stake returned | Hit on Soft 17 | 7-Card Charlie | 99.65% |
As you can see from the table, the differences are pretty small and few blackjack games raise the house edge to around 1%. Surprising for some, my favourite variation, Blackjack Switch has an even lower house edge than the Classic Blackjack – only 0.13%!
Classic Blackjack
This is a common sight at the online blackjack casinos in CA worth their salt. The rules are well-known, hence the ‘classic’ categorisation. However, if you are not yet acquainted with them, I will sum them up in a few words and emphasize the main differences with other variations.
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2
- Double down and Split are allowed
- Push means stake returned to player
- The dealer may stand on 17
Classic Blackjack has a payout rate of 99.52% and you can play it at the Best blackjack sites in Canada, enjoying one of the best bonus contribution rates.
Blackjack Switch
One of the most interesting variations and my personal favourite is Blackjack Switch. The game involves playing two hands simultaneously and, once the cards are dealt, you have the option of swapping the last two cards improving the count on both hands.
- Blackjack pays 1 to 1
- Only 1 split and 1 double allowed
- Push means dealer wins
- dealer hits on soft 17
The high RTP of 99.87% makes this interesting game even more popular among players. When it comes to where to play that – there’s ample choice. Don’t look any further than our top ten blackjack casinos in CA.
21 Duel Blackjack
The 21 Duel version of online blackjack is so different because both the player and the dealer use one of two community cards to complete their hand. Also, the player cannot ask for another card, he can use only the second hidden card.
- No Blackjack, only 21
- No split or double down
- Push means stake returned to player
- Dealer stands on 17
This game is not as common as the previous two, but is nonetheless interesting to play and it stays true to the low house edge trend that we see with online blackjack.
Pontoon
Pontoon is another entertaining titles to add polish to the best online blackjack sites in Canada, but with some significant differences with the games we looked at so far. An ace with any face card is called Pontoon, and not blackjack and it wins even after a split. Also, a five-card hand that isn’t busting, has the same value as a Pontoon.
- Pontoon and Five-card hands pay 2 to 1
- Cards after splitting may be drawn
- Dealer wins a push
- Dealer may stand on soft 17
The average payout for this game is around 99.64%, which is even higher than for the Classic Blackjack. Head to our top-ten list if you want to get introduced to the best online blackjack casinos that have the game.
Live Blackjack
Although Live Blackjack is not one of the variations in terms of rules, it is a very distinct way of enjoying this game. Here you challenge a real dealer and get to take part in some real-casino action. The human factor is seen as a huge advantage by many players.
- Most casinos offer only the classic version
- Wide range of table limits
- Interaction with dealer and other players possible
- Game speed is slightly reduced
Those of you who prefer the Classic Blackjack game should definitely try the Live version, due to its increased entertainment value.
Progressive Blackjack
This is again a very popular variation, thanks to the big jackpot that can be won, although it is pretty rare among most online blackjack sites. Except for the additional bet that goes into the progressive jackpot, there are few other differences:
- Additional bet needed to play for the Jackpot
- Four identical aces win the Jackpot
- 2 or more aces also win
- Aces on the same hand must be dealt
Progressive Blackjack can be played at the best Playtech casinos, some of which we feature in the beginning of this review in our top-ten table.
Why You Should Deposit Using Interac
Security plays a crucial part in your gaming experience whether you are aware of it or not. Especially when it comes to depositing or withdrawing your funds, sensitive data like bank or credit card details must be revealed to online casinos. That makes many people nervous, even reluctant because of the fact that all information shared over the Internet could be intercepted.
This is why many players favour certain online banking options because of the data safety that they guarantee. Interac is the most common means of depositing for Canadian fans of online blackjack. More and more players start to rely on Interact to handle their casino deposits and withdrawals. Paysafecard is a pretty reliable option as well, but the fact that it doesn’t support withdrawals make it less attractive to punters. So, for less risk and hassle, you’d want to turn to the best online casinos that accept Interac and E-Wallets.
This Is How the MIT Blackjack Team Made Millions
The strategy of card counting is invariably tied to the casino game, subject of our discussion. However, people often forget the Canadian online blackjack sites are a horse of different colour when compared to the game played with dealers in the flesh. Let’s talk about the team that made the impossible, assembled during the 60s by Eduard O. Thorp, who also published a book on the subject called ‘Beat the dealer’. The infamous MIT Blackjack team. Mathematicians and statistics experts Casinos responded to the threat with several countermeasures, to make it more difficult for players to count cards.
Also, the staff were taught how to spot the counters, which unlike with online blackjack casinos, is done by pit bosses and security guards. One of the founders of the first MIT blackjack team was J.P. Massar, known as Mr M. Although this was not the first card-counting team, once Bill Kaplan joined the MIT team, they took this strategy to a whole new level. Strict rules, carefully selected new members and hard training were the foundation for one of the most successful blackjack teams of all times.
On August 1, 1980, MIT team started with a capital of 89,000$ and managed to double it within 10 weeks. The team members were making around 80$ per hour and, after deducting expenses, the team had a 150% return of investment. Not bad for, frankly-said, rookies at online blackjack. However, since winning players were identified and put under surveillance quickly, there was no place left for them to play at, so new members were needed. By 1989, the MIT team had grown to 70 members.
The Successful Blackjack Team and the Roles of Each Player
Making a lot of money at Blackjack doesn’t just involve perfect card counting, but also flawless implementation. The same could be said about trying to make a living out of the Canadian blackjack casino sites. What you should keep in mind at all times, though, is that it would be too obvious for only one person to sit at a table and start betting heavily towards the end of the deck.
This is why the word ‘team’ is key and this is how the MIT team did it- by playing as a team. Within the team, members played different parts for collecting and sharing the information about hot tables and keeping an eye on casino security. This was a great improvement, as each member played their role perfectly and they were not only limited to one table, which would attract more attention to the counters.
The next step was passing on the information about the hot shoes, without being noticed by casino security staff or cameras. Below you can find a description of different roles played by the team members and some examples of the non-verbal communication they used. Of course, these techniques could not be used at the best online blackjack sites in Canada.
The Spotter: The role of the spotter is to identify a hot table, meaning a shoe where the count is going in the right direction, so that other team members can take advantage of it, with higher stakes. He sits at one table at the beginning of the shoe and starts the count while playing with the table minimum bet. The spotter’s role is not to make money, but to have minimum losses, while collecting the needed information. Once the table is hot, which means that the count is high, he will discreetly signal another player, called ‘the gorilla’, who will start playing with the highest stakes.
The Back Spotter: The back spotter basically has the same role as the spotter: identify hot tables. However, the back spotter doesn’t play at the tables, but sits behind the players and does the back count. The advantage of having a back spotter is that he is mobile and it is easier for him to signal team members that are far away from the hot tables. Furthermore, the casino staff and security cameras would usually supervise the table and the players, not the spectators. It was, therefore, less conspicuous for the back counter to move around the casino and let members know that there is a hot table somewhere.
The Gorilla: The gorilla is the team member that makes the big money for the team. He waits for the spotter’s signal and sits at a table where the count is high. Once the spotter finds a hot table, the gorilla ‘wongs in’, a term named after Stanford Wong which describes an advantage technique used while playing blackjack. The gorilla plays the part of a drunken millionaire, playing only the highest limits and never varying his bet. He constantly takes advantage of hot shoes, therefore securing his profit. Once the shoe goes cold, he ‘wongs out’ and looks for another spotted hot table.
The Solid Player: The duties of the solid player are a lot broader, which makes this the most complex position in the team. He plays the role of the spotter, but also makes money for the team, playing with high stakes. The solid player doesn’t only keep the count of the cards, but he also has to track the location of the aces in the shoe. This counts as a great advantage, as hands with an ace have a 37% higher profit forecast. The solid player uses his knowledge and consistently plays with high stakes, bringing huge profit to the team.
Secret non-verbal signals used by the team members
Crossed arms – Get ready, the count is running high This is the signal used by the spotter or the back spotter when, according to the card count, the shoe or the table could turn profitable. It is meant to signal the gorilla or the solid player that the count is reaching a point that promises high odds and that they should leave the other table and move to the new one. The big players should be prepared to change table and move to take advantage of the new hot shoe. Given as sometimes in big casinos all the tables were full, this signal gives the gorilla and the solid players time to move.
Rubbing the earlobe – Where is the current count at? Once the solid player sits at the new table, he asks the spotter where is the count of the shoe, as he himself has to count the cards. In the following moments, the spotter makes small talk with the solid player and reveals information about the count using certain code words that the other people around the table won’t understand. For example, one word could reveal the number 13. Also, during this trivial small talk, the spotter will provide the player with useful information about the situation at the table and in the vicinity.
Hand in pocket – The deck is hot, maximum bets! This signals the other players from the team that the table is hot and they should bet the table maximum. The gorilla and the solid player will make the most of the hot shoe, by playing the highest stakes. Even the spotter at the table will win, but he is not allowed to increase his bet, as this would raise suspicions and the casino staff could spot him and put the entire operation at risk. Huge profits were made on hot tables, which made it possible for the MIT Blackjack Team to reach a 150% return of investment.
Pulling on hair – Get out of here Despite all precautions, it is inevitable to get spotted, sooner or later, by the casino staff. The responsibility of warning the players usually belonged to the back spotter, as the other players were focused on the game and keeping the count. Although the back spotter also counts, he has a broader view on the whole casino. Of course, he would keep an eye on the security guards, as well, and if they seem nervous or they are also watching their team, it would be time to get out of the casino.
Success is Only Achieved After Rigorous Training
Card counting doesn’t sound complicated at all and it’s actually not. If you practice it long enough, determining the running count at the blackjack table will be quite an easy task. However, the MIT Blackjack Team did not take this task lightly and their preparation took this system to a whole new level. Spotters underwent rigours tests that were carried out in casinos, where others would try to distract them. These tests were needed to prove that the spotter could apply a flawless card-counting strategy and that the team could rely on him. Only after a long period of training and numerous tests, the spotter became part of the team. The consequences of the spotter making even one mistake became clear in an interview with a former member of a card-counting team. One mistake per hour would severely reduce the profit expectancy of the whole team, while two mistake per hour made the counting of the cards useless.
Why Is It Better To Play at the Best Online Blackjack Sites in Canada?
Many years ago, you would drive to the nearest casino if you felt like playing real-money blackjack, but with the revolution of the Internet sites, all that changed. With the birth of online casinos, now users can enjoy a nice game of 21 right from the comfort of their homes. All in all, online blackjack has proven to offer many advantages when compared to the land-based casinos:
- Games around the clock, that can also be played in demo mode
- Live games from casinos, with real-time action
- Longer time to make a decision, strategic play possible
- Many blackjack game variations available
- Wider range of table limits, higher limits on Live Blackjack
Today, there is hardly any reason to play at real brick-and-mortar casinos. With the advantages that playing online blackjack in CA brings to the table, users no longer feel the need to go to a real casino to enjoy their favourite game. The only restrictions are in terms of the mobile game selection, but Live Blackjack with higher limits and the free-play mode still hold the upper hand over your corner casino.
Frequently Asked Questions
📉 Which Canadian blackjack casino game has the lowest house edge?
As our research has shown, the game with the lowest house edge is not the Classic Blackjack with 0.48%, but one of the game variations, with a slightly different set of rules. Blackjack Switch has the lowest house edge of 0.13%, but only if played with a perfect strategy.
📈 Are there any progressive jackpot blackjack games at blackjack casinos in CA?
Yes, but only some blackjack sites offer them. So far, users can play Progressive Blackjack only at Playtech casinos, which are some of the best Canadian online blackjack sites. The jackpot is usually at around 100,000$, but it can only be won when four identical consecutive aces are dealt. However, two or more identical or different aces also bring a rewarding payout.
🃏 Should I split a pair of aces?
Definitely, although there are some arguments against it, most of them regarding the fact that with certain blackjack variations you only receive one card after the split. However, you will find that it is one of the best tips for playing blackjack online in the long run. Just keep in mind that you cannot split them at Progressive Blackjack since the winning jackpot combination is four identical aces.
🧠 Can I count cards at online blackjack casinos in Canada?
You can try, but it will not be applicable, as the cards get shuffled after every hand. The glorious times of the MIT blackjack team are far gone. Even if you play Live Blackjack, the cards get shuffled after 3,4 of the 6 or 8 decks.
📘 Does the outcome of an online blackjack game really match the expected RTP?
The value of the RTP (return to player) is only an average expected profit, for an optimally played game. The value is purely mathematical and it is a result of individual rules of the game. Also, the RTP is not related to previous game results, as is the case with slots. When playing on,line blackjack, your results depend mainly on the cards you receive and the strategy you use to play.