Online blackjack

How rules change the house edge in online blackjack

Online blackjack has one of the lowest house edges in the casino when you play basic strategy, but every rule adds or removes a fixed amount. The Wizard of Odds puts the edge at 0.28% under liberal Las Vegas rules; less favourable rule sets push it towards and beyond the 0.5% to 1% range shown in our summary.

The table shows the effect of common rule changes on the player’s return, as calculated by the Wizard of Odds relative to eight decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double on any two cards, double after split and splitting up to four hands. A minus figure raises the house edge by that amount.

3:2 versus 6:5

The payout for a natural blackjack is the most expensive rule to get wrong. A 6:5 payout costs 1.39 percentage points, more than all the other common rule changes in the table together, so treat any 6:5 table as a different, far more expensive game.

Soft 17, decks, doubling and splitting

A dealer who hits soft 17 (a hand like ace and six) adds 0.22%. Fewer decks help the player, though the step from eight to six decks is worth only 0.02%. Restrictions on doubling and splitting each cost between 0.1% and 0.2%; in the European no hole card version the dealer takes the second card only after you have played, which costs 0.11%.

Basic strategy: what it is and what it saves

Basic strategy is the mathematically best decision for every combination of your two cards and the dealer’s up card. It does not guarantee wins; it keeps the house edge at the minimum the rules allow.

The Wizard of Odds calculates a house edge of 5.48% for a player who copies the dealer’s rules (hit to 16, stand on 17, never double or split) and 3.91% for a player who never risks busting. Learn the chart for the rule set you play; our blackjack strategy guide explains it step by step, and the basic strategy entry covers the short version. Basic strategy never takes insurance, a side bet that pays 2 to 1 only when the dealer’s hole card is a ten-value card.

RNG blackjack versus live blackjack

RNG and live blackjack follow the same maths: with identical rules, the house edge is identical. The differences lie in pace, stakes and shuffling.

RNG tables usually reshuffle a virtual shoe for every hand, which makes card counting pointless, and they let you play alone at low minimum stakes. Live tables use real shoes and a fixed number of seats and deal fewer hands per hour. Our live casino page compares the formats in more detail. The expected cost per hour grows with the number of hands, so a fast RNG table costs more per hour at the same stake.

How to choose a blackjack casino and table

Choose the casino by licence and payout record, then the table by its rules, in that order.

• Confirm the licence in the list, then compare stated withdrawal times.
• Open the game’s help screen and check the blackjack payout, the soft 17 rule, the number of decks and the doubling and splitting rules.
• If you play with a bonus, check the game weighting: blackjack often counts only partly toward wagering.
• Estimate the cost of a session with the house edge calculator.

Even at 0.5%, the house keeps an edge on every hand. Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and see our responsible gambling page if playing stops being fun.

Frequently asked questions

Is online blackjack rigged?

Blackjack at a licensed casino uses software tested under the regulator’s technical standards, or a live dealer with a real shoe, and the cards are not changed to beat you. The house edge comes from the rules, such as the dealer acting last. Check the casino’s licence in the regulator’s public register before you deposit.

What is the house edge in blackjack?

It depends on the rules and on your play. With basic strategy, the Wizard of Odds puts it at 0.28% under liberal Las Vegas rules; common online rule sets sit somewhat higher, and a 6:5 blackjack payout adds 1.39 percentage points. Without a strategy, mimicking the dealer raises the edge to 5.48%.

Should I play 6:5 blackjack?

Avoid it if a 3:2 table is available. According to the Wizard of Odds, reducing the blackjack payout from 3:2 to 6:5 lowers the player’s return by 1.39 percentage points, which turns one of the cheapest casino games into one more expensive than single-zero roulette. The payout is printed on the table or stated in the help screen.

Can you count cards in online blackjack?

Not at RNG tables that reshuffle the virtual shoe after every hand, because the composition of the cards resets each round. At live tables counting is possible in theory, but its value depends on how deep the shoe is dealt before the reshuffle. For most players basic strategy is the realistic way to lower the edge.

Is live blackjack better than RNG blackjack?

Neither is better in maths: with the same rules the house edge is the same. Live blackjack offers a real dealer and a slower pace, which lowers the cost per hour, while RNG tables offer lower minimum stakes and no waiting for seats. Compare the rules in the help screen of each table rather than the format.

Sources: Wizard of Odds: blackjack rule variations, Wizard of Odds: blackjack basics, Wizard of Odds: house edge of casino games