icon imageVegas Blackjack

    Vegas Blackjack is one of the most popular games in the Silver state.  You will find this variant of blackjack in just about any Sin City casino. But the game has found a new fan base online - and is also enjoyed in internet casinos the world over. 

    Vegas Blackjack rules are often considered to be the standard for online blackjack game rules. And yes, that is odd considering the game's European origins. But the state of Nevada has fashioned itself into the gambling mecca of the world. And with that reputation - it has a  certain authority over all things gambling. 

    What are the Vegas Blackjack Rules?

    To quickly recap on the basics of blackjack; this is a card game played against a dealer. The aim of the game is to have a better hand than the dealer. The best hand in blackjack is 21 - and you can achieve this value from the initial two card deal. More commonly, you will have to hit and receive more cards to get the best hand possible. Each card has a value - and if your hand exceeds the value of 21 - you are bust, which means you lose your stake.

    The dealer can also go bust. And if this happens, you will win that round by default. Vegas Blackjack is popular with gamblers because of the constant suspense and weighing of the various odds. It's the reason why people enjoy Atlantic City Blackjack as well. Here are the common game rules in Vegas BJ:

    • Four decks of cards are used: Casinos introduced more than one deck into blackjack due to card counting. While four decks may seem like a lot, consider AC Blackjack, which boasts double that number. As a rule of thumb, more decks of cards means a bigger house edge.
    • Dealer stands on soft 17: If the dealer draws an Ace and a six, then they will have to stand. Usually, you would hit on a soft 17 due to the strong blackjack chance with no fears of busting. 
    • Dealer peeks for Blackjack on a 10 or Ace: If the dealer has one of these two cards as their up-card, then they will check for blackjack. In Vegas Blackjack, this means you will lose the round unless the table
    • You can split up to four times: If you are dealt a pair of matching cards, then you are permitted to split those cards into two separate hands. One of the most prudent Vegas Blackjack tips is to always split aces and 10s due to the strong blackjack chance. But there is a caveat to this rule...
    • Aces can only be split once: If you are dealt a pair of Aces, you should always split them. But you can only take advantage of this rule once. 
    • You can double down after splitting: Doubling down is an interesting strategy if you think the next card will make your hand a winner. You will be able to place double the bet - but your next card will be your final one. Doubling down is normally recommended on hands with a 10 or an Ace. It should also be noted that the majority of casinos don't let you double down on split Aces.

    Vegas Blackjack vs Atlantic City Blackjack: What is the difference?

    There is not much that separates the Garden state with the Silver state in terms of blackjack. The versions are near identical, minus two rule tweaks:

    Atlantic City Blackjack uses 8 decks: What does this mean? It means that Vegas Blackjack odds are better. The more decks of cards used in a game of blackjack, the bigger the house edge. But single deck blackjack games are a rare type of card game that you will struggle to find at most casinos.

    Late surrender is allowed: Imagine the dealer draws a 10 or Ace card. In Vegas Blackjack, that means you are done for if you didn't land a 21 on the initial deal. With late surrender, however, you can choose to save half of your bet. Sure, it might sound like a cowardly strategy - but its better than losing the entirety of your stake.

    Can you play Vegas Blackjack online?

    If you're located in Nevada? No, you won't be able to play blackjack online. Nevada online gambling is strictly limited to online poker at the time of writing. There isn't even a real money Vegas Blackjack app available. And there is very little chance of this changing in the future due to the resorts fear of online gaming swallowing up their customers. You can however find a number of free mobile apps to enjoy blackjack, some of which even link to real reward schemes.

    Vegas Blackjack Strategies

    Blackjack is an interesting game when it comes to strategies. With NJ online roulette, for example, it's very much luck based. Sure, you can adopt a red/black strategy - but at the end of the day, if you bet on any of the straight-up numbers, you are at the mercy of lady luck. The same goes for New Jersey online slots; when you spin that reel you can only pray for the good fortunes of RNG.

    In a game of Vegas Blackjack, certain value hands have recommended actions. Let's say you are dealt a 10 or 11; you should always double down on either of these hands. Why? Because there's a good chance that next card could be an Ace or 10 - resulting in an instant 21 victory. But it's also recommended not to double down on a 10 or 11 if the dealers up-card is an Ace.

    Similarly, there are also certain hands that should always be split. Take a pair of Aces for example. Below you will find our Vegas Blackjack strategy chart where you can see the most optimal bets.

    Now that you have all the necessary knowledge - it's time to head into your local casino and put these strategies to good use. Happy betting!